Develop a polyline

Compute the development (profile) in the xy plane of a 3d polyline.

Access methods

8 Toolbar: profile_32x32

8 Menu: ComputationalCAD † Develop polyline

7 Command entry: CC:LINES:DEVELOP

Dialog

Select polyline:
Select a polyline, 2d polyline or 3d polyline consisting exclusively of line segments.

Reverse polyline [Yes/No]:
Specify if the development shall be computed for the reverse order of polyline vertices.
<Yes>:          Compute the development for the reverse order of polyline vertices.
<No>:            Compute the development for the normal order of polyline vertices. (default)

Specify range [Yes/No]:
Specify if you want to develop a specific arc length range of the polyline.
<No>:            Compute the development for entire polyline. (default)      
<Yes>:          Compute the development for an arc length range of the polyline. The following dialog is displayed:

           Specify start arc length
                     Specify the arc length of the polyline from where to start to compute the development. Default is 0.
           Specify end arc length
                     Specify the arc length of the polyline where to stop to compute the development. Expects a positive double value. If greater       than the maximum length of the polyline, the development will be computed until the maximum length of the polyline.

Specify z-scaling <1>:
Specify a scaling for the z-heights of the polyline. Expects a positive double value. Default is 1.

Include first derivative (slope) [Yes/No]:
Specify if the first derivative (profile slope) shall be drawn too.
<Yes>:          The first derivative will be drawn together with the development.
<No>:            The first derivative will not be drawn. (default)

Specify outfile type [DWG/DXF]:
Specify if the output file type.
<DWG>:        The output file will be saved in the current dwg format.
<DXF>:          The original lines will be saved in the current dxf format. (default)

Depending on the FILEDIA setting, either a file dialog is displayed or the outfile name must be entered directly.

 

Summary

The profile of a polyline is the development of the Z-height over the XY length of the polyline. The command draws the XY projection of the polyline on the X-axis and the Z-height of the polyline on the Y-axis. The development is saved either in AutoCAD dwg or dxf format.

Example

Development

Figure 19: A 3d polyline (red), its development (black) and the first derivative of the development (cyan)

Command line prompt:

Number of vertices : 701.0000

Start arc length   : 0.0000

End arc length     : 9425.7085

Delta arc length   : 9425.7085

Start ground length: 0.0000

End ground length  : 8736.6754

Delta ground length: 8736.6754

Minimum slope [%]  : -201.0726

   at ground length: 4468.3306

Maximum slope [%]  : 383.3087

   at ground length: 4814.5793

Minimum elevation  : 5691.0948

Maximum elevation  : 6345.7523

Delta elevation    : 654.6575