Creating a Pressure Network from Objects

At times, you will find it easier to start with AutoCAD commands to sketch your pressure network using basic entities. This approach works quite well because Civil 3D provides a command that will convert these basic entities to pressure networks: the Create Pressure Network From Object command. This command will create pipe networks from Civil 3D alignments and feature lines as well. One disadvantage to this method is that the same parts are used for pipes and fittings throughout the entire network.

To create a pressure network from objects in the drawing, follow these steps:

The Exercise File can be downloaded at the end of the article  

1. Open the drawing named Creating Pressure Networks from Objects.dwg located in the Chapter 15 class data folder.
2. Zoom in to Madison Lane, and note the heavy blue polyline labeled with W, indicating a schematic location for a proposed waterline.

3. On the Home tab of the ribbon, click Pipe NetworkCreate Pipe Network From Object.
4. Click the heavy blue polyline, and press Enter to accept the default direction assumed by the command.
5. In the Create Pressure Pipe Network From Object dialog box, do the following:
   1. For Network Name, enter Madison Lane Water.
   2. For Network Parts List, select Water Supply.
   3. For Size And Material, select 4 INCH (100mm) DUCTILE IRON.
   4. For Surface Name, select Road FG.
   5. For Alignment Name, select Madison Lane.
   6. For Depth Of Cover, verify that 3.000' (1.000m) is the value currently applied.
   7. Check the box, next to Erase Existing Entity.
   8. Click OK.
   It may not appear that much has happened, but the polyline has been converted to a 3D model of a waterline complete with pipes and bends. You can zoom in to the newly created waterline model in the 3D view to examine the result.

6. Click the Modify tab of the ribbon. Then expand the Design panel and select Pressure Pipe Network.

7. Click Draw Parts In Profile on the ribbon. Click one of the new waterline parts, and press Enter to indicate that you would like to draw the entire network.
8. Click one of the grid lines of the Madison Lane profile view. The waterline parts are displayed in the profile view as shown in Figure 15.3.

Figure 15.3  Pressure network parts (indicated with red arrows) shown in profile view along with other profile information.

Pressure Networks from Feature Lines

You may have noticed the Use Vertex Elevations option in the Create Pressure Pipe Network From Object dialog box. If you create a pressure network from a feature line, you can use this option to set the elevations of the pipes and fittings based on the elevations of the feature line. You can also choose the reference point that is used when assigning elevations such as Outside, Top, Crown, Centerline, and so on. This is an effective way to convert a rough 3D sketch of a pressure pipe design into a full-fledged 3D pressure network model.

Creating Pressure Pipe Networks

• Creating a Pressure Network from Objects
• Creating a Pressure Network by Layout

Download Exercise File :

• Creating Pressure Pipe Networks - Metric     --- ( 3.81 MB )
• Creating Pressure Pipe Networks - Imperial  --- ( 4.49 MB )