Adding and deleting sections

Adding sections

To add sections, click the Add button in the Ribbon > Section pane. This opens the Add Section dialog, which supports two modes.

Single mode

Add one section at a specific station. Enter the desired chainage and the section is created at that location.

Range mode

Create multiple sections at once by specifying:

  • Start station – the chainage of the first section

  • End station – the chainage of the last section

  • Interval – the spacing between consecutive sections

All sections between the start and end stations (inclusive) are created at the given interval.

Station naming

The Add Section dialog offers two naming conventions:

  • Sequential – sections are named with a running counter: Sec 1, Sec 2, Sec 3, and so on.

  • By Station – sections are named after their chainage: Sta 0+100, Sta 0+200, etc.

Tip

Use “By Station” naming when working with large projects where you need to identify sections by their position along the alignment at a glance.

What happens when a section is added

When a new section is created, TunnelCAD automatically:

  1. Assigns a template based on the TemplateStationDefs configured for the tunnel. The template that covers the new section’s chainage is applied.

  2. Computes the setout offset from the alignment engine, which determines the section’s world-coordinate position, bearing, elevation, grade, and superelevation.

Note

The setout offset computation depends on a valid alignment being loaded. If no alignment is defined, sections can still be created but will lack positioning data.

Deleting sections

Delete current section

Click the Delete button in the Ribbon > Section pane to delete the currently displayed section.

Delete range

Click the Del Range button in the Ribbon > Section pane to open the Delete Range dialog. Specify:

  • Start station – the beginning of the range

  • End station – the end of the range

All sections whose chainage falls within the specified range are deleted.

Warning

Deleting sections cannot be undone. When using Del Range, verify the start and end stations carefully before confirming.