Computer Application in Structural Engineering CES 002

ACTIVITY 1. Using the File Command

Using the Structure in the below figure, do the following

1. Number all Nodes starting from Node 1

2. Number all beams
3. Number all Plates
4. Write on the Figure the coordinate of each node (check the XYZ icon at the lower
left corner of the figure
5. Write the three sections of Joint Coordinates, Member Incidences, and Element
Incidences

3m

3m

1 Engr. Jica Jaravata De La Cruz

 Computer Application in Structural Engineering CES 002

JOINT COORDINATES

X-coordinate Y-coordinate Z-coordinate

Node 1
Node 2
Node 3
Node 4
Node 5
Node 6
Node 7
Node 8
Node 9
Node 10
Node 11
Node 12

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 Computer Application in Structural Engineering CES 002

MEMBER INCIDENCES

Node A Node B
Beam 1
Beam 2
Beam 3
Beam 4
Beam 5
Beam 6
Beam 7
Beam 8
Beam 9
Beam10
Beam 11
Beam 12
Beam 13
Beam 14
Beam 15
Beam 16

ELEMENT INCIDENCES SHELL

Node A Node B Node C Node D

Plate 17
Plate 18

The Input File

JOINT COORDINATES

MEMBER INCIDENCES

ELEMENT INCIDENCES

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 Computer Application in Structural Engineering CES 002

STAAD SPACE
START JOB INFORMATION
ENGINEER DATE 02-January-19
END JOB INFORMATION
INPUT WIDTH 79
UNIT METER KNS
JOINT COORDINATES
1 0 0 0; 2 5.5 0 0; 3 0 0 4; 4 5.5 0 4; 5 0 3 0; 6 5.5 3 0 ; 7 0 3 4;
8 5.5 3 4; 9 0 6 0; 10 5.5 6 0; 11 0 6 4; 12 5.5 6 4;
MEMBER INCIDENCES
1 5 7; 2 5 6; 3 6 8; 4 7 8; 5 9 11; 6 9 10; 7 10 12; 8 11 12; 9 1 5;
10 5 9; 11 2 6; 12 6 10; 13 7 11; 14 4 8; 15 8 12; 16 3 7;
ELEMENT INCIDENCES SHELL
17 5 6 8 7; 18 9 10 12 11

A structure is an assembly of individual components such as beams, columns, slabs,

plates etc.. In STAAD, frame elements and plate elements may be used to model the
structural components. Typically, modelling of the structure geometry consists of two
steps:

a. Identification and description of joints or nodes.

b. Modelling of members or elements through specification of connectivity
(incidences) between joints.

In general, the term MEMBER will be used to refer to frame elements and the term
ELEMENT will be used to refer to plate/shell and solid elements.

Connectivity for MEMBERs may be provided through the MEMBER INCIDENCE

command while connectivity for ELEMENTs may be provided through the ELEMENT
INCIDENCE command.

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 Computer Application in Structural Engineering CES 002

NOTES

No part of this textbook may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the
instructor.

5 Engr. Jica Jaravata De La Cruz