Pipe Network Tutorials

These tutorials will get you started working with the pipe networks features, which you
use to design and model the flow and function of a utility system, such as a storm or
sanitary sewer.

Note:

If you have not installed Autodesk Civil 3D to the default location, you may receive
messages in the Event Viewer indicating that pipe network part catalogs are not found.
To avoid these messages, it is recommended that you follow the exercises in the order
presented. Alternatively, you can reset the path to the catalogs by clicking Home tab
Create Design panel Set Pipe Network Catalog .

Note:

All drawings used in these tutorials are available in the tutorials drawings folder. If you
want to save your work from these tutorials, save the drawings to the My Tutorial Data
folder so that you do not overwrite the original drawings.

Topics in this section

• Tutorial: Creating a Pipe Network

This tutorial demonstrates how to create a pipe network using the specialized
layout tools.
• Tutorial: Changing Pipe Network Properties
This tutorial demonstrates how to add parts to your pipe network parts list. You
will also learn how to change the surface, alignment, and design rules that are
referenced when you are laying out a pipe network.
• Tutorial: Viewing and Editing Pipe Networks
This tutorial demonstrates how you can view and edit the parts of your pipe
network in profile and section views.
Tutorial: Creating a Pipe Network
This tutorial demonstrates how to create a pipe network using the specialized layout
tools.

You create a pipe network by selecting start and end points for pipes and locations for
structures. You can connect pipes to a structure or to another pipe. The types of pipes
and structures you can create in the pipe network are specified by a parts list. A parts
list is a subset of the entire pipe network part catalog.

When you create a pipe network, you can associate it with a default surface and
alignment. The placement and sizing of parts is adjusted as you lay out your pipe
network using the surface data and the design rules for your pipe network. The
alignment is primarily a reference for pipe network labeling.

Topics in this section

• Exercise 1: Creating a Pipe Network from a Polyline

In this exercise, you will create a pipe network from an existing polyline. In this
method of creating a pipe network, you use standard AutoCAD drawing
commands to create a polyline, and then automatically place a pipe endpoint and
structure at each polyline vertex.
• Exercise 2: Creating a Pipe Network by Layout
In this exercise, you will create a pipe network using the Autodesk Civil 3D pipe
network layout tools. The pipe network is associated with a surface and
alignment, and uses parts taken from a standard parts list.

Exercise 1: Creating a Pipe Network from a Polyline

In this exercise, you will create a pipe network from an existing polyline. In this method
of creating a pipe network, you use standard AutoCAD drawing commands to create a
polyline, and then automatically place a pipe endpoint and structure at each polyline
vertex.

You can create a pipe network from a variety of entities, including 2D and 3D polylines,
AutoCAD lines and arcs, and feature lines. In this exercise, you will use an existing 2D
polyline.

Create a pipe network from a 2D polyline

1. Open drawing Pipe Networks-1A.dwg, which is located in the tutorials drawings

folder.

This drawing contains existing ground and corridor surfaces, alignments that
represent intersecting road centerlines, parcels that represent property
boundaries, and a polyline that represents the proposed pipe network layout. In
 the following steps, you will create an Autodesk Civil 3D pipe network from the
polyline.

2. Click Home tab Create Design panel Pipe Network drop-down Create
Pipe Network From Object

2. .
3. Click the left end of the blue polyline that is near the center of the road.

The end that you click specifies the beginning of the pipe network. The network
will flow away from this end.

4. Press Enter to accept the flow direction.

5. In the Create Pipe Network From Object dialog box, specify the following
parameters:
o Network Name: Storm Sewer Network
o Network Parts List: Storm Sewer
o Pipe To Create: 450 mm RCP (Reinforced concrete pipes)
o Structure To Create: Eccentric Structure 1,500 dia 530 Frame 900
Cone
o Surface Name: First Street
o Alignment Name: First Street
o Erase Existing Entity: Selected
6. Click OK.
 The pipe network is displayed in plan. A structure was created at each polyline
vertex, and a pipe was created between the structures.

View the pipe network in profile

1. Select a pipe and a structure.

2. Right-click. Click Select Similar.
3. Right-click. Click Draw Parts In Profile View.
4. Click the First Street Profile view.

The pipes and structures are displayed in the profile view. Notice that as you
specified, the direction of flow begins at the end station of the profile, and
proceeds toward the beginning station.
 5. Press Esc.

Grip edit a network part

1. Select the pipe on the far right side of the profile view.
2. Click the grip. Drag the grip up to increase the invert elevation. Click to place
the grip.

You can use grips to graphically change the position of pipes and structures in
both plan and profile.

Edit network parameters

 1. Right-click. Click Edit Network.
2. In the Network Layout Tools toolbar, click the arrow next to .

These tools enable you to add pipes or structures to the network using the
parameters you set on this toolbar.

3. Click Pipe Network Vistas.

On the Panorama window, you use the Pipes and Structures tabs to edit pipes
parametrically.

4. On the Pipes tab, in the Pipe - (1) row, change the Start Invert Elevation value to
40.
5. On the Network Layout Tools toolbar, click Pipe Network Vistas.

The pipe invert elevation changes to the specified value.

Exercise 2: Creating a Pipe Network by Layout

In this exercise, you will create a pipe network using the Autodesk Civil 3D pipe network
layout tools. The pipe network is associated with a surface and alignment, and uses
parts taken from a standard parts list.

This exercise continues from Exercise 1: Creating a Pipe Network from a Polyline.

Specify pipe network creation parameters

1. Open Pipe Networks-1B.dwg, which is located in the tutorials drawings folder.

This drawing contains an existing ground surface, an alignment, and existing

ground and layout profiles for the alignment. It also contains a surface exported
from a corridor that uses the alignment as its baseline.

2. In the drawing window, zoom to the area on the alignment between station 7+00
and 11+00.
3. In Toolspace, on the Prospector tab, expand the Pipe Networks collection, then
right-click Networks. Click Create Pipe Network By Layout.

Alternatively, you can click Home tab Create Design panel Pipe Network
drop-down Pipe Network Creation Tools

3. .
4. To select the surface taken from the corridor, in the Create Pipe Network dialog
box, in the Surface Name list, select ROAD1_SURF.
5. In the Alignment Name list, select ROAD1.
6. Click OK.
 The new pipe network is added to the Toolspace Prospector tab, Pipe Networks
Networks collection, and the Network Layout Tools toolbar is displayed. The
network currently is empty. You will add parts to the network in the following
steps.

Draw contiguous pipes and structures

1. On the Network Layout Tools toolbar, in the Structure List, expand Eccentric
Cylindrical Structure. Select Eccentric Structure 48 Dia 18 Frame 24 Cone 5 Wall
6 Floor.
2. In the Pipes List, expand Concrete Pipe. Select 18 Inch Concrete Pipe.
3. Ensure that Pipes and Structures is selected.
4. Ensure the Upslope/Downslope option is set to (downslope).
5. On the command line, enter ‘SO to activate the Station Offset Civil Transparent
command.
6. In the drawing window, click one of the alignment station labels to select the
alignment ROAD1.
7. On the command line, enter 700 as the station.
8. On the command line, enter -15 as the offset.

A catch basin is placed at the specified point. The offset is designed to position
the catch basin so that its outside edge is flush with the outside edge of the road
shoulder.

9. With the Station Offset command still active, create another structure by entering
800 for the station and -15 as the offset.

A second catch basin is created. The two structures are connected by a pipe of
the type specified in the Pipe list. The pipes follow a downhill slope based on the
corridor surface terrain and the design rules for the type and size of pipe. Later,
you will view the vertical placement of the pipes you created in a profile view.

10. To change the direction of the vertical pipe network layout, toggle the
Upslope/Downslope button to .
11. With the Station Offset command still active, create additional structures with an
offset of -15 at stations 9+50, 11+00, and 12+50.

As you place the catch basins, connecting pipes are created with slope values
specified by the design rules and the Upslope/Downslope setting.

12. Press Enter to end the Station Offset command.

Draw a curved pipe with a structure

1. Pan until you can see the segment of the alignment between station 12+50 and
Station 13+00.
2. With the drawing command still active, on the command line, enter C to begin
creating a curved pipe.
3. On the command line, enter ‘SO.
4. Create a structure at the end of the curved pipe by entering 1300 for the station
and -15 as the offset.
5. Press Enter to end the Station Offset command.
6. Press Enter to end the drawing command.