T

e
k
l
aS
t
r
u
c
t
u
r
a
lDe
s
i
g
n
e
r
S
t
e
e
lDe
s
i
g
n-Qu
i
c
kS
t
a
r
tGu
i
d
e
Ma
r
c
h201
5
Aut
ho
r
:P
a
u
lP
a
r
r
y

Table of Contents

ii (27)

1 Table of Contents
2

Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 4

The Interface................................................................................................................................. 4
3.1

Basic Functionality ................................................................................................................. 5

Exercise Details ............................................................................................................................ 6

4.1

Structural Details ................................................................................................................... 8

4.2

Loading Details ...................................................................................................................... 8

Modelling ...................................................................................................................................... 9
5.1

Creating a new model ............................................................................................................ 9

5.2

Defining Construction Levels ................................................................................................. 9

5.3

Inserting the Architectural Grid ............................................................................................. 10

5.4

Creating steel columns ........................................................................................................ 10

5.5

Creating steel trusses .......................................................................................................... 11

5.6

Creating steel beams ........................................................................................................... 11

5.7

Creating slabs on beams ..................................................................................................... 13

5.8

Creating roof panels............................................................................................................. 13

5.9

Creating bracing .................................................................................................................. 14

Loading and Combinations ......................................................................................................... 15

6.1

Creating load cases ............................................................................................................. 15

6.2

Applying loads ..................................................................................................................... 15

6.3

Creating Load Combinations................................................................................................ 16

Analysis and Design ................................................................................................................... 17

7.1

Analysing and Designing the structure ................................................................................. 17

7.2

Analysis and Design Options ............................................................................................... 18

Reviewing the design status ....................................................................................................... 18

8.1

Designing and checking individual elements ........................................................................ 19

8.2

Show\Alter State .................................................................................................................. 19

8.3

Design Tabular Results........................................................................................................ 21

Analysis Results ......................................................................................................................... 22

9.1

Model Analysis Results ........................................................................................................ 22

9.2

Tabular Analysis Results...................................................................................................... 23

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

Table of Contents

9.3
10

iii (27)

Member Analysis Results..................................................................................................... 24

Reports ................................................................................................................................... 25

10.1

Generating reports ............................................................................................................... 25

10.2

Managing reports and their content ...................................................................................... 25

11

Drawings ................................................................................................................................. 27

11.1

Drawing settings .................................................................................................................. 27

11.2

Drawing creation .................................................................................................................. 27

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

2 Introduction

4 (27)

2 Introduction
Welcome to the Tekla Structural Designer Quick Start Guide for Steel.
This document offers brief guidance on the basics of using Tekla Structural Designer for steel structures,
using a simple example. It is intended to accompany the Tekla Structural Designer e-Learning Quick Start
Guide for Steel, which demonstrates the steps required to complete this example, as well as some of the
programs fundamental concepts. You can view the e-Learning Quick Start Guide as many times as
required.
Detailed information about each program command and setting is available in the Help System this can
be accessed pressing F1 on your keyboard, or by clicking the Help (?) icon in the top right corner of the
ribbon.

3 The Interface
Tekla Structural Designer has a single user interface that allows multi-material models to be built, analysed
and interrogated easily. All concrete and steel elements can be designed and a variety of reports and
detailed drawings can be generated, all within the same program. In comparison to using Fastrak and
Orion, this should make it a lot quicker and easier to learn and use, and it wont matter what material youre
working in.
The main components of the interface are detailed below:

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

3 The Interface

5 (27)

The Ribbon is located at the top of the screen and is split up into a number of tabs. Each tab is
labelled based on the type of action that can be carried out when that tab is selected. For example,
the Model tab allows you to create/edit your model, the Load tab allows you to apply loads, etc.
The File tab contains standard options, such as New, Open, Save As and Exit. It also provides
a list of Recent Documents that youve been working on.
The Quick Access Toolbar contains certain tools that can always be accessed, irrespective of
which tab you have selected on the Ribbon, such as Delete, Undo and Save.
The Project Workspace contains numerous tabs that display different trees of information. The
Structure tree lists all elements in the model, as well as architectural grids, levels, frames, planes
and more. Other options include the Loading tree, which compares loads applied against
reactions, and the Status tree, which shows the status of various validations and analyses
completed.
The Properties window list all properties associated with whatever items are selected in the
model.
The Scene Views show various different views of the model, including 3D views, 2D plans,
frames and planes. These views can also display the model in different View Modes, including
Structural, Solver, Results and Review.
The Scene Content window allows you to control what information is displayed in the current view.
The Loading drop list controls the active load case or combination, and allows you to either apply
loads or view results for the selected option.
The Status Bar shows the units, design codes used and allows you to switch between View
Modes.
The yellow Information Bar shows the currently active command, what the next step for that
command is, and to press Esc to exit the command.

3.1 Basic Functionality

Selecting When no command is active, you are automatically in Select

mode. If you want to edit an existing item, you must select it and then edit
its properties. To select an individual element, simply left click on that
object. To add an individual element to an existing selection, hold the
CTRL key whilst you left click. If you place your cursor over multiple
elements, the Select Entity window will automatically appear; use the
scroll buttons on your keyboard or tab key to highlight the reference for the
element you want to select, and then left click or press enter. You can
select multiple elements by holding the left mouse button down and
dragging a window around the objects. Other select options are available.
Deleting Clicking the Delete button, either on your
keyboard or from the Quick Access Toolbar, deletes
whatever you currently have selected. You can also
activate Delete first, then click on the item to be deleted.
You can also delete by dragging a window around multiple
elements.
Navigating a scene view - Below are several of the basic ways to navigate a scene view.
o Zoom Scroll up or down using the mouse scroll wheel.
o Pan Press and hold the mouse scroll button down, then move the mouse.
o Rotate (3D view only) - Press and hold the right mouse button, then move the mouse.

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

4 Exercise Details

6 (27)

4 Exercise Details

Base Plan and Structure 3D views

First Floor and Second Floor Plan (identical)

Quick Start Guide
Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

4 Exercise Details

7 (27)

Frame A (and C) and Frame B (bracing omitted)

Bracing layout (3D view and Plan view of roof)

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

4 Exercise Details

8 (27)

4.1 Structural Details

Design Code = United Kingdom (Eurocode)

X direction bays = 2 x 6.0m
Y direction bays = 2 x 6.0m
4 storeys of 4.0m
9 steel columns, orientation and height as shown on screenshots above.
Auto design using UKC order file, S355
Steel beams, as shown on screenshots above. Auto design using UKB order file, S355
1st and 2nd floor level fully restrained.
Eaves level and above unrestrained.
1 steel Belgian pitched roof truss, 4 panel divisions left and right, 4m height
2-way slab, 200mm depth, C32/40 concrete
1-way slab, 200mm depth, C32/40 concrete
Steel bracing CHS 88.9 x 5.0, S355. CHS Order file.

4.2 Loading Details

Self Weight of frame

Slab Dead load
Dead finishes area load all floors
Dead perimeter beam wall load
Services area load all floors
Imposed area load on 1-way slab
Imposed area load on 2-way slab
Roof Imposed area load
Roof dead area load

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

= Automatically Applied
= Automatically Applied
= 0.5 kN/m2
= 8.0 kN/m
= 1.0 kN/m2
= 3.5 kN/m2
= 4.0 kN/m2
= 0.6 kN/m2
= 0.4 kN/m2

(Dead - Level load)

(Dead - Member load)
(Services - Level load)
(Imposed - Slab load)
(Imposed - Slab load)
(Roof Imposed - Area load)
(Dead - Area load)

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

5 Modelling

9 (27)

5 Modelling
All standard modelling commands are accessed from the Model ribbon tab.

5.1 Creating a new model

Before creating a new model, the Settings and Materials commands on the Home ribbon tab should be
reviewed to ensure the required options are selected. New models take these settings to create their own
model settings for the new file, and can include information such as the default section sizes and the
concrete grades. Once the new file has been created, its model settings can be reviewed and amended
via the Model Settings command on the Home ribbon tab. Design code-based features in the program,
such as generated Load Combinations, are based on the default Head Code setting also specified in these
windows.
Clicking the New command will create a new blank file, ready for you to insert your model.
Review the Settings and Materials, then create a new file based on the Exercise details.
Move on to the Model ribbon tab.

5.2 Defining Construction Levels

New levels can be created by clicking the Construction Levels command:

The Level and Spacing columns can be edited to specify the storey heights and their Z
coordinates.
The Type column defines the setting out position as T.O.S (top of steel), S.S.L (structural slab
level) or T.O.F (top of foundation) for entities placed on that level.
The Source column defines whether a level is unique or a duplicate copy of another defined level.
The Floor column determines if the level is a floor or not and can affect imposed load reductions.

Insert the construction levels based on the Exercise details in this document, as shown above.
Quick Start Guide
Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

5 Modelling

10 (27)

5.3 Inserting the Architectural Grid

To insert most elements into a model, Grid Lines or Construction Lines are required. To define an
Architectural grid, you can click on the drop down arrow below the Grid Line command and review the
options.
Click on the drop down arrow below the Grid Line command and choose Rectangular Wizard.
On the Levels and Grid Name dialog, define a Grid Name, then click Next.
On the Select Origin dialog, accept the default (0,0) position for the bottom left corner of the grid,
then click Next.
On the Generate dialog, accept the default of All Lines, then click Next.
On the X direction extents dialog, select Irregular and enter the Lengths, as per the Exercise
details, then click Next.
Do the same for the Y direction extents dialog, then click Finish.

5.4 Creating steel columns

Steel columns can be inserted into a model in a Plan,
Frame or Structure 3D scene view, and are created by
clicking the Steel Column button. Once the Create Steel
Column command is activated, the columns properties
can be defined in the Properties window. These include
the section size/autodesign, releases, restraints, top and
bottom levels, and how the column is aligned in the plan
view. Once the Properties are set up as required, you can
then insert them into the model in a variety of different
ways, such as by left clicking on an individual grid
intersection or by dragging a window around a number of
grid intersections when in a plan view.

Click on the Steel Column command and review the Properties.

Insert the columns, as per the Exercise details.
Press Escape to exit the command once all the columns have been placed.

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

5 Modelling

11 (27)

5.5 Creating steel trusses

Steel trusses can be inserted into a model in a Frame or
Structure 3D scene view, and are created by clicking the
Steel truss button. Once the Create Steel truss
command is activated a wizard takes you through the truss
creation - defining the truss start and end positions, the
truss type, panel divisions, truss shape and height.
Clicking Finish will place the truss into the model. The
section sizes are taken from the defaults in the model
settings these can be edited in the Properties window
after the truss has been placed.

Click on the Structure 3D scene tab.

Click on the Steel truss command.
Insert the truss as per the Exercise details.
Press Escape to exit the command once all the columns have been placed.

5.6 Creating steel beams

Steel beams can be inserted into a model in a Plan, Frame,
Sloped Plane or Structure 3D scene view, and are created
by clicking the Steel Beam button. Once the Create Steel
Beam command is activated, the beams properties can be
defined in the Properties window. These include the
section size/autodesign, releases, restraints and how the
beam is aligned. Once the Properties are set up as
required, you can then insert beams into the model in many
different ways. You can click the support points, drag a
window around multiple columns, and beams will
automatically be inserted between them where a grid line
already exists. To place a beam off another beam, hover
over the supporting beam to obtain points to connect to.
Click on the point required and then move to the second supporting beam. Again, hover over a point and
click on the required point. If the points do not provide the required position you can press F2 and define
the distance along the beam.

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

5 Modelling

12 (27)

In the Structure Tree, expand the option Levels,

then double click on the St. 1 (1) and St. 3 (eaves)
levels to create 2D plan scene views for these
levels.
Ensure the St. 1 (1) level is the active one by
clicking on the scene tab.
Click on the Steel Beam command and review the
Properties.
Insert the beams on St. 1 as per the Exercise
details. Note the beams are also replicated on the
St. 2 (2) level as this is a duplicate level.
Press Escape to exit the command once all the
columns have been placed on this level.

Click on the St. 3 (eaves) scene tab to make it the

active scene view.
Click on the Steel Beam command and review the
Properties.
Insert the beams on St. 3 (eaves) as per the
Exercise details.
Press Escape to exit the command once all the
columns have been placed on this level.

Click on the Structure 3D scene tab to make it the

active scene view.
Click on the Steel Beam command and review the
Properties.
Insert the sloping beams and ridge beams as per the
Exercise details.
Press Escape to exit the command once all the
columns have been placed on this level.

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

5 Modelling

13 (27)

5.7 Creating slabs on beams

Slab on beams can be created in a Plan or Structure 3D
scene view, and are created by clicking on the Slabs on
Beams button.
Once the Create Slab on beams
command is activated, the slabs properties can be defined
in the Properties window. These include the slab depth
and diaphragm options. Once the Properties are set up as
required, you can then insert the slab panels into the model
in a variety of different ways, such as by left clicking into an
individual axis region, or by dragging a window around or
within a number of axis regions when in a plan view.

Ensure youre working in the St. 1 (1) 2D plan view.

Click on the Slab on Beams command and review the Properties.
Insert the slabs, as per the Exercise details.
Press Escape to exit the command once all the columns have been placed on this level.

5.8 Creating roof panels

Roof panels can be created in a Plan, Slope or Structure
3D scene view and are created by clicking on the Roof
Panel command. They must lie in a 2D plane and are only
used for the purpose of applying load and decomposing
load to the supporting entities. To place a roof panel, left
click on node points (in a clockwise or counterclockwise
direction), to define the vertices. Once three vertices have
been defined, the 2D plane for the roof panel is set and
you can only continue in the defined 2D plane. To
complete the roof click on the first node point again or
double left click the penultimate node point. The roofs
properties can be amended afterwards by selecting the
roof panel and reviewing the Properties window.

Click on the Structure 3D scene tab to make it the active scene view.
Click on the Roof Panel command.
Click node points to define the two roof panels as per the Exercise details.
Press Escape to exit the command.

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

5 Modelling

14 (27)

5.9 Creating bracing

Steel braces can be inserted into a model in a Plan,
Frame, Slope or Structure 3D scene view, and are created
by clicking the down arrow below Steel Brace and
selecting either Steel Brace or one of the pattern options.
In this Quick Start Guide we will use the steel brace
command. Once the Create Steel Brace command is
activated, the braces properties can be defined in the
Properties window.
These include the section
size/autodesign, releases and alignment. Once the
Properties are set up as required, you can then insert them
into the model by left clicking the brace start and end
support locations to define the location.

Click on the Steel Brace command and review the Properties.

Insert the braces, as per the Exercise details.
Press Escape to exit the command once all the braces have been placed.

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

6 Loading and Combinations

15 (27)

6 Loading and Combinations

All standard Loading commands are accessed from the Load ribbon tab.

6.1 Creating load cases

The Loadcases in your model can be viewed and edited by clicking the Loadcases command. A number
of loadcases are created by default, including Self weight excluding slabs and Slab self-weight, which
are then automatically calculated based on your model. New loadcases can be created by clicking the
Add button in this window.
Click onto the Load ribbon tab, click the Loadcases button to review them.
Click a loadcase in the list on the left to review the loadcase details.
Click Add, and create an additional loadcase Roof Imposed of load type Roof Imposed and then
click OK to confirm.

6.2 Applying loads

To apply a load under a particular loadcase, you must first select an appropriate scene view (1), as some
load types can only be applied whilst in a 2D view, whilst others can only be applied in a 3D view. If a load
type cant be applied in the scene view you have selected, then it will be greyed out (2). You then need to
select the loadcase that you want to apply the load under using the Loading drop list (3). Once this is
done, you can then select the appropriate load type from the Load ribbon tab (4), adjust their directions
and magnitudes in the Properties window (5), and apply the load to the model. The Scene Content
window (6) allows you to control which load types are displayed.
Apply all loads to the model under the appropriate loadcases, as per the Exercise details
Refer to the Tekla Structural Designer e-Learning Quick Start Guide for Steel for a full
demonstration.

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

6 Loading and Combinations

16 (27)

6.3 Creating Load Combinations

The Load Combinations in your model can be viewed and edited by clicking the Combinations
command. New combinations can be manually created by clicking the Add button in this window. You
can then edit the Name of the combination and control which load cases are included in it this is done
by selecting the required load case in the Available Loadcases list and using the arrow buttons to move
it into the Included list.
A series of code-based combinations can also be generated automatically by clicking the Generate
button in this window, which will then lead you through the Combination Generator. All thats required
for this model is gravity combination containing all of the default load cases, and the gravity combination
including EHFs.

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

7 Analysis and Design

17 (27)

Click the Combinations button, and then Generateto run through the wizard. Refer to the
e-Learning Quick Start Guide for Steel for a full demonstration.

7 Analysis and Design

All standard analysis and design commands are accessed from the Analyse ribbon tab and the Design
ribbon tab.

7.1 Analysing and Designing the structure

In a traditional design package we would now run the analysis and then undertake the design of the
elements afterwards. All of the various analyses that can be completed in the program can be accessed
from the Analyse tab, and the analysis results could then be interrogated.
In Tekla Structural Designer, we combine the analysis and design into a single design step, although the
analysis is still available for us to review. This is achieved via the Design ribbon tab.
This process goes through a series of steps mentioned below. You can see which stage the design
process is at by clicking the Show Process button in the bottom left corner of the screen. Elements
designed during this process will be designed for the analysis type set in the Design options. The steps
are typically;

Validation The purpose of validation is to trap out errors that will likely cause the analysis or
design to fail. If any issues are found, they will be reported as either a warning or an error in the
Status Tree. Errors MUST be corrected to allow the analysis and design to be completed. You
can double click on the warning and error messages to locate the issues.
Load Decomposition Slab loads are decomposed into the frame using an FE mesh, ready for
the 3D Analysis.
3D Analysis This will analyse the whole model at once, following the analysis and design options
made.
Auto Design/Check Design Once the structure is fully analysed, Tekla Structural Designer will
perform either a full Auto Design or a Check Design of all frame elements in the model, depending
on their Autodesign status and whether theyve been designed before or not.
Design Steel (Gravity) Autodesign or check designs elements for combinations classed as
Gravity. This allow the quick effective design of elements such as floor beams that are not effected
by lateral loads.
Design Steel (All) Autodesign or check designs elements for combinations classed as Gravity
and Lateral.

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

8 Reviewing the design status

18 (27)

7.2 Analysis and Design Options

As with all analysis and design packages, its important to check the settings for the analyses and designs
to be completed before running them. This should ensure that the analysis results are accurate and
correct, and that the completed designs follow the parameters you want.
The Analysis Options contain key settings related to each analysis type available in the program, such
as the Modification Factors for E and I values, which will naturally affect the stiffness of the structure.
The Design Options let you control how the various elements are designed, allowing you to specify things
like ignorable force limits.
Click onto the Analyse ribbon tab, click the Options button, review them and accept the defaults.
Click onto the Design ribbon tab, click the Options button, review them and accept the defaults.
Click onto the Design ribbon tab and click the Design Steel (All) button.

8 Reviewing the design status

Once the Design Steel (All) process is complete, the View Mode of your active scene view will
automatically change to the Review View mode, and the newly-created Review ribbon tab will be
activated. This will allow you to see the graphical design Status of each element in the model, as well as
the design Ratio. This Review mode will also allow you to quickly change parameters using the
Show\Alter State group.
Use the Scene content to turn off the Roof Panels, Slab Items and Loading to see the steel
structure more clearly.

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

8 Reviewing the design status

19 (27)

Some other key points include:

The Status Tree has become active in the Project Workspace, showing the status of the validations
and analyses completed errors and warnings would also be displayed here.
The Status bar shows green ticks and red crosses to highlight completed analyses and designs.
The Review ribbon tab contains several other features to review and amend the model, including
seeing which members are pinned and which are set to be auto-designed or check-designed.

8.1 Designing and checking individual elements

You can right click elements in the model and undertake a number of tasks.

Check Member to check an entity and see the code design results,
Edit Member to change the properties of the member,
Design Member to re-design (based upon the current analysis results),
Open load analysis view to review the force and displacement results for the individual element,
Show Member loading to review the applied member loads.
Other tasks are also available.

Review a failing brace via Check Member to review the results.

Design a failing brace via Design Member.

8.2 Show\Alter State

Show\Alter state allows you to show and alter the state of the model.
Show\Alter state Auto\Check Design allows you to review quickly which elements are in auto design
mode and which are in check mode i.e. have a section assigned.
Use Auto\Check Design to confirm that all entities have a section and hence are in check mode
(Off).
Reset all the failing entities back to auto design so that you can run the Steel Design (All) to size them
again for all combinations.
Click on each failing brace to toggle the Auto\Check Design status to On.

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

8 Reviewing the design status

20 (27)

Click onto the Design ribbon tab and click the Design Steel (All) button to design (size) the
entities with their Auto\Check Design status to On.
Return to the Review View and Status to review the updated design status for the model.

Show\Alter State Steel provides the ability to rationalise the model by assigning the same steel
section/grade to other entities in the model .This can be useful for rationalising a floor plate to ensure the
same section is utilised. Define the section to apply in the properties window and then left click on entities
in the model to assign the properties. Show\Alter state Copy properties provides the ability to copy
sections of the properties to other entities in the model. This also allows copying of the section/grade as
the steel command.

Use Steel and/or Copy Properties to make all internal primary beams along gridline 2, UKB
457x191x67 section.

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

8 Reviewing the design status

21 (27)

Once changes occur to the model the analysis and design results are no longer valid, as indicated on the
status tree.

Switch back to the Design ribbon tab and re-run the Design Steel (All) which will update the
analysis and design status for all combinations.

8.3 Design Tabular Results

Tabular design data can be reviewed by clicking on the Tabular Data icon on the Review View tab. You
can then set the view type (1) to review Sway, Design summary or Material list and apply further filters via
the review data ribbon.

Review the Sway results to determine the sway susceptibility of the structure.
Quick Start Guide
Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

9 Analysis Results

22 (27)

9 Analysis Results
9.1 Model Analysis Results
Once an analysis has been completed, the results can be interrogated by switching view mode to the
Results View on the Status Bar (1) or via the context menu of the view tab (2), and a newly-created
Results ribbon tab (3) will be activated. Here, you can choose which analysis you want to view the results
for, such as 1st Order Linear, and also select the type of results you want to view, such as deflections,
moment & shear diagrams, and reactions. The results displayed are dependent on the load case,
combination or envelope selected in the Loading Drop List, and you can adjust the scale of the diagrams
using the Scale Settings.
If you are unsure why you are getting certain results, you can also try switching view mode to the Solver
View on the Status Bar, so you can see the actual analysis model that was analysed. See the Help system
for further information on the Solver view.
Click onto the Results ribbon tab and investigate some of the results available.
Change to a Solver view and take a look at the analysis solver model.

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

9 Analysis Results

23 (27)

9.2 Tabular Analysis Results

Nodes, Elements, Nodal Forces, Nodal Deflections and Element End Forces can all be displayed in tables
by selecting the Analyse ribbon tab (1) > Tabular data command (2). Select the Analysis type required
from the drop list on the Result Type group (3). Select the result type to be displayed as a table from the
View Type drop list (4). Finally select the loadcase or combination to display from the Loading drop list (5)
if required.

Review some tabulated results.

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

9 Analysis Results

24 (27)

9.3 Member Analysis Results

As well as being able to view the analysis results for the model as a whole, you can also view the results
for individual elements. These can be accessed through any view mode with the member geometry visible.
This is achieved by hovering the cursor over the element in question, right clicking and choosing Open
Load Analysis View. A new view will be opened, and a Loading Analysis ribbon tab will also
automatically opened. This will allow you to choose which results are displayed and from which analysis
type.

Try reviewing the individual member analysis results for a beam and a column.

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

10 Reports

25 (27)

10 Reports
Two types of reports are available Model and Member reports. Model reports are accessed from the
Report ribbon tab. Member reports are generated by right clicking on a member to bring up the context
menu and choosing the option Report for member.

10.1

Generating reports

There are a number of standard model reports available using the Select drop down menu on the Report
ribbon tab. Once the required report is selected here, the Show Report button will display the report in
a new scene view.
Once the report is generated, there are a number of options on the Report ribbon tab, including:

10.2

Settings Control font and text size, margins, page numbering, etc.
Edit Header/Footer Control the layout, labels and content of the reports header and footer.
Navigation Navigate through the pages of the report using the arrow commands, or by using the
Report Index to quickly get to specific pages, which will become available in the Project Workspace.
Export Options to export the report to PDF, Word, Excel and Tedds for Word.

Managing reports and their content

If you want to create your own custom report, or just edit the content of the standard reports, you can use
the Model Report or Member Report options on the Report ribbon tab. Select an existing report to edit
or create a new report by clicking Add (1) and then entering a Report Name (2). Content available for
inclusion in the report is listed under the Chapters and Options list. Once the option required for the
report are found, it can be dragged into the Report Structure list (3), and then up or down that list to
specify the order.

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

10 Reports

26 (27)

Filters need to be defined for each items in the report to control the content. You can define model and
loading filters and the analysis method. Model filters allow you to specify if you are looking at the Structure,
Level or Frame. Loading filters allow you to specify if you are looking at a specific loadcase, combination
or envelope.
Right clicking over the entries in the Report Structure list allows filters to be applied (4).
For the Filter type - select an available filter or create a new one by clicking Add (5), set the Filter property
type (6) and Item (7) and finally provide a Name to suit the properties (8). This filter will then be applied
to the entry and will be available in the list when you right click an item in the future (4).
You will need to repeat steps (4) to (8) to define the other filter types.

Try generating a default report and creating your own report style.

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design

11 Drawings

27 (27)

11 Drawings
All currently available standard drawing commands are accessed from the Draw ribbon tab and from the
right click context menu of an entity.

11.1

Drawing settings

Once elements have been designed, drawings of them can be created. All drawings are created based
on the Drawing Settings which controls presentation and the Design Options which controls detailing
preferences. Drawing Settings can be accessed by clicking the Edit option on the Draw ribbon tab. These
settings allow you to control a wide variety of things, including what information is displayed in each type
of drawing, the colours of the different layers, section information, labelling and dimensioning. The detail
drawings will be generated as DXF files and will be displayed by exporting them to another program, so
youll need a program such as AutoCAD or TrueView to be able to view them.
Go onto the Draw ribbon tab and review the Drawing Settings.

11.2

Drawing creation

You can generate drawings of the currently active plan, frame or slope scene view by clicking on the
General Arrangement icon. The DXF Export Preferences dialog allows you to define the filename,
drawing type, layer style, scale and text block spacing.
The drawing type defines the layers that are active for export to create drawings such as General
Arrangement, Floor Loading, Beam End Forces and Foundation Reactions. These are controlled via the
Drawing Settings icon.
Ensure the St 1 (1) First floor scene view is active and click on the DXF Export Preferences dialog.
Review the settings, accept the defaults and click OK to generate a General Arrangement drawing.
This will be automatically be opened in your DXF application.

Quick Start Guide

Tekla Corporation March 4,
2015

Tekla Structural Designer

Steel Design