Orion Training Manual

15.
Day One – Standard

Training Course
January 2009
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CONTENTS
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Background 1
1.2 Important Notes Regarding This Documentation 2
1.3 Training Overview 2
1.4 Overview of the User Interface (for information) 3
1.5 Orion Modelling, Analysis & Design Flowchart 4
1.6 Graphic Editor - General Principles 5
2 Building the Model 9
2.1 Getting Started – Project Parameters & Settings 9
2.2 Creating Axes 15
2.3 Creating Columns 21
2.4 Creating Shear Walls 32
2.5 Creating Beams 35
2.6 Creating Slabs 41
2.7 Member Re-Labelling (for information) 48
2.8 Using Tables to Edit Multiple Members 49
2.9 Wall Loads and Additional Beam Loads 51
2.10 Generating a 3D View of the Model and Creating Additional Storeys 56
3 Building Analysis 62
3.1 Pre-Analysis 62
3.2 Model Options 66
3.3 Performing the Analysis 68
3.4 Post-Analysis 71
4 Beam Reinforcement Design 84
4.1 Exercise Aims 84
4.2 Beam Design Settings and Parameters 84
4.3 Designing all Beams using Batch Mode 84
4.4 Graphical Review of Passing / Failing Members 86
4.5 Interactive Beam Design 87
4.6 Creating the Beam Elevation Drawings 95
5 Column & Wall Reinforcement Design 96
5.2 Column Design Settings and Parameters 96
5.3 Designing all Columns using Batch Mode 96
5.4 Creating a Column Schedule 97
5.5 Creating a Column Output Report 99
5.6 Creating a Foundation Loads Report 100
5.7 Interactive Column Design (for information) 101
5.8 Creating the Column Reinforcement Plan 112
6 Slab Design and Detailing 116
6.1 Introduction 116
6.2 Create Slab Reinforcement Strips 117
6.3 Editing the Bar Layout 120
6.4 Creating Slab Output 121
7 Creating a Flat Slab Model 123
7.2 Creating the Flat Slabs in the Model 123
7.3 Creating Slab Loads and Openings 126
7.4 Creating Additional Storeys 129
8 Building Analysis for Flat Slab 130
8.1 Pre-Analysis 130
8.2 Model Options 131
8.3 Performing the Analysis 132
8.4 Post-Analysis 135
9 Gravity Load Chase Down using Finite Element Analysis 138
9.2 Finite Element Model Generation Options 138
9.3 Generating/Performing the FE Analysis Model 141
9.4 Cross checking the Finite Element Results 147
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10 Designing the Flat Slab 150
10.2 Finite Element – Post Processing Settings 150
10.3 Floor Analysis Post Processing 151
10.4 Exporting and Displaying Contours 160
10.5 Exporting to DXF (for information) 161
10.6 Designing the Columns/Walls 162
Appendix A : Adding Wind Load to the Model 164
Specifying Wind Combinations 164
Applying a Single Wind Load to Each Floor 165
Applying Wind Loads directly to Columns & Walls 169
Appendix B: Beam Design Settings and Detailing 171
Beam Design Settings 171
Appendix C: Column Design Settings and Detailing 179
Creating the Column Detail Drawings 187
Appendix D : Foundation Design 190
Introduction 190
Pad Footing Design 191
Strip Footing Design 195
Raft Foundation Design 199
Appendix E : Load Combinations and the Loading Generator 204
The Loading Generator 204
Appendix F : Report Manager 210
Concrete and Form Estimation Reports 210
Report Manager 211
Appendix G : Polyline Column Editor 212
Creating an L-shaped column. 212
Appendix H : Slab Design using FE Analysis 216
Introduction 216
Creating FE Slab Strips 216
Finite Element Model Generation 217
Finite Element Model Generation 218
Updating the FE Strips with Reinforcement 222
Appendix I: Enhancing the General Arrangement Drawings 224
Creating Dimensions 224
Shrinking Axes and Setting Unused Axes to Ghost 228
Creating Slab Section Views 229
Appendix J : Orion Data File Structure and Project Settings 232
Project Settings 233
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1 Introduction
1.1 Background
Orion is developed for the analysis, design and drafting of Concrete Building Stuctures. Unlike general
purpose structural analysis programs, Orion is concentrated on accurate analysis, fast data preparation,
automated reinforced concrete design and automated preparation of engineering drawings and details.
Building systems have the following common structural features:
Geometry of a building system generally formed principly by horizontal beams and vertical columns.
Most of the time, the column and beam elements have similar cross-sections so that standard section
types can be formed.
The in-plane stiffness of the floor slabs is considered to be high, forming rigid diaphragms at each floor
level.
Applied loads are either in vertical (dead and imposed loads) or horizontal (wind, soil pressure or
earthquake) directions.
There will often be repetition (in whole or in part) of floor layouts from one level to the next.
General arrangement drawings (GA’s) are somewhat stylised, but given the constrained area of
application outlined above, the system allows the model to be described by the development of GA
drawings at each floor level. Even that process is further simplified since beams etc are dealt with as
coherant objects, not just lines. The more simplistic centre line analysis model is automatically created
in background at the same time. For example, in reality, 300 wide beams and 400 square columns
along an external elevation may be arranged with the outside faces flush which would mean that their
true centre lines are not aligned. It would be common practice to ignore this degree of mis-alignment
for analysis purposes. Orion will not un-necessarily complicate the analysis model.
In addition – different preferences can be held and automatically used for analysis and design
purposes. For example, beam flanges can be ignored in the analysis but then utilised for reinforcement
design (sagging moments only) without any re-modelling.
In summary, an Orion model allows you to
• Create GA drawings
• Design the Floor Slabs, and de-compose floor loads onto beams.
• Analyse the building frame
• Design continuous beams, columns. walls, and foundations (pad, strip and raft)
• Automatically generate RC detail drawings.
Note that analysis and design results are represented so that the reports look like a "Building Output"
by classifying the members as columns, walls, slabs and beams with the same notations used in the
floor plans.
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1.2 Important Notes Regarding This Documentation

This document is primarily intended to accompany a formal training course. However, it has been
decided that it will be distributed with the software as an alternative means of getting started. If you
are using this document and have not attended a course you will still find it very informative but we ask
that you note the following:
• Each part builds on the last so you need to work from start to finish.
• In many places the notes will simply say “Set up the options/settings like this”.
Within the notes there is little discussion of what effect alternative selections would
have. This is the sort of additional information that would be covered during
discussions in the training course or the informal question and answer sessions.
• The introduction above gives an indication that you will need to develop an
appreciation of the distinction between physical, analysis, and design models. Once
again, this is the sort of additional information that would be covered during
discussions in the training course or the informal question and answer sessions.
• In particular, time should be put aside towards the end of the formal training to allow
you to further discuss the above and also investigate how you can set up Orion so
that it works as closely as possible in accordance with your standards/requirements.
• Background
• Important Notes Regarding This Documentation
1.3 Training Overview

This training document will cover the main functions of Orion by using a simple 4 storey model. It is
intended that after the course you should be capable of applying the techniques learnt to more
complex geometries.
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1.4 Overview of the User Interface (for information)

The various components of the user interface are shown below:
Structure Plan View Members 3D View

Tree Toolbar
Layer
Toolbar
Form Plan, Detail and Plan/3D View tabs

Design Status tabs
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1.5 Orion Modelling, Analysis
& Design Flowchart
The following flow chart demonstrates the typical procedure, for analysis and design within Orion.
These options are fully described in the Orion Engineers Handbook.
1. Build the Model Slab design based on tabulated code coefficients
2. Derive Beam Loads

¾ Yield Lines
or
¾ FE decomposition for Beam Loads
3. Run Building Analysis

Generates gravity and lateral
design forces for column/walls
and beams
3a For Flat Slab Construction

Use FE Floor Analysis to create
sub frames per floor, and chase
If a Flat Slab? gravity (only) loads down
(or sub frame
YES through the structure.
approach)
These Gravity Loads replace
those from the Building Analysis
NO
4.1 Beam Design 4.2 Column/Wall 4.3 Slab

Design Design
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1.6 Graphic Editor - General Principles

In a formal training course your tutor will demonstrate these methods to you. If you’re working
through the notes independently you should just read this section and then return to it as necessary
when you need to use the features/methods it describes.
1.6.1 Selecting single and / or multiple members

Several entity selection options are available to select single and/or multiple elements for editing. Only
visible objects can be selected using one of the selection methods. The entity selection options are
located in the "Edit" drop down and toolbar.
Available entity selection options are:
Select Entity Option
After clicking on the "Pick" icon from the Members Toolbar, a single element can be
selected by simply picking a point on the entity.
To select a second and further objects, you can press the CTRL key while picking entities successively.
If a selected element is picked again, then it will be de-selected.
Window Selections
After clicking on the "Pick" icon from the Members Toolbar, multiple elements can be selected by
enclosing them in a selection window. A selection window is a rectangular area that is defined in the
drawing area by dragging two opposite corners.
Two types of window selection are available. "Select Entity (Window)" option selects entities that
are entirely within the selection area. "Select Entity (Crossing)" option select entities within and
entities crossing the edges of the selection area.
"Select Entity (Window)" is performed by clicking and dragging from left to right as shown below.
Window Selection: Selects Column 1S2 only.
"Select Entity (Crossing)" is performed by clicking and dragging from right to left: By reversing the 1st
and 2nd points in the diagram above, Axes "A" and "1", Column 1S2 and 1S3 would be selected
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Fence Selection
Fence is a line that selects all entities that it passes through.
To perform "Select Entity (Fence)" hold down the SHIFT key and drag a line that crosses all
elements that are intended for the selection set.
This option is useful when a set of non-orthogonal entities are to be selected.
Fence Selection: Selects Axes "A" and "B".
1.6.2 Update - Editing a member

For example, in order to edit an existing beam:
1. Select an existing beam.
2. Modify the fields such as "Label", "b" and "b2” in the "Beam Menu".
3. Press the "Update" button in the toolbar or Modify menu.
You can repeat this process to as many members as you wish. One member at a time can be edited by
this method. If you want to update several beams at once, you can use "Beam Table" in the "Member"
menu.
1.6.3 Deletion – A single / multiple members

For example, in order to delete an existing beam:
1. Select an existing beam.
2. Press the "Delete" button in the toolbar or Modify menu.
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1.6.4 Deletion – Selective deletion from a group of members

For example, in order to delete all the slabs from within a
selection window:
1. Perform a window selection (as described earlier in
this Appendix).
2. Press the "Delete" button in the toolbar or Modify
menu.
3. From the "Element Filter" check "Slabs" only
4. Click on OK
1.6.5 Object Snapping (Osnaps)

The cursor can be made to snap onto the endpoint,
midpoint of an individual line or intersection of two lines
etc. to assist in creating axes or dimensioning or other
positioning commands. Default Osnap Settings can be
switched on in the “Edit” drop down and the toolbar.
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1.6.6 Basic View/Zoom functions

The Graphical Editor provides several ways to control the display of the drawing in the drawing area.
You can zoom to change the magnification or pan to reposition the view in the drawing area. All
display control options are located in the "View" drop down and the toolbar.
The following options are available:
ReDraw
The "Redraw" command re-displays all the drawing entities in the drawing area without re-generating
the drawing objects. After a redraw, the drawing is completely updated.
ReGen
The "Regen" command re-generates all drawing entities using stored geometry information. This
command is slightly time consuming than the redraw function.
Zoom Window
You can quickly zoom in on an area by picking the opposite corners of the zoom window defining it.
After selecting the "Zoom Window" option, specify the opposite corners of the zoom window in the
drawing area by dragging two points.
Zoom Previous
All zoom operations are stored. So, anytime, a previous display can be recalled using the "Zoom
Previous" option.
Zoom Extents
"Zoom Extents" displays a view that includes all objects in the current storey at the highest
magnification that will fit in the drawing area.
Zoom Limits
"Zoom Limits" displays a view that includes all objects contained within the active sheet borders at the
highest magnification that will fit in the drawing area.
Zoom (+) and Zoom (-)
"Zoom (+)" increases the magnification of the current view by 10% and "Zoom (-)" decreases the
magnification by a similar amount. This option can be used to quickly zoom in and out to the centre of
the current view.
Pan
After selecting the "Pan" option, you can pan the drawing image to a new location by dragging two
points that defines the pan direction and amount.
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2 Building the Model

2.1 Getting Started – Project Parameters & Settings
2.1.1 Exercise aims
• Launching Orion software
• Entering Project Code
• Entering Project Parameters (Type of Analysis, Material Properties etc)
• Selecting Drawing Sheet
• Entering Storey Height
• Specifying some Program Design Settings
The object of this exercise is to familiarise you on how to start a new project in Orion and how to input
some basic project parameters.
2.1.2 Launching Orion
¾ Load Orion so a screen similar to the following appears.
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2.1.3 Creating a New Project
¾ Click New Project, (leaving the box to Discard Current Project Settings unchecked).
¾ Enter a Project Code. Type the code as shown using the ‘_’ character to denote spaces.
¾ Then Click OK
This will automatically create a folder called Training_Course_Model_1 beneath the default data
folder shown on the previous page. This will be used for storing all the model data.
Note: For more details about the Orion Data File Structure and Project Settings refer to the
Appendix of this manual.
2.1.4 Entering Project Parameters

The following Project Parameters window now appears where the Design Codes can be selected.
Currently the program supports design to either BS8110-1997 or CP65.
¾ Ensure your required design code is selected and then click the General tab.
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¾ Click the Select button to choose a coefficient of subgrade reaction for the use in Foundation
Design.
¾ Now click the Lateral Loading tab so the following screen appears.
Note: With selections as above, Fx and Fy lateral load cases will be automatically generated
based on 1.5% of the dead load only.
¾ Now click on the Lateral Drift tab so the following screen appears.
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2.1.5 Sway Considerations
This is really a question of the building’s susceptibility to 2nd order effects.

Refer to BS8110:Part 1 clauses 3.2.1.3 & 3.8.3. As with other codes (including the steel code), this
provides methods for adding in second order effects.
If braced then sway moments between beams and columns negligible and can be ignored.
Deciding whether or not the building is braced/unbraced in each direction, is currently a matter of
engineering judgement.
Braced or Unbraced in each direction?
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¾ Proceed to the Title tab and fill in the job particulars.
¾ Click OK to get back to the Open Project dialog and then OK once more to proceed.
2.1.6 Drawing Sheet Selection

Orion has the unique ability to create working drawings from the design data. After having entered the
project parameters the drawing sheet selection dialog box will automatically appear.
¾ Click on the drop down arrow to see the various sheet sizes available, pick A0 then click OK.
Note: You can enter your own sheet size in the width and height box if your required size is not
available. You can also change the drawing and detail scales from this dialog.
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Note: The sheet origin (0,0) is located at the lower left corner of the drawing sheet. If after
creating your model, you find it is too close to the edge of the sheet, you can reposition it by
clicking on the Sheet Origin button.
2.1.7 Inserting Storey Height

The next dialog prompts for the Storey height for the 1st storey
¾ Enter the storey height as 3300mm as shown below then click OK.
After entering the 1st storey height, the main drawing area (Graphical Editor) appears.
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2.2 Creating Axes

2.2.1 Exercise Aims
• Understanding Axis Directions
• Using the Orthogonal Axis Generator
• Rotating & Stretching Axes
• Selecting Multiple Axes
2.2.2 Establishing Axis Directions and Labels

Now we will begin to create the axes.
¾ Pick Orthogonal Axis Generator from the File menu.
Alternatively the same command can be accessed by right clicking on the Axes branch within the
Structure Tree and picking from the pop up menu.
Note the text that is displayed at the bottom of the screen. This is prompting you how to proceed.
¾ Hold down the Ctrl key while picking a point in the lower left hand region of the
drawing sheet.
After picking the reference point the Axis Generator screen should appear.
¾ Fill in the boxes on the Axis Generator as below.
Note: You could now click on the screen to define the co-ordinates of the reference point, however
to ensure it has a sensible (i.e. whole number) offset from the origin hold down the Ctrl key on
your keyboard while picking a reference point.
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Note: The Orthogonal Axis Generator will create Direction 1 axes horizontally and give them
Alphabetical labels, Direction 2 axes will be created vertically with numeric labels. It is
worthwhile maintaining a convention so that the same axis directions are applied in all models. We
would suggest all axes within +/- 45 degrees of the horizontal be assigned direction 1
and all axes within +/- 45 degrees of the vertical be assigned direction 2.
Y axis (90 degrees) Dir 1 - +/- 45 degrees

Dir 2 of the X axis
Dir 2 +/- 45 degrees

Dir 1 of the Y axis
X axis (0 degrees)
Plan View in Orion 2D Model
¾ Click on OK, the axes should appear as follows.
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2.2.3 Osnap methods
The cursor can be made to snap onto the endpoint, or
midpoint of an individual line or intersection of two lines
etc. This will assist in creating axes or dimensioning or
other positioning commands. Default Osnap Settings can
be switched on in the “Edit” drop down and the toolbar.
¾ From the Edit menu choose Object Snap

Settings and ensure the Intersection,
EndPoint and MidPoint Osnaps are switched on.
Then click on OK.
The Osnaps you have specified become active when using

either the Axis or Dimension commands.
2.2.4 Pick methods

The last axis to be drawn was Axis 6. This is thus the currently selected axis and is shown
as a solid blue line. The Structure Tree View also indicates the selected axis. Provided that
the Pick icon is active on the members toolbar it is possible to select a different axis by
left clicking on it.
To select several axes at the same time hold down the Ctrl key whilst picking the axes. The solid blue
line indicates the last axis selected, the other axes that have been selected can be identified by the
small squares or grips that appear at the ends of the axes.
The selected axes are also indicated in the Structure Tree View. Clicking on the axis label in the tree
view also selects an axis. Pressing Ctrl whilst clicking in the Tree View allows selection of multiple
axes.
2.2.5 Editing Axes
¾ Clear any previous axis selections by clicking on the Clear Selection Set icon
¾ Then use either of the pick methods to select only Axis 5.
¾ With this axis selected, right click to activate the context sensitive pop up menu as shown.
Note: The commands available on the pop up menu will vary depending on what is selected.
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The pop up menu allows the selected axis to be edited in a number of ways.
¾ Choose Rotate Axis
Then follow the prompt at the bottom of the screen.
¾ Change the Angle in the Axis Properties to 95 degrees
¾ Pick the base of rotation by clicking on the intersection of axis A and 5. Provided
you have set up Osnaps, the cursor should snap to the exact intersection.
The axis should then appear rotated as shown below.
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¾ Repeat this procedure to rotate axis F by 10 degrees about the intersection of axes F and 1.
Help?? If you can’t recall how to do the above:

Click the Pick icon
Click on Axis F to select it.
Right mouse click and choose Rotate Axis
Type in the angle as 10
Click on the Osnap intersection of axis F and 1
¾ The axes should then appear as follows:
2.2.6 Selecting/Stretching Multiple Axes

Next we will stretch all the vertical axes so that they all extend above axis F.
¾ From the Edit menu choose Select Entity (Fence) and then drag a line between
Axis E & F through all the vertical axes so they are all selected.
¾ Right mouse click to bring up the pop up menu and pick Stretch Axis
¾ Click and Hold with your left mouse button near Axis 6 and drag up past Axis F.
The screen should now look as shown below.
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2.2.7 Creating Axes Individually

In the training example it has been possible to create all the Axis Lines using the Orthogonal Axis
Generator so it will not be necessary to create axes individually, however there will be many occasions
in other models when you will need to add individual axes to an existing grid layout. There are two
ways to achieve this:
Either,
i) Create a new line parallel to an existing axis. To do this, select an existing grid line
then right click to activate the context sensitive pop up menu. Choose Offset Axis. Define
the offset and the label for the new axis and then left mouse click to one side of the
initially selected axis to indicate the side where the new axis is to be drawn.
ii) Create a new line by using the Axis Tool. To do this, select the Axis Tool
from the Members Toolbar. Define the new label, then left click and drag to
draw the axis. Note that using this method the line is being drawn ‘free-hand’
making it difficult to draw the line to an exact angle or length. To rectify this,
hold down the CTRL key when drawing the line. This forces the angle and length to snap
to multiples of the values shown in the Graphic Editor View Settings – Plan Tab.
With an Angle Step of 15 deg and a Length Step of 1000, holding down CTRL will force the axis
to snap to an angle of 0,15, or 30 degrees etc. and a length which will be a multiple of 1000mm.
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2.3 Creating Columns

2.3.1 Exercise Aims
• Take a look at the different modelling Options
• Creating Rectangular & Trapezoidal Columns
• Inserting Multiple Columns
• Creating Circular Column
2.3.2 The Properties and Options with Columns

Having created the grids we will now create the columns. However there are quite a few settings and
options with columns so we will have a brief look at these before proceeding.
¾ Click the Column icon or go to Main Menu and pick

Member/Column.
The Column Properties dialog should appear as shown. There are 4 tabs to this dialog.
Insertion Options to update the e1 and e2
Dir 1/2 button - Indicates the column faces are parallel to which directions (axis). This will be
demonstrated within the next few pages. (Pay attention to the column at grid B / 5)
- Column end conditions options (Fixed / Hinged). Simply click on the button to toggle the end
conditions. Note pinned joints in concrete structures should be used with caution.
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Note: To view the calculated section properties of a column, click
on the Model tab within the Column Properties dialog and
then click on the Display Section Properties icon. The
calculated properties can be edited manually by overwriting the
zero values shown in the dialog boxes.
Orion will allow the user to model and analyse column

or wall drop panels. These can then be taken into
account for the Punching Shear Checks.
b1 = width of drop
b2 = length of drop
e1 and e2 = allow the drop to be offset
h-Head = depth of the drop from the top of the slab
ie. If the slab is 300mm and a h-Head of 600mm is

specified then the drop would project 300mm below
the underside of the slab.
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Support Types > [Default]. The Default support condition is defined in Member > Support
Types. The user can define additional support conditions for translation / rotation in the x, y and z
axis.
(mm) del z (bot) – The user can define different base levels for each column relative to the datum,
i.e. for a sloping site.
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2.3.3 Creating Rectangular Columns

We will start by creating some rectangular columns.
The 1st column we will create will be of size 300x600 where 600 will be in direction 1. Also these
columns are to be parallel to the grids in both directions 1 and 2.
¾ Click the Dir 1/2 button to indicate the column

faces are parallel to both directions 1 and 2.
¾ In the dimensions box enter 600 in b1 and 300 in b2
Note: by right clicking on these boxes we can select a dimension from those available instead of
typing a value.
¾ Click the centrally placed column icon

from the Insertion Options to update the
e1 and e2 values as shown to the right.
The Column Properties should now be as shown below.
Label Corner - Allows the user to define the label

position relative to its four corners.
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Note: All columns must be entered at grid intersections.
¾ Place the cursor over Grid 1 and Grid B intersection and left click to insert the column.
¾ Click on the Zoom Window icon or from the Main Menu bar pick View/Zoom
Window
¾ Then box around the Grids A-B/1-3 to see the inserted column.
Note: the circular symbol labelled with an “R” indicates the centre of rigidity of the floor plan.
As there is currently only one column on this floor the centre of rigidity is at the centre of the
column.
¾ Click the Zoom Limits icon to see the limits of the drawing sheet.
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¾ Now enter another column of the same size at Grids B/2 by positioning the cursor at this grid
intersection and left click the mouse.
2.3.4 Inserting Multiple Columns

Multiple columns of the same size can be entered by clicking and keeping the left mouse button
held down, and then drag along the grid intersections where similar sized columns are to be
placed.
¾ Do this along the Grids B/4 –5, so your screen should look as shown.
Note: The column at Grid B/5 is drawn as a parallelogram and is placed parallel to both the grids it is
inserted at because the Dir: [1/2] button was selected. If only Dir: [1] button was selected then the
column would be drawn as a rectangle, only parallel to the grid in direction. The reverse applies if the
Dir: [2] button is selected.
¾ Now enter the rest of the centrally placed 600x300 columns at the following Grid
Intersections: D/1, D/4, D/5, E/4 & F/5.
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So your screen should look as follows.
Centrally Placed 600x300 Sized Columns
Note: If you place a column in the wrong location, simply right mouse click to display the pop up
menu and choose Delete.
¾ Now with the properties for the 300x600 column active, use
the Insertion Options to align the column so that its top
left corner is positioned flush with the grids. With the
alignment as shown, the eccentricities should change to
e1=0 and e2=300.
¾ Then enter the column at Grid F/1
¾ Click on the Zoom Extents icon so your screen

should look as below.
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Members can be ‘nudged’ into their final position using the keyboard cursor
keys.
¾ Using the cursor keys ‘nudge’ column 1C10 to an eccentricity of e1 = 150mm, e2 =

175mm. (Alternatively type these eccentricities into the Column Properties dialog and click
Update.)
Note: The size of step can be controlled via Graphical Editor View Settings,
by adjusting the Member Section Eccentricity Step on the Plan tab.
¾ Use the Insertion Options again to align the next column thus so that its right
edge is flush with the grid line. Ensure that Dir: [1/2] is selected and enter this column at
Grids E/5.
¾ Zoom in to this column and as shown below it should be labelled as 1C11.
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¾ Now enter some square columns of size 350x350 centrally placed at grids and parallel
to axis in direction 1 only. These columns are to be placed at Grids E/1, E/2 & F/3 as
shown below.
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2.3.5 Creating Circular Columns

Now we will enter a circular column 400mm in diameter.
¾ Type 400 in the b1 box and leave b2, e1 & e2 as 0, then click
Note: to enter a void in the centre of the column, enter a negative

value in the b2 box (i.e. 100mm pipe would be entered as -100).
on Grid F/4 to enter the circular column.
View of Circular Column 1C15
2.3.6 Using the Polyline Column Editor

This option allows the user to specify any shape column for the analysis and design. Please refer to the
appendix for information on how to use the ‘Polyline Column Editor’.
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¾ All the columns have now been entered. They should be shown positioned at the grid line
intersections below:
1st Storey Column Layout
Hint?? Have you missed out any of the columns?
Take a look at the Structure Tree - If your model is correct it should be indicating 15
columns at this stage.
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2.4 Creating Shear Walls

2.4.1 Exercise Aims
• Creating C-Shaped Core Wall
2.4.2 Overview of Options

You will see many of the options are similar to the options in the columns dialog but there are a few
that refer to walls only.
General dimensions.
The geometry of the wall is defined. The wall

is defined between grid points.
Extension zones (Ext) can also be defined to

model the physical position of the wall.
Note – It is recommended that the

extension zones are kept to a minimum
as shown below.
The orientation of the wall is defined by the

label direction. This is controlled automatically
by Orion. In simple terms Ext I refers to the
start of the wall, and Ext J to the end.
Ext I Ext J
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Material Properties – The choice of material can be
controlled on a wall by wall basis. However it is recommended
to use the [Default] material properties controlled by the
Parameter Settings.
It is recommended that changing any material

properties in this window should be done with caution.
(mm) del z (I,bot) – The base levels of ends I can be

controlled based off the datum.
(mm) del z (J,bot) – The base levels of ends J can be

controlled based off the datum.
This enables sloping base of walls.
Support Type – The support Types can be defined as per the

columns. It is recommended to use [Default] settings.
The analytical model for this shear wall can be controlled on an

individual basis. The Mid-Pier and FE Shell Methods are
described fully in the Engineers Handbook.
It is recommended to leave this setting as Default.
Mid Pier Model
FE Shell Model
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2.4.3 Creating a Core Wall
Now we will create a lift core wall which will be 200mm thick and C-shaped.
¾ Pick the Shear Wall icon or go to Member/Shear Wall from the Menu bar.
¾ Enter 200 in the b: dimension box, 100 in the b2 box and enter 100 in the Ext: I & J
boxes. (This is how far the wall extends past the grids that it is inserted).
¾ Click on the Insertion Options icon and select the wall to be centrally placed on the
grid
¾ Insert the wall by clicking and dragging from the start grid C/2 to C/3.
¾ Do the same at Grid D/2 to D/3 and Grid C/2 to D/2 as shown below.
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2.5 Creating Beams

2.5.1 Exercise Aims
• Creating Multiple Rectangular Beams
• Applying Brickwall Loading
• Adding Supports for Secondary Beams
2.5.2 Creating Multiple Rectangular Beams
¾ Pick the Beams icon or go to Member/Beam.
We will 1st enter some Beams along Grid B/1-6 of size 300x600.
¾ In the Beam Status Bar ensure that dimension b is 300 and the dimension h-bot is 600.
Label – The labels will automatically generated in the model,

ie. 1B1, 1B2, 1B3 etc….
b - The width of the beam
b2 – This option determines if the beam is offset in relation

to the grid it is being created. This can be manually applied
or by using the [Default] offsets.
Pinned – Left clicking on the blue beam allows the user to

define pinned end supports, on either / both ends of the
beam
h-bot – This is the amount you wish for the beam to project
below the slab.
H-top – This is the amount you wish for the beam to project
above the slab.
See diagram below.
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I / Shear Area / hf / bf and E – These will all be calculated

automatically based on the Material Properties / Beam Size and the
connecting slabs for the calculation of the flanges.
The beam along Grid B/1-6 is to be placed in the centre of Grid B so that the b2 dimension is
half of the b dimension,
¾ Ensure this by clicking on the icon this will automatically set the b2 dimension to
150mm as shown above left.
¾ The beam is positioned at Grid B/1-6 by left clicking and dragging from the start of Grid B/1
and releasing when your cursor is at Grid B/6 so that 4 beams are entered as shown below.
Note:
Like the columns the beams are automatically labelled based on the storey and numbered
sequentially as they are entered.
Orion has automatically split the beam into four individual members between the columns.
¾ Now enter some more beams in the following order of same size at the following locations:
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From To Beam Size
D/1 D/6 300 x 600
E/1 E/5 300 x 600
2/A 2/C 300 x 600
4/A 4/F 300 x 600
1/A 1/F 300 x 600
5/A 5/F 300 x 600
6/B 6/D 300 x 600
so your screen should look as shown on the next page.
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Note: A beam will not be placed where a wall already exists. A beam was not placed at Grid D/2-3
because of this.
¾ The perimeter beams along the top and bottom edges are only 250mm wide and 800 deep.
Enter them as indicated in the table below ensuring they are placed centrally on the grid:
From To Beam Size

F/1 F/5 250 x 800
A/1 A/5 250 x 800
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¾ A *** Slender Section*** warning message should appear, click on OK to accept and your
screen should look as follows.
Note: The perimeter beam at Grid A/1-5 has been created as a single beam spanning > 17m and
supporting the vertical beams along grids 2 and 4. It is possible to redefine this part of the model
so that the beams along grids 2 and 4 become cantilevers that support the perimeter beam.
¾ Delete the perimeter beam along the bottom edge and then re-enter it as 3 separate beams as
indicated in the table below:
From To Beam Size

A/1 A/2 250 x 800
A/2 A/4 250 x 800
A/4 A/5 250 x 800
so your screen should now look as follows.
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2.5.3 Inserting the rest of the 1st Storey Beams
¾ Define the rest of the 1st storey beams centrally on the grid (with the b2 dimension half of
the b dimension) as follows:
From To Beam Size

2/D 2/E 300 x 600
3/E 3/F 300 x 600
C/3 C/5 250 x 600
3/C 3/D 200 x 500
Now your screen should look as shown below:
Hint:
Have you missed out
any of the beams?
Take a look at the

Structure Tree -
It should indicate
37 beams.
1st Storey Beam Layout
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2.6 Creating Slabs
2.6.1 Exercise Aims
• Creating 1 & 2 way spanning Slabs
• Creating Cantilever Slabs
• Creating Slab Openings
2.6.2 Creating 1 & 2 Way Spanning Slabs

For Beam and Column construction slabs can be designed based off co-efficients methods in the code.
Other methods of design are considered later.
Note – Current loading method assumed to be the Yield Line Method
¾ Select the Slab icon or from Member/Slab.
We will now enter the slabs at the 1st storey.
¾ In the Slab Properties enter the slab thickness h to be 120 and the cover to be 25, all
dimensions are in mm.
¾ Then click on the Loads tab and enter an Additional Dead Load
of 1.2kN/m2 and in the Imp. Load box do a right mouse click
and select a value of 1.5kN/m2.
Note: The self weight is calculated automatically depending

on the slab thickness.
Returning to the General tab, click on the Type box and all
the possible Slab Types will appear in pop up menu as shown
below.
The slab type relates to table 3.14 in the code and is used to
obtain correct reinforcement values, based on the coefficient
method. For ease in creating this model we will initially leave
the Slab Types as 1. Once all the slabs have been created
the program can be made to automatically calculate the
correct type for each slab.
¾ Enter the 1st slab by positioning the cursor between Grid A-B/1-2, then left click the mouse.
Your 1st slab 1S1 should appear as below including the yield line for the slab load distribution.
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¾ Repeat this process to define two more 120 thk slabs as follows:
Region Thickness (mm) Dead Load (kN/m) Live Load (kN/m)

A/2 – B/4 120 1.2 1.5
A/4 – B/5 120 1.2 1.5
So now your screen should look as follows.
¾ Now enter some 150 thk slabs which have the same Additional Dead Load as the existing
ones but are to have an Imp. Load of 3kN/m2

C/3 – D/4 150 1.2 3.0
C/4 – D/5 150 1.2 3.0
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D/4 – E/5 150 1.2 3.0
E/3 – F/4 150 1.2 3.0
E/4 –F/5 150 1.2 3.0
B/5 – D/6 150 1.2 3.0
¾ Now enter some 200 thk slabs at the following locations:

B/1 – D/2 200 1.2 3.0
B/2 – C/4 200 1.2 3.0
B/4 – C/5 200 1.2 3.0
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D/1 – E/2 200 1.2 3.0
D/2 –E/4 200 1.2 3.0
E/1 – F/3 200 1.2 3.0
2.6.3 Setting Slab Types Automatically

To automatically set the slab types in accordance with table 3.14 proceed as follows:
¾ Clear any members that are currently selected by clicking on the Clear Selection Set icon
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¾ Right mouse click on the Slabs folder in the Structure Tree and select Set Slab Types
Automatically as shown below
The Slab Type Determination dialog appears as shown below.
Note – For continuity of the slab

type to be considered, the
adjoining slab edge must be 70%
or greater in length.
¾ Click on OK to proceed
¾ Click on OK once more.
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2.6.4 Creating Cantilever Slabs

Now we will enter a Cantilever slab
¾ Select the Slab Type 12 and enter a thickness h of 150mm.
¾ Enter the length of the cantilever slab to be 1000 in the

L-cant box. So your status bar should look as shown to the
right.
¾ If you click on the Display Slab Label icon so a cross goes

through it.
The effect of this is to switch off the label for the slab on
the drawing.
¾ Before placing the slab click on the Loads tab. Ensure the
Load values are as follows: Dead Load 1.2 kN/m, Imp. Load
3kN/m2
Note - Each cantilever slab can only be defined relative to one beam. Therefore to place a
cantilever slab along the side of a building, you would be required to specify separate slabs for
each of the beams along the edge. Also the insertion points for the beginning and end points of the
slab should coincide with those of the beam to which it is adjacent.
Tip: Click along the RHS of the beam. When clicking from intersection to intersection click in an
anticlockwise direction.
¾ With the cantilever slab properties still active, type the slab width in the b-slab box as 3000
¾ Ensure that the cantilever length, L-cant, is still 1000
¾ In the d box, type the distance from the grid where the slab is to be inserted as 4000. The
slab thickness, h is 150 and the loading is the same as the other cantilever slabs.
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¾ Now click and drag from Grid 3/F to 1/F so the cantilever slab 1S16 is shown as below.
So you can see from this that b-slab controls the width of the cantilever and d controls how far
from the grid line the cantilever slab is positioned. This then allows you to control the size of
the cantilever slabs easily.
Hint?? Have you missed out any of the slabs?
Take a look at the Structure Tree - it should be indicating 16 slabs.
2.6.5 Additional information about slabs (for information)
Rel.Level – This allows a step in the slab, however if the relative difference in elevations will cause a
separation in diaphragms, then try using plane definitions.
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2.7 Member Re-Labelling (for information)
2.7.1 Exercise Aims
• Re-label all the columns, beams and slabs in a more ordered sequence.
2.7.2 Changing the member labels

Currently the members have been labelled in the order in which they were created. It would be
preferable to have them labelled to reflect their location on the plan.
¾ From the Edit menu select Re-label Members.
¾ Choose the options as shown below and then click on OK.
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2.8 Using Tables to Edit Multiple Members

2.8.1 Exercise Aims
• Changing properties of all selected members in one go by using the member tables
2.8.2 Changing Properties of all Selected Members

To demonstrate this function we shall change the slab thickness of all the slabs in the model.
¾ Clear any previous selections by clicking on the Clear Selection Set icon
¾ Select all the slabs by placing a window around the model extents using the Pick icon.
¾ Right click and choose Member Tables > Slab Table
The Slabs Table should now appear as shown, containing all of the selected slabs. From here it is
possible to change either the property of an individual member in the table or update a property of all
the members at the same time.
¾ Highlight the column, h as shown by clicking on it.
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¾ Without clicking anywhere else, type the new required slab thickness, 200mm as shown.
¾ Press Enter and the new thickness have been auto-applied to all the slabs in the table.
¾ Note: When the slab thickness is changed the self weight is also automatically modified.
2.8.3 Changing Properties of One Member in the table only
¾ Change the thickness of slab 1S16 to 180mm as shown below
¾ Click on one of the other rows in the table to move the focus off 1S16 as shown
¾ Click on Close
Note: If several members of different types are selected, you will not be able to
right click and choose Properties. Instead you should right click and choose the
required Member Table.
Alternatively you can have the Member Tables toolbar docked permanently on
screen - This can be done by right clicking on any icon at the top of the screen to
display the menu of available toolbars. If the Member Tables toolbar is not
checked then click on it. The toolbar will be displayed and can be dragged to a
suitable position.
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2.9 Wall Loads and Additional Beam Loads

2.9.1 Exercise Aims
• Apply Beam Wall Loads
• Apply Additional Beam Loads
Note: Beams will be loaded based off the Default Slab Load method. For this example currently
Yield Line.
2.9.2 Apply Beam Wall Loads
¾ Select the beam at the right end of grid F and right click to display the right mouse click menu.
¾ Choose Edit Beam Wall Load from the menu.
¾ To define the load click Select and choose BRICK

WALL (200 mm), then fill in the Wall Height as
3.4m as shown below.
¾ Click on OK and the beam is shown hatched,

indicating it has a brick wall load applied. (If you
don’t see any hatching check that you have the
Graphical Editor View Settings defined correctly).
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To apply the same wall load to the other perimeter beams proceed as follows:
¾ Right mouse click on the same beam again and this time choose Copy Beam Wall Load.
¾ Using the Pick icon, select the remaining perimeter beams, remembering to keep the CTRL key
held while selecting, so that each one is added to the existing selection set.
Hint?? If you have difficulty selecting the beams try this:

From the Layer Tool Bar at the left edge of the screen click on the Axis Layer Group icon. This
will temporarily switch off the display of the grid lines.
Now use the Pick icon to select the beams
When all the beams are selected remember to switch the grid lines back on by clicking on the
Axis Layer Group icon once more.
¾ When the entire perimeter beams are selected, right click again and this time, choose Paste
Copied Beam Loads from the menu.
Note: If warned that the wall load will be

replaced in the selected beams, as shown,
choose Yes.
The beams to which beam loads have been applied

are clearly indicated for visual checking.
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2.9.3 Apply Additional Beam Loads
¾ Select beam 1B30 as shown. (If the indicated beam is not labelled 1B30 try re-labelling the
members once more as described in Chapter 2.7.)
¾ Right mouse click to display the Pop Up menu and choose Edit Member Loads.
The existing loads on the beam are displayed. T2 and T1 are the slab loads from left and right. The
self weight of the beam is also displayed.
Note: this is the chosen Load decomposition method for this beam [Default].
¾ Click New Load
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The three icons at the top of the Load Profile Editor

allow you to add Uniformly Distributed Load, Partial
Distributed Load and Point Loads respectively.
¾ Click on the Partial Distributed Load icon and then click on the Load Generator button.
¾ Click on the partial uniform load icon as shown.
Enter the distance, x to the start of the load as 1m
¾ Enter the run of load, a as 2m
¾ Enter the load intensity, P as G = 4kN/m and Q =

3kN/m
¾ Click on OK
The load should be drawn as follows
¾ If desired, type a label for the load then click on OK
This additional manually entered load is shown on the T0 diagram as below
Note: Solid Blue Lines denote the

Dead Loads (G)
Dotted Grey Line Lines denote the
Imposed Loads (Q)
¾ Click on OK
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To display the ‘Total Added Beam Loads’ go to the ‘View Options’
¾ Left click to tick the box Print Total Added Loads.
¾ Click on OK
This will then display the loads added to each of the beams in the model.
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2.10 Generating a 3D View of the Model and Creating

Additional Storeys
2.10.1 Exercise Aims
• Generate a 3D View of the Model
• Inserting Additional Floors
• Copying Storey Data from one floor to another
• Editing the Storey Height
The building currently consists of only one floor. To complete the analysis model we shall generate
additional floors. To assist in this process a 3D view of the model can be created.
A 3D view of the model can be obtained which will allow you to choose different layouts of Plan view
(P) and 3D view (3) windows. It is possible to create different 3D views in different windows.
¾ From the Window menu select the Tile Vertical
Note: Alternatively, the Plan/3D View tab at the bottom of the screen can be used to cascade & tile
the different windows
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¾ Left click on the 3D View window to make it active, and
then right click to display the 3D View menu.
The 3D View can be manipulated in a number of ways:
The Wireframe/Shaded/Stick View icons

produce different rendering of the 3D view. Reducing the level
of rendering increases the speed of dynamic panning/zooming.
Filters enable different member types to be filtered at each storey.
3D View Options enables viewing from different directions and elevations.
Animation rotates the building about a vertical axis.
Click & drag right mouse allows spinning, click and hold on mouse roller allows Panning, and moving
mouse roller allows zoom in/out.
2.10.2 Inserting Additional Floors

Now we will generate an additional 3 floors, so the model will become a 4 storey building. To
construct a 4 storey model we need to insert firstly a floor at the 4th floor.
¾ Right click on the Storeys in the Structure Tree to display the Storey Menu
¾ Choose Insert storey, or from the Main Menu select Building/Insert Storey.
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¾ In this box type 4 then select OK
The screen should now look as follows.
The 4th storey has now been inserted but as can be seen it does not contain any members in the plan
view.
2.10.3 Copying Floor Data to Other Floors
¾ Right click on Storeys in the Structure Tree to display the Storey Menu and select the
option Generate storey (or from the Menu bar Building/Generate Storey) so the Storey
Generate dialog box appears.
¾ Highlight St01 as the Source Storey and then St04 as the

Target Storey.
¾ Then click on OK.
¾ After generating select Close.
From the Structure Tree you will see that St04 has a circle mark next
to it but St02 & St03 don’t have this mark. Floors without any mark
automatically adopt the same member layout as the floor above. Hence
storeys St02 & St03 are assumed to be identical to the 4th
storey. Whatever changes are made to the 4th storey will be carried
through to the 3rd & 2nd storey.
To make the 3rd storey different from the 4th storey, it would be necessary to first generate the similar
member types from the 4th storey to the 3rd storey then modify the 3rd storey accordingly.
Because the 3rd storey would now have a mark next to it in the storey list the 2nd storey would be
similar to the 3rd storey.
So we can do this as follows:
¾ Right click on Storeys in the Structure Tree to display the Storey Menu and select the
option Generate storey.
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¾ Ensure that the source storey is St04 and the Target Storey St03 then choose OK
¾ Then after generating choose Close.
From the Structure Tree you will see that St03 now has a circle mark next to it indicating that it is a
unique and editable floor, as are St01 and St04.
St02 cannot be edited, as it is identical to St03.
2.10.4 Moving between Storeys

The current storey displayed in the plan view will be shown in bold on
the Storey menu in the Structure Tree. To change to a different
storey, simply double click on it in the Structure Tree.
¾ If you are not currently viewing storey 4, double click on

Storey: St04 so that it is shown in bold (as shown on the right)
2.10.5 Editing the Roof
¾ Select the Slab icon or from the Pull Down menu select Member/Slab.
¾ Then select the Slab Type to be 1 and ensure the thickness is 200mm and the cover 25mm.
¾ Then enter the slab where the lift wall is at Grid 2-3/C-D
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2.10.6 Editing the Storey Height
We will now edit the storey height as currently each floor is 3300mm high based on the 1st storey
generated earlier.
¾ Select Edit Storey from the storey menu or by selecting from the Main Menu
Building/Edit Storey so the Edit Storey dialog box appears as shown below.
¾ To change a floor height: click in the cell for h(mm) at the desired storey, St01
¾ Change the current value of 3300 to be 4000. Click outside the cell and you should notice the
values in the Level column have changed as shown below.
1st Storey Bottom Level - The Number of Basements is only used for determining a factor used in
earthquake analysis. (Not available in this version of Orion).
Foundation Level –This is the length of the column below the datum level (St00), by Default
1100m
2.10.7 Specifying Imposed Load Reductions for Each Floor

The Edit Storey dialog is used for this purpose.
¾ Click on the button to apply the Imposed Load

Reductions.
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¾ Then select OK.
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3 Building Analysis
3.1 Pre-Analysis
3.1.1 Exercise Aims
• Model Validity Checking
• Distribute Slab Loads & Beam Loads to all Beams
• Run Building Analysis - Pre-Processor
• Run Building Analysis - Post-Processor
• Viewing the Analysis Output Report
3.1.2 Pre-Analysis - Model Validity Checking
¾ From the Run menu choose Building Analysis.
This should then display the Analysis Form.
¾ Click Load Combination Select and chose LC10, this will include the gravity load
combinations (including pattern loads) and the NHF’s.
See the Appendices for further information regarding Load Combination settings within Orion.
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The Parameters button allows the user to review/modify the Building Parameters specified
previously.
The Load Combination ‘Select’ and ‘Edit’ buttons can be used to view and if required modify the
load combinations specified previously.
The Storey Loads Editor can be used to view and if required modify the lateral load cases applied at
each storey. The notional lateral loads are calculated automatically once the Building Analysis is
complete.
The Material section can be used to view the concrete and steel grades selected for each member
group. The ‘Edit’ button can be used to change these settings.
¾ Now click the Edit button so the following screen appears.
¾ Click on the concrete grade button adjacent to Columns and then choose Concrete Grade C40
and check the Apply to All Members Types box as shown below and then click OK
This will set all structural members to have Grade 40 Concrete.

Alternatively we could have set the Grade to be C32/40 for the Cylinder/Cube strengths.
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Note: Different Member Types are can have different concrete grades set globally in the Material
Properties. However the grade can be varied from one member to the next within a Member Type.
¾ Click on the steel grades button adjacent to Columns and then choose Grade 500 (Type 2)
and check the Apply to All Members Types box as shown below and then click OK
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¾ Check that you have the unit weight of concrete set to 24kN/m3 before proceeding.
¾ Click the Bars button adjacent to Columns.
You will notice some bars have been selected by default. Bars can be unselected by clicking on them
to remove the tick (similarly click to select).
¾ Make sure the selected bars for today’s exercise are: H10 / H12 / H16 / H20 / H25 / H32
Note: You may prefer to modify the bars to select from. Some bars are only available in Europe
and others in Asia. However, these training notes are based on the above bar sizes - if you make
changes the member designs may differ from the manual. Also if you elect not to use certain bar
diameters for column design, you should ensure that these bars are not referred to in the Column
Design Settings later in the program. Similarly, bars not used for beam design should not be
referred to in the Beam Design Settings.
¾ Click OK to go back to the materials tab, then review (and modify if desired) the bar diameters
to be used for beams, slabs etc.
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3.2 Model Options

¾ Click on the Model Options tab
The model options shown here are fully described in the Engineer’s Handbook, found from the Help
Menu.
Automated generation of Rigid Zones (where beams frame in to columns/walls) is an advanced

feature within Orion. Setting Rigid Zones to Maximum, or Reduced by 25% creates a more realistic
model of the beam/column interface which reduces the design moments within the beams.
None – Centreline moments

used for design. No Rigid Arms.
Reduced –Mom generated 25%

from the perimeter of the section
Diagram Shown with
MAXIMUM Rigid Arms
Maximum – Moments at the

face are used for the design.
Rigid arms extend to the section
perimeters (100%).
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¾ Click on the Stiffnesses tab.
On this page the engineer can globally adjust the properties to be used for each member type.
Note: The torsional stiffness factor has been set to 0.01 for the beams to prevent significant
torsions from developing.
¾ No changes will be made, click on Settings tab.
Total Hor. Drift Limit – This check is for the maximum total allowable displacement, which is
checked at every storey level. 12000mm * 0.0014 = 16.8mm
Relative Hor. Drift Limit – This check is in accordance with BS 8110: Part 2 and is the maximum
relative displacement between each storey. 4000mm * 0.002 = 8mm
These checks are performed for the NHF’s, Fx and Fy
Note: For flat slab models there is an option to use undecomposed slab loads for the notional
horizontal load calculation. See later notes.
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3.3 Performing the Analysis
¾ Click on Building Model Validity Check.
This will check that the building is valid for those conditions indicated.
¾ Choose All Storeys and then click on the Check button.
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Note: Even if this reports no errors, it doesn’t guarantee that the building is modelled correctly. There
can be other problems in the model that are not picked up by the validity checking process.
¾ Assuming that no errors are reported, close the dialog
During the Building Analysis, the Beam Load Calculations (All Storeys) are completed (based
upon your loading method – currently Yield Line). The slab loads are distributed onto the supporting
beams; all the load data is assessed; the weights and mass centres of each storey are calculated and
any notional lateral loads are determined.
After analysis it is then possible to automatically perform Column/Wall Reinforcement Design and
Beam Reinforcement Design for all members in the building.
¾ Uncheck Column/Wall Reinforcement Design and Beam Reinforcement Design before

clicking on Start to begin the batch analysis process.
The Beam Load Calculations commence and a warning message should be displayed.
¾ Click Yes and the analysis process continues and then OK when the Analysis has completed.
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Hint: By clicking ‘Yes’, in the above
process to mark the cantilever
beams, a small red triangle is
attached to each one detected. The
user can override this automatic
marking back in the graphic editor
by selecting the beam, right clicking
and choosing Mark Free End of
Cantilever Beam as shown. This
may be necessary where two
cantilever beams meet. (EG beams
B3 and B36). The marking does not
affect the analysis, however it does
affect the way the beams are
subsequently detailed.
3.3.1 Checking the notional lateral loads

Once the Building Analysis has been performed, the weights of each storey can be viewed and if
lateral loads were specified in the Project Parameters they can be viewed and edited.
¾ Return to Pre-Analysis and select Storey Loads Editor.
By clicking on each of the storey labels in the upper table, the Fx and Fy values for each storey can be
viewed and edited if required, in the lower table.
¾ Click on Cancel to leave the notional forces unchanged.
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Point of Application
Notional Horizontal Forces
Fx CofG
CofG = Centre of Gravity
Fy
Floor Plan
15.333m
Sheet Origin
13.070m
(0,0)
3.4 Post-Analysis
3.4.1 Cross Checking the Analysis Result
An important cross check on validity of the analysis is the Axial Load Comparison Report. This
report sums all the dead and live loads applied at each storey level and then also displays the axial
forces in the columns and shear walls. These values should equate to each other (within a few
percent), if they do not the reason for the discrepancy should be investigated.
¾ Go back to the Analysis tab
¾ Select Axial Load Comparison Report
The total “SUM OF APPLIED LOADS (Using Un-Decomposed Slab Loads)” values should be similar to
those from the Decomposed Slab Loads table.
Provided that any difference between the un-decomposed and the decomposed values can be
accounted for, the Total Decomposed Applied Dead Load should be compared with the Total Delta G
value from the “BUILDING ANALYSIS COLUMN/SHEARWALL AXIAL LOADS” table. Similarly, the Total
Decomposed Live Load should then be compared with the Total Delta Q value.
Any significant differences in these values also have to be able to be accounted for.
If required the report can be printed, or it can be saved for later inclusion in a batch print out of all
reports created by the program.
¾ Click on Save Report
See following page for an example of the Axial Load Comparison report
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Summary – For Beam and Column Construction
CHECK 1
Sum of Undecomposed Slab Loads ~ Sum of Decomposed Slab Loads
CHECK 2
Total Decomposed Applied Dead Load ~ Total Delta G
CHECK 3
Total Decomposed Applied Live Load ~ Total Delta Q
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Axial Load Comparison Report
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3.4.2 Model and Analysis Results Display
The Analysis results can be viewed graphically from here. Various effects can be displayed and the
results can be filtered by axis and by storey.
¾ Click Model and Analysis Results Display
If too many labels are displayed the screen can appear cluttered as shown above. However, using the
various drop-down filter buttons and the view settings, you can create something more meaningful.
¾ Click the various filter buttons to create different views. The menu’s can be dropped down to
choose what you want to show, and then the button can be toggled on and off.
This is the nodal points filter This is the frame elements filter
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By clicking on the Filters button, located just to the left of the nodal points filter button, you can
filter by storeys, axes and member type, as shown above.
You can also do a Search for specific nodes, frame elements or shell elements by clicking on the
binoculars icon, to the left of the filters button, as shown below.
A large arrow will point at the item you have searched for.
Note – This is useful if the Building Analysis reports conditions on some nodes.
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There are further filtering and setting options found in the View Settings window, which can be
accessed from the View menu:
Below is a view of the model showing the displacement, using the Displacements filter. The X
values have also been displayed, and the displacement scale has been increased.
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This next view shows the frame loads and values for storey 4 only
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3.4.3 Analysis Output Reports (for information)
The next stage is to prepare a report of the analysis results.
¾ Select Analysis Output Report Preparation so the following dialog box appears.
¾ Expand Storey 1 and highlight Columns and Walls (by holding down the CTRL key) as shown.
¾ Click on the button to transfer all the columns and walls to the right hand side.
¾ Click Next and on the next screen select Structural Members
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¾ Select the results to display as shown. Note that ‘i’ results are at the top of the members and ‘j’
results are at the bottom.
¾ Change the output options to match those shown below.
Note:
Y – This denotes a Loadcase
K – This denotes a Load Combination
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Sign Convention
Positive Definition of Member
Forces
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¾ Click the Create Report button and a report should appear in WordPad as shown below.
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¾ Close the Report and then choose Exit which takes you back to the Analysis Form dialog box.
From the Analysis Form a formatted version of the report could be generated by selecting “Structural
Member Results” from the Output Reports drop down menu. This could then be printed directly or
saved to a file using the commands on the File menu.
Apart from the Building Analysis Results, various other reports are also available.
¾ Click on the Reports tab.
As we have seen the analysis results report is available on the Post-Analysis tab, however all the other
detailed output reports are available from here, For example:
Pre-analysis checks report: - a basic summary of the model input.
Post Analysis Checks Report: - the horizontal displacement (drift) checks (Total and Relative).
Analysis Model Echo Report:- the full analysis input data file.
Storey Displacements Report: Orion calculates the displacements in the x and y directions and
torsion for each load combination for each storey.
Column Bracing (Sway) Classification Report: This report is based upon ACI code
recommendations, and is not applicable if braced conditions have been manually amended.
This option should only be used with cross reference to the ACI code.
Beam Load Analysis Report: contains the beam loads.
Each of these reports can be printed, or saved for later inclusion in a batch print out of all reports
created by the program. They can also be exported to a variety of different file formats.
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4 Beam Reinforcement Design

4.1 Exercise Aims
• Review of Design Parameters
• Designing all Beams using Batch Mode
• Interactive Beam Design
• Creating the Beam Elevation Drawings
4.2 Beam Design Settings and Parameters

4.2.1 Beam Design Settings
Prior to performing the design it is recommended that you take time to consider the various settings
and parameters that can be used to control it. Judicious use of these settings can have a big impact on
the economy and practicality of the resulting design.
¾ From the Main Menu select Settings/Beam Design Settings/Storey Beam Settings.
A brief overview of the options will be given by your trainer, but for further information regarding
these settings please refer to the Appendices. The subsequent beam designs were undertaken with
the Default Settings.
4.3 Designing all Beams using Batch Mode

We will now design all the beams using the Batch Mode feature.
¾ Go to the Main Menu and select Run/Beam Section Design and Detailing/Storey
Beams so the following screen appears.
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¾ Select File/Beam Reinforcement Design (Batch Mode).
¾ Then using the ‘Re–select All Steel Bars’ option choose Analysis.
¾ When the process has been completed, click Close.

The beams that have been successfully designed are now indicated in the table.
The batch design has been performed in accordance with the current beam design settings. These can
be modified to suit the user requirements.
If you re-run the building analysis after making any changes to the model and then go back into the
beam design window, the colour of the design ticks will have changed.
• Green tick = PASS
• Red cross = FAIL
• Yellow tick = Beam passed with previous analysis and design results, but they are not
currently up to date. Results can still be accessed and used, but it is the users decision
whether to do so
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4.4 Graphical Review of Passing / Failing Members

It is possible to review the design status of all members graphically. This is done by clicking on the
Design Status tab located at the bottom of the Structure tree view.
¾ Close the beam design summary and click the Design Status tab as shown.
Any failing beams would be highlighted in red
¾ Select Run/Beam Section Design and Detailing/Storey Beams to redisplay the beam
design summary.
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4.5 Interactive Beam Design

Using the filter command beams can be listed in the design window, based on storey / axis or pass /
fail status. Axes containing these beams can be filtered out as follows:
¾ Click on the filter icon
¾ Filter to display only the Storey 1 beams.
Only Storey 1 beams are now displayed.
4.5.1 Utilisation Ratios

The beam design summary includes an utilisation ratio. This is the ratio of
As_required/As_provided. Hence, if the utilization ratio is greater than one, then at least one of
the beams on the axis is failing because it has insufficient area of steel.
If the utilization ratio is less than one but the beams are still failing this will probably be because:
• The beams have insufficient width to accommodate reinforcement required
• Or, the deflection is too great.
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4.5.2 The Axis and Beam Information Editor
¾ Scroll down to locate the failing beam line on Axis F at storey 1, Part 1 by double
clicking on it, or choose File/Beam Reinforcement Design, or click on the icon
The Axis & Beam Information window opens showing the beam dimensions and supports along
axis F at storey 1.
Note: If the beam size is too small, changing the values displayed here can amend it. However,
the Graphical Editor will need to be updated manually also.
The Design button shows design forces used to determine the required area of steel for the
highlighted beam. Six values are shown representing the factored left and right end moments and the
mid span moments at the top and the bottom of the beam. The left and right design shear force is
shown also.
¾ Click on the Design button.
Note: The user can manually edit the above design forces by simply typing over the displayed
values. If this is done the Effects Manually Edited box would automatically become checked. If
subsequently the box is unchecked, the values would revert to those that had been calculated by
the analysis.
¾ Click on OK to exit without changing the design forces.
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4.5.3 The Reinforcement Data Screen
¾ To review and modify the reinforcement provided by the batch design click Steel Bars. This
should then display the Reinforcement Data screen as below:
Any figures in red indicate a problem. In this case the problem is that the support bars at the left end
of beam 1B17 can not all be accommodated in a single layer without contravening the minimum bar
spacing requirements. s-Bar is less than the min. top steel spacing which has been set as 70mm.
4.5.4 Beam Detail Drawings

The above bar pattern is referred to as Standard Pattern 2. To see the beam detail drawing for it, click
on the Beam Details button.
Standard Pattern 2
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4.5.5 Standard Bar Patterns
The program has four standard patterns each of which is fully described in the Engineer’s Handbook.
The different patterns can be tried by clicking on the drop down menu to the right of the Select Bars
button as shown below.
Try this now to investigate the various bar arrangements, make use of the Beam Details button to
see the differences between each pattern.
Standard Pattern 1
Standard Pattern 2
Standard Pattern 3
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Bent Up Bar Pattern
For this axis, none of the patterns automatically arrive at a satisfactory design; therefore it will be
necessary to interactively adjust it.
¾ Reselect the bars based on Standard Pattern 2, this was only failing in a couple of areas due to
a bar spacing problems.
Note: In the Reinforcement Data screen, if you click OK to store a beam while there is still a bar
spacing warning, the program interprets your action to mean that you have made an engineering
decision to treat the current bar spacing as acceptable. Provided the utilization ratio is less than 1.0
the beam would now be given a pass status.
4.5.6 Modifying the number and size of bars
You can amend the bars provided by left clicking onto any of the reinforcement labels then use the
left scroll bars to increase/decrease the number of bars and the right scroll bars to
increase/decrease the bar sizes. The extra area of steel As, the bar spacing s-Bar, and the
deflection check are all automatically updated. Values shown in red indicate problems.
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¾ Modify the bar layout for 3B17 to increase the top bars to 2H20. Also remove one set of 2H20
support bars and increase the other support bars to 2H25 as shown below.
4.5.7 Modifying bar layers

Bar layers can be changed using the Steel Bar Characteristics toolbar.
For beam 1B19 the bar spacing could be improved by switching the second support bars from layer 1
to layer 2.
¾ Select the second support bars at the right hand end of 1B19 and click on the Bar Layer Tool to
change to bars at layer 2 as shown below:
Bars placed in layer 2 are shown as dotted lines as shown.
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Shown below is the amended beam detail.
4.5.8 Modifying bar curtailment

The Steel Bar Characteristics toolbar can also be used to amend the bar curtailment.
¾ Click on the 2T13 Top Bars in 1B19 and change the right end for them by clicking on Extend
Right to Short
The effect of this is shown as a shortfall in the required area of steel at the right hand end of the
beam. As shown below.
¾ Return to the original curtailment setting by changing back to Extend Right to Lap
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4.5.9 Beam Loading and Force Diagrams
¾ To see the loading and forces, click on the Diagrams button.
Below are the diagrams that are obtained for this beam line (Solid lines G / Dotted Lines Q).
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¾ Exit from the diagrams then click on OK to store the interactively designed bar arrangement for
this axis.
¾ Click on the filter icon and filter to display the storey 1 beams only.
4.6 Creating the Beam Elevation Drawings

After designing the floor beams we will now create some Beam Schedule drawings.
4.6.1 Putting All Beams onto a Single Sheet Automatically
¾ From the Menu select Sheet/Beam Detail Drawings of All Axes (Single Sheet)
¾ Click on OK to accept 3 beam axes across the width of the drawing sheet
All the beams are placed onto a single sheet and a table of quantities is created as shown below
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5 Column & Wall Reinforcement Design

5.1 Exercise Aims
• Assigning Design Parameters
• Designing all Columns & Walls using Batch Mode
• Rationalising the Steel Bars
• Creating a Column Schedule
• Creating an Output Report
5.2 Column Design Settings and Parameters

5.2.1 Column Design Settings
As with the beam design settings, judicious use of the column design settings can have a big impact
on the economy and practicality of the design.
¾ From the Main Menu select Settings/Column Design Settings.
A brief overview of the options will be given by your trainer, but for further information regarding
these settings please refer to the Appendices. The subsequent beam designs were undertaken with
the Default Settings.
5.3 Designing all Columns using Batch Mode

Columns and walls can be designed individually, or all in one go using the batch mode option.
¾ From the Main Menu select Run/Column Section Design so the following screen appears.
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¾ Choose File /Column Design ( Batch Mode) in Column Design Reinforcement window
¾ Ensure your settings are as shown above, and then choose Calculate.
¾ After design is complete you could click on the Messages button to review the bars selected
for each column for each combination.
¾ Then choose Close to take you back to the Column Reinforcement Design window.
¾ The same ‘traffic light’ system used for the Column Design Status. Green Tick – Pass, Red Cross
– Fail, Yellow Tick – Results are not up to date for this element.
Note: A very low utilisation ratio can be displayed for some columns if the minimum steel is
sufficient.
5.4 Creating a Column Schedule

¾ From the File menu in the Column Reinforcement Design window choose Column Schedule.
¾ Choose some columns to be placed on the schedule as shown. (Hold the Ctrl key down while
selecting).
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¾ Click on Draw to create the schedule.
¾ Close the schedule and cancel to return to the Column Reinforcement Design window.
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5.5 Creating a Column Output Report
The columns to be included in the report are marked by a blue tick in the Print column. Columns can
be added or removed from the report using a combination of the icons Mark for Printing, (F7) Mark
All Columns for Printing (Ctrl+F7) and Clear All Print Marks (Shift+F7).
¾ Ensure all columns are marked for printing.
¾ From the File menu in the Column Reinforcement Design window choose Column
Reinforcement Design Report.
The Report can be sent direct to a printer, or it can be saved for later inclusion in a batch print out of
all reports created by the program. It can also be saved in PDF format for sending to other computers
on which the Orion program is not loaded.
¾ Click on Save Report
¾ Close the report and return to the Column Reinforcement Design window.
The ‘Column Reinforcement Design’ window can also be printed using the ‘Print Column List’ icon
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¾ This report can then be printed.
5.6 Creating a Foundation Loads Report

This report is created from within the Column Design Module. The report can consist of forces in all
columns or only those at foundation level.
¾ From the File menu in the Column Reinforcement Design window choose Column Forces
Listing.
A dialog appears as shown allowing the user to configure the report as required. The List button will
create the report in WordPad, from where it can then be printed.
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¾ Click Close to return to the Column Design Module.
5.7 Interactive Column Design (for information)

5.7.1 Exercise Aims
• Understanding the Column Design Editor
• Designing Rectangular Column
• Column Slenderness
• Column Interaction Diagrams
• Manually Modifying the Bar Sizes
• Fixing the Bar Layout
• Link Arrangement
• Shear Design
• Manually editing the column size
• Biaxial bending vs BS 8.1.1.0-Cl 3.8.4.5 design
• Designing the Wall
5.7.2 Understanding the Column Design Editor

To access the column design editor you must first select one of the columns.
¾ Locate column 1C2 in the table
¾ Either Double click on the column, or choose from the Menu File/Column
Design or select the Column Design icon, so the Column Design Editor is
launched
Column 1C2 is now ready for design as shown below.
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The combination highlighted ‘red’ is the critical design combination.
The Column Design Editor screen contains the following information:
Section:
Section dimensions include the dimensions of the column (“b1” and “b2”), the eccentricities (“e1” and
“e2”), the column clear lengths (“L1” and “L2”), and the concrete cover.
If you modify these fields, you have to click the “Update” button to apply the changes.
Bending:
Column design can be performed under uni-axial or biaxial bending. According to the member type,
dimensions and member forces, Orion selects the bending type automatically. But, the user can
change the selection by clicking another option before the design procedure.
Load Combinations Table:

The program will always design for all load combinations. At the end of the design it will highlight the
critical combination.
Member force results from each load combination during the Building Analysis procedure are listed in a
table.
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Fields in this table are:
Load Load combination used in the Building Analysis

Combination
N Axial force result from the load combination displayed on the same line.
M1 Bending moment in local 1 direction (bending around Dir 2 axis)
M2 Bending moment in local 2 direction (bending around Dir 1 axis)
In the design procedure, member force results from each load combination will be tried one by one.
The critical combination will be identified and used to select the reinforcement area.
Reinforcements Table:
This table contains several items of information:
1. Steel Bar Quantities and Diameters

According to the steel area required, bar sizes are selected by the program automatically. The
user can then modify the selected bar sizes by considering the steel area required.
2. Required As
After design the steel area required will be displayed at the bottom of the table.
3. Sufficient As
When the design procedure is completed, the steel area supplied will be displayed at the
bottom of the Reinforcements table.
4. Links
You can view the links selected for the current column in the “Links” page.
5. Shear Design
Shear forces on the section and the links provided are displayed in the “Shear Design” page.
6. Slenderness
This page can be used to indicate the column as braced in one or both directions.
5.7.3 Designing Rectangular Column
¾ Select Design to perform the reinforcement design
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The Column Reinforcement Design window should now be as shown below.
Note: Because the BS8110 method is used the neutral axis will be horizontal or vertical
depending on which axis has the greater design moment. If the Bi-axial design method had
been used the neutral axis would be at an angle
¾ By selecting the Design Report option, the design for an individual column can be viewed.
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¾ Choose Close to exit back to the Column Design Editor.
The column has been designed using 8H12 bars and combination 1 G+Q *F is the most critical.
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5.7.4 Column Slenderness
A column may be considered braced in a given plane if lateral stability to the structure as a whole is
provided by walls or bracing designed to resist all lateral forces in that plane. If you check the “Control
Braced Condition Manually” option in the Project Parameters form, then you can specify the bracing
condition for the X and Y directions manually. Otherwise Orion checks the bracing for each direction
automatically based on the drift of the storey levels. But in both situations, you can change the bracing
condition for a single column in the “Slenderness” page. The “beta” value is determined separately for
braced and unbraced columns and additional moments will be calculated accordingly.
¾ Click on the Slenderness tab in the Reinforcements table.

The column is currently set as braced and because it is being classified as short, no additional
moments are being added to the initial moments.
¾ Try un-bracing the column in the both X and Y directions and redesigning. You should find that
this results in the column being classified as slender and consequently additional moments are
added. The column has now been designed using 8H20 bars.
5.7.5 Column Interaction Diagrams

After the determination of the column reinforcement, Column Interaction Diagrams can be prepared.
Using the interaction diagrams, a better understanding of the behaviour of the column can be
achieved. Column interaction diagrams can be drawn using the "Column Analysis" button.
¾ Click on the Column Analysis button at the bottom of the Editor.
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Column
Axial
Capacity
Column
Critical
Axial Load
The red line is the Dir 1 column capacity and the blue line Dir 2. Also plotted are the top and bottom
moments determined during the analysis of the building for each of the combinations. The horizontal
red line indicates the axial load limit determined by the code.
It can be seen that the design moments are very close to the moment capacity in dir 2.
The blue line on this diagram shows the M1-M2 capacities at the given axial load level.
¾ Click on Close to return to the Editor.
¾ Reduce the size of the corner bars to H10 as shown below. Note that the provided (sufficient)
area is now less than the area required.
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¾ Click on the Column Analysis button once more. Note that although the analysis moments seem
OK, when you display the design moments some of the results are plotted outside the
interaction line, indicating the column fails.
5.7.6 Fixing the Bar Layout

The design method is currently set to maximise the bar spacing. However it is possible to perform the
design with a fixed bar layout.
¾ Click on the Parameters button at the bottom of the Editor and change the design method to
Fixed Bar Layout.
¾ In the Steel bars table enter the quantity for 1-int bars as “3” as shown (after changing the
value ensure you click on another cell to register the change). The bar layout is fixed, so that
you obtain 3 bars in the 1-int direction.
¾ Design once more.
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A sufficient area of steel has been obtained, however it is perhaps on the heavy side.
5.7.7 Link Arrangement

You can view the links selected for the current column in the “Links” page. When the “Links” page is
selected, the edge numbers of the column will be shown in the sketch which will help you to follow the
links described.
Note: Link spacing for the supports and the span are calculated separately. If you want to use the
same spacing both for the span and the supports, uncheck the “Create Support Regions for Links”
option under the “Settings and Parameters” menu of the “Column Reinforcement Design” form.
If you want to delete the support regions only in the current column, you can simply copy the size and
spacing of the links calculated for the span to the supports in the “Shear Design” page.
You can select other types of link, such as “Cross Link” or “Double Links”, from the “Links Pattern”
window in the “Links” page.
5.7.8 Shear Design

Shear forces on the section and the links provided accordingly are displayed in the “Shear Design”
page. The Shear Force calculated in the Building Analysis (Vd), Concrete Shear Stress (vc) and Limiting
Shear Stress (vl) can be viewed in this page. These values can not be edited.
Size and spacing of the links selected are displayed on the right of the page. Links for the span and for
the supports are given separately. Size and spacing of links can be edited on this page. If you press
the “Calculate” button after selecting a new size, a new spacing will be calculated accordingly.
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The number of link arms provided in each direction are given in the “No. of Link Arms” fields. If a
standard link type is selected then these numbers will be determined by the program automatically.
But if you want to describe a special link, you can write the number of link arms into these fields.
¾ Click on OK to save the modified design for column 1C2 and return to the Column
Reinforcement Design window.
5.7.9 Biaxial bending vs. BS 8.1.1.0-Cl 3.8.4.5 design

The program gives the user the option to carry out column design based on a True biaxial bending
approach (referred to in Orion as the Bressler Method). This is simply a "first principles" approach to
section design - see BS8110 clauses 3.8.4.1 and 3.4.4.1. This “first principles” approach is required for
dealing with irregular column sections. The approach used is covered in most concrete design text
books - e.g. "Reinforced Concrete Design" 4th Edition (1990) by W.H.Mosley and J.H.Bungey.
In fact, the simplified equations and charts in BS8110 for rectangular / circular sections are all derived
from this basic set of “first principles” - see appendix A in BS8110 Part 3.
The column designs carried out so far have all been to the traditional BS 8.1.1.0-Cl 3.8.4.5 “codified”
approach. Engineers may like to use this method, as it's easy to check directly against hand-
calculations, but remember you cannot use this method for the irregular shaped columns.
5.7.9.1 Designing the Wall
¾ Select 1W1 from the Column Reinforcement window
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¾ Then click on the Column Design button to perform the wall panel design as shown below.
¾ Choose Close to get back to the Column Editor
¾ Select OK to get to the Column Reinforcement Design window as shown below.
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5.8 Creating the Column Reinforcement Plan

¾ Return to the Graphic Editor and go to St01.
¾ Then select the Column Application Plan view by

clicking on the tab at the bottom of the structure tree
¾ Select column 1C2 at Grid B/2,
¾ Then right click to display the pop up menu as shown below.
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¾ From this menu choose Column Links
¾ then indicate where you want the links to appear on the drawing as shown
below.
¾ Right click, and pick Arrange Steel Bars / Position Steel Bars. This adds a bar mark for
each bar on the drawing.
¾ Then Right click again, and pick Arrange Steel Bars / Steel Quantity
Table
¾ Then click on any point in the Graphical Editor where you want the table to be placed.
¾ Repeat this for the Column Steel Details
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Column Reinforcement Plan for 1st Storey
This drawing can be edited and plotted directly from here. Alternatively it can be exported by clicking
on the DXF Export icon and then opened and edited further in AutoCAD™.
¾ Select the Form Plan to take you back to the Graphical Editor.
The Lateral Steel of All Columns can be displayed using the following option:-
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6 Slab Design and Detailing

6.1 Introduction
Note: This process uses the slab coefficient method from the tables in BS8110. This is independent
of the general building analysis and can therefore be carried out before or after the general building
analysis. This method takes NO account of openings or concentrated point/line/patch
loads on the slabs.
This chapter covers the following:

• Slab Design Settings
• Creating Slab Reinforcement Strips Horizontal & Vertical
• Creating a Slab Reinforcement Output Report
6.1.1 Slab Design Settings

Bar spacing increments, top steel extension lengths and other slab design preferences are set in the
Graphical Editor Settings / Slab Reinforcement 1 tab.
¾ Set the Steel Bar Spacing Step to 25mm as above to ensure that all bars within the slab will be
at multiples of 25mm. In addition, as shown above, the bars will be spaced at no less than
125mm and no greater than 250mm.
Additional slab steel detailing preferences are controlled via the Graphical Editor Settings / Slab
Reinforcement 2 tab.
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In the Graphical Editor Settings/ Rbar Labels tab you can customise the bar labels to suit your user
preference. Various different formats are available. (e.g. Where Orion shows 21 H10-300 this can be
changed to just H10-300 if desired).
6.2 Create Slab Reinforcement Strips

¾ From the Structure Tree double click on Storey: St01 to return to
the 1st Storey.
Note: For clarity, the slab yield lines can be switched off while placing slab strips. To do this select
View/Graphical Editor View Settings and then on the Slabs tab uncheck the box Display Yield Lines.
Slab reinforcement is determined by inserting slab strips in the X & Y directions, which will
automatically determine the reinforcement required based on Table 3.14 from BS 8110. To obtain
correct results it is essential that the slab types have been correctly defined.
The strips parallel to the horizontal direction axes will be labelled X1, X2 etc and those parallel to the
vertical direction axes will be labelled Y1, Y2 etc.
We will first enter a strip labelled X1 through the slabs between Grids A-B/1-5.
¾ Click on the Slab Strip icon
The Slab Strip Properties should be displayed.

When drawing the strips it is essential that the correct start and end
conditions are specified. The three options being:
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Slab The strip starts or ends inside a slab. The bottom steel for the slab in question is not designed,
but the span of the slab can be defined and this value is used in determining the support steel.
Bob The strip starts or ends beyond an edge beam or wall. The support steel at the edge is bent
down into the beam/wall.
Cantilever The strip starts or ends beyond a cantilever slab.
¾ Ensure the label is X1 and indicate a Bob at both the start and end of the strip by clicking on
the appropriate end conditions as shown on the right.
¾ Then position your cursor above Grid A but to the left of Grid 1 so it is not in the model,
then press and hold the CTRL key and at the same time click and drag in a horizontal line
from Grid 1 to past Grid 5
So your screen should look as follows:
¾ Create another similar strip labelled X2 by repeating the process between Grids B-C/1-6.
Note: When placing strips you may encounter warning messages similar to the one above.
Although the steel provided is sufficient for strength it is failing the span/effective depth check
deflection check. This problem will be resolved later by editing the bar layout or changing the slab
depth.
Note: Although only two strips have been created in the model in the X direction, strips for all slab
panels / conditions should be created to complete the floor design in both the X and the Y
direction.
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Now some vertical strips will be inserted.
¾ Create strip Y1 from Grid 1-2/A-F but note that the slab at Grid F is a cantilever slab so
the end condition for strip Y1 in the toolbar needs to be changed to cantilever.
If you drew the strip Y1 and you received a warning message as shown below, this is because the strip
has failed to satisfy the L/d deflection check. L is calculated at exactly the point where you cut the
strip.
After creating the 3 strips your screen should look as shown below.
Slab Designed to Table 3.14
Note: This slab detail drawing can be exported to AutoCAD™ using the DXF export command.
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6.2.1 Filtering the Display of Slab Reinforcement (for information)
By ensuring that when drawing horizontal strips, the strip name begins with X and when drawing
vertical strips the strip name begins with Y you will have flexibility to filter the display of X steel, Y
steel, top steel or bottom steel.
¾ Pick View/Graphical Editor View Settings and click the Slabs tab.
¾ Try switching off the Y steel and Top steel as shown above.
6.3 Editing the Bar Layout

By right clicking on a reinforcing bar you can select and load the bar properties. You can then edit the
bar spacing and diameter as well as the rebar location on the drawing.
¾ Select the bottom bar running horizontally across slab 1S6 and display its properties as shown.
¾ Clicking the Update button causes the slab strip to be automatically rechecked. If it is failing in
deflection try increasing the bar diameter and updating again until it passes.
Note: The Steel Bar Property dialog also contains icons for editing/moving the bar span marks and
moving the steel bar. These can be used for improving the drawing layout.
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6.4 Creating Slab Output

6.4.1 Output for an Individual Slab Strip
It is possible to see the calculations for an individual strip.
¾ Select strip X2 and then right click to display the pop-up menu.
¾ Choose Slab Strip Check Design. This displays the calculations for the X2 strip only.
6.4.2 Creating a Slab Output Report for the Entire Floor
¾ Choose Slab Analysis and Design from the Run menu in the Main Menu bar.
¾ Click on the Calculate button to generate an output report.
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A Preview of the Slab Report is displayed. Options are available to configure and then print it. You
can also save the report in a number of file formats.
6.4.3 Table of Quantities

The Table of Quantities for the slab strips can be created as follows:
¾ Right click, select the Arrange Steel

Bars/Steel Quantity Table
¾ Click to the right of the building, where you

would like the table to be located on the
drawing sheet.
Steel Quantity Table for Slabs
Note: The quantities in this table will only reflect the number of strips cut in the model. It is the
users responsibility to ensure the sufficient strips have been cut to achieve the accurate quantity.
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7 Creating a Flat Slab Model

7.1 Introduction
• Creating Flat Slabs
• Creating additional Storeys
• Editing a Flat Slab Model
7.2 Creating the Flat Slabs in the Model
¾ Click Open and select model ‘Training_Course_Model_1a’.
¾ Click File > Save Project As and rename the model Training_Course_Model_1a_(your
initials)
Flat Slabs in Orion are modelled using the Slab

Icon, however as the slabs are no longer bound by
beams the Type option will not be relevant as the
flat slabs can no longer be designed using Table
3.14 co-efficients from BS8110. For all Flat Slabs
panels they should be inserted using Type 1, the
continuity of slab edges sharing the same axis will
automatically be generated in the Finite Elements
Model.
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Before creating the slabs in a Flat Slab model it is paramount that the layout of the slab
panels is given consideration, and the following guidelines are met:-
¾ All columns and walls must lie on slab boundaries
¾ Slab boundaries sharing the same grid line will be continuous in the FE model
¾ Slab panels should be as large as possible (Lots of small panels will complicate the FE)
¾ Slabs should have the minimum edges possible (triangle/square/rectangle). Irregular

shaped panels L etc. should be avoided
¾ There is No Right or Wrong layout for the slab panels, but by adhering to the above,
slab layouts should be simple and effective when entering the FE environment
7.2.1 Inserting the Slabs
¾ Left Click on the Slab Icon, entering the values

for a Type 1, 300mm thick slab with 25mm
concrete cover
¾ Left Click on the Loads Tab entering values of

0.5kN/m2 for additional dead load and
2.5kN/m2 for imposed load
¾ Left Click on the Insertion tab, and choose the

Axis Region for the Slab Insertion method. Note
as there are no beams in the model, the Beam
Region (Default) method cannot be used.
Note: The use of the other slab insertion techniques will be introduced during the Day 2 training.
¾ Hold down Ctrl and left click in the area bound by axis A/B, 1/2, you will see a red box
appear showing the slab perimeter
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¾ Continue to hold down Ctrl whilst left clicking in the area bound by axis B/C, 1/2 and C/D,
1/2, you will note the red slab boundary increasing in size with every click
¾ Create all the slabs on St01, using this technique until your model has the same slab
configuration as shown below:-
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Note: If any of the slabs have been created overlapping the columns rather than having a slab
boundary run through their insertion axis, this will be picked up in the ‘Building Model and
Validity Checks’ These checks can be performed at any time prior to the Building Analysis.
7.3 Creating Slab Loads and Openings

7.3.1 Slab Loads
It is possible now the slabs have been inserted into the model to create Line / Point and Patch loads
directly onto the slab. To demonstrate this we are going to place a Line Load on the
perimeter of the slab.
¾ To aid in the selection of the correct location of the line loads, it may help to switch
the Axis Layer off, using the Axis Layer Toolbar
¾ Left Click on the Slab Load Tool, and specify a Line Load of magnitude
10kN/m for the Dead Loads only.
Note: Point and Patch loads can also be applied to the slab using the
same techniques. If a dxf had been imported into this model it would be
possible to snap onto the shadow, to enable to accurately model the
location of any additional loads on the slab, such as a corridor or plant
room.
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¾ Left Click and drag to define the line loads around the perimeter, taking care to snap onto the
slab corners.
¾ As the line load has been created over more than one slab a warning will appear, asking you
to confirm this was your intention, Click OK
¾ Place the remainder of the loads around the perimeter, as shown below:-
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7.3.2 Slab Openings
Now we will create some slab openings
¾ Click on the Slab Opening icon or go to Member/Slab Opening
¾ Enter the size of the opening as follows b1=500, b2=1000
¾ Enter the distance away from the grid where it is to be inserted as e1=1000, e2=1000
¾ Then click the grid intersection D/1
The opening should now appear as shown below.
Note: Slab openings can be created circular or at an angle for rectangular/square openings. All
slab openings must be created using positive values for the e1 and e2 offsets from grid.
All holes must be created within a single slab panel.
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7.4 Creating Additional Storeys

7.4.1 Storey Information
As we did in this mornings exercise for a Beam and Column Structure, create a 4 storey model which
has the following parameters:-
¾ St04 Copy of St01 excluding Slab Loads and Slab Openings
Create a Type 1 – 300mm thick slab to the top of the shear core
¾ St03 Copy the Storey Information from St01 to St03
¾ St02 A duplicate of Storey 3 (St03)
¾ St01 Original Storey – No editing necessary
¾ Storey Height for all floors is to be 4000mm
Duplicate Storeys – The use of duplicate storeys should be used wherever genuine duplicate floors
exist within the model. The benefits as explained in the Beam and Column example still exist, but also
when performing the Finite Elements Load Chase down, duplicate storeys will not need to be re-
analysed, therefore speeding up the load chase down procedure.
Unique Storeys – There will always be a minimum of 3 Unique Storeys in any multi-storey structure
(shown by the Blue Dot by the side of the Storey Label in the Workspace area).
• St01 – The first floor generated in the model
• Top Storey
• Penultimate Storey
Note: The top and the penultimate Storey cannot be identical, as the columns / walls at the top
floor, only project below the floor plate. Where as, the lower storeys all have columns / walls which
project above & below the floor plate which will effect the moment distribution from the slabs to
the supporting elements.
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8 Building Analysis for Flat Slab

8.1 Pre-Analysis
8.1.1 Exercise Aims
• Model Validity Checking
• Run Building Analysis - Pre-Processor
• Run Building Analysis - Post-Processor
• Viewing the Analysis Output Report
8.1.2 Pre-Analysis - Model Validity Checking
¾ From the Run menu choose Building Analysis.
This should then display the Analysis Form.
¾ We are going to use the same settings as used for the Beam and Column example, so there is
no need to make any changes to the Parameters / Storey Loads Editor / Material
Grades, Click Model Options
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8.2 Model Options

8.2.1 Model Options Settings
¾ Click on the Settings tab
There is a change in the Building Analysis >

Analysis Form > Model Options > Settings
The change is for the ‘Storey Weight and

Centre of Gravity’ calculations.
With the beam and column example all the slabs

were supported by beams, therefore the load
could be decomposed from the slabs to the
beams. The use of ‘Decomposed Beam
Loads’ could be relied upon to generate the
Storey Weight and Notional Horizontal Forces for
the structure.
However, in a Flat Slab Model no beams (or very

few) exist, therefore the ‘Undecomposed Slab
Loads’ have to be used to correctly calculate the
Storey Weight and Notional Horizontal Forces.
If the incorrect setting is made, the user could

significantly underestimate the Storey Weights
and the effect of Lateral Loads on the structure.
Slabs are not modelled in the Building Analysis, which goes some way to explaining why the
Undecomposed Loads must be used for Flat Slab Models. Slabs are replaced by a series of Diaphragms
(based on the user’s settings) within the Building Analysis, but are able to transfer gravity loads to the
columns and walls.
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8.3 Performing the Analysis

8.3.1 Pre-Analysis – Model Validity Checking
¾ Click on Building Model Validity Check.
This will check that the building is valid for those conditions indicated.
The ‘Check Columns Inside Slab Panels’ will check for slabs which have been defined incorrectly.
If a column exists within a slab, rather than on slab boundary an error will be reported.
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¾ Choose All Storeys and then click on the Check button.
¾ Assuming that no errors are reported, close the dialog
Note: During the Building Analysis, the Lateral Loads for the model will be generated. There
are NO Supporting Beams for the slab loads to be distributed onto. Therefore, ONLY THE
LATERAL FORCES will be correct after the Building Analysis has been performed.
THE GRAVITY LOADS WITHIN THE MODEL WILL BE INCORRECT, this will become apparent
when viewing the ‘Axial Load Comparison Report’.
¾ Ensure the Column/Wall Reinforcement Design and Beam Reinforcement Design is

Unchecked before clicking on Start to begin the batch analysis process.
¾ Click Start to begin the Building Analysis Calculation, and a warning message should be
displayed.
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The warning shown above indicates that Gravity load has gone missing. This is because there are no
beams in the model for the slab loads to decompose onto. This illustrates that an FE load chase down
is always required to obtain the design forces for the member design for flat slab models.
8.3.2 Checking the notional horizontal forces

Once the beam load calculations have been performed, the weights of each storey can be viewed and
if lateral loads were specified in the Project Parameters they can be viewed and edited. Remember
these values were calculated using ‘Undecomposed Slab Loads’
¾ Return to Pre-Analysis and select Storey Loads Editor.
¾ Click on Cancel to leave the notional forces unchanged.
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8.4 Post-Analysis
8.4.1 Cross Checking the Analysis Result
As we found in the previous example the Axial Load Comparison Report is a good way of
investigating how the load is being decomposed throughout the structure.
¾ Go back to the Analysis tab
¾ Select Axial Load Comparison Report
The total ‘SUM OF APPLIED LOADS (Using Un-Decomposed Slab Loads)’ values should be similar to
those from the Decomposed Slab Loads table if the Building Analysis Results are to be correct. It
should be clear from this report that vertical load has gone missing; therefore the gravity results due
to the Building Analysis will be meaningless. This again emphasises the fact that an FE load chase
down is required.
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8.4.2 Model and Analysis Results Display
The Analysis results can be viewed graphically again, but the only results of any significance will be
those for Lateral Loads – NHF’s / Wind etc.
¾ Click Model and Analysis Results Display
The diaphragms formed during the analysis can be viewed along with the Major Axis Moments and
displacements for Fx or Fy.
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The frame sways under the lateral loadcase Fx as shown below:-
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9 Gravity Load Chase Down using Finite

Element Analysis
9.1 Exercise Aims
• Finite Element Analysis Options
• No of Plates & Mesh Uniformity Settings
• Analysing a Single Floor
• Completing a Batch Load Chase Down
• Checking the results
• Merging the Column Results
9.2 Finite Element Model Generation Options
¾ From the Run menu choose FE Floor Analysis .
Column/Shear Wall Model Types – There are 3 options held within this menu, but only the ‘Short
Frame Model’ includes the columns and walls within the FE analysis. This enables moments to be
transferred from slab to columns/walls; this option is also required to perform a load chase down.
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Beam and Slab Stiffness Multipliers – As the FE model is based on actual stiffness’s of all the
beams columns walls and slabs any change to the Slab or Beam Stiffness Multipliers will effect the
results. How to use these Multipliers effectively is discussed in the Engineers Manual.
Include Column Sections in FE Model – Checking this option allows the physical dimensions of the
columns to be included in the FE model, by using a series of Rigid Arms, instead of simply modelling to
the member centrelines. This will reduce the high peaking hogging moments over supporting columns
for a Flat Slab design.
Include Slab Plates in FE Model – For Flat Slab Models you must check this option. For Beam and
Slab Models if this option was un-ticked, it would allow a load chase down to be performed based on
the beam load decomposition technique derived for the Building Analysis (Yield Line or FE for Beam
Loads).
Consider Beam Torsional Stiffness – If included then hogging can develop in the slab adjacent to
the perimeter beams. This must also be included if any slab within your model relies upon the torsional
capacity of a beam within the model for its support. Torsional values will be calculated; however Orion
does not consider Torsion within the Beam Design.
Include Upper Storey Column Loads – If you wish to chase the load down through the structure
this option must be selected, even at the top storey. This will allow the transfer of load and column /
wall self weights, from floor to floor during the analysis process.
For the purpose of this example the following settings will be applied at St04:-
Note: For a load chase down to be

successful the structure must be analysed
from the top floor down and in sequence,
but excluding duplicates ie. St04 / St03 /
St01. If this sequence is not in order when
the ‘Include Upper Storey Column Loads’ is
selected, then the following Warning will be
displayed.
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1. Mesh and Analyse the Top Storey, to generate the Column/Wall forces.
2. Mesh and Analyse the Penultimate storey. Reactions form the floor above becomes applied
loads on the floor below.
3. Continue this process floor by floor down through the structure (excluding duplicates)
4. Mesh and Analyse St01 to chase the load down to foundation level.
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Note: The Slab Stiffness has been altered (0.25) to allow analysis results to be viewed for the Long
Term Modulus of Elasticity (E) of the slabs. Within Orion there are various ways these adjustments
can be achieved, which will effect the results, these techniques will be discussed during Day 2
training, or by referring to ‘The Concrete Centre Publication – How to design reinforced
concrete flat slabs using Finite Element Analysis – O Brooker May 2006’
5. If no adjustment is made to the slab to allow for the Long Term effects in the slab
analysis, you will be warned before allowing entry into the FE Floor Analysis.
9.3 Generating/Performing the FE Analysis Model

9.3.1 Creating the FE mesh for Analysis
¾ Ensure you are at Storey St04 and click Floor Mesh and Analyse
No of Plates – The more plates you have in the model the longer the analysis will take. We
recommend a minimum of 6-8 plates is achieved between column support locations. The Default
number of plates is simply 100 per slab, this is normally sufficient to provide the minimum of 6 plates
between supports.
Mesh Uniformity – The higher the mesh uniformity the more equal in area all the plates become,
with the exception around columns for certain locations / geometry. This option becomes particularly
useful for generating more concentrated analysis results close to slab openings.
¾
Note: Finite Element Analysis is ONLY used for the determination of Gravity Loads on the
structure, hence ONLY G (Dead) and Q (Imposed), will be available in the Loading pull down
menu.
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Click Generate Model with 1100 plates and Mesh Uniformity Factor of 50%
This maintains 6-8 plates between each of the column locations; note the difference below for Mesh
Uniformity Settings at 100% and 50%. Only by using 50% can the 6 plates be generated between the
columns on the top right of the screen, alternatively more plates could have been added to the model.
100% Mesh Uniformity Factor 50% Mesh Uniformity Factor
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Note: Within the FE model the plates have been formed around the column heads, this is due to
ticking the option within the FE Analysis Form ‘Include Column Sections in the FE Model’.
Although this option allows the physical dimensions of the columns to be modelled in the FE
environment, this does rely upon a more complicated mesh being formed around the column
heads.
9.3.2 Performing the Batch FE Load Chase Down
¾ Left Click on the Batch FE Chasedown
You will see as St04 has already been analysed a green tick appears beneath the analysis status.
¾ Left Click on the Number of Plate Elements Text, without clicking

anywhere else Type 1100, then hit Return this will change the number of
plates to all floor levels to be 1100. This can be done for all settings in the
Batch FE Chasedown Window.
¾ Ensure the Include Slab Plates in FE Model is ticked on for all floors
¾ Set the Mesh Uniformity Factor to be 50% (0.50)
¾ Ensure the Include Column Sections in FE Model is ticked for all floors
¾ Set the Slab Stiffness Factor to be 0.25 for all floors
¾ Set the Beam Stiffness Factor to be 1.00 for all floors
¾ Ensure the Consider Beam Torsional Stiffness is ticked for all floors
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When complete the window should look as follows, make sure the Include Upper Storey Column
Loads is ticked:-
¾ Click on OK to Proceed with the FE Batch Load Chase Down
¾ The Pause to Check Mesh

at Each Floor has been
Unticked, this is because we
have checked and approved
the mesh at St04, therefore
all storeys should be
satisfactory with the settings
applied in the previous
window.
Note:-
Although in today’s example we
are choosing not to Pause at
Check Meshing at Each Floor, it
would be strongly recommended
that this option is left ticked for
the first analysis run so that the
user can satisfy themselves that
the mesh is adequate at every
floor in the model.
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Orion will now Load the Pre Processor, Form the mesh at each floor level, and analyse before moving
down to the next floor. This operation could be performed manually by forming the mesh and
analysing each floor, and then selecting the floor level below, excluding duplicates.
When the FE Batch Load Chase Down is complete a

screen will appear to inform the user of the Maximum
Positive and Maximum Negative Displacements at
each of the floor levels. Excessive deflections would
be an indication that the slab thickness is not
adequate, or there is an error in the model.
All deflection results are based upon the Slab Stiffness

Multiplier (SSM) applied in the ‘Batch FE Chasedown
Window.
¾ Click OK to close this window
¾ Click Close in the Finite Element Analysis Form, only when the Merge the Column box is
ticked.
Note:
The Merge Column Results with Building Analysis, is only required to be done once at any level
within the model.
When choosing this option ALL the G & Q results will be replaced on every level throughout the
structure.
At any time you can quickly toggle between the Building Analysis and FE Analysis Results, by
ticking / unticking this option.
The same principles would apply should we have any Beams within the Model.
Now we have two sets of results for the Gravity Loads in the model (G & Q), we must choose which
results we are going to use for the design of the Columns (and Beams if applicable). For all Flat Slab
models the results from the FE Analysis should be used, for obvious reasons.
Merging the column results will Replace the G and Q loadcases from the Building Analysis to form a
complete set on Analysis Results. The lateral results from the Building Analysis will still be used for the
design. Only when the Merging process has been completed will we be able to design our columns and
walls.
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This will become obvious if the Display Analysis Results in Plan View in the Graphical Editor
View Settings is switched on to display LC1: G, LC6: Q, Cmb1: (G+Q)*F
¾ Click Graphical Editor View Settings > Columns and Walls, tick the Axial Loads, LC1,
LC6 and Cmb1
Now view the Axial Loads for Column 1C1 at level St01. To do this un-tick the Merge Column Results,
found in the FE Analysis Form > Analysis Post Processing and Reports.
These are the Building Analysis Results;

hence the Axial Loads are INCORRECT. The
loads shown will reflect only the Self Weight
of the Column or Wall, rather than any
decomposed load from the slabs to the
columns.
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Now view the Axial Loads for Column 1C1 at level St01.
These are the FE Results for G and Q,

which have now Replaced the
Building Analysis Results, therefore
CORRECT.
The Cmb1 load includes for the

Imposed Load Reductions – if applied.
9.4 Cross checking the Finite Element Results

The FE Analysis results should be cross checked the same way as was done for the Building Analysis
results, via the Axial Load Comparison Report.
Note:-
When the FE chasedown is complete from roof to St01 an extra table is added to this report (table
4), containing the FE Analysis Column/Shear Wall Axial Loads. The sum of these loads should
equate (within a few percent), to the sum of all the dead and live loads applied at each storey
level. If they do not the reason for the discrepancy should be investigated.
¾ Click on Run menu and choose Building Analysis
¾ Click on the Analysis tab and select Axial Load Comparison Report, check Table 1
against Table 4.
The updated Axial Load Comparison Report is shown on the next page. Table 4 is now shown
listing the results for G (dead) and Q (imposed) at each floor level for the FE Axial Load
Chasedown.
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Axial Load Comparison Report
Table 1 – Undecomposed Slab Loads
Table 4 – Finite Elements Analysis Column/Shearwall Axial Loads
Note:
There will always be a slight variation in Table 1 and Table 4, this is due to the FE analysis being
performed on a centreline model, and therefore slight overlapping of the slabs and the
beams/walls will occur.
There will also be differences due to the fact that the Building Analysis does not include the slab
elements, hence any openings will not be considered within Table 1.
Tables 2 & 3 are to be DISREGARDED, as there is no beams in the model for the slab loads to
be decomposed onto, the results in Tables 2 & 3 are meaningless in a Flat Slab Model.
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10 Designing the Flat Slab

10.1 Introduction
This process uses the Finite Element results to determine the bar sizes required for the reinforcement
of the slabs. This chapter covers the following:-
• Using the Post Processor
• Reviewing the Results and Contours
• Creating User Defined Contours
• Exporting Contours to DXF
10.2 Finite Element – Post Processing Settings

¾ From the Run menu choose Finite Element Floor Analysis
¾ Click Analysis Post-Processing and Reports
¾ Ensure St04 is selected and a Positive (sagging) Moment Factor of 1.2 is entered prior to
viewing the Analysis Post-processing.
Note:
FE floor models do not include for any pattern loading. It is not feasible/logical to automate
pattern loading to generate every possible worst case scenario, far every conceivable irregular
arrangement and any size of model. A more realistic use of these adjustments is to amplify the
sagging moments (by using a positive moment factor of perhaps 10-20%).
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¾ Click on the Analysis Post-processing button
10.3 Floor Analysis Post Processing

This takes you through to the Post Processing window.
10.3.1 Deflection Plots
These buttons allow the display of Displacements and the Contours.
The first option Display Displacements shows the displacement diagram of the mesh, for the
selected storey.
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The second option Display Contours shows the contours of the selected Loading and Effects
Note:
The displacements shown
in the contour plots are
based upon the
adjustments made in the
FE Analysis Form for the
Slab Stiffness Multiplier
(SSM), to allow for the
effects of Long Term
effects due to (Creep,
Cracking and Shrinkage).
Negative values of
Deflection are for sagging,
where as positive values
are for hogging in the slab
The Displacement Contours are for

the selected Loading, either G or
Q unfactored, or G+Q*F which are
factored results
If the contour plots for Deflection either do not make sense (i.e. maximum sagging is not where you
expected etc..), or are experiencing excessive deflection, this would be an indication that the structure
is not properly modelled or the slabs are not of adequate thickness.
10.3.2 Loading and Effects Toolbars
• Left Click on the Loading tab and you will be able to select the following:-
• G – This is an Unfactored Loadcase
• Q - This is an Unfactored Loadcase
• G+Q*F – This is a Factored Load Combination, therefore remember whenever looking at

the Deflection Plots the results need to be de-factored
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¾ Left Click on the Effects tab and the following options become available:-
There are various different Effects which can be viewed in the Floor
Analysis Post Processor.
These display, Global and Local effects, along with the Displacements /
Moments / Area of Steel Requirements for the selected floor plate.
10.3.3 Loading and Effects
Mx These contours are displayed relative to a single global coordinate system. If you
imagine the X direction Bars running from left to right in the plan view, then the Mx
moments are the design moments that these bars will need to be designed to resist.
My These contours are displayed relative to a single global coordinate system. If you
imagine the Y direction Bars running from bottom to top in the plan view, then the My
moments are the design moments that these bars will need to be designed to resist.
Mxy Average Nodal Torsional Moment (Wood & Armer Adjustments)
M1 Average nodal moment along Direction 1 (the Local coordinate system for the slab).
By Default Direction 1 will be 0 degrees.
M2 Average nodal moment along Direction 2 (the Local coordinate system for the slab).
Note Direction2 is always perpendicular to Direction 1.
M12 The average Nodal Torsional Moment relative to the Local coordinate system (Wood &
Armer Adjustments)
As1-bot Required steel area in the bottom face of the slab along Direction 1
As2-bot Required steel area in the bottom face of the slab along Direction 2
As1-top Required steel area in the top face of the slab along Direction 1
As2-top Required steel area in the top face of the slab along Direction 2
Note:
Any contour plot which displays a d within its name allows for the effects of Wood and Armer
adjustments. Example Md1 or As(d)1
It is recommended unless you have a specific reason for ignoring the Wood and Armer adjustments
you should ALWAYS work with the Md and As(d) results.
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Wood & Armer Adjustments
These adjustments take plate torsional moments into account to generate adjusted design moments. If
a detailed background of these adjustments is required then reference should be made to the original
papers:-
Wood, R.H. “The reinforcement of slabs in accordance with a pre-determined field of

moments” as published in Concrete 2.Feb 1968, pp69-76
Armer, G.S.T. “Correspondence” as published in Concrete, 2 Aug 1968, pp319-320
Md1-bot are the sagging Moments in the bottom of the slab in Direction 1 which include for the
effects of Wood and Armer adjustment
As(d)1-bot (shown below) are the area of steel requirements (based on the Effective Depth) in the
bottom of the slab in Direction 1 which include for the effects of Wood and Armer adjustments.
Note:
Hogging Moments will
be denoted with
negative values.
Sagging Moments will
be denoted with
positive values.
All Area of Steel values

are based upon
mm2/m
In any of the Contour

plots the mouse pointer
can be used to highlight
any node and the
precise information
about that node is
displayed in the bottom
left of the window.
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10.3.4 Setting the Concrete Effective Depth
Orion allows the user to set the Effective Concrete Depth, these settings will determine if the
horizontal bars (in plan) are to be located on the outer or inner face of the concrete. This option also
allows the user to set the concrete cover which will then automatically calculate the effective depth for
the generation of the contours, and determine the area of steel requirements.
¾ Right click anywhere in the FE Post Processor Window,

and select Concrete Effective Depth
¾ Click on the Concrete Cover (to Bar Face) and type 25mm
¾ Ensure the Dir 1, is set to Layer 1 (Outer) – this will then place the horizontal bars
(in plan) in layer 1 i.e. the bars nearest the upper and lower surface of the concrete.
¾ Set the Bar Diameter in Dir 1 and Dir 2 to be H16
¾ Click OK
All of the Area of Steel contour plots will now be produced based upon these settings for the effective
depth. Please note adjusting these values will effect each and every As and As(d) contour plot.
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10.3.5 Bottom Steel Reinforcement Provision
Although Orion has automatically calculated the Area of Steel Requirements, this information does not
relate to actual bar sizes. Therefore we are going to determine the reinforcement in the slab, based on
a user defined set of parameters for the bar sizes.
¾ Click on the Effects and select As(d)1-bot
¾ Click on the User Defined Contours
Note:
The pull down menu at the side of the User Defined Contours option allows the user to change
the display settings.
Shaded / Lines / Contour Values can all be switched on or off within this screen, this has no
effect on the model.
¾ Right Click anywhere in the Post Processor

Window and select Contour Settings
¾ Ensure the Number of

Contours is set to 3
¾ If the Re-Interpolate
Contour values? Box appears
click Yes
¾ Make sure in the Legend box

the Both option is selected.
(This will display both the Bar
Sizes and the Area of Steel)
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The Min and Max values cannot be altered but the Contours in-between can be used based on actual
bar sizes and spacing’s.
10.3.6 Creating the User Defined Contours (bottom steel)
¾ Left Click on the first contour

value
¾ Left Click on the Steel Bar 1 and

select Diameter H10 @ 250mm
spacing
¾ Click the Update button and the left

hand menu contour values will show
H10-250
¾ Left Click second contour value
¾ Left Click on the Steel Bar 1 and

select Diameter H10 @ 250
spacing
¾ Left Click on Steel Bar 2 and select

Diameter H16 @ 250 spacing.
This contour value is greater than
the Max 1024 mm2/m reported
¾ Click the Update button
Note:
The second contour will be based upon alternate H10 and H16 diameter bars @ 125mm
spacing’s.
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Note:
The blue areas in the
contour plot denote where
H10 @ 250mm is sufficient.
The green area of the
contour plot is where
H10@250 plus H16 @
250mm is required.
IMPORTANT
All contour plots are based
upon exact values,
therefore these plots DO
NOT include for
Anchorage Lengths
10.3.7 Creating the User Defined Contours (top steel)
¾ Select As(d)1-top plot from the Effects
¾ Right Click to enter the Contour Settings once again
¾ Ensure the Contours = 3 and the Legend is set to Both
¾ Set the first contour to be H10 @ 250mm
¾ Set the second contour to be H10 @ 250 plus H20 @ 250mm
¾ Click the Update button after completing the settings for each contour
¾ Click OK
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Contour Settings
Your As(d)1-top plot should look as follows:-
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10.4 Exporting and Displaying Contours

Once the contours have been established in the Finite Element Post Processor, they can then be
exported to the main model and AutoCAD for detailing purposes.
¾ Ensure you still have selected As(d)1-top
¾ Left Click on the Export Contours (shown adjacent)
This will then enable the selected contour to be exported into the Main Modelling area of the program.
This would have to be done for all four contours, top and bottom in direction 1 and direction 2.
¾ Left click on the Close window (X) to exit from this window and back into the main
model
¾ On the Transfer Options window select Close. If any strips had been cut in the
Model this window allows transfer of this information from the FE analysis.
¾ Left Click Close
¾ Left Click on the Layer Control icon
¾ Switch on the Layer Contours Asd1-Top
¾ Click OK
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¾ If the contours are not displayed Left Click on the Regen icon
The graphical display should now look as shown below, with the contours for As(d)1-top exported.
10.5 Exporting to DXF (for information)

This drawing can now be exported as a DXF into an AutoCAD environment. To do this Left
Click on the DXF icon and your drawing will be created.
All the layers will be automatically identified and transferred into AutoCAD, based upon
your Layer Control settings.
Any drawings created using this option will be stored in the [Default] directory for the current job
(unless changed by the user) – C:\OrData15\Training_Course_Model_1a\...........DXF
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10.6 Designing the Columns/Walls

For completeness this section shows how the columns can be designed using the Finite Element
gravity loads, instead of those from the Building Analysis.
Note:
For Flat Slab Models the column design MUST be based upon MERGED Column Forces from the FE
model. Otherwise the design of the columns will be incorrect.
¾ Click Run > Column Section Design
¾ Click File > Column Design (Batch Mode)
¾ Click Re-Select All Steel Bars and Calculate
New bars will then be selected based upon the Column Design Settings applied in this mornings
training session, as shown below:-
All the columns have now been designed using the Finite Element Analysis Results for the Gravity
Loads (G and Q), and the Building Analysis Results for the Lateral Loads (Fx and Fy).
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Appendix A : Adding Wind Load to the

Model
Specifying Wind Combinations
¾ To run the following example, please open model ‘Training_Model_1’
In order to add wind loads to the model, you should ensure that you have specified a load combination
set in the Project Parameters that contains wind load vectors. For example LC14 shown below.
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Applying a Single Wind Load to Each Floor
By clicking on each of the storey labels in the upper table, the Wx and Wy values for each storey can
be entered in the lower table.
The wind loading is entered as a single
point load on each storey. The location of
the load is specified by entering its X and
Y co-ordinates. These are measured from
(0,0) - NOT from the bottom left of the
model.
Note: The Notional Horizontal Wx Fx CG

Loads are applied at the centre
of mass of the floor, whereas
the Wind Loads should be Fy
applied at the centre of the Floor Plan
building elevation. Thus a hand X
calc may be necessary to
determine the co-ordinates to
the Wind Load location.
Wy
0,0 X
The load is transferred to the columns and

walls via diaphragm action within the floor. The
diaphragm model is defined on the Model
Options tab of the Analysis form.
It is up to the Engineer to work out the
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coordinates and the wind loading to be applied. However we are given the coordinates of the centre of
gravity. We can make use of these numbers to work out the coordinates to the centre of the
elevation.
¾ Use the dimension tool to show the distance to the centre of gravity and the length of the
elevation.
In direction one.
Centre of elevation is 19800 mm / 2 = 9900 mm
Distance of the centre of elevation from the centre of mass is
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9900 mm – 8940 mm = 960 mm
X coordinate is 12.940 m + 0.960 m = 13.900 m
For simplicity assuming 1.0 kN/m2 wind loading
The loading in the Y direction Wy = 19.8 m × 4m × 1.0 kN/m2 = 79.2 kN
In direction two.
Centre of elevation is 27219 mm / 2 = 13610 mm
Distance of the centre of elevation from the centre of mass is
13610 mm – 12418 mm = 1192 mm
Y coordinate is 15.418 m + 1.192 m = 16.610 m
For simplicity assuming 1.0 kN/m2 wind loading
The loading in the X direction Wx = 27.219 m × 4.0m × 1.0 kN/m2 = 108.9 kN
¾ Enter Wx, Wy loads and co-ordinates for the storey.

Note: In practice the loadings and coordinates may change due to variations in floor layout and storey
heights. For this example we will assume they are all the same.
¾ Enter loads for the other storeys in a similar manner, and then click OK.
¾ Return to Analysis, check the Building Analysis box and then click on Start.
The building should now be analysed for the wind load combinations in addition to the other
combinations.
¾ Click on the Post-analysis page and press the Model and Analysis Results Display button.
¾ Using the settings and Filters you can select a wind case and view the results from that case.
Viewing the deformations clearly shows the twisting effect caused by the offset of the
coordinates
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Applying Wind Loads directly to Columns & Walls

As an alternative to applying a single point load to the floor, the wind loads can be applied directly to
the tops of the columns & walls.
¾ Select a column and right click. From the menu choose Define Column Nodal Load.
The load can either be applied to the selected column, all columns/walls in the current storey or every
column/wall in the model.
¾ Choose Apply to Selected Column.
¾ Select the required Wind Load Case and enter the load values to be applied. Note that the
loads are applied using the global co-ordinate system.
You can enter multiple loads and moments under every available load case at the same time.
¾ Once you have entered all values, click OK for them to be applied to the selected members
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Appendix B: Beam Design Settings and

Detailing
Beam Design Settings
¾ From the Main Menu select Settings/Beam Design Settings/Storey Beam Settings.
A brief overview of the options in general and then more specifically the reinforcement pattern options,
is provided in the next few pages.
The Design Tab
These settings are generally self evident, they will tend to have a slight influence on the values of As
required that emerge from the design. For example the options to design for the shear at the column
face and to use the rectangular section (rather than the flanged section) when the flange is in
compression will result in slightly more conservative steel area requirements.
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The Parameters Tab
Again, these settings are generally self evident, they set limits on the ranges and spacing of bars which
are considered when bars are being selected to provide reinforcement which at least meets the
minimum requirements determined during design.
The Bar Selection Tab
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In this tab we start to apply more specific preferences which will affect the way in which bars are
selected to meet the As requirements determined in design. Standard Pattern 2 is currently the most
commonly used option. Many of the other options under this tab and also under the curtailments tab
are more “tuned” to standard pattern 2.
Note that on the Method sub-tab the option maximise bar spacing is the default. The option to
minimise bar sizes is not often used since this results in lots of small bars being used at close centres
rather than a few larger bars at wider spacing.
The Curtailment Tab
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In this tab we apply preferences as to how the reinforcement is curtailed. Although this is not under
the “detailing” tab, these sorts of preferences are more traditionally applied by the detailer than the
designer.
The Detailing Tab
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In this tab all the preferences relate to detailing presentation options, i.e. changes here only relate to
presentation and not to the reinforcement selection.
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The Layers Tab
Settings in this tab control the layering, line types etc to be used in the DXF file, which can be loaded
into most general drafting packages.
¾ If you have made any changes to the Settings and Parameters select Save to update them and
return to the Graphic Editor.
Manually Creation of Drawing Sheets
¾ From the Menu select Sheet/Sheet Layout
To bring the beams on a particular axis onto the drawing sheet, perform the following steps.
¾ Position the cursor on the beam axis in the Axis column
¾ then left click and hold on the axis name and then drag the beam onto the sheet
¾ Position the beam where it is to be placed then release the left mouse button.
¾ To manipulate the beam position click and drag the beam around the sheet
¾ To sort according to the storeys, Select Settings and then select Storey.
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Repeat this process for some more of the axes so your screen looks similar to below.
Now insert the reinforcement quantity table for these beams on Sheet 1
¾ Select the Schedule button so the following dialog box

appears.
¾ Now select OK
The Schedule is now placed at the bottom right of the Sheet 1.
¾ Save this sheet 1 layout by selecting Save.
Now create a new sheet which will be number 2
¾ Select the New Button next to the Sheet No. Box

so the following appears with a no. 2
¾ Click OK
A new blank sheet appears on which more beams can be placed.
¾ Repeat what we have done so far for Sheet 1 by selecting some more beams.
Note: You can’t select any of the beams which are on Sheet 1 or those not previously designed.
¾ Choose Save and then Exit to get back to the Beam Section Design and Detailing window.
Now we will view the beam drawing sheets created.

Go to the Menu and select Sheet/Beam Detail Drawings to get the following screen.
¾ Highlight Sheet 1 as shown above then choose OK.
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If any of the bars have been truncated you will be informed where they are and you will then need to
click on OK to get to the following screen.
If necessary edits can be made to the drawing using the various commands that are available.
Alternatively the drawing can be exported as a DXF file and amendments made in another cad
program.
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Appendix C: Column Design Settings and

Detailing
Column Design Settings
¾ From the Main Menu select Settings/Column Design Settings
The Design Tab
Note: Min Steel Percentage will be taken from Table 3.25 in the code, Max Col Steel Percentage
will be 6.0% and Max Wall Steel Percentage will be 4% unless you overwrite the default ( 0.00 ).
Plain Wall Design allows the design of walls without reinforcement where the wall is subject to
compression throughout and the steel requirement is zero/negligible.
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By default Orion is set to use the BS8110 method for bi-axial design, however an alternative true bi-
axial approach is available. This latter method can produce some economy; however it is perhaps best
though of as a means to occasionally fine tune a BS8110 design.
You may decide to design using the true bi-axial method and then check the reinforcement using the
BS8110 method.
Clause 3.8.4.4. is the more conservative, however, if cl 3.8.4.3 is appropriate and less conservative
result can be achieved.
The Steel Bars Tab
These settings are fairly self explanatory; however some consideration should be given towards the
selection of appropriate lateral steel.
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Details of the ‘Steel Bar Selection Method’ are displayed in the blue text below. The option to maximise
bar spacing is the default. This option reduces the congestion compared to the option to minimise bar
sizes.
Note: Long Walls are defined as those which have a Length / Thickness Ratio greater than 6,
where a Short Wall would be used for a Length / Thickness Ratio greater than 4.
If the area of main steel is less than 2% tie bars will be automatically omitted form the
design.
The Lateral Steel Types can be set by clicking the Pick Buttons.
The different Column Lateral Steel options are shown to the left.
Clause 3.12.7.2. specifies requirements to contain compression

reinforcement by the introduction of links and/or tie bars. Using the
With Tie Bars 2 option extra ties are added automatically to ensure this
clause is satisfied.
The Single Link option or any of the other options should be regarded
as manual over-rides: the user takes responsibility for adding extra bars
to satisfy cl 3.12.7.2.
There are 5 choices available for Short and Long Walls.
The Shear Wall option (without End Zones) is more efficient at lower
loading levels as minimum steel requirements start to dominate.
The Shear Wall with End Zones option would generally not need to
be used. It might however become more efficient when the walls are
resisting significant in-plane moments.
The Single Layer Wall can be selected for walls up to the thickness
specified in the
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The settings on this tab are fairly self explanatory. For example the max bar spacing has been set to
210mm.
Note: Concrete cover 0.00 mm means the amount of cover will be taken from the code. If
a non zero value is entered, this will be used instead.
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The ‘Mesh Steel’ tab allows the user to use Mesh for the design of the walls rather than loose bars.
The mesh sizes used will be based on the settings from the Building Analysis Form/Material
Properties.
The Detail Drawings Tab
¾ Now click on the Details Tab and set the parameters to be as shown below.
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In this tab all the preferences relate to detailing presentation options, i.e. changes here only relate to
presentation and not to the reinforcement selection.
¾ Click on OK to save the design parameters for the columns and walls.
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To Rationalise the Steel Bars in Individual Columns
To rationalise the bars selected from storey to storey for individual columns, the Steel Optimization
command is used.
¾ From the File menu in the Column Reinforcement Design window choose Steel Optimization.
¾ Select Column Line E-2 (1C9) as shown. It can be seen that three different bar arrangements
are used up the height of this column.
¾ Change all the bars at Storeys 3 to H20
¾ Click on Save Axis then Close. The Utilization ratio for the modified columns are recalculated.
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To Rationalise the Steel Bars in Multiple Columns

To rationalise the bars selected from storey to storey for multiple columns, the Copy and Paste
commands are used.
¾ From the Column Reinforcement Design window highlight column 1C9.
¾ Click on the Copy Steel Bars to Clipboard icon
The steel bar pattern for 1C9 is copied to the clipboard. All columns with the same b1 and b2
dimensions are marked “=” indicating that they are suitable for pasting this bar pattern to. The user
can then either paste to individual marked columns using the Paste Steel Bars from Clipboard icon,
or paste to all marked columns using Paste Steel Bars from Clipboard to All Similar Columns.
¾ Click on the Paste Steel Bars to All Similar Columns icon
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Note: It is possible to paste a steel bar pattern that is insufficient. If you do this, the Design status
will indicate fail for those columns as shown above. These could be re-designed interactively.
Creating the Column Detail Drawings

¾ Left click and highlight the column you wish to produce a ‘Detail Drawing’ for:
¾ From within the Column Reinforcement Design window select the Column Detail
Drawings icon
The Column Axes List option will create a drawing of a single column by clicking on the Draw icon.
If multiple columns are required on the same drawing sheet, the Sheet List option should be used as
follows.
¾ Click on the Sheet List option and then click on the Sheet Layout icon.
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¾ Change the Sheet size to A1 and then bring the column details on to the drawing by clicking
and dragging the column references from the table on the right into the drawing sheet area.
¾ Click on Save to save the above layout as sheet 1. Additional sheets could then be created as
necessary by clicking on the New button. When completed click on Exit
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¾ To see the resulting sheet 1 click on the Draw icon.
Column Detail Drawing
This drawing can be edited and plotted directly from here. Alternatively it can be exported by clicking
on the DXF Export icon and then opened and edited further in AutoCAD™.
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Appendix D : Foundation Design

Introduction
• Design of a Pad Footing
• Design of a Strip Footing
• Design of a Raft
Foundation Design Settings

The Allowable Stress of Soil and the Coefficient of Subgrade Reaction are set in the Building
Parameters – General tab.
Some further more detailed preferences are set in the Graphical Editor Settings – Foundations tab.
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Choice of Loading Method
If you have already modelled and analysed the building above the foundation in Orion, the loads can
be transferred directly to it. Alternatively if you only want to perform the foundation design without
modelling the structure above then the load can be input manually,
Assuming you have already analysed the structure above the foundation, you have the option to either
transfer the loads resulting from the Building Analysis, or (assuming you have performed a gravity load
chasedown) the loads can be based on the FE Analysis results.
To design the foundations using FE results, proceed as follows:
¾ Select FE Floor Analysis from the Run menu in the Main Menu bar.
¾ Select the Analysis Post-processing and Reports tab
¾ Check the box Merge Column Results with Building Analysis Results.
¾ Close the FE Analysis Form.

Note: To design the foundations using Building Analysis results, leave the box unchecked.
Pad Footing Design

All the foundation design features are only available when Storey ST00 is active.
¾ Select storey ST00 from the structure tree.
¾ Select columns 1C2 and 1C3 and the right click and select Insert Pad Base as shown
¾ Click OK to create a Typical Footing for both columns
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¾ The footing data should be displayed as shown below.
¾ Increase the footing depth to 600mm and change the bar sizes to T20 then click on the
Analysis button.
A rectangular footing has been designed for the worst loads from both columns.
Note: The ‘linked circles’ icon in the middle of the screen indicates that if the Lx dimension is
increased the Ly dimension will be automatically recalculated to suit. The circles can be unlinked by
clicking on the icon. In this case, if the Lx dimension is increased the Ly dimension will remain
unchanged.
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¾ Check the ‘Square Footing’ box to have the footing recalculated.
¾ If desired the bar spacing’s in the XX or YY directions can be amended at this point.
¾ Click on Close and then click on OK to exit from the Pad Base Properties dialog.
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The pad bases are then inserted under the selected columns as shown.
Pad Footing Details

To obtain the detail drawings it is necessary to click on the Foundation Details icon located at the
bottom of the structure tree as shown
¾ Click on the New Detail Sheet icon.
¾ Choose an A3 page and then click and drag the F2 footing out of the table and on to the
drawing sheet.
¾ Click with the left mouse button as necessary to reposition the footing so that it fits within the
page border and then add a steel quantity table
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¾ To return to the Graphic Editor, click on the Form Plan icon at the base of the structure tree.
Strip Footing Design

The Strip Footing is a ‘combined footing’ and can be used in cases where beams connect the columns
and/or walls. In cases where there are no beams between the vertical members, it can still be used
but fictitious beams have to be added first which are of the same depth as the footing. The latter
option will be demonstrated.
Note: This section of the training manual should only be considered as a brief introduction to the
Strip Footing capabilities of Orion. This subject is much more comprehensively documented in the
Engineer’s Handbook.
When designing a strip footing under a continuous wall in which no bending takes place along the
major direction of the wall, the pad footing option can be used. Select the wall, and right click to
insert a pad footing.
¾ Create a 600 wide by 800 deep beam between columns C1 and C5, then another between C5
and C8 and a third between C8 and C12
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¾ Select all three newly added beams and then right click and select Insert Strip Footing.
¾ Checking the Design Envelope box will design the footing for all load combinations.
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¾ Select T20 steel diameter and increase the footing depth to 800mm, then click on Design.
The program calculates a required Footing Width and displays a results report.
¾ Close the report then round the width up to 2900mm and click on Design once more.
The results report is recreated based on the new width.
¾ Click on the Diagrams tab.
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¾ Click OK to exit, and then OK once more to return to the Graphic Editor.
Designing the Foundation Beam
The foundation beam is designed in two stages:
¾ Select Beam Section Design and Detailing/Create Update Footing Beam Records from
the Run menu in the Main Menu bar.
¾ Next, select Beam Section Design and Detailing/Foundation Beams from the Run
menu.
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The beam section design dialog is displayed as below.
From this point the beam design procedure is carried out in a similar manner to the design of
superstructure beams.
Raft Foundation Design
Note: As there are no beams, the slab insertion method should be set to Axis Region.
To get correct transfer of the column and wall loads into the raft, each column\wall needs to lie on
a slab edge or corner.
The raft foundation is created as a slab and then analysed using FE.
¾ Create a 600 deep slab inside the lift core as shown below.
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¾ Create 1m wide cantilever slabs around the edge of the core.
¾ From the Run menu choose FE Raft Foundation Analysis
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¾ Click on Mesh Generation and then on the icon to generate the mesh, as shown below
¾ Exit from the mesh generator and continue with the analysis.
¾ Select the Analysis Post Processor
¾ Display Contour diagrams for the various effects.
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Shown below is the Contour diagram for the effect – Soil Pressure Threshold. This indicates that the
soil is overstressed. It is necessary to make the raft larger.
¾ Exit from the Post Processor and then in the graphic editor try increasing the raft size.
Once a satisfactory size has been obtained, reinforcement can be placed in the raft in the same way as
was done for the other FE slabs in the building.
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Appendix E : Load Combinations and the

Loading Generator
Typical load combinations can be selected for analysis using the Load Combination field, accessed
under the Building Analysis/Pre-Analysis tab. Several pre-defined loading combinations will be available
and can be accessed using the Select button.
Alternatively, if you want edit an existing, or define a completely new load combination set, click the
Edit button. This will take you into the Load Combination Editor shown below.
The Loading Generator

Clicking the Loading Generator button provides a quick means of defining multiple load combinations.
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Define Dead (G) and Define Live (Q) Loads
Ticking these two boxes creates a combination of all spans fully loaded as shown:
Define Pattern Loads

Ticking this box enables load patterning. The number of patterns created will depend on the selections
made in Load Templates
The four check boxes at the top of the Load Templates enable the creation of basic patterns which are
referred to as P1, P2, P3 and P4.
Pattern P1 applies ‘adverse’ load to the first span, ‘beneficial’ load to the second span and so on.
Hence making the selections shown above would result in the following combinations being created:
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In the above table, G+QP1*F consists of:
Dead load, G, (factored by 1.4) applied to all spans.
Live load Q (factored by 1.6) applied as per pattern P1.
In other words, only odd numbered spans would have any live load applied.
G+QP2*F is similar, dead load (factored by 1.4) applied to all spans, but only even numbered spans
have any live load applied.
The following table illustrates the basic load patterns for live load:
QP1 QP2
QP3 QP4
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Direction Dependant Pattern Loading

Ticking this box enables the patterns to be applied in one direction only:
Direction 1 Direction 2
QP12
QP11
QP22
QP21
QP31 QP32
QP42
QP41
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Apply BS8110 / CP65 Pattern Loading
Ticking this box enables the dead load to be patterned in addition to the live load, as per Table 2.1 of
BS8110 / CP65. Note that the effective ‘adverse’ and ‘beneficial’ load factors for dead load are 1.4 and
1.0 respectively.
Lateral Loads
Notional, Wind and Soil Pressure load combinations can be generated automatically.
Notional Load
Ticking this box creates four additional load combinations of gravity and notional horizontal load as
shown below. In each case the notional load is applied at the centre of gravity of each floor.
Note that where the load factors are negative in the above table, this indicates the load is applied in
the reverse direction.
Ticking the box to ‘Apply Eccentricity’ doubles the number of notional horizontal loads. Instead of Fx
and Fy, each being applied at the centre of gravity, there are now two notional horizontal loads in each
direction.
Fx+ is the calculated notional horizontal load, applied in the x direction but offset from the centre of
gravity by a set distance in the positive y direction.
Fx- is the calculated notional horizontal load, applied in the x direction but offset from the centre of
gravity by a set distance in the negative y direction.
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Fy+ is the calculated notional horizontal load, applied in the y direction but offset from the centre of
gravity by a set distance in the positive x direction.
Fx- is the calculated notional horizontal load, applied in the y direction but offset from the centre of
gravity by a set distance in the negative x direction.
Wind Load
Ticking this box creates four additional load combinations of gravity and horizontal wind load as shown
below. The point of application and the magnitude of the wind load at each storey are input by the
user via the Storey Loads Editor accessed via Building Analysis. Refer to Appendix E for details.
Soil Pressure Load

Ticking this box creates additional load combinations of gravity and soil pressure load as shown below.
The point of application and the magnitude of the soil pressure load are input by the user via the
Storey Loads Editor accessed via Building Analysis.
Saving a New Load Combination Set

When you use the Loading Generator to create a new set of combinations it generates a set name
automatically. You can use this name or rename the set from the file menu as shown.
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Appendix F : Report Manager

Concrete and Form Estimation Reports
Throughout the training course it has been possible to create individual reports at the various different
stages. EG: slab design; building analysis; column design; beam design etc.
There are a couple of additional reports that have not been created yet. These will be created here.
¾ From the File menu choose Quantity Extraction Tables
¾ Choose which tables you want to see, and in what format, then click the Create Report
button
¾ In the Orion report, click on the Save Report Button then Close and return to the Graphic
Editor.
¾ Repeat the process to create a Form Quantity Estimation report.
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Report Manager
¾ From the File menu choose Report Manager.
¾ Use the arrows to select those reports that are to be printed as shown.
If connected to a printer the combined report could then be produced.
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Appendix G : Polyline Column Editor

Creating an L-shaped column.
¾ Ensure the correct column properties are loaded (it should be labelled 1C1 – 600*300mm
column) and then right click once more and choose Polyline Column Editor from the menu.
The Polyline Column Editor shown below allows any shape of column to be created.
The sections shown to the right can be quickly created using

the Standard Column Section icon, however in this
example the column section will be created manually.
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¾ Right mouse click on vertex 3 and pick Edit Vertex Information
¾ Change d(next) to 550 and click Update. This sets the distance between vertices 3 and 4 to
550mm as shown.
¾ Click Zoom Extents.
¾ Left click on the line between vertices 2 and 3 to create a new vertex as shown.
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¾ Right mouse click on the new vertex 3 and pick Edit Vertex Information. Change
Angle(next) to 180 and d(next) to 300 and click Update as shown.
¾ Left click on the line between vertices 2 and 3 to create a new vertex as shown.
¾ Right mouse click on the new vertex 3 and pick Edit Vertex Information. Change
Angle(next) to 90 and d(next) to 250 and click Update as shown.
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¾ Click Cancel.
You should now have an L-shaped column of size 300x550/300x600 as shown below.
The origin point shown inside the column indicates where it will be placed relative to the grid line
intersection. Clicking the Settings button allows you to change the origin position if required.
¾ Click OK to exit from the Polyline Column Editor and save the new shape.
The column at Grid B/1 will be transformed to the L-shaped column as shown.
Select Zoom Limits
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Appendix H : Slab Design using FE

Analysis
Introduction
For beam and slab models, as an alternative to the moment coefficient method of slab design, slabs
can be designed based on the results obtained from a Finite Element Analysis (FE) of a floor instead.
This is very useful to cater for those slabs that are not suitable for design by the moment coefficient
method. Typical examples being irregular shaped slabs, slabs with voids or slabs with additional line or
point loads applied.
Note: The slab design based on FE strips which is discussed in this chapter can only be performed if a
set of FE results are available for the floor in question. We will design St04.
Creating FE Slab Strips

In order to design the slabs using FE, it is necessary to create FE Slab reinforcement strips.
¾ First ensure St04 is selected
Note: FE slab strips can be created before or after the FE Analysis.

To specify a Finite Element Slab Strip:
¾ First, click on the Slab Strip icon to display the Slab Strip
Properties.
¾ Ensure the label in the Slab Strip box is X1.
¾ Ensure the box Finite Elm. Strip is checked.
¾ Indicate a Bob at both the start and end of the strip.
¾ Click on the FE tab
¾ Choose Span Strip.
To position the strip:
¾ Draw in the strip across the slabs between Grids B-C/1-6.
¾ Draw a second FE strip X2 across the slabs between Grids D-E/1-5.
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Note: Additional strips can be positioned as required. An FE strip can be distinguished from a
coefficient strip by the FE label that appears at the end of the strip.
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Finite Element Model Generation
¾ Select the FE Floor Analysis from the Run menu in the Main Menu bar.
Changing the Beam Stiffness Multiplier or Slab Stiffness Multiplier may affect the results. More
information on this is provided in the Engineer’s Handbook.
¾ Select Storey ST04
¾ Ensure the Slab Stiffness Multiplier to 0.25
¾ Select Floor Mesh and Analysis
¾ Select the Generate Mesh icon
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¾ Now choose File/Exit to get back to the Finite Element Analysis Form dialog box.
¾ When the following screen appears, click OK
FE Analysis Post Processing
¾ Click the Analysis Post-processing button
This takes you to the Post-Processor window with the model displayed as follows:
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¾ Click on the Orthogonal Plan Mode button as

shown:
¾ By selecting the Show Contour icon various effects can be displayed.
Displacement contours. Moment Mx contours.
By manipulating the loading and effect drop-downs various other results can be viewed.
¾ By selecting the Show Contour icon once again the contours can be switched back
off.
The results for the existing FE strips can be displayed using the Select Strip drop down.
¾ Select the strip X2
The Moment diagram for strip X2 and the G+Q*F loading should appear as below.
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Note There are options to plot either Moment or Design Moment. The latter incorporates the effect
of additional Wood-Armer moments in the slab. In this particular example because the slab panels are
all quite close to being rectangular there is not much difference between the two. In some models
(where the slab arrangement is more irregular) the Wood-Armer effect can become significant.
Note The diagram is plotted using values calculated for the number of longitudinal points along the
length of the strip. The tabulated values shown below the diagram are obtained by taking the
maximum nodal results in each zone of each slab. The zones are colour coded and can be seen on the
screen behind the slab strip moment diagram, as shown below. The nodes are coloured green in the
support zone and orange in the span zone. The tabulated values are used for the reinforcement strip
design - not the values along the strip itself.
¾ Exit to return to the Floor Analysis Post-Processor window and choose File/Exit once
more.
You will get the following dialog displayed.
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¾ Ensure both boxes above are checked, and then select OK. This will transfer the FE slab strip
results taking into account the additional Wood-Armer moments.
¾ Exit one more time to return to the Graphical Editor.
Updating the FE Strips with Reinforcement

To display the reinforcement designed using the FE method:
¾ Select and Load Properties of the FE strip X1 by right clicking
¾ Choose Update
This should then display the steel bars.
¾ Repeat this process for strip X2 press OK to the message below.
So that steel bars are shown as follows:
Any failing bars can be edited in exactly the same way as for the strips cut
for the Moment Co-Efficient Method.
Slab Output again can be created in the same way as the strips for the
Moment Co-Efficient Method.
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Slab Reinforcement after FE Analysis
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Appendix I: Enhancing the General

Arrangement Drawings
Creating Dimensions
Exercise Aims
• Dimensioning the Grid Spacing
• Dimensioning the Cantilever Slab
• Creating Slab Cross-Sections
• Exporting Drawings from Orion to AutoCAD™
Dimensioning the Grid Spacing

The next task will be to add dimensions to the grids created.
¾ Select the Dimensions icon or go to Member/Dimension.
So you should now have the Linear Dimension dialog box as shown below.
The top row of icons control the direction of the dimension
¾ select Horizontal Dimension
The next row can be used to indicate if Continuous or Automatic dims

are required and also if the dim is to appear on the current storey
only, or all storeys.
¾ select Automatic Dimension
The third row is used to control the appearance of the extension lines.
Usually, dimensions are inserted with scale as "1". If two different
drawing scales are utilised on the same sheet (as in the column
application drawings) the Dim Scale option can be very useful to
dimension entities drawn to the second scale.
Now we can dimension up the vertical grids. You will notice the status
bar at the bottom of the screen is prompting what to do next…
¾ Click to the left of Grid 1 and drag to beyond the right of Grid 6 and then release the
left mouse button.
The status bar at the bottom of the screen then asks you to click on where you would like the
dimension line to appear, as shown below.
¾ So click just above the protruding cantilever slabs.
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Then the Automatic Dimension Parameters dialog box should appear.
¾ Ensure that the Axes and Insert Total Dimension boxes are checked as shown below.
¾ Select OK.
So your screen should look as shown below where the total horizontal dimension will be 19800.
This can be checked by zooming over the total horizontal dimension
Vertical Grids Dimensioned

Repeat the process for the horizontal grids A-F.
¾ Select the Vertical Dimension direction and keep the automatic dimension selected.
¾ Then click and drag from below Grid intersection A/5 to above Grid intersection F/5. Release
the mouse button and then click on a point to the right of Grid 6.
¾ In the Automatic Dimension Parameters dialog ensure only Axes and Insert Total Dim is
checked as shown below.
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¾ Then select OK
Your screen should look as shown below.
Dimensioning up the Cantilever Slabs

Next we will dimension up the cantilever slab at Grid F/1-2 as follows:
¾ To dimension the width of slab select Aligned

Dimension.
Note the prompt at the bottom of the screen:
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¾ To snap to the top corner of the slab, from the Osnap Modes
toolbar click on intersection icon
¾ Then click on the top left corner of the cantilever slab.
¾ Once again click on the intersection icon then click on top right corner of the cantilever
slab.
¾ Click a position above the slab where you want the dimension to appear.
So your screen should look as follows:
¾ Repeat the above process to dimension the length of cantilever also.
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Shrinking Axes and Setting Unused Axes to Ghost

To make drawings clearer and also to reduce modelling complications, a useful feature is the ability to
shrink axes. This reduces the axis lengths so that they don’t extend beyond where needed.
¾ Right mouse click on Axes in the Structure Tree to display the menu shown.
¾ Click on Shrink Axes Automatically.
¾ Click on OK and the axes should be cut back as follows.
Another feature on the same menu, which can make drawings clearer, is the option to set unused axes
as ghost. This will identify any axes that are not being used on a particular storey and place them into
a ghost layer. This layer can then be switched off.
This feature is particularly useful where the floor layouts change from one storey to the next. In the
training model this is not the case. So it won’t be used.
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Creating Slab Section Views
Next we will create horizontal and vertical cross-sections through the 1st storey.
¾ Select the Section icon or Member/Section.
Then proceed as follows:
¾ Position the cursor to the left of Grid 1 between Grid E-F above the slab opening
¾ Press the CTRL key and click then drag the mouse so that it extends past the cantilever slab at
Grid 5.
¾ If necessary, select Zoom Limits then click above the top of the vertical grids to insert the
Horizontal Cross-Section (A-A)
Your screen should look as follows.
To get the reinforcement shown in the section:
¾ Click on the Options tab of the Section Properties dialog and check the box Show Steel Bars
then click on Update.
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Now draw a vertical section (Label it as B) between Grid 2-3/A-F.
¾ Position the cursor to the left of Grid A, press CTRL key and click then drag the mouse so that
it extends past the cantilever slab at Grid F.
You should now have 2 cross sections on your screen as shown below.
So in Section B-B you can see the void for the lift opening. The amount the walls (or columns)
project above/below the section are controlled using the Upper Col and Lower Col Len boxes.
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Appendix J : Orion Data File Structure

and Project Settings
Orion arranges the various files of a project automatically and stores them in folders with the same
name as the given project code.
Orion creates a folder for each project and saves all project files in this folder. In other words, all the
files for a given project will be located in the same folder. These folders will be named as the Project
Code specified by the user for each project. You are not permitted to include spaces in the Project
Code.
Project folders are created under a parent folder called the "Orion Data Directory". There can be more
than one data folder for grouping the different projects. You can use spaces in the “Orion Data
Directories" however the program will prevent you from using them in the “Project
Directory”.
You can change the current Orion Data Folder by the "Data Directory" button on the "Project Manager"
form.
The Setup procedure creates a subfolder, "TMP", under the Orion Data Directory for the temporary
files created during project modelling analysis. "TMP" folder can be relocated or renamed but it
shouldn't be removed. You can use the "Scratch Directory" button on the "Project Manager" to relocate
the temporary files' folder.
If you press the "OK" button to close the "Project Manager" the selected project will be loaded to the
Graphical Editor and the parameters will be saved in a file named as the <project code>.pbp.
For example, project parameters file created for the ABC1 project will be named as "ABC1.PBP" and
will be stored in [Orion Data Folder]\ABC1\ABC1.PBP" folder.
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Project Settings
There are various project settings that can be modified to suit customer preference. Once set these
will be saved with the project.
A new project will normally adopt the project settings of the last project that was opened.
An existing project will retain the project settings it had when it was last saved.
If you have an existing project with settings modified to your preference and you would like to apply
those preferences to a new project, simply ensure the existing project was the last project opened
before starting the new project.
To revert to ‘factory settings’ for member labelling styles, fonts and colours etc. you can check the box
that appears on the Open Project dialog and shown below. Typically you would never need to
check this box, as doing so will mean that your customer specific settings for these will
not be applied.
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15.

Day One – Standard

ORION™ is a registered trademark of CSC (UK) Ltd.

The CSC Logo is a trademark of CSC (UK) Ltd.

All other trademarks acknowledged.

1.2 Important Notes Regarding This Documentation

1.3 Training Overview

1.4 Overview of the User Interface (for information)

Structure Plan View Members 3D View

Form Plan, Detail and Plan/3D View tabs

1. Build the Model Slab design based on tabulated code coefficients

2. Derive Beam Loads

3. Run Building Analysis

3a For Flat Slab Construction

4.1 Beam Design 4.2 Column/Wall 4.3 Slab

1.6 Graphic Editor - General Principles

1.6.1 Selecting single and / or multiple members

Window Selection: Selects Column 1S2 only.

Fence Selection: Selects Axes "A" and "B".

1.6.2 Update - Editing a member

1.6.3 Deletion – A single / multiple members

1.6.4 Deletion – Selective deletion from a group of members

1.6.5 Object Snapping (Osnaps)

1.6.6 Basic View/Zoom functions

2 Building the Model

2.1.2 Launching Orion

¾ Load Orion so a screen similar to the following appears.

2.1.3 Creating a New Project

2.1.4 Entering Project Parameters

This is really a question of the building’s susceptibility to 2nd order effects.

Braced or Unbraced in each direction?

¾ Proceed to the Title tab and fill in the job particulars.

2.1.6 Drawing Sheet Selection

2.1.7 Inserting Storey Height

2.2 Creating Axes

2.2.2 Establishing Axis Directions and Labels

¾ Pick Orthogonal Axis Generator from the File menu.

¾ Fill in the boxes on the Axis Generator as below.

Y axis (90 degrees) Dir 1 - +/- 45 degrees

Dir 2 +/- 45 degrees

Plan View in Orion 2D Model

¾ Click on OK, the axes should appear as follows.

¾ From the Edit menu choose Object Snap

The Osnaps you have specified become active when using

2.2.4 Pick methods

2.2.5 Editing Axes

¾ Then use either of the pick methods to select only Axis 5.

¾ Choose Rotate Axis

Then follow the prompt at the bottom of the screen.

¾ Change the Angle in the Axis Properties to 95 degrees

The axis should then appear rotated as shown below.

Help?? If you can’t recall how to do the above:

¾ The axes should then appear as follows:

2.2.6 Selecting/Stretching Multiple Axes

The screen should now look as shown below.

2.2.7 Creating Axes Individually

2.3 Creating Columns

2.3.2 The Properties and Options with Columns

¾ Click the Column icon or go to Main Menu and pick

Insertion Options to update the e1 and e2

Orion will allow the user to model and analyse column

ie. If the slab is 300mm and a h-Head of 600mm is

2.3.3 Creating Rectangular Columns

¾ Click the Dir 1/2 button to indicate the column

Take a look at the