Description: Using PIPELINK integration between

STAAD & AutoPIPE

Product: AutoPIPE
Version number: V8i (v9.3)
Submitted by: MU
Revison : 0.0

Table of Contents


PIPELINK (Workflow 1) AutoPIPE -> STAAD 3
Open AutoPIPE Model ....................................................................................... 4
Analyze for Gravity, thermal, 2 seismic loadings .................................................. 5
Generate AutoPIPE Load Combination Descriptions .............................................. 7
Export to STAAD using Pipelink .......................................................................... 8
(File > Export) ................................................................................................. 8
Open STAAD Model ......................................................................................... 10
Change to Piping Mode .................................................................................... 11
Import the PIPELINK Model .............................................................................. 11
Run the STAAD Support Connection Wizard to Connect all or some Supports to the
Structure ....................................................................................................... 12
Transfer Piping Loads to Structure .................................................................... 18
Defining Seismic Load Combinations ................................................................. 18
PIPELINK (Workflow 2) Multi User .................................................... 24
PIPELINK (Workflow 3) STAAD -> AutoPIPE.................................... 27
Review Import Logs and resulting structure & connections ................................... 27
Analyze STAAD Model ...................................................................................... 28
Export to AutoPIPE using Pipelink ...................................................................... 28
(Piping > Export) ............................................................................................ 28
Open AutoPIPE Model & Import Pipelink Model .................................................... 30
Review Import Logs and Resulting Structure & Connections ................................. 33
PIPELINK (Workflow 4) STAAD Displacements -> AutoPIPE ....... 36
Transfer Piping Loads to Structure .................................................................... 36
Re-Run STAAD Piping Connection Wizard ........................................................... 37
Transfer Piping Loads to Structure .................................................................... 38
Export to AutoPIPE using Pipelink ...................................................................... 40
(Piping > Export) ............................................................................................ 40
Open AutoPIPE Model & Import Pipelink Model .................................................... 41
Review Pipe Support Displacements .................................................................. 43

PIPELINK (Workflow 1) AutoPIPE -> STAAD

Open Existing AutoPIPE Model
Analyze for Gravity, thermal, 2
seismic loadings
Import the PIPELINK Model
Into STAAD
Run the Support Connection
Wizard to Connection all Supports
to the Structure
Export to STAAD using Pipelink
(File > Export)
Open STAAD Model & Select Piping
Mode
Workflow 1: Starting in AutoPIPE with Piping Model only
Transfer Piping Loads to Structure
Define STAAD Load Combinations
Open AutoPIPE Model

Open Model Integ_auto1.DAT




Analyze for Gravity, thermal, 2 seismic loadings

Load > Static Analysis Sets



Analyze > Static


View Results max stress = 67% at Bend C12



Generate AutoPIPE Load Combination Descriptions


Tools > Combinations (Select non-code combinations)

Select combination options and Generate default non-code descriptions
This is useful for the Structural Engineer to understand the AutoPIPE pipe stress loadings






Export to STAAD using Pipelink
(File > Export)





PIPELINK File created for Transfer to the Structural Team
(MDB file which can be opened in MS ACCESS)


Open STAAD Model

Open Model : Integ_sample1.std





Change to Piping Mode
Import the PIPELINK Model

Mode > Piping, from the Piping Menu , Select Import









Run the STAAD Support Connection Wizard to Connect all or
some Supports to the Structure

First time the Support connection Wizard will start automatically


By Default all supports and anchors are selected but can filter by support type or
unconnected or connected. In this example we will only connect Vstops and Guides.


Next > Select which beams to consider for connection. Can also filter by Section
property, groups of beams or saved view screen.



Next > Select which Beam NODES to consider for connection.





Hint: Create new nodes to transfer actual structural displacements to AutoPIPE

Connections are made in seconds












To manually change a connection graphically




Typical moment resisting guides













Transfer Piping Loads to Structure

In Piping Mode, Select Piping > Transfer Loads


This will define the mapping of AutoPIPE load cases to STAAD Primary or Reference load
cases. By default class = Reference.

For Workflows transferring the Structure to AutoPIPE, it is recommended to set all piping
loads to reference loads and add them to the STAAD primary load cases as shown below

Defining Seismic Load Combinations

1) In STAAD.Pro
a. Define the structural model.
b. Import the AutoPIPE support reactions into a series of Reference Load cases,
say R1 to R4 for seismic , R5 for the gravity, R6 for pressure, R7 for thermal
c. Define the UBC command along with the masses that need to be included,
which would include a reference to the pipe gravity load case:-

d. Define the UBC load cases that will be required, set the category of these as
seismic (these must be the first load cases in the STAAD file, typically these
would be:-
i. +X
ii. X
iii. +Z
iv. Z

e. Add the appropriate pipe seismic reference load case to the appropriate
primary UBC load case. E.g.


Primary
Loadcase
STAAD Loading
AutoPIPE
Case
Pipe Reference
Case
STRUCT PIPE
AND STRUCT +X
UBC X 1.0 E1 R1
STRUCT PIPE
AND STRUCT -X
UBC X -1.0 E2 R2
STRUCT PIPE
AND STRUCT +Z
UBC Z 1.0 E3 R3
STRUCT PIPE
AND STRUCT -Z
UBC Z -1.0 E4 R4

f. Create the other required basic primary load cases dead, live wind etc.
g. Create the combinations using the Automatic load generator. As the pipe
reactions have been included in the same primary load case as the seismic
loads from the structural UBC engine, there should only be 4 seismic
primary load cases defined. This would then create the necessary
combinations with each of the seismic primary load cases being considered
independently.



1) The Load combination generator should include a description for each rule which is
used to provide a description to each combination that has been generated. A
default description could be Rule 1, Rule 2 etc would result in combinations:-
a. Rule 1 (1)
b. Rule 1 (2)
c. Rule 2 (1)
d. Rule 2 (2)
e. Rule 2 (3) etc....

The user can specify a more useful description for their use. This would make it
possible to see which rules have generated any specific combination. Also show
these in the Load Combination Generator:-

The current command shows the combination is generated from a specific code
and table, but not which specific rule.
2) The UI showing the combinations lists the load cases as Load 1, Load 2 etc:-



The sample Tutorial model 1 : Integ_sample1.std
Has the following IBC seismic and primary load cases definitions






PIPELINK (Workflow 2) Multi User






Repeat Workflow 1 for all 4 separate models










PIPELINK (Workflow 3) STAAD -> AutoPIPE


Open Existing STAAD Model with
connected piping system
Analyze for Primary Load Cases
Review Import Logs and resulting
structure & connections

Analyze Combined Structure &
Piping in AutoPIPE
Export to AutoPIPE using Pipelink
(Piping > Export)
Open AutoPIPE Model & Import
Pipelink Model
Workflow 3: Starting in STAAD then export the structure to evaluate
combined structural and piping stiffness in AutoPIPE
Open Existing STAAD Model

Open STAAD model : Integ_sample1.std

Analyze STAAD Model


Export to AutoPIPE using Pipelink
(Piping > Export)




Click Use Blank to export PIPELINK file same as STAAD filename






Note: It is not necessary but desirable to have the same PIPELINK filename exchanging between STAAD &
AutoPIPE. If click on the Use Blank button it will default to the STAAD filename. Otherwise browse to the
PIPELINK file imported from AutoPIPE and only new data like the Structure, restraints, releases, offsets and/or
structural displacements will be updated to the PIPELINK file
Open AutoPIPE Model & Import Pipelink Model















Review Import Logs and Resulting Structure & Connections




Model saved as INTEG_AUTO1a.DAT for reference


Analyze Combined Structure & Piping in AutoPIPE

View Results max stress = 47% at Bend E05







PIPELINK (Workflow 4) STAAD Displacements -> AutoPIPE


Open Existing STAAD Model with
connected piping system
Analyze for Primary Load Cases
Review Pipe Support
Displacements
Export to AutoPIPE using Pipelink
(Piping > Export)
Open AutoPIPE Model & Import
Pipelink Model
Workflow 4: Starting in STAAD then export the structural
displacements to evaluate structural sway on the piping model in
AutoPIPE
Re-Run STAAD Piping Connection
Wizard
Transfer Piping Loads to Structure
Open Existing STAAD Model with connected piping system

Check STAAD model : Integ_sample4.std

Re-Run STAAD Piping Connection Wizard

Check the option to create new nodes



Hint: Create new nodes to transfer actual structural displacements to AutoPIPE






Transfer Piping Loads to Structure

In Piping Mode, Select Piping > Transfer Loads



This will define the mapping of AutoPIPE load cases to STAAD Primary or Reference load
cases.

Note: Only displacement results for STAAD primary load cases can be exported to
AutoPIPE.

One Recommendation for defining STAAD displacements to transfer to AutoPIPE is as
follows:

Define the Pipe Gravity load (e.g. R1) in the Seismic definition so the mass of the piping
system is considered in the static and dynamic seismic loading.
The AutoPIPE seismic horizontal forces e.g. E1, E2 etc (static seismic 1 etc) at supports
will be added to the corresponding seismic primary load cases as shown above when
these piping seismic cases are defined as class = primary.


Export to AutoPIPE using Pipelink
(Piping > Export)





Open AutoPIPE Model & Import Pipelink Model











Review Pipe Support Displacements