Drop Cap Pier Page

Setting	Description
Same as	With the same as option you copy the same parameters from another pier/abutment.

Cap Geometry Tab

Select Cap Shape button to define the dimensions of the pier cap, including the size, start and end elevation. Below this button you will find the Cap Parameters frame. Notice that this screen will appear differently depending on the pier type selected:

Straight Cap Parameters
Tapered Cap Parameters
Variable Cap Parameters
Stepped Cap Parameters

Straight Cap Parameters

This frame appears if you selected the cap shape as straight. In the appropriate fields, input the following parameters for the cap: cap width (w), cap depth (d), cap side width (csw), start elevation (e0) and end elevation (e1).

Setting	Description
Start Elevation (e0)	Elevation at the left end of the cap, measured at its top surface.
End Elevation (e1)	Elevation at the right end of the cap, measured at its top surface.

Tapered Cap Parameters

This screen appears if you selected the cap shape as tapered. A tapered cap is defined in terms of the maximum (d2) and minimum cap depth (d1), as well as cap bottom width (bw).

Note: This Frame is used to define symmetrical tapers, and therefore, the length of the tapered section will be the same on the left and right sides of the cap.

Variable Cap Parameters

This frame appears if you selected the cap shape as variable. A variable cap has different section depths along the cap. Number of sections field is used to define the number of necessary sections, and they will be available in the table beside.

Variable table

Setting	Description
Section no.	Index of each section defined in Number of sections field.
Dist. from Prev.	Defines the distance from previous section. For the first section, this distance is 0.
Depth	Defines the section depth along the cap.

All these parameters are available in the drawing if View cap is selected.

Stepped Cap Parameters

Selecting the Stepped Cap option enables you to define the input Start Elevation, End Elevation, Number of Steps. Program computes step length and depth using the change in the Depth along the cap length and number of steps; this can be manual entered in the table for each step, additional information regarding bottom and top elevation are shown in the last two columns but are not editable.