Understanding the input required for UBC/IBC

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Question:

During the analysis of a model for seismic loading, the program stops running. The
output file contains the following message. What does it indicate?

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Answer:

Input for seismic load generation per UBC or IBC codes has 2 parts:

1. The terms like Importance factor, Rw factor, Soil Type factors, etc. This you have already
specified, and the evidence of it can be seen in the earlier picture in the form of the line

The terms PX and PZ should be specified only if you want to override what STAAD calculates as
periods for the structure in X and Z directions. If you are not sure, it is best not to specify PX and
PZ. The same argument is applicable for CT also.

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2. The weights which go towards the making of the term W in the UBC equation

V=Cs*W

The W is made up of various weights like selfweight, weight of items on slab panels, weights
from distributed loads on members, etc. These are described in STAAD using names like

SELFWEIGHT
JOINT WEIGHT
MEMBER WEIGHT
FLOOR WEIGHT
ELEMENT WEIGHT

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You have not specified these, and the error message you encountered is stating that fact.

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If we were to assume that the weights on your building - from which the seismic lateral loads are
to be generated - come from 2 sources, namely, selfweight, and, and a distributed pressure of
500 lb/sq.ft. on the floors which is termed in STAAD as FLOOR WEIGHT, the commands in your
file will look like the following once you assign them.

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