Continuously changing elliptical geometry
Each curved member followed the surface of an inclined, truncated elliptical cone, passing through defined control points at multiple elevations.
LocationRaleigh, North Carolina, USA
Client / FabricatorMIG Construction Services
Structural Steel70 tons
Project overview
70 tons of steel. A detailing challenge far beyond its size.
The Truncated Elliptical Cone was a specialized portion of the NC State University Talley Student Center Addition and Renovation. Its unusual geometry required a separate detailing contract, despite the relatively small steel tonnage.
Approximately 90% of the steel in Anatomic’s scope required rolling into complex shapes, including elliptical rings, partial rings and continuously twisting members.
The approximately 115-foot-tall, inclined cone featured curved members extending from the foundation to the uppermost level. Each sweep followed changing elliptical profiles, with no two rolled members sharing exactly the same geometry.
70
Tons detailed
Enlarge view
Project team and technical details
- Project
- Talley Student Center – Truncated Elliptical Cone
- Parent project
- NC State University Talley Student Center Addition and Renovation
- Location
- Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
- Client / Fabricator
- MIG Construction Services
- Structural steel
- 70 tons
- Year
- 2013
- Engineer
- Steward Engineering
- General Contractor
- Rogers Russell Daye Co
- Detailing software
- Tekla Structures
Model to field
From coordinated geometry to the project on site.
01 / Detailed Model
02 / Built StructureTECHNICAL COMPLEXITY
Coordination and detailing challenges.
Individual shapes for rolled steel
Approximately 90% of the steel required specialized rolling. Elliptical rings and twisting HSS members had unique geometries and tight dimensional requirements.
Geometry usable by the fabrication shop
Conventional drawings alone could not fully communicate the complex shapes, requiring specialized coordinates, model exports and fabrication documentation.
HIGHLY COMPLEX CURVED STEEL DETAILING
From an accurate model to specialized rolling information.
The team first developed the complex sweep geometry and control points in AutoCAD, then transferred that information into Tekla Structures to build an accurate 3D model.
The model supported early identification of geometric conflicts and coordination with the architect before fabrication.
To communicate the unique rolled shapes to the shop, Anatomic prepared specialized drawings and digital deliverables, including:
- 3D PDF model exports
- DXF geometry files
- CSV coordinate data
- X-Y-Z coordinate tables on shop drawings
These deliverables provided the spatial information needed to form and verify members that could not be adequately described through conventional shop drawings alone.
Explore our Highly Complex Curved Steel Detailing capabilities →