EXAMPLE: For the structure below,

a) With the static loading shown, solve the problem using program PLANE. Then, model the problem with SAP2000 and compare the results with those obtained using PLANE program. SOLUTION: The next pages show a discretization of the problem for extracting the input data of the PLANE program, the input sheet, and the model in sap2000. Next, youll find the complete output of the PLANE program and the software analysis. Here, in order to verify the results, we compare them for a few nodes and also against a simple calculation using strength of materials. Since we have constant pressure on the sides, this problem can be seen as a simple one-dimensional rod under uniform pressure at its end. Needless to say, this only gives us a rough estimate of the displacements of the nodes at the right side of the structure: = (20 200) (500) = = 0.2381 2100000 2 200

= 2.1 106

= 2

Now the values are listed for a few nodes:

node no. SAP 18 12 6 17 11 5 PLANE 45 28 12 43 26 9 SAP -0.002381 -0.002381 -0.002381 -0.001905 -0.001905 -0.001905

Ux PLANE -0.00238056 -0.00238052 -0.00238049 -0.00190439 -0.00190434 -0.00190428 SM -0.2381 -0.2381 -0.2381 0.00190476 0.00190476 0.00190476

The values in the above table show excellent correlation and the error is negligible. You can find the complete set of output for both SAP2000 model and the PLANE output in the following pages.