Subassembly basics

Last updated: 2012-10-01

Total video time: 33:43

ClosedIntroduction to corridors

sa-creat-sub-data-C3D12.zip

sa-sub-basc-01.mp4 9:08

What is a Corridor?

  • A corridor is a Civil 3D object that ties together your design data in an intelligent manner.
  • Corridors frequently represent roadways, railways, trails and even streams.
  • A corridor contains instructions on how your typical cross-section relates to existing surface and where those instructions should be applied.
  • A 3D object that brings together:
    • Horizontal information: Alignment
    • Vertical information: Profile
    • Cross-section information: Assemblies

Assembly:

  • Contains information for cross-section geometry
  • Pavement widths and depths
  • Slope to existing surface
  • Behavior in cut and/or fill
  • Usually consist of multiple sub-assemblies

Targets

  • Target surfaces are used to find the slope intercept location.
  • Other targets allow you to change cross-section geometry without the need for an additional assembly.

General Workflow

Save the file in the Design > Corridors folder Name the file per WisDOT naming standards

  • DWG File type: Corridors
  • Description: Contains corridors
  • Name: Corridor-<CorridorName>-<Comments>
  • Example: Corridor-STH25-4thAve-96to114.dwg
  • Comment: Belongs in (Proj ID)→(Design)→(Corridors)

Corridors & Data Shortcuts

To Create a Corridor, reference in:

  • Existing surface
  • All alignments needed for design
  • Be sure the design profiles come along!

You may want to XREF in:

  • Basemap (optional)
  • ROW lines (optional)

ClosedExercise: Create an assembly

sa-sub-basc-02.mp4 16:32

Assembly = cross-section geometry

12345678\Design\Corridors\Corridor USH51 BestFit[start].dwg

Sub-assembly anatomy

  • Marker points: Connect between frequency stations to form feature lines
  • Links: lines that will be used in design surfaces
  • Shapes: area inside a closed group of links (used for material computation)

Exercise: Your First Subassembly

  1. Open up the file Corridor USH 51 BestFit[Start].dwg
  2. Home tab > Create Design Panel > Assembly > Create Assembly
    • Name the assembly, Rural 14’ foot lane w Shoulders
    • Set the Assembly type to Undivided crowned Road
    • Click OK.
  3. Click in the graphic to place the assembly.
  4. Set the annotation scale to 1in=20 ft (optional)
  5. Home tab > Palettes Panel > Tool palettes.
  6. View the WisDOT subassemblies
    • Click the Wis-Lanes and Shoulders tab.
  7. Click Lane Generic. You will now see the AutoCAD Properties pop up with the Parameters listed.
    • Set the side to left if it is not already.
    • Set the Width option to 14’.
    • Click the main green assembly marker.
  8. Click the SelSubShld subassembly
    • Verify the side is set to left.
    • Leave all other options as default.
    • Zoom in and click on the while marker point.
  9. 9. Switch to the Wis-Daylight and Slopes tab.
    • Click the GenCFFinalLink subassembly.
    • Verify the side is set to left.
    • Keep slope and height options as default.
    • Zoom in and click on the outermost marker point.
  10. Press Esc.
  11. Select all three sub-assemblies.
    • Contextual ribbon > Modify Subassembly palette > Mirror Subassemblies
    • Click the main green assembly marker again. The assembly is complete. Save the drawing.

ClosedExercise: Troubleshooting common assembly issues

sa-sub-basc-03.mp4 8:13

  1. Continue working in the file Corridor USH 51 BestFit[Start].dwg
  2. Home tab > Create Design Panel > Assembly > Create Assembly
    • Name the assembly, C&G w Sidewalk
    • Set the Assembly type to Undivided crowned Road
    • Set the Code Set Style to XS Sheets
    • OK.
  3. Click in the graphic to place the assembly.
  4. Home tab > Palettes Panel > Tool palettes icon
  5. View the WisDOT subassemblies
    • Click the Wis-Lanes and Shoulders tab.
  6. Click Lane Generic. You will now see the AutoCAD Properties pop up with the Parameters listed.
    • Set the side to left if it is not already.
    • Leave the default settings in the properties.
    • Click the main green assembly marker.
    • Esc to complete the command.

The lane is placed, but because of the code set style you choose in the previous step, the links are not visible. In the next steps, you will fix this.

  1. Select the assembly marker.
    • Contextual ribbon > Modify Assembly panel > Assembly Properties
    • Go to the Codes tab.
    • Change the active Code Set style to CRDR Proposed.
    • OK
  2. Keep the drawing open for the next portion of the exercise.

Code Set Styles

A Code set Style is a collection of styles which control the look of points, shapes and links. The code set style is where labeling for lanes, daylight slope and offsets is set. Code Set styles are used in many places. The assembly creation is the first place you encounter these. You will also see that code set styles are used in the corridor cross section editor. Later on you will also see a code set style used in cross section sheets. For all three instances the code set style is independent. In other words, you will use a different code set style for assembly creation than you would for cross section sheets.

Adding Subbase to a Sidewalk Subassembly

In this example, a Generic pavement structure is used to create a subbase under a sidewalk subassembly. The sidewalk subassembly that comes with Civil 3D does not have this material built in.

  1. Continue working in the file Corridor USH 51 BestFit[Start].dwg
  2. On the home tab > Palettes Panel, click the Tool palettes icon.
  3. View the WisDOT subassemblies
    • Click the Wis-Barriers and Curb tab.
    • Click CGGen
    • Verify that the side is set to left
    • Click the white marker at the edge of pavement to place the curb and gutter sub-assembly.
  4. Right-click the edge of the toolpalette and open the Civil Imperial Subassemblies. These are the sub-assemblies that come with Civil 3D “out of the box”
    • Switch to the Curbs tab.
    • Pick the UrbanSidewalk subassembly.
      • Change the Inside Boulevard Width (terrace) to 2’
      • Set the Outside boulevard width to 4%
      • Verify that the side is set to left and click to place the subassembly to the left of the curb and gutter subassembly. This will result in an overall terrace width of 7’ because the curb and gutter has a 5’ terrace built into it.
    • Switch back to the WisDOT subassemblies and add the daylight subassembly called GenCFFinalLink.
  5. Switch to the Lanes tab.
    • Click the GenericPavementStructure subassembly.
    • Set the width to 5’
    • Set the shift width to 0
    • Set the crossslope to 2%.
    • Verify that the side is left.
    • Set the depth to 0.67
    • Zoom in and click the bottom inside marker on the sidewalk. The sidewalk should now have subbase.
  6. Esc Save the drawing. End of exercise.

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