STAAD.

Pro 2003, 2 nd edition Software Release Report

16

AD.2003.28.8 Auto Load Combination Generator

Purpose

The new automatic load generator feature enables the user to assign
load types to primary load cases (like dead, live, wind, etc.) and
automatically create load combinations based on standard load
combination factors from codes like UBC, IBC, ASCE, etc.

Description

In order to use this new feature, primary load cases must be

created. When creating primary load cases, a new option to define
them in a certain load category type has been included. A load type
can be assigned to a primary load case either at the time when the
load is being created or afterwards. To assign a load type at the
time the primary load case is being created, click on the Load tab
page from the General page mode.

Figure 14
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If no load cases have yet been defined for the model, the following
dialog box will appear.

Figure 15

If the model already contains previously defined load cases, a

dialog box like the one shown below will appear.

Figure 16

In both cases, one can create a new case by keeping the radio
button on Create New Primary Load Case. Associate this load case
with one of the load types which can be selected from the drop-
down list box.
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Figure 17

The available load types are the following :

Dead
Live
Wind
Seismic
Snow
Rain Water/Ice
Dust
Traffic
Temperature
Imperfection
Accidental
Mass

If you do not wish to associate the load case with any of these
types, choose None.
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To add subsequent new load cases, click on the New Load button.

Figure 18

Specify the load case number, and associate the load case with one
of the choices in the drop-down list, or choose None if you do not
wish to associate the case with any of those.

Figure 19

When a primary load case is assigned to a particular load type, it

will automatically be assigned a certain load factor when included
in a load combination generation. To change (or assign) the load
type for a primary load case, go to Commands | Loading | Define
Primary Load Types from the main menu.
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Figure 20

Select or edit the load type assigned to a specific primary load case
using the dialog box shown in the next figure.

Figure 21
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Once primary load cases have been assigned load types,
combinations based on specific design code factors can be created.

To create an automatic load combination based on a specific code,

click on the New Load button from the Loads dialog box and
choose New Load Combination (Auto). The New Load
Combination (Manual) option allows the user to create a user-
defined load combination with user-defined factors. A dialog box
prompting for the design code to be used in creating the load
combination will appear.

Figure 22

The load types available in this release include the following:

AISC
LRFD 3 rd Edition
BOCA 99
UBC 97
UBC 94
IBC 2000
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After selecting a design code, click on the Generate Loads button
to create all the load combinations. The generated load
combinations, with their associated load factors, are shown in the
Selected Load Combinations list on the right-hand side.

Figure 23

To eliminate certain generated combinations, simply select the

combinations to be deleted and use the button to move them

to the left column. The button discards all the generated load
combinations. To accept the Selected Load Combinations, click on
the Add Combinations button.
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In the STAAD Input File, the generated load combinations look
like the following:

Figure 24

The syntax Generated xxx n, where xxx is the design code name
(AISC, BOCA, etc.) and n is the index in the series of load
combinations generated for a specific code, are interpreted by
STAAD. Deleting any of the aforementioned keywords will break
STAADs ability to read back in the generated load combinations.
The following are some important caveats to keep in mind when
using the automatic load combination generator:

If the automatically generated load combinations are edited (or

deleted) from the STAAD input file, they will be reflected in
the graphical interface as well.
The load combination numbers (i.e. LOAD COMB n
GENERATED AISC 1) can also be edited from the input file.
Deleting the keyword GENERATED code index will remove
that particular load combination from the automatically
generated list. It will not remove the load combination.
The factors assigned to the primary load cases in a generated
load combination CANNOT be changed in the graphical
interface using the Combine button from the Loads dialog
box.