Static Analysis and Design

of
2D Transmission Tower
Using SAP2000
(Metric Units)
ACECOMS, AIT

Static Analysis and Design

of
2D Transmission Tower
Table of Content
Objective ......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Problem ........................................................................................................................................................... 3
Step by Step..................................................................................................................................................... 5
1.

Start Model with Template................................................................................................................. 5

2.

Modify Model .................................................................................................................................... 7

3.

Define Material Properties ................................................................................................................. 8

4.

Import Angle Members and Define Auto Selection Member ............................................................ 9

5.

Assign Frame Member ..................................................................................................................... 11

6.

Define Load Case ............................................................................................................................. 12

7.

Assign WIND Load Case ............................................................................................................. 13

8.

Assign Groups .................................................................................................................................. 14

9.

Analysis the Model........................................................................................................................... 18

10.

Design Steel Members ..................................................................................................................... 19

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Objective
To demonstrate and practice step-by-step on the modeling, static analysis
and design of 2D transmission tower.

Problem
Find the suitable steel angle members for 2D transmission tower by using
AISC-LRFD93 design code with the following details

Material Properties (Steel)

Young Modulus of Steel (Ec)

= 2,000,000 kg/cm2

Unit Weight of Steel

7,800

kg/m3

Yield Stress of Steel (Fy)

2,400

kg/cm2

Tensile Stress of Steel (Fu)

4,000

kg/cm2

Load Case
Load Name

Load Type

Details

DEAD

Dead Load

Self Weight: Calculate automatically using Self

Weight Multiplier in SAP2000

WIND

Wind Load

See in Elevation View

Load Combination for Pushover Analysis

Name

Details

DSTL1

1.4 DEAD

DSTL2

1.2 DEAD +1.6 LIVE

DSTL3

1.2 DEAD + 0.5 LIVE + 1.3 WIND

DSTL4

1.2 DEAD - 0.5 LIVE + 1.3 WIND

DSTL5

0.9 DEAD + 1.3 WIND

DSTL6

0.9 DEAD - 1.3 WIND

Note: No LIVE load case in this example

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Step by Step
1. Start Model with Template

Step 1-1: Select Working Unit and Start New Model with Template
Start up screen of SAP2000, select working unit to be kg-m at drop-down menu on
the bottom-right of screen and click on
to start new model with template

Step 1-2: Select Template Type

Select Braced Frame from template list

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Step 1-3: Specify Geometry Properties

Specify two Braced Frame geometry properties as shown in above figure.

Step 1-4: Create Model

2 bays tower has been created from parameters that specified from previous steps.
The left bay will be deleted in the next step. Close left window by clicking on .

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2. Modify Model
All leg and horizontal members will be deleted in this step.

Step 2-1: Select Leg Members in Left Bay

to change to selecting mode and draw rectangular selection to cover leg
Click on
member in left bay as shown in above figure.

Step 2-2: Select Horizontal Members

to change to Select using Intersecting Line and draw selecting line to
Click on
pass all horizontal members in left bay as shown in above figure. Press Delete to
delete all selecting members.

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3. Define Material Properties

Step 3-1: Change Working Unit and Select Material

Change working unit to kg, cm, go to Define > Material, select STEEL and click
on Modify/ Show Material button.

Step 3-2: Specify Steel Material Properties

Specify material properties as shown in above figure.

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4. Import Angle Members and Define Auto Selection Member

All angle member properties will be imported from built-in database first
and define all imported L-Shaped member to the list of section (AUTO1)
for auto member selection in design step.

Step 4-1: Import Angle

Go to Define > Frame/Cable Section, select Import Angle from first drop-down
menu as shown in above figure and click on Add New Property button

Step 4-2: Specify Steel Member Database

Go to folder that SAP2000 has been installed (normally should be C:\Program
Files\Computers and Structures\SAP2000 8) and select database name
AISC3.PRO.

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Step 4-3: Select All Angle Members

Select all angle members by clicking on first member and clicking on the last
member by holding shift button and click on Ok button in Angle Section
dialogue.

Step 4-4: Define Auto Selection Member

Back to Frame Properties dialogue, shows all angle members have been imported
to the properties list at left column. Select Add Auto Select from second drop-down
menu and click on Add New Property button.

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Step 4-5: Select Section Properties for Auto Selection Member

Select all angle members (same method as previous step) and click on Add->
button to move all angle members from list (left column) to auto selection list (right
column).

5. Assign Frame Member

Step 5-1: Select all Members

to select all members in model.
Click on

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Step 5-2: Assign Frame Selection

Go to Assign >> Frame/Cable >> Sections, select AUTO1 and click OK button.

6. Define Load Case

Step 6-1: Add WIND Load Case

Go to Define >> Load Case, specify WIND load case as shown in above figure
and click on Add New Load button.

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7. Assign WIND Load Case

Step 7-1: Select Nodes

Select 5 nodes from top by selecting
desired nodes as shown in above figure.

and drawing rectangular line to cover

Step 7-2: Assign WIND Load Case

Go to Assign >> Joint Load >> Forces, select load case and specify Force
GlobalX as shown in above figure.

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Step 7-3: Assign Windward Pressure Coefficients

Repeat step 7-1 and step 7-2 to assign nodal force to the remaining nodes

8. Assign Groups
3 member groups are required in this example (Leg, Horizontal and Brace)
for steel design.

Step 8-1: Select Leg Members

and draw 2 selection rectangular to cover all leg members as shown in
Click on
above figure.

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Step 8-2: Add New Group

Go to Assign >> Assign to Group and click on Add New Group button.

Step 8-3: Assign LEG Group

Specify LEG group name and click OK.

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Step 8-4: Select Horizontal Members

Draw selection rectangular to cover all horizontal members one by one. To check all
horizontal members are selected or not by selecting View >> Show Selection Only
to view only selected members

Step 8-5: Assign HORIZONTAL Group

Go to Assign >> Assign to Group and repeat step 8-2 and 8-3 to assign
HORIZONTAL group.

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Step 8-6: Select Bracing Members

To show all members, go to View >> Show All. Clicking on
and draw selection
line to pass all members as shows in figure. This selection will select all horizontal
and bracing members.

Step 8-7: Deselect Horizontal Members

Go to Select >> Deselect >> Groups and select. Only bracing members are
selected now. That can be checked from View >> View Selection Only.

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Step 8-8: Assign BRACING Group

Go to Assign >> Assign to Group and repeat step 8-2 and 8-3 to assign BRACING
group.

9. Analysis the Model

Step 9-1: Start Analysis

Go to Analyze >> Run Analysis, and click on Run Now button.

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Step 9-2: Check Error Message

Check error message after analysis status show ANALYSIS COMPLETE.

10. Design Steel Members

Step 10-1: Select Design Code

Go to Options >> Preference >> Steel Frame Design and select AISC-LRFD93
from design code

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Step 10-2: Select Design Group

Go to Design >> Steel Frame Design >> Steel Design Group and select all 3
groups as shown in above figure by selecting and clicking Add - > button.

Step 10-3: Select Design Load Combination

Go to Design >>Steel Frame Design >> Steel Design Combo, all design
combination according to specified design code are added in the list. To view detail
of each combination, select one of them and click on Show

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Step 10-4: Assign Effective Length Factor

Select all members by clicking on , go to Design >> Steel Frame Design >>
View/Revise Overwrites and change parameters as shown in above figure.

Step 10-5: Start Design

Go to Design >>Steel Frame Design >> Start Design/ Check of Structures and
wait until SAP2000 show the design output.

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Step 10-6: Check Analysis and Design Section

Go to Design >>Steel Frame Design >> Verify Analysis vs Design Sections, to
see number of difference sections between analysis and design. Click on OK
button.

Step 10-7: Reanalysis

Go to Analyze >> Run Analysis, and click on Run Now button

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Step 10-8: Redesign and Reanalysis

Repeat Step 10-5 to Step 10-7 until there is no difference between analysis and
design member.

Step 10-9: View Design Member

Go to Design >> Steel Frame Design >> Display Design Info and select second
drop-down menu and select Design Sections as shown in above figure.

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