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STAAD Pro Advanced Training Manual PDF
STAAD Pro Advanced Training Manual PDF
STAAD Pro Advanced Training Manual PDF
STAAD.Pro
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2
STAAD.Pro
TRAINING MANUAL
ADVANCED TOPICS
www.reiworld.com
www.bentley.com/staad
STAAD.Pro is a suite of proprietary computer programs of
Research Engineers, a Bentley Solutions Center. Although
every effort has been made to ensure the correctness of these
programs, REI will not accept responsibility for any mistake,
error or misrepresentation in or as a result of the usage of
these programs.
2006 Bent ley Syst ems, Incorporat ed. All Right s Reserved.
1. Graphical model generation utilities as well as text editor based commands for
creating the mathematical model. Beam and column members are represented using
lines. Walls, slabs and panel type entities are represented using triangular and
quadrilateral finite elements. Solid blocks are represented using brick elements.
These utilities allow the user to create the geometry, assign properties, orient cross
sections as desired, assign materials like steel, concrete, timber, aluminum, specify
supports, apply loads explicitly as well as have the program generate loads, design
parameters etc.
2. Analysis engines for performing linear elastic and pdelta analysis, finite element
analysis, frequency extraction, and dynamic response (spectrum, time history ,
steady state, etc.).
3. Design engines for code checking and optimization of steel, aluminum and timber
members. Reinforcement calculations for concrete beams, columns, slabs and shear
walls. Design of shear and moment connections for steel members.
4. Result viewing, result verification and report generation tools for examining
displacement diagrams, bending moment and shear force diagrams, beam, plate and
solid stress contours, etc.
5. Peripheral tools for activities like import and export of data from and to ot her
widely accepted formats, links with other popular softwares for niche areas like
reinforced and prestressed concrete slab design, footing design, steel connection
design, etc.
6. A library of exposed functions called OpenSTAAD which allows users to access
STAAD.Pros internal functions and routines as well as its graphical commands to
tap into STAADs database and link input and output data to third -party software
written using languages like C, C++, VB, VBA, FORTRAN, Java, Delphi, etc.
Thus, OpenSTAAD allows users to link in-house or third-party applications with
STAAD.Pro.
About the STAAD.Pro Documentation
The documentation for STAAD.Pro consists of a set of manuals as described below.
These manuals are normally provided only in the electronic form at, with perhaps some
exceptions such as the Getting Started Manual which may be supplied as a printed book
to first time and new-version buyers.
All the manuals can be accessed from the Help facilities of STAAD.Pro. Users who
wish to obtain a printed copy of the books may contact Research Engineers. REI also
supplies the manuals in the PDF format at no cost for those who wish to print them on
their own. See the back cover of this book for addresses and phone numbers.
Getting Started and Tutorials : This manual contains information on the contents of
the STAAD.Pro package, computer system requirements, installation process, copy
protection issues and a description on how to run the programs in the package.
Tutorials that provide detailed and step -by-step explanation on using the programs are
also provided.
Examples Manual
This book offers examples of various problems that can be solved using the STAAD
engine. The examples represent various structural analyses and design problems
commonly encountered by structural engineers.
Graphical Environment
This document contains a detailed description of the Graphical User Interface (GUI) of
STAAD.Pro. The topics covered include model generation, structural analysis and
design, result verification, and report generation.
Modeling Problems
Zero Stiffness Conditions
Understanding Instabilities
Dynamic Analysis
Seismic Analysis using UBC and IBC codes
Calculating mode shapes, frequencies, participation factors
Response Spectrum Analysis
Time History Analysis for seismic accelerations
Time History Analysis subjected to a harmonic loading
Time History Analysis subjected to a random excitation
Mat Foundations
Automatic Spring Support Generation
Modeling soil supports as compression only
Viewing soil pressure diagrams and intensities
Load Generation
Moving Loads
Floor Loads
Wind Loads
Zero Stiffness
1
Question : What does a zero stiffness warning message in the STAAD output
file mean?
Question : What are examples of cases which give rise to these conditions?
Answer : Consider a frame structure where some of the members are defined
to be trusses. On this model, if a joint exists where the only
structural components connected at that node are truss members,
there is no rotational stiffness at that node along any of the global
d.o.f. If the structure is defined as STAAD PLANE, it will result
in a warning along the MZ d.o.f at that node. If it were declared as
STAAD SPACE, there will be at least 3 warnings, one for each of
MX, MY and MZ, and perhaps additional warnings for the
translational d.o.f.
Answer : The reason why these conditions are reported as warnings and not
errors is due to the fact that they may not necessarily be
detrimental to the proper transfer of loads from the structure to the
supports. If no load acts at and along the d.o.f where the stiffness
is zero, that point may not be a trouble-spot.
Answer : A zero stiffness message can be a tool for investigating the cause
of instabilities in the model. An instability is a condition where a
load applied on the structure is not able to make its way into the
supports because no paths exist for the load to flow through, and
may result in a lack of equilibrium between the applied load and
the support reaction. A zero stiffness message can tell us whether
any of those d.o.f are obstacles to the flow of the load.
Understanding Instabilities
1
Question : I have instability warning messages in my output file like that
shown below. What are these?
2 3 START MX MY MZ
This condition, along with the pinned column base, deprives the
column of any ability to transmit torsion to the base, leading to
instability about the global MY degree of freedom at the pinned
support.
While there are no simple tools for splitting elements, using finer
meshes of elements always helps. See the Generate Plate Mesh and
Generate Surface Meshing options of the Geometry menu. A beam
in the situation above may be broken up into pieces by using
means like Insert Node, or Break Beams at Selected Nodes, both of
which are in the Geometry menu.
STAAD.Pro Training Manual Advanced Topics
5
Overlapping members. When 2 members are collinear, and further,
at least one of the nodes of one of those members happens to lie
within the span of the other, but the 2 members are not connected
at that node, those 2 members are considered as overlapping
collinear members. In STAAD, the tool for detecting such
members is Tools Check Overlapping collinear members.
STAAD SPACE
UNIT FEET KIP
JOINT COORDINATES
1 0 0 0; 2 0 10 0; 3 10 10 0; 4 10 0 0; 5 13 10 0; 6 -4 10 0;
MEMBER INCIDENCES
1 1 2; 2 2 3; 3 3 4;
101 5 6
FINISH
STAAD SPACE
UNIT FEET KIP
JOINT COORDINATES
1 0 0 0; 2 0 10 0; 3 10 10 0; 4 10 0 0; 5 13 10 0; 6 -4 10 0;
MEMBER INCIDENCES
1 1 2; 2 2 3; 3 3 4;
101 2 5
FINISH
Answer : There are many situations where instabilities are unimportant and
the STAAD approach of adding a weak spring is an ideal solution
to the problem. For example, sometimes an engineer will release
the MX torsion in a single beam or at the ends of a series of
members such that technically the members are unstable in torsion.
If there is no torque applied, this singularity can safely be "fixed"
by STAAD with a weak torsional spring.
Question : If there are instability messages, are there any simple checks to
verify whether my analysis results are satisfactory?
5 START MY MZ
5 START MP 0.99
you are saying that the bending and torsional stiffnesses are 99%
less than what they would be for a fully moment resistant
connection. Thus, the 1% available stiffness might be adequate to
allow the load to pass through the node from one member to the
other.
MEMBER TRUSS
to
MEMBER RELEASE
memb-list START MP 0.99
memb-list END MP 0.99
or
MEMBER RELEASE
memb-list Both MP 0.99
MEMBER RELEASE
memb-list Both MPX 0.99 MPY 0.97 MPZ 0.95
Answer : Yes, there is. Go to the Post processing mode. If instabilities are
present, the Nodes page along the left side should contain a sub-
page by the name Instability. If you click on this, two tables will
appear along the right hand side.
The upper table lists the node number, and the global degrees of
freedom at that node which are unstable. A zero for a d.o.f
indicates that all is well, and, 1 indicates it is unstable. Click on
the row and the node and all members connected to it will be
highlighted in the drawing.
The lower table has all of the joints in the order that gives the
stiffness matrix the minimum bandwidth which minimizes the
running time. When a joint is unstable, it means that the joint and
some or all of the joints before it in the list form an unstable
structure. That is, even fixing every subsequent joint in the list
would not make it stable.
STAAD.Pro Training Manual Advanced Topics
13
If the instability is at the last joint [or sometimes the last joint and
one other joint], then the whole structure is free in that direction.
Note that the instability is reported at the last joint in the list that
is on the unstable component. If a column is pinned at the base
and floor connections are released in global My, the column will
be torsionally unstable, but only one joint on the column will be
reported as unstable and it could be any joint on the column.
STAAD.Pro Training Manual Advanced Topics
14
Seismic Analysis Using
UBC And IBC Codes
1
Basic principle
Step 1 : Calculate
Step 2 : The base shear is then distributed over the height of the
building as a series of point loads.
or
contains the terms used to compute "f" and "W" described in step
1.
STAAD SPACE
SET NL 5
REPEAT ALL 1 0 0 11
MEMBER INCI
1 1 2 5 ; 6 1 3 ; 7 4 6 ; 8 2 7 ; 9 7 8 10 ; 11 9 5 ; 12 2 8 ; 13 5 8
21 10 11 25 ; 26 10 12 ; 27 13 15 ; 28 11 16 ; 29 16 17 30 ; 31 18
14
32 11 17 ; 33 14 17
41 2 11 44
45 7 16 47
51 1 11
52 10 2
53 2 16
54 11 7
55 6 14
56 15 5
57 5 18
58 14 9
MEMBER PROPERTIES
1 5 8 11 21 25 28 31 TA ST W14X90
2 3 4 22 23 24 TA ST W18X35
9 10 29 30 TA ST W21X50
41 TO 44 TA D C12X30
45 TO 47 TA D C15X40
6 7 26 27 TA ST HSST20X12X0.5
51 TO 58 TA LD L50308
12 13 32 33 TA ST TUB2001205
STAAD.Pro Training Manual Advanced Topics
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Various section types are used in this model. Among them are
double channels, hollow structural sections and double angles.
CONSTANTS
E STEEL ALL
POISSON STEEL ALL
DENSITY STEEL ALL
SUPPORT
1 6 10 15 FIXED
MEMBER TENSION
51 TO 58
UNIT POUND
DEFINE UBC ACCIDENTAL LOAD
ZONE 0.3 I 1 RWX 2.9 RWZ 2.9 STYP 4 NA 1 NV 1
SELFWEIGHT
FLOOR WEIGHT
YRANGE 9 11 FLOAD 0.4
YRANGE 20 21 FLOAD 0.3
LOAD 1
UBC LOAD X
This is the second stage in which the UBC load is applied with the
help of load case number, corresponding direction (X in the above
case) and a factor by which the generated horizontal loads should
be multiplied. Along with the UBC load, deadweight and other
vertical loads may be added to the same load case (they are not in
this example).
LOAD 2
UBC LOAD Z
The program will identify the members lying within the specified
region and derive MEMBER LOADS on these members based on
two-way load distribution.
PERFORM ANALYSIS
CHANGE
LOAD 4
REPEAT LOAD
1 1.0 3 1.0
LOAD 5
REPEAT LOAD
2 1.0 3 1.0
LOAD LIST 4 5
FINISH
That means, one has to first come up with static loads. These are
calculated usually using an equation called
H = constant x V
or
Answer : The UBC and IBC codes involve determination of the period based
on 2 methods - Method A and Method B. The value based on
Method A is called Ta. The value based on Method B is called Tb.
Answer : The JOINT WEIGHT option is specified under the DEFINE UBC
LOAD command and is used merely to assemble the weight values
which make up the value of "W" in the UBC equations. In other
words, it is the amount of lumped weight at the joint and a fraction
of this weight eventually makes up the total base shear for the
structure.
Answer : Use the "ACC f2" option as explained in the command syntax in
section 5.32.12 of the Technical Reference manual. You can
specify a negative value for f2 if you want the minus sign for the
torsional moments. You will need STAAD.Pro 2003 to use this.
STAAD.Pro Training Manual Advanced Topics
10
Question : How do I display the Load values of an IBC2000 load case?
Answer : First run the analysis. Then go to the View menu, choose Structure
Diagrams. Click on the Loads and Results tab. Select the load case
corresponding to the IBC load command. Switch on the checkbox
for Loads, click on OK.
Calculating Mode Shapes, Frequencies
And
Participation factors
1
In STAAD, there are 2 methods for obtaining the frequencies of a
structure.
For the eigensolution method, the user is required to specify all the
masses in the model along with the directions they are capable of
vibrating in. If this data is correctly provided, the program extracts
as many modes as the user requests (default value is 6) in
ascending order of strain energy. The mode shapes can be viewed
graphically to verify that they make sense.
STAAD.Pro Training Manual Advanced Topics
2
Eigenvalue extraction method
STAAD SPACE
JOINT COORDINATES
1 0 0 0; 2 0 0 20; 3 20 0 0; 4 20 0 20; 5 40 0 0; 6 40 0 20; 7 0 15 0;
8 0 15 5; 9 0 15 10; 10 0 15 15; 11 0 15 20; 12 5 15 0; 13 10 15 0;
14 15 15 0; 15 5 15 20; 16 10 15 20; 17 15 15 20; 18 20 15 0;
19 20 15 5; 20 20 15 10; 21 20 15 15; 22 20 15 20; 23 25 15 0;
24 30 15 0; 25 35 15 0; 26 25 15 20; 27 30 15 20; 28 35 15 20;
29 40 15 0; 30 40 15 5; 31 40 15 10; 32 40 15 15; 33 40 15 20;
34 20 3.75 0; 35 20 7.5 0; 36 20 11.25 0; 37 20 3.75 20; 38 20 7.5 20;
39 20 11.25 20; 40 5 15 5; 41 5 15 10; 42 5 15 15; 43 10 15 5;
44 10 15 10; 45 10 15 15; 46 15 15 5; 47 15 15 10; 48 15 15 15;
49 25 15 5; 50 25 15 10; 51 25 15 15; 52 30 15 5; 53 30 15 10;
54 30 15 15; 55 35 15 5; 56 35 15 10; 57 35 15 15; 58 20 11.25 5;
59 20 11.25 10; 60 20 11.25 15; 61 20 7.5 5; 62 20 7.5 10; 63 20 7.5 15;
64 20 3.75 5; 65 20 3.75 10; 66 20 3.75 15; 67 20 0 5; 68 20 0 10;
69 20 0 15;
MEMBER INCIDENCES
1 1 7; 2 2 11; 3 3 34; 4 34 35; 5 35 36; 6 36 18; 7 4 37; 8 37 38;
9 38 39; 10 39 22; 11 5 29; 12 6 33; 13 7 8; 14 8 9; 15 9 10; 16 10 11;
17 18 19; 18 19 20; 19 20 21; 20 21 22; 21 29 30; 22 30 31; 23 31 32;
24 32 33; 25 7 12; 26 12 13; 27 13 14; 28 14 18; 29 18 23; 30 23 24;
31 24 25; 32 25 29; 33 11 15; 34 15 16; 35 16 17; 36 17 22; 37 22 26;
38 26 27; 39 27 28; 40 28 33;
MEMBER PROPERTY
1 TO 40 PRIS YD 1 ZD 1
ELEMENT PROPERTY
41 TO 88 THICKNESS 0.5
CONSTANTS
E CONCRETE ALL
DENSITY CONCRETE ALL
POISSON CONCRETE ALL
SUPPORTS
1 TO 6 FIXED
SELFWEIGHT X 1.0
SELFWEIGHT Y 1.0
SELFWEIGHT Z 1.0
ELEMENT LOAD
41 TO 88 PR GX 300.0
41 TO 88 PR GY 300.0
41 TO 88 PR GZ 300.0
STAAD.Pro Training Manual Advanced Topics
7
PERFORM ANALYSIS
FINISH
After the analysis is completed, look at the output file. This file
can be viewed from File - View - Output File - STAAD output.
2 [ m ] { q } - [ K ] { q } = o
Where
[ m ] = the mass matrix (assumed to be diagonal, i.e., no
mass coupling)
= the natural frequencies (eigenvalues)
{ q } = the normalized mode shapes (eigenvectors)
N
(q j,i )( w j,i )
Qi = j=1
GW
The base shear, for a given mode for a given direction, reported in
the response spectrum analysis is obtained as
A*B*C*D
where
Question : What is the Scale Factor (f4) that needs to be provided when
specifying the Response Spectra?
Answer : The spectrum data consists of pairs of values which are Period vs.
Accn. or Period vs. Displacement. The acceleration or
displacement values that you obtain from the geological data for
that site may have been provided to you as normalized values or
un-normalized values. Normalization means that the values of
acceleration or displacement have been divided by a number
(called normalization factor) which represents some reference
value. One of the commonly used normalization factors is 'g', the
acceleration due to gravity.
Call the result T(m) where "m" stands for the mode number.
STAAD.Pro Training Manual Advanced Topics
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Once the T(m) is determined for all modes, subject them to the
SRSS calculation. That will provide the node displacement
corresponding to that degree of freedom.
Question : The results of the response spectrum load case are always positive
numbers. Why? How do I know that the positive value is always
critical, especially from the design standpoint?
LOAD COMB 10
1 1.1 5 1.3
LOAD COMB 11
1 1.1 5 -1.3
and use the critical value from amongst these 2 load combination
cases for design purposes. What you accomplish from this process
is that you are considering a positive effect as well as the negative
effect of the spectrum load case.
STAAD.Pro Training Manual Advanced Topics
7
Question : In the Technical Reference manual section 5.32.10.1, you state: "
Note, if data is in g acceleration units, then set SCALE to a
conversion factor to the current length unit (9.81, 386.4, etc.)"
What does "g acceleration units" mean?
Related question : What is the Scale Factor (f4) that needs to be provided
when specifying the Response Spectra?
Answer : The spectrum data consists of pairs of values which are Period vs.
Accn. or Period vs. Displacement. The acceleration or
displacement values that you obtain from the geological data for
that site may have been provided to you as normalized values or
un-normalized values. Normalization means that the values of
acceleration or displacement have been divided by a number
(called normalization factor) which represents some reference
value. One of the commonly used normalization factors is 'g', the
acceleration due to gravity.
First of all, dead loads are always applied in the Y axis direction
(downwards). When Im going to run a spectrum analysis and I use
the same dead loads, do I have to modify the direction of the
loads?
Answer : The load data you provide in the load case in which the
SPECTRUM command is specified goes into the making of the
mass matrix. The mass matrix is supposed to be populated with
terms for all the global directions in which the structure is capable
of vibrating. To enable this, the loads must be specified in all the
possible directions of vibration.
SELFWEIGHT X 1
SELFWEIGHT Y 1
SELFWEIGHT Z 1
STAAD.Pro Training Manual Advanced Topics
9
MEMBER LOAD
JOINT LOAD
420 424 FX 47.32
389 TO 391 FX 560
Answer : Yes.
Question : Can I decide how many modes I want to include in the spectrum
analysis?
Answer : Use the command CUT OFF MODE SHAPE. Refer to example
problems 11, 28, 29, etc.
Question : In the results, what are the dynamic, missing, and modal weights?
Answer : The dynamic weight line contains the total potential weight for base
shear calculations. Missing Weight is the amount of weight
missing in the modes; Modal weight is the total weight actually
used in the modes. If you algebraically add up Dynamic &
Missing, you should get Modal.
When you combine these results with those from the dead load
case, it leads to the same value at both supports.
STAAD.Pro Training Manual Advanced Topics
12
If you want the results to truly reflect the sign, use a static
equivalent method like that stipulated by the UBC code.
Alternatively, perform a time history analysis where the sign of the
values is obtained for each time step.
Question : Is it possible to get the vertical distribution of the total base shear
in a response spectrum analysis, like one can for a UBC analysis?
Question : Can you please let me know if we can print nodal acceleration
from response spectra runs? If so, how do I print the data in the
report format or display it in the Post-Processing mode?
Answer : Add the word SAVE at the end of the SPECTRUM command. A
.ACC file will be created.
Answer : The results are statistical, SRSS, CQC, etc. The numbers are all
peak positive values. Since each of the reactions at the time of
peak base shear could be less than that reaction's peak and could
be positive or negative, it is likely that the peak base shear will be
much less than the sum of the peak reactions.
STAAD.Pro Training Manual Advanced Topics
13
There is no way to distribute the base shear to the supports. Even
if you could, that would not be the peak reaction at the support, the
reaction printed by STAAD is the peak value. If there are several
components of reaction at a joint, these are peak values that may
have occurred at different times.
Question : The base shear reported by STAAD does not match with the
Summation of Support Reactions in the relevant direction. I want
to know the reason for the same.
Answer : When the SRSS method is used, all results from a Response
Spectrum analysis are a result of a square root of a sum of the
squares (SRSS) of the desired output quantity from each mode.
The reactions within a single mode may have equal and opposite
reactions of the various supports such that the base shear for that
mode is near zero. Therefore the contribution of that mode to a
SRSS of all the modal base shears will be nearly zero.
Of course if all the support reactions in all of the modes have the
same sign, then the answers will be close.
Answer : If the base shear is spread over many frequencies, the Response
Spectrum method will result in a base shear that is much lower
than an absolute sum of the base shears of all the modes. The
theory of SRSS combination is that the peak value from each mode
will occur at a different time and is statistically independent. In
STAAD.Pro Training Manual Advanced Topics
14
STAAD 200x the base shear is also printed using Absolute Sum
combination which assumes that the modes are all in phase and
peaks occur at the same time. You will note that in many problems
the absolute sum result is much higher than the SRSS result. I
believe that the UBC approach is closer to the absolute response
since a static case is entirely in phase.
For close spaced eigenvalues the CQC method will amplify the
response of those modes as compared to the SRSS method.
******************************************************
***
Support# Mode 1 Mode 2 Sum of Squares Square root
Reaction Reaction SRSS
1586 = 39.8
******************************************************
***
Note that SRSS base shear (39.8) does not equal the sum of the
SRSS reactions (18.0+19.6+46.2+12.4=96.2). In effect the
procedure says that the maximum likely reaction value at each
support is as shown. However the maximum likely sum is the Base
shear as shown. This is due to the fact that the individual
maximums would not occur at the same time and not necessarily
with the same sign. So the base shear magnitude is usually much
less than the sum of the reactions.
Load combination 5 will not produce the same result as load case
3. An earthquake with a 100% intensity in X and another with a
100% intensity in Z is not the same as one with a 141.4% intensity
at a 45 degree angle to X and Z. The combination methods such as
SRSS or CQC are not linear.
Example :
UNIT METER
DEFINE TIME HISTORY
TYPE 1 ACCELERATION SCALE 9.806
READ EQDATA.TXT
ARRIVAL TIME
0.0
DAMPING 0.05
0.0000 0.006300
0.0200 0.003640
0.0400 0.000990
0.0600 0.004280
0.0800 0.007580
0.1000 0.010870
While it may not be apparent from the above numbers, it may also
be noted that the geological data for the site the building sits on
indicate that the above acceleration values are a fraction of "g",
the acceleration due to gravity. Thus, for example, at 0.02 seconds,
the acceleration is 0.00364 multiplied by 9.806 m/sec^2 (or
0.00364 multiplied by 32.2 ft/sec^2). Consequently, the burden of
informing the program that the values need to be multiplied by "g"
is upon us. We do that by specifying the term SCALE 9.806
alongside TYPE 1 ACCELERATION.
The arrival time value indicates the relative value of time at which
the earthquake begins to act upon the structure. We have chosen
0.0, as there is no other dynamic load on the structure from the
relative time standpoint. The modal damping ratio for all the
modes is set to 0.05.
Stage 2 :
SELFWEIGHT X 1.0
SELFWEIGHT Y 1.0
SELFWEIGHT Z 1.0
ELEMENT LOAD
41 TO 88 PR GX 300.0
41 TO 88 PR GY 300.0
41 TO 88 PR GZ 300.0
STAAD.Pro Training Manual Advanced Topics
3
Load case 3 is the dynamic load case, the one which contains the
second part of the instruction set for a dynamic analysis to be
performed. The data here are
a. loads which will yield the mass values which will populate
the mass matrix
GROUND MOTION X 1 1
The above command too is part of load case 3. Here we say that
the seismic force, whose characteristics are defined by the TYPE 1
time history input data, acting at arrival time 1, is to be applied
along the X direction.
Example:
LOAD 1
F (t) = F0sin ( t + )
The word FORCE that follows the TYPE n command signifies that
this data set is for a forcing function. (If one wishes to specify an
earthquake motion, an ACCELERATION may be specified.)
The weights (from which the masses for the mass matrix are
obtained) are specified in the form of selfweight and joint loads.
LOAD COMB 3
1 1.2 2 1.4
The static and dynamic load cases are combined through the above
case.
PERFORM ANALYSIS
2 [ m ] { q } - [ K ] { q } = o
Where
N
(q j,i )( w j,i )
Qi = j=1
GW
Hence, while specifying the joint-list, one should make sure that
these joints make up a closed surface. Without a proper closed
surface, the area calculated for the region may be indeterminate
and the spring constant values may be erroneous. Consequently,
the list should have at a minimum, 3 nodes.
The example below explains the method that may be used to get
around a situation where a convex polygon is not available.
For the model comprised of plate elements 100 to 102 in the figure
below, one wishes to generate the spring supports at nodes 1 to 8.
However, a single ELASTIC MAT command will not suffice
because the internal angle between the edges 1-8 and 8-7 at node 8
is 270 degrees, which violates the requirements of a convex
polygon.
STAAD.Pro Training Manual Advanced Topics
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So, one should break it up into 2 commands:
Joints 3 and 8 will hence get the contribution from both of the
above commands.
Example
SUPPORTS
17054 TO 17081 PLATE MAT DIR YONLY SUBGRADE 5000.0
PRINT
YR -.01 0.01 PLATE MAT DIR YONLY SUBGRADE 5000.0
Answer : This may be done by using the ELASTIC MAT or PLATE MAT
command in conjunction with the SPRING COMPRESSION
command. The program iteratively solves the problem so that the
final answer reflects the condition corresponding to actual contact
between slab & soil. Example problem 27 illustrates this.
Answer : Yes. Use the PRINT option available with the ELASTIC MAT or
PLATE MAT commands. This will produce a report of the
influence areas. An example of such a report is shown below.
Question : How does subgrade modulus differ from soil bearing capacity?
Answer : One doesn't use the bearing capacity of soil to determine the
subgrade modulus. Instead, it is a separate attribute of soil. If you
have a look at the text book "Foundation Analysis and Design" by
Joseph Bowles, you will find a few sections devoted to that topic,
with specific values listed for specific types of soil.
The above lines represent the first out of two sets of data required
in moving load generation. The type number (1) is a label for
identification of the load-causing unit, such as a truck. 3 axles (
119.6 108.3 94.5) are specified with the LOAD command. The
spacing between the axles in the direction of movement
(longitudinal direction) is specified after the DISTANCE
command. Since there are 3 axles, there are 2 spacings between
them. WIDTH is the spacing in the transverse direction, that is, it
is the distance between the 2 prongs of an axle of the truck. For
the TYPE 2 truck, there are 4 axles and 3 spacings.
LOAD 1
SELF Y -1.0
LOAD GENERATION 75
TYPE 1 -3.278 0. 4. XINC 1.5
TYPE 2 -3.9 0. 6. XINC 1.5
This constitutes the second of the two sets of data required for
moving load generation. 75 load cases are generated using the
Type 1 and Type 2 vehicles whose characteristics were described
earlier. For the first of these load cases, the X, Y and Z location of
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the reference load (see section 5.31.1 of the Technical Reference
Manual) have been specified after the command TYPE 1 and TYPE
2 respectively. The X Increment of 1.5ft denotes that the vehicle
moves along the X direction and the individual positions which are
1.5ft apart will be used to generate the remaining 74 load cases.
Answer : Use the same procedure as in the case of a bridge. Set the WIDTH
value to zero.
Question : Could you tell me how I can display the generated moving loads
graphically? I want to see whether I enter and generate the moving
loads correctly.
First, make sure the input file does have the commands required to
generate loads from a vehicle. Example 12 is a good reference.
LOAD 1
LOAD 2
LOAD 3
LOAD GENERATION 30
then, after the analysis, the load selection box will list them as
LOAD 1
LOAD 2
LOAD 3
LOAD GENERATION, LOAD # 4
LOAD GENERATION, LOAD # 5
LOAD GENERATION, LOAD # 6
etc.
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Select those cases, and switch on the load display icon. Or, right
click the mouse on the drawing area. Select Structure Diagrams. In
the Loads and Results tab, switch on the check box for Loads,
select the load case from the list, and click on Apply. Keep
changing the load case, and keep clicking on Apply.
Answer : Yes you can. Have a look at Section 5.32.12 of the Technical Ref
Manual. You will find an option called YRANGE. So, have the
load located at an elevation below the lower node of the member,
and provide a YRANGE which will enable the program to apply
the load on members whose longitudinal axis lie in the range
between the lower and upper ends of the inclined member.
Question : How do I define the moving load data through an external file?
AXLTYP1
10 20 15
5.0 7.5
6.0
AXLTYP2
20 20
10
7.5
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Pressure loads on panels Floor loads
1
Question : I am modeling a steel building consisting of columns and beams.
The floor slab is a non-structural entity, which, though capable of
carrying the loads acting on it, is not meant to be an integral part
of the framing system. It merely transmits the load to the beam-
column grid.
There are uniform area loads on the floor (think of the load as
wooden pallets supporting boxes of paper). Since the slab is not
part of the structural model, is there a way to tell the program to
transmit the load to the beams without manually figuring out the
beam loads on my own?
Answer: STAAD's FLOOR LOAD option is ideally suited for such cases.
This is a facility where you specify the load as a pressure, and the
program converts the pressure to individual beam loads. Thus, the
input required from the user is very simple - load intensity in the
form of pressure, and the region of the structure in terms of X, Y
and Z coordinates in space, of the area over which the pressure
acts.
Users can verify the accuracy of the values of the joint and
member loads generated by the FLOOR LOAD and AREA LOAD
option by using the command
The output file will contain the values of the generated loads. If
the values are not what you expect, you may directly specify the
JOINT LOADs and MEMBER LOADs on those members instead
of using the FLOOR LOAD option to generate loads for those
members.
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STAAD also provides an option called ONEWAY load if the
distribution is desired along the shorter direction of a panel instead
of a 2-way action. This and additional information on the FLOOR
LOAD facility is available in example problem 15 in the examples
manual, and section 5.32.4 in the STAAD.Pro Technical Reference
manual.
Question : Are there any graphical tools to examine the individual panels the
program considers in processing the floor load command?
Answer : Yes. Click the right mouse button, and select Labels. Under
Loading Display Options, Display Floor Load Distribution will
show the division of panels into influence areas based on a color-
coded scheme (see figure below). Display Floor Loads will show
the triangular and trapezoidal loading on the individual members
around each panel.
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Question : When does one use FLOOR LOAD and when does one use
ELEMENT LOAD?
Answer : When modeling a grid system made up of horizontal beams and the
slabs which span between the beams, there are 2 approaches one
may take :
1. Model the beams only, and do not include the slabs in the
model. However, the large in-plane stiffness of the slab may
be taken into account by using the master-slave relationship
to tie together the nodes of the deck so that a rigid diaphragm
effect is simulated for the horizontal plane at the slab level.
The question that arises is, how does one account for the
distributed loading (load per area of floor) which is present on top
of the slab?
If you model the structure using method (1), the load can be
assumed to be transferred directly on to the beams. The slab-beam
grillage is assumed to be made up of a number of panels, similar to
the squares of a chessboard. The load on each panel is then
transferred to beams surrounding the panel, using a triangular or
trapezoidal load distribution method. You can do this in STAAD
by defining the load intensity in the FLOOR LOAD command. In
other words, the pressure load on the slabs (which are not included
in the model) are converted to individual beam loads by utilizing
the FLOOR LOAD facility.
In method (2), the fact that the slab is part of the model makes it
very easy to handle the load. The load can be applied on individual
elements using the ELEMENT LOAD facility. The connectivity
between the beams and elements ensures that the load will flow
from the plates to the beams through the columns to the supports.
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Question : I have a floor made up of several panels. The floor consists of
straight-line edges but with a concave face and a convex face, like
a boomerang.
The total floor area is 381 sq.m. and I am applying a floor load of
1 t/sq.m. on the entire area. Thus, expecting a total load of 381 t.
From analysis I get total load as 810.2 t which is not correct.
When I try to apply floor load to individual panel I get nearly the
expected load. But when the floor load is applied on group of
panels or on entire area, graphically it shows wrong distribution of
load and total load is also not correct.
Answer : The problem you mention is one of the limitations of the floor load
routine. If you have a floor whose shape contains a mixture of
concave and convex edges, break up the floor load command into
several parts, as you have done. This will force the program to
localize its search for panels and the solution will be much better.
If you don't do this, the entire floor will end up being treated as
one giant panel with unsatisfactory results.
The example below illustrates a case where the floor has to be sub-
divided into smaller regions for the floor load generation to yield
proper results. The internal angle at node 6 between the sides 108
and 111 exceeds 180 degrees. A similar situation exists at node 7
also. As a result, the following command
LOAD 1
FLOOR LOAD
YRANGE 11.9 12.1 FLOAD -0.35
LOAD 1
FLOOR LOAD
YRANGE 11.9 12.1 FLOAD -0.35 XRANGE -0.1 15.1
ZRANGE -0.1 8.1
YRANGE 11.9 12.1 FLOAD 0.35 XRANGE 4.9 10.1
ZRANGE -7.9 16.1
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Wind load generation
1
Description
The numbers which follow the word INTENSITY are the wind
pressures. The first intensity acts from the ground (the datum) to
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10 ft, the second from 10 ft to 30 ft, and so on. EXPOSURE
factors, which are magnification or reduction factors for the
resulting generated loads should be specified if their value is
different from 1.0. Here, all nodes between 0 and 75 feet are
assigned a value 1.2.
LOAD 1 DW
SELFWEIGHT Y -1.
LOAD 2 WIND
WIND LOAD X -1. TYPE 1
LOAD 3 WINDZ
WIND LOAD Z 1. TYPE 1
Question : What is the significance of the TYPE command and the number
that follows?
Answer : STAAD permits the definition of several different wind loads, each
with certain characteristics. In order to distinguish the wind load
having one set of characteristics from another wind load with a
different set of characteristics, each wind load is identified using a
TYPE command followed by an identification number. In other
words, the TYPE command and the number are entirely a creation
of the user. They are not terminologies that the user will find from
any code or handbook that provides guidelines on loading for
structures. The advantage of this feature is that the user is now
able to communicate to the program information such as that the
wind pressure is different at different heights, the structure has
openings at certain heights and so on.
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Question : What is Wind Intensity?
Answer : Wind intensity as required for input in STAAD is merely the wind
pressure in units of Force per unit area. The user is required to
compute the pressure from any coefficients that codes require.
Question : Does the wind load command in STAAD take into account any
wind codes like ASCE 7? Does it take into account the drag factor,
or shape factor for different shapes like angle, channel etc.
Multiply the influence area of each joint by the wind intensity and
the exposure factor for the joint. This will yield the concentrated
horizontal force for the joint. The exposure factor becomes useful
for situations where the entire panel area is not effective due to the
presence of openings or needs to be magnified due to a curvilinear
shape of the load bearing panel.
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Question : If I have wind speeds from different directions acting on a tower
having (round shaped) discs fitted to it, how can I make the
software take the discs into account which are also exposed to
wind?
Answer : The influence area calculation will work correctly if and only if the
exposed area is parallel to one of the global planes. A region
which is curvilinear in shape cannot be handled by the program.
Question : What if the windward face of the structure is inclined to the X and
Z axes, viz., not perpendicular to X or Z axes?
Answer : The feature works best when the panels are parallel to one of the
global planes. The program does have some capability for
generating loads on inclined planes too. However, if the user finds
the results unsatisfactory, other load generation methods like the
"ELEMENT LOAD JOINTS" option may be used.
Answer : The command syntax accommodates all of the above. For example,
along the X direction, the following four types are allowed.
WIND LOAD +X +f
WIND LOAD -X +f
WIND LOAD +X -f
WIND LOAD -X +f
See the figure below for the meaning of the four commands.
Y Y
X or Z X or Z
X or Z +f -X or -Z +f
Y Y
X or Z X or Z
X or Z -f -X or -Z -f
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Question : Can STAAD perform wind load generation on open-lattice
structures?
Answer : In STAAD.Pro 2004, the wind load generation facility has been
enhanced for generating loads on open structures too. These are
structures like electrical transmission towers, in which the region
between members is open allowing the wind to blow through.
For those, the program first calculates the exposed surface area of
individual members of the model. Then, that exposed area is
multiplied by the wind pressure and divided by the member length
to arrive at a uniform distributed member load. It is assumed that
all members of the structure within the specified ranges are
subjected to the pressure and hence, they will all received the load.
The concept of members on the windward side shielding the
members in the inside regions of the structure does not exist for
open structures.