STATUS: DRAFT

This standard defines a universal way to describe a shapes.

Summary

This standard describes a way to specify basic shapes of sections, together with their dimensions.

A code is build with blocks.

[Shape block][Details block][Units block][Geometry block]

• Shape block: This is one charater for the main shape
  • Abbreviations: H Hexagonal, C Circular, S Square, R Rectangular or...
  • Letters of letter shapes sections: I, U, L, T, O, Z (O is omega shape).
• Details block: Zero or more characters constraining the shape. They are only added if required. Order is alphanumerical.
  • H Hollow sections
  • E Equal width and height and or equal legs
  • R Round edges
  • F Flanges extra
  • D Diverging thickness, no straight endings and all parallel width at corners
  • S Flange has a slope
  • X or Y Section is cut over x- or y-axis
• Units block: Zero or one character, zero for metric in mm and "I" for imperial in inches.
• Geometry block: All dimensions needed to constrain a section
  • The logical order is: First Width and height, then thickness in same order, radii and angles.
  • Angles can be degrees or ratios like "7/50".
  • Dimensions are nominal.
  • The list separator is an asterisks "*"

Intend

The intend is to offer a way to classify industry standard profiles, not limited to steel, based on shape only.

The reasons for using this standard can be:

• Shapes are described not depending on manufacturing characteristics such as "warm rolling".
• Shapes are described not depending on function characteristics such as "beam".
• Shapes are described not depending on material characteristics such as "steel".
• The names are better suited for use in automation applications.
• Naming is based on visible appearance like "Square" and "Rounded", seeking a compromise between habitual naming, being practical and being complete enough to achieve global coverage.
• By defining a shape, followed by parameters for geometry, a global unique designation is created.

Naming

A shape is defined by a concatenated string, consisting of two parts:

• Shape defining parameters like R for Rectangular bar.
• Geometry defining parameters 30*5 for width and height in mm.

Following this example, the designation is:

R30*5

String of shape defining parameters

The name is one or a combination of characters.

• The first character is the main shape. Examples: "T-profile" and "Rectangular"
• Subsequent characters are only designated if not corresponding to the expected default shape and or add extra shape complexity. This works like a sieve. The longer the code, the more complexity.

First character, main shape

The first character determines the basic shape.

basic_profiles.svg

The first row contains abbreviations:

The second row is more obvious, the letter represents the shape. O stands for omega.

Following characters, additional shape characteristics

The sieve consist of characteristics that are additional to the main shape. So what is standard, what is expected is not specified. Deviations are marked with a character. From top to bottom:

String of geometry defining parameters

The following table shows the implementation of what is above.

dimensions_shapes.svg

Orientation

Shapes are positioned as illustrated. The series H, C, S and R as drawn. The letter series as written. So a H-beam (like HEB) is a variant of the family of I-shapes and is drawn as an I.