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Advanced Topics of STAAD PDF
Advanced Topics of STAAD PDF
Advanced Topics of STAAD PDF
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Patents
United States Patent Nos. 5,8.15,415 and 5,784,068 and 6,199,125.
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4/17/2008
Do Not Duplicate
STAAD.Pro
TRAINING MANUAL
ADVANCED TOPICS
2006 Bent ley Syst ems, Incorporat ed. All Right s Reserved.
About STAAD.Pro
STAAD.Pro is a general purpose structural analysis and design program with
applications primarily in the building industry - commercial buildings, bridges and
highway structures, industrial structures, chemical plant structures, dams, retaining
walls, turbine foundations, culverts and other embedded structures, etc. The program
hence consists of the following facilities to enab le this task.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Graphical model generation utilities as well as text editor based commands for
creating the mathematical model. Beam and column members are represented using
lines. Walls, slabs and panel type entities are represented using triangular and
quadrilateral finite elements. Solid blocks are represented using brick elements.
These utilities allow the user to create the geometry, assign properties, orient cross
sections as desired, assign materials like steel, concrete, timber, aluminum, specify
supports, apply loads explicitly as well as have the program generate loads, design
parameters etc.
Analysis engines for performing linear elastic and pdelta analysis, finite element
analysis, frequency extraction, and dynamic response (spectrum, time history ,
steady state, etc.).
Design engines for code checking and optimization of steel, aluminum and timber
members. Reinforcement calculations for concrete beams, columns, slabs and shear
walls. Design of shear and moment connections for steel members.
Result viewing, result verification and report generation tools for examining
displacement diagrams, bending moment and shear force diagrams, beam, plate and
solid stress contours, etc.
Peripheral tools for activities like import and export of data from and to ot her
widely accepted formats, links with other popular softwares for niche areas like
reinforced and prestressed concrete slab design, footing design, steel connection
design, etc.
A library of exposed functions called OpenSTAAD which allows users to access
STAAD.Pros internal functions and routines as well as its graphical commands to
tap into STAADs database and link input and output data to third -party software
written using languages like C, C++, VB, VBA, FORTRAN, Java, Delphi, etc.
Thus, OpenSTAAD allows users to link in-house or third-party applications with
STAAD.Pro.
Table of Contents
Modeling Problems
Dynamic Analysis
Moving Loads
Floor Loads
Wind Loads
Zero Stiffness
Question :
Answer :
Question : What are examples of cases which give rise to these conditions?
Answer :
The reason why these conditions are reported as warnings and not
errors is due to the fact that they may not necessarily be
detrimental to the proper transfer of loads from the structure to the
supports. If no load acts at and along the d.o.f where the stiffness
is zero, that point may not be a trouble-spot.
Understanding Instabilities
Question :
Answer :
While there are no simple tools for splitting elements, using finer
meshes of elements always helps. See the Generate Plate Mesh and
Generate Surface Meshing options of the Geometry menu. A beam
in the situation above may be broken up into pieces by using
means like Insert Node, or Break Beams at Selected Nodes, both of
which are in the Geometry menu.
STAAD SPACE
UNIT FEET KIP
JOINT COORDINATES
1 0 0 0; 2 0 10 0; 3 10 10 0; 4 10 0 0; 5 13 10 0; 6 -4 10 0;
MEMBER INCIDENCES
1 1 2; 2 2 3; 3 3 4;
101 5 6
FINISH
STAAD SPACE
UNIT FEET KIP
JOINT COORDINATES
1 0 0 0; 2 0 10 0; 3 10 10 0; 4 10 0 0; 5 13 10 0; 6 -4 10 0;
MEMBER INCIDENCES
1 1 2; 2 2 3; 3 3 4;
101 2 5
FINISH
Question :
Answer :
Question :
Answer :
b.
10
Question :
Answer :
Question :
Answer :
11
b.
c.
12
Repeat steps (b) and (c) by progressively reducing the extent of the
release until the displacements are satisfactory. When they look
reasonable, check the magnitude of the moments and shear at the
nodes of those members and make sure that the connection will be
able to handle those forces and moments.
STAAD.Pro 2002 onwards, you can apply these partial releases to
individual moment degrees of freedom. For example, you could
say
MEMBER RELEASE
memb-list Both MPX 0.99 MPY 0.97 MPZ 0.95
This flexibility permits you to adjust just the specific degree of
freedom that is the problem area.
You can refer to Section 5.22.1 of the Technical Reference Manual
for details.
Question :
Answer :
13
If the instability is at the last joint [or sometimes the last joint and
one other joint], then the whole structure is free in that direction.
Note that the instability is reported at the last joint in the list that
is on the unstable component. If a column is pinned at the base
and floor connections are released in global My, the column will
be torsionally unstable, but only one joint on the column will be
reported as unstable and it could be any joint on the column.
14
Basic principle
When a building is subjected to an earthquake, it undergoes
vibrations. The weights of the structure, when accelerated along
the direction of the earthquake, induce forces in the building.
Normally, an elaborate dynamic analysis called time history
analysis is required to solve for displacements, forces and
reactions resulting from the seismic activity. However, codes like
UBC and IBC provide a static method of solving for those values.
The generalized procedure used in those methods consists of 3
steps
Step 1 : Calculate
Base Shear = Factor f * Weight W
where "f" is calculated from terms which take into consideration
the Importance factor of the building, Site Class and soil
characteristics, etc. W is the total vertical weight derived from
dead weight of the building and other imposed weights.
Step 2 : The base shear is then distributed over the height of the
building as a series of point loads.
Step 3 : The model is then analyzed for the horizontal loads
generated in step 2.
MEMBER INCI
1 1 2 5 ; 6 1 3 ; 7 4 6 ; 8 2 7 ; 9 7 8 10 ; 11 9 5 ; 12 2 8 ; 13 5 8
21 10 11 25 ; 26 10 12 ; 27 13 15 ; 28 11 16 ; 29 16 17 30 ; 31 18
14
32 11 17 ; 33 14 17
41 2 11 44
45 7 16 47
51 1 11
52 10 2
53 2 16
54 11 7
55 6 14
56 15 5
57 5 18
58 14 9
Member incidences are specified using a mixture of explicit
definition and generation.
MEMBER PROPERTIES
1 5 8 11 21 25 28 31 TA ST W14X90
2 3 4 22 23 24 TA ST W18X35
9 10 29 30 TA ST W21X50
41 TO 44 TA D C12X30
45 TO 47 TA D C15X40
6 7 26 27 TA ST HSST20X12X0.5
51 TO 58 TA LD L50308
12 13 32 33 TA ST TUB2001205
Various section types are used in this model. Among them are
double channels, hollow structural sections and double angles.
CONSTANTS
E STEEL ALL
POISSON STEEL ALL
DENSITY STEEL ALL
Structural steel is the material used in this model.
SUPPORT
1 6 10 15 FIXED
Fixed supports are defined at 4 nodes.
MEMBER TENSION
51 TO 58
Members 51 to 58 are defined as capable of carrying tensile forces
only.
UNIT POUND
DEFINE UBC ACCIDENTAL LOAD
ZONE 0.3 I 1 RWX 2.9 RWZ 2.9 STYP 4 NA 1 NV 1
SELFWEIGHT
FLOOR WEIGHT
YRANGE 9 11 FLOAD 0.4
YRANGE 20 21 FLOAD 0.3
There are two stages in the command specification of the UBC
loads. The first stage is initiated with the command DEFINE UBC
LOAD. Here we specify parameters such as Zone factor,
Importance factor, site coefficient for soil characteristics etc. and,
the vertical loads (weights) from which the base shear will be
calculated. The vertical loads may be specified in the form of
selfweight, joint weights, member weights, element weights or
floor weights. Floor weight is used when a pressure acting over a
panel has to be applied when the structural entity which makes up
the panel (like a aluminum roof for example) itself isnt defined as
part of the model. The selfweight and floor weights are shown in
this example. It is important to note that these vertical loads are
used purely in the determination of the horizontal base shear only.
In other words, the structure is not analyzed for these vertical
loads.
LOAD 1
UBC LOAD X
This is the second stage in which the UBC load is applied with the
help of load case number, corresponding direction (X in the above
case) and a factor by which the generated horizontal loads should
be multiplied. Along with the UBC load, deadweight and other
vertical loads may be added to the same load case (they are not in
this example).
PERFORM ANALYSIS PRINT LOAD DATA
CHANGE
A linear elastic type analysis is requested for load case 1. We can
view the values and position of the generated loads with the help
of the PRINT LOAD DATA command used above along with the
PERFORM ANALYSIS command. A CHANGE command should
follow the analysis command for models like this where the
MEMBER TENSION command is used in conjunction with UBC
load cases.
LOAD 2
UBC LOAD Z
We define load case 2 as consisting of the UBC loads to be
generated along the Z direction. The structure will be analyzed for
those generated loads.
PERFORM ANALYSIS PRINT LOAD DATA
CHANGE
The analysis instruction is specified again.
LOAD 3
SELF Y -1.0
FLOOR LOAD
YRANGE 9 11 FLOAD -0.4
YRANGE 20 21 FLOAD -0.3
In load case 3 in this problem, we apply 2 types of loads. The
selfweight is applied in the global Y direction acting downwards.
Then, a floor load generation is performed. In a floor load
generation, a pressure load (force per unit area) is converted by the
program into specific points forces and distributed forces on the
members located in that region. The YRANGE (and if specified,
the XRANGE and ZRANGE) values are used to define the region
of the structure on which the pressure is acting. The FLOAD
specification is used to specify the value of that pressure. All
values need to be provided in the current UNIT system. For
example, in the first line in the above FLOOR LOAD
specification, the region is defined as being located within the
bounds YRANGE of 9-11 ft. Since XRANGE and ZRANGE are
not mentioned, the entire floor within the YRANGE will become a
candidate for the load. The -0.4 signifies that the pressure is 0.4
Kip/sq. ft in the negative global Y direction.
The program will identify the members lying within the specified
region and derive MEMBER LOADS on these members based on
two-way load distribution.
PERFORM ANALYSIS
CHANGE
The analysis instruction is specified again.
LOAD 4
REPEAT LOAD
1 1.0 3 1.0
Load case 4 illustrates the technique employed to instruct STAAD
to create a load case which consists of data to be assembled from
other load cases already specified earlier. We would like the
Question :
Answer :
Question : We would like to know what Ta and Tb in the static seismic base
shear output stand for. We know that both are computed time
periods, but we would like to know why there are two values for it.
Answer :
The UBC and IBC codes involve determination of the period based
on 2 methods - Method A and Method B. The value based on
Method A is called Ta. The value based on Method B is called Tb.
Question :
Answer :
Question :
Answer :
10
Question :
Answer :
First run the analysis. Then go to the View menu, choose Structure
Diagrams. Click on the Loads and Results tab. Select the load case
corresponding to the IBC load command. Switch on the checkbox
for Loads, click on OK.
2.
2.
4.
For assembling the mass matrix, called the [M] matrix, STAAD
uses the load data specified in the load case in which the MODAL
CAL REQ command is specified. So, some of the important
aspects to bear in mind are:
i.
ii.
10
How are modes, frequencies and the other terms are calculated
The process of calculating the MODES and FREQUENCIES is
known as Modal Extraction and is performed by solving the
equation:
2 [ m ] { q } - [ K ] { q } = o
Where
[ m ] = the mass matrix (assumed to be diagonal, i.e., no
mass coupling)
11
Qi =
(q j,i )( w j,i )
j=1
GW
12
Description
Response spectra are plots of maximum response of single degree
of freedom (SDOF) systems subjected to a specific excitation. For
various values of frequency of the SDOF system and various
damping ratios, the peak response is calculated.
Structures normally have multiple degrees of freedom (MDOF).
The dynamic analysis of a MDOF system having "n" DOF involves
reducing it to "n" independent SDOF systems. The modal
superposition method is used and the maximum modal responses
are combined using SRSS, CQC and other methods available in
STAAD.
The command syntax for defining response spectrum data is
explained in Section 5.32.10.1 of the Technical Reference manual.
It is important to understand that once the combination methods
like SRSS or CQC are applied, the sign of the results is lost.
Consequently, results of a spectrum analysis, like displacements,
forces and reactions do not have any sign.
Because spectrum analysis requires modes and frequencies, the
mass data and other details explained in the chapter on calculating
modes and frequencies are all applicable in the case of spectrum
analysis also. In other words, the mode and frequency calculation
is a pre-requisite to performing response spectrum analysis.
2.
3.
Question :
Answer :
The spectrum data consists of pairs of values which are Period vs.
Accn. or Period vs. Displacement. The acceleration or
displacement values that you obtain from the geological data for
that site may have been provided to you as normalized values or
un-normalized values. Normalization means that the values of
acceleration or displacement have been divided by a number
(called normalization factor) which represents some reference
value. One of the commonly used normalization factors is 'g', the
acceleration due to gravity.
If the spectrum data you specify in STAAD is a normalized
spectrum data, you should provide the NORMALIZATION
FACTOR as the SCALE FACTOR. If your spectrum data is unnormalized, there is no need to provide a scale factor(Another way
of putting it is that if you provide un-normalized spectrum values,
the scale factor is 1, which happens to be the default value also.)
Make sure that the value you provide for the SCALE FACTOR is
in accordance with the length units you have specified. (A common
error is that if the scale factor is 'g', users erroneously provide 32.2
when the length unit is in INCHES.)
Question :
Answer :
2.
3.
Call the result T(m) where "m" stands for the mode number.
Once the T(m) is determined for all modes, subject them to the
SRSS calculation. That will provide the node displacement
corresponding to that degree of freedom.
Question :
The results of the response spectrum load case are always positive
numbers. Why? How do I know that the positive value is always
critical, especially from the design standpoint?
Answer :
Question :
Related question : What is the Scale Factor (f4) that needs to be provided
when specifying the Response Spectra?
Answer :
The spectrum data consists of pairs of values which are Period vs.
Accn. or Period vs. Displacement. The acceleration or
displacement values that you obtain from the geological data for
that site may have been provided to you as normalized values or
un-normalized values. Normalization means that the values of
acceleration or displacement have been divided by a number
(called normalization factor) which represents some reference
value. One of the commonly used normalization factors is 'g', the
acceleration due to gravity.
If the spectrum data you specify in STAAD is a normalized
spectrum data, you should provide the NORMALIZATION
FACTOR as the SCALE FACTOR. If your spectrum data is unnormalized, there is no need to provide a scale factor(Another way
of putting it is that if you provide un-normalized spectrum values,
the scale factor is 1, which happens to be the default value also.)
Make sure that the value you provide for the SCALE FACTOR is
in accordance with the length units you have specified. (A common
error is that if the scale factor is 'g', users erroneously provide 32.2
when the length unit is in INCHES.)
STAAD will multiply the spectral acceleration or spectral
displacement values by the scale factor. Hence, if you provide a
normalized acceleration value of 0.5 and a scale factor of 386.4
inch/sq.sec., it has the same effect as providing an un-normalized
acceleration value of 193.2 inch/sq.sec. and a scale factor of 1.0.
Question :
Answer :
Question :
Answer :
The load data you provide in the load case in which the
SPECTRUM command is specified goes into the making of the
mass matrix. The mass matrix is supposed to be populated with
terms for all the global directions in which the structure is capable
of vibrating. To enable this, the loads must be specified in all the
possible directions of vibration.
Consequently, the load case for response spectrum might look
something like this :
LOAD 20 SPECTRUM IN X DIRECTION
*
SELFWEIGHT X 1
SELFWEIGHT Y 1
SELFWEIGHT Z 1
MEMBER LOAD
274 TO 277 UNI GX 1.36
272 466 998 UNI GX 4.13
313 314 474 477 UNI GX 6.29
274 TO 277 UNI GY 1.36
272 466 998 UNI GY 4.13
313 314 474 477 UNI GY 6.29
274 TO 277 UNI GZ 1.36
272 466 998 UNI GZ 4.13
313 314 474 477 UNI GZ 6.29
JOINT LOAD
420 424 FX 47.32
389 TO 391 FX 560
420 424 FY 47.32
389 TO 391 FY 560
420 424 FZ 47.32
389 TO 391 FZ 560
SPECTRUM CQC X 1 ACC SCALE 9.81 DAMP 0.07
0.025 0.14; 0.0303 0.1636; 0.05 0.2455; 0.0625 0.2941;
0.0769 0.3479; 0.0833 0.3713;
0.1 0.3713; 0.125 0.3713; 0.1667 0.3713; 0.1895
0.3713; 0.25 0.2815; 0.2857 0.2463;
0.3333 0.2111; 0.4 0.1759; 0.5 0.1407; 0.6667 0.1056;
1 0.0704; 2 0.0344; 10 0.001372;
10
Question :
Answer :
Yes.
Question : Can I decide how many modes I want to include in the spectrum
analysis?
Answer :
Question :
In the results, what are the dynamic, missing, and modal weights?
Answer :
The dynamic weight line contains the total potential weight for base
shear calculations. Missing Weight is the amount of weight
missing in the modes; Modal weight is the total weight actually
used in the modes. If you algebraically add up Dynamic &
Missing, you should get Modal.
SRSS MODAL COMBINATION METHOD USED.
DYNAMIC WEIGHT X Y Z
11
Question :
Answer :
Question :
Answer :
When you combine these results with those from the dead load
case, it leads to the same value at both supports.
12
If you want the results to truly reflect the sign, use a static
equivalent method like that stipulated by the UBC code.
Alternatively, perform a time history analysis where the sign of the
values is obtained for each time step.
Question :
Answer :
Question :
Answer :
Question :
Answer :
The results are statistical, SRSS, CQC, etc. The numbers are all
peak positive values. Since each of the reactions at the time of
peak base shear could be less than that reaction's peak and could
be positive or negative, it is likely that the peak base shear will be
much less than the sum of the peak reactions.
13
Question :
The base shear reported by STAAD does not match with the
Summation of Support Reactions in the relevant direction. I want
to know the reason for the same.
Answer :
Question :
Answer :
14
STAAD 200x the base shear is also printed using Absolute Sum
combination which assumes that the modes are all in phase and
peaks occur at the same time. You will note that in many problems
the absolute sum result is much higher than the SRSS result. I
believe that the UBC approach is closer to the absolute response
since a static case is entirely in phase.
For close spaced eigenvalues the CQC method will amplify the
response of those modes as compared to the SRSS method.
Question :
Answer :
15
Lets say you have two modes and 4 supports in the x direction.
Then for the SRSS combination method the results are computed
as follows:
******************************************************
***
Support#
Mode 1
Mode 2 Sum of Squares Square root
Reaction Reaction
SRSS
1
2
3
4
SRSS Base Shear
10.
-5.
17.
-3.
====
19
-15.
19.
43.
-12.
====
35
325
386
2138
153
====
1586
18.0
19.6
46.2
12.4
====
96.2
(Sum of
Reactions)
1586 = 39.8
******************************************************
***
Note that SRSS base shear (39.8) does not equal the sum of the
SRSS reactions (18.0+19.6+46.2+12.4=96.2). In effect the
procedure says that the maximum likely reaction value at each
support is as shown. However the maximum likely sum is the Base
shear as shown. This is due to the fact that the individual
maximums would not occur at the same time and not necessarily
with the same sign. So the base shear magnitude is usually much
less than the sum of the reactions.
16
2.1 0.4762; 2.3 0.397; 2.5 0.336; 2.7 0.2881; 2.9 0.2497; 3.1
0.2185;
3.3 0.1928; 3.5 0.1714; 3.7 0.1534; 3.9 0.1381; 4.1 0.1249;
4.3 0.1136;
4.8 0.0911; 6 0.0583; 7 0.0429; 8 0.0328; 10 0.021; 20
0.0053; 30 0.0023;
For Load case 2, I have
17
1 1.0 2 1.0
Should load case 5 produce the same answers as load case 3?
Answer :
18
0.006300
0.003640
0.000990
0.004280
0.007580
0.010870
While it may not be apparent from the above numbers, it may also
be noted that the geological data for the site the building sits on
indicate that the above acceleration values are a fraction of "g",
the acceleration due to gravity. Thus, for example, at 0.02 seconds,
the acceleration is 0.00364 multiplied by 9.806 m/sec^2 (or
0.00364 multiplied by 32.2 ft/sec^2). Consequently, the burden of
informing the program that the values need to be multiplied by "g"
is upon us. We do that by specifying the term SCALE 9.806
alongside TYPE 1 ACCELERATION.
The arrival time value indicates the relative value of time at which
the earthquake begins to act upon the structure. We have chosen
0.0, as there is no other dynamic load on the structure from the
relative time standpoint. The modal damping ratio for all the
modes is set to 0.05.
Stage 2 :
UNIT POUND FEET
LOAD 3 DYNAMIC LOAD CASE
SELFWEIGHT X 1.0
SELFWEIGHT Y 1.0
SELFWEIGHT Z 1.0
ELEMENT LOAD
41 TO 88 PR GX 300.0
41 TO 88 PR GY 300.0
41 TO 88 PR GZ 300.0
Load case 3 is the dynamic load case, the one which contains the
second part of the instruction set for a dynamic analysis to be
performed. The data here are
a.
loads which will yield the mass values which will populate
the mass matrix
b.
F (t) = F0sin ( t + )
In the above equation,
F(t) = Value of the force at any instant of time "t"
F = Peak value of the force
= Frequency of the forcing function
= Phase angle
A plot of the above equation is shown in the figure below.
joint 17, the TYPE 2 force is applied along FZ, starting at arrival
time number 2.
LOAD COMB 3
1 1.2 2 1.4
The static and dynamic load cases are combined through the above
case.
PERFORM ANALYSIS
PRINT SUPPORT REACTIONS
PRINT MEMBER FORCES
PRINT JOINT DISPLACEMENTS
The member forces, support reactions and joint displacements are
calculated for every time step. For each degree of freedom, the
maximum value of these values is extracted from these histories
and reported in the output file using the above commands.
How modes, frequencies and the other terms calculated
The process of calculating the MODES and FREQUENCIES is
known as Modal Extraction and is performed by solving the
equation:
2 [ m ] { q } - [ K ] { q } = o
Where
[ m ] = the mass matrix (assumed to be diagonal, i.e., no
mass coupling)
Qi =
(q j,i )( w j,i )
j=1
GW
Mat foundations
Description
STAAD has the ability to generate supports for structures like
slabs on grade, which also go by the name mat foundations. A mat
foundation is a large concrete slab sitting on soil. The support for
the structure is the soil itself. The resistance of the soil is
represented through a term called Modulus of Subgrade Reaction,
the definition of which may be found in many textbooks on
foundation analysis.
The general approach to solving such problems is to sub-divide the
slab into several plate elements. Each node of the meshed slab will
then have an influence area or a contributory area, which is to say
that soil within the area surrounding that node acts like a spring.
The influence area is then multiplied by the subgrade modulus to
arrive at the spring constant. Subgrade modulus has units of force
per length^3. So, the spring will have units of force/length.
The distinguishing aspect of this method is that it uses the jointlist that accompanies the ELASTIC MAT command to form a
closed surface. The area within this closed surface is then
determined and the share of this area for each node in the list is
then calculated.
Hence, while specifying the joint-list, one should make sure that
these joints make up a closed surface. Without a proper closed
surface, the area calculated for the region may be indeterminate
and the spring constant values may be erroneous. Consequently,
the list should have at a minimum, 3 nodes.
While forming the closed surface, namely, a polygon, the sides of
the polygon have to be assembled by lining up points along the
edges. The edge detection aspects of this method are very sensitive
to out-of-straightness, which may occur if the coordinates of the
nodes aren't precise to a significant number of digits.
Also, the internal angle formed by 2 adjacent lines connecting 3
consecutive nodes in the list should be less than 180 degrees,
which is to say that, the region should have the shape of a convex
polygon.
Failure to form straight edges and convex polygons can lead to
erroneous influence area values and consequently, erroneous
spring constants. This is the limitation of this feature.
The example below explains the method that may be used to get
around a situation where a convex polygon is not available.
For the model comprised of plate elements 100 to 102 in the figure
below, one wishes to generate the spring supports at nodes 1 to 8.
However, a single ELASTIC MAT command will not suffice
because the internal angle between the edges 1-8 and 8-7 at node 8
is 270 degrees, which violates the requirements of a convex
polygon.
Joints 3 and 8 will hence get the contribution from both of the
above commands.
Because this method uses nodes to generate contours, it may be
used whether the mat is defined using plates, or solids. This is the
advantage of this method.
Question :
Answer :
Question :
Answer :
Yes. Use the PRINT option available with the ELASTIC MAT or
PLATE MAT commands. This will produce a report of the
influence areas. An example of such a report is shown below.
Question :
Is it possible to find out the base pressure at each node for each
load case?
Answer :
Question :
Answer :
Question :
If you have the value for soil bearing pressure, how do you use
that to come up with the subgrade modulus that STAAD uses for
elastic mat definitions?
Answer :
Question :
Answer :
Use the same procedure as in the case of a bridge. Set the WIDTH
value to zero.
Question :
Could you tell me how I can display the generated moving loads
graphically? I want to see whether I enter and generate the moving
loads correctly.
Answer :
Select those cases, and switch on the load display icon. Or, right
click the mouse on the drawing area. Select Structure Diagrams. In
the Loads and Results tab, switch on the check box for Loads,
select the load case from the list, and click on Apply. Keep
changing the load case, and keep clicking on Apply.
Question:
Answer :
Yes you can. Have a look at Section 5.32.12 of the Technical Ref
Manual. You will find an option called YRANGE. So, have the
load located at an elevation below the lower node of the member,
and provide a YRANGE which will enable the program to apply
the load on members whose longitudinal axis lie in the range
between the lower and upper ends of the inclined member.
However, there is no guarantee that it will work every time.
Question :
Answer :
Question :
Answer:
Question :
Are there any graphical tools to examine the individual panels the
program considers in processing the floor load command?
Answer :
Yes. Click the right mouse button, and select Labels. Under
Loading Display Options, Display Floor Load Distribution will
show the division of panels into influence areas based on a colorcoded scheme (see figure below). Display Floor Loads will show
the triangular and trapezoidal loading on the individual members
around each panel.
Question :
When does one use FLOOR LOAD and when does one use
ELEMENT LOAD?
Answer :
Model the beams only, and do not include the slabs in the
model. However, the large in-plane stiffness of the slab may
be taken into account by using the master-slave relationship
to tie together the nodes of the deck so that a rigid diaphragm
effect is simulated for the horizontal plane at the slab level.
2.
The question that arises is, how does one account for the
distributed loading (load per area of floor) which is present on top
of the slab?
If you model the structure using method (1), the load can be
assumed to be transferred directly on to the beams. The slab-beam
grillage is assumed to be made up of a number of panels, similar to
the squares of a chessboard. The load on each panel is then
transferred to beams surrounding the panel, using a triangular or
trapezoidal load distribution method. You can do this in STAAD
by defining the load intensity in the FLOOR LOAD command. In
other words, the pressure load on the slabs (which are not included
in the model) are converted to individual beam loads by utilizing
the FLOOR LOAD facility.
In method (2), the fact that the slab is part of the model makes it
very easy to handle the load. The load can be applied on individual
elements using the ELEMENT LOAD facility. The connectivity
between the beams and elements ensures that the load will flow
from the plates to the beams through the columns to the supports.
Question :
Answer :
The problem you mention is one of the limitations of the floor load
routine. If you have a floor whose shape contains a mixture of
concave and convex edges, break up the floor load command into
several parts, as you have done. This will force the program to
localize its search for panels and the solution will be much better.
If you don't do this, the entire floor will end up being treated as
one giant panel with unsatisfactory results.
The example below illustrates a case where the floor has to be subdivided into smaller regions for the floor load generation to yield
proper results. The internal angle at node 6 between the sides 108
and 111 exceeds 180 degrees. A similar situation exists at node 7
also. As a result, the following command
LOAD 1
FLOOR LOAD
YRANGE 11.9 12.1 FLOAD -0.35
will not yield acceptable results.
Description
Wind load generation in STAAD.Pro is a facility, which takes as
input wind pressure, and height ranges over which those pressures
act and generates nodal point loads on windward and leeward sides
of buildings. This may be found in sections 5.31.3 and 5.32.12 of
the Technical Reference manual, and in example problem 15 of the
Examples manual.
Until and including STAAD.Pro 2003, this feature is capable of
generating loads on panel type of exposed faces. So, the basis of
this generation is that the program first identifies panels regions
circumscribed by members and the ground and assumes that the
wind pressure acts on the panel area. So, the force on that panel is
calculated by multiplying the pressure by the panel area.
Consequently, this type of load generation is applicable to
closed structures such as office buildings where the component
constituting the panels could be a glass faade, or walls made of
wood or other material that was not considered to be part of the
structural model.
This facility has been enhanced in STAAD.Pro 2004 by
considering lattice type open structures also.
Defining the input data
There are 2 stages for specifying these types of loads.
Stage 1 is as shown in the example below.
UNIT KIP FEET
DEFINE WIND LOAD
TYPE 1
INT .015 .022 .026 .028 HEI 10. 30. 60. 100.
EXPOSURE 1.2 YR 0. 75.
The numbers which follow the word INTENSITY are the wind
pressures. The first intensity acts from the ground (the datum) to
Question :
Answer :
Question :
Answer :
Question :
Does the wind load command in STAAD take into account any
wind codes like ASCE 7? Does it take into account the drag factor,
or shape factor for different shapes like angle, channel etc.
Answer :
Question :
Answer :
The influence area calculation will work correctly if and only if the
exposed area is parallel to one of the global planes. A region
which is curvilinear in shape cannot be handled by the program.
Question :
Answer :
Question :
Answer :
The feature works best when the panels are parallel to one of the
global planes. The program does have some capability for
generating loads on inclined planes too. However, if the user finds
the results unsatisfactory, other load generation methods like the
"ELEMENT LOAD JOINTS" option may be used.
Question :
Answer :
Question :
I have three questions. 1) How can I tell STAAD that the load is
acting on the LEEWARD side and not on the WINDWARD side of
the building? 2) How do I specify that a load acts from east to west
instead of west to east? 3) How do I specify a suction load instead
of one which bears against the structure?
Answer :
+X
-X
+X
-X
+f
+f
-f
+f
See the figure below for the meaning of the four commands.
Y
X or Z
X or Z
X or Z
+f
-X or -Z
+f
X or Z
X or Z
-f
X or Z
-X or -Z
-f
Question :
Answer :