Foundation tab Page1of1

User Interface

Foundation tab
Used to create spring supports for independent footings and mat foundations and to assign them to
selected nodes.

Supports can be created and assigned from the General | Support.

Refer to Section 5.27.3 of the Technical Reference manual for additional details on Foundation
supports.
Create Support dialog Foundation tab

Foundation

Footing - Select this option to define a spring support for an isolated footing. Provide the
Length (L) and Width (W) dimensions of the footing in current units.

In generating spring supports for mat foundations, there are 2 methods available in STAAD.
Both those options require the program to calculate the influence area of the nodes which
define the surface, and then multiply that area by the subgrade modulus of the medium. The
difference between these 2 options lies in the way the influence area is calculated.

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Foundation tab Page2of2

Elastic Mat - In this method, the area is calculated using a Delaunay triangle principle. Hence,
the candidates for this option are the nodes which define the mat. To achieve best results, one
needs to ensure that the contour formed by the nodes form a convex hull.

Plate Mat - If the foundation slab is modeled using plate elements, the spring supports can be
generated using an influence area calculated using the principles used in determining the
tributary area of nodes from the finite element modeling standpoint. Hence, the candidates
for this option are the plates which define the mat. When the mat is modeled using plates, this
produces superior results than the ELASTIC MAT type.
Direction

The X,Y, Z, XONLY, YONLY, and ZONLY indicate the direction of resistance of the spring
supports. If X ,Y or Z is selected, then a spring support is generated in that direction only
whereas the associated rotational degree of freedom and the other two translational d.o.f
receive a fixed support. For example, if Y is selected, then FY is supported by a spring support,
where as MY, FX and FZ are fixed supports; and MX and MZ are free. If XONLY, YONLY, or
ZONLY is selected, then a spring support in that direction alone is generated, and every other
d.o.f is set to be free to deform.
Subgrade

Provide a value for the subgrade Modulus of the soil.

Print Influence Area of Each Joint

(For Mat footing options only) Select this option to have the influence area of each support
included in the output. The are used in the calculation of the spring stiffness of each joint used
when defining a Plate Mat or Elastic Mat command will be included.
Generate Compression Only/Multi-linear Spring

(For Mat footing options only) When the Compression Only option is set, then if after any of
the cycles of analysis, the force at a node included in the command range (in the elastic mat
range or used to define a plate in the plate mat range) is found to be tensile (i.e. negative
reaction), then the load case is marked for a re-analysis with that support removed.

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