Construction of Line Model of Four-Legged Steel Tower

One of the most challenging structures to be model with STAAD Pro. The technique involves series of
intersecting lines from construction lines with main column. Note that columns leans in both x and z axis.

We can construct one face of the tower and using rotational repeat to copy the other three faces.

 Assuming that we are in Graphical User Interface. In Node Data, type the coordinates of joints
1,2 and 3as shown in Bottom Level.
 Also, type the coordinates of joints 4, 5 and 6 in Top Level.
You should have your model as Fig.1

Fig 1 Fig 2
Joints at Top and Bottom level of Main Columns
Tower

 Construct the columns by Point-to-point clicking joint 2 as start node and 5 as end node.
Likewise, the other column is using joint 3 as start node and 6 as end node. (see Fig. 2)
 Construct the construction lines from points 1, 2 and 3
o Construct a vertical line from joint 1 to joint 4.
o Copy joints 2 and 3 in along y-axis, 1 step, spacing of 15 m and Link Step (see Fig. 3).
Let us call construction line at joint 1 as center, at joint 2 as Left and at joint 3 as Right
construction lines.
  Construct the first level at height of 3 m.
o Highlight joints 1, 2 and 3.
o Copy joints 1, 2 and 3 by Translational
Repeat (1 repeat along y-axis). This will
divide the construction line as shown in
Fig 4.

Fig 3
Construction Lines

Fig 4
Divided Construction Lines after
Translational Repeat

o Construct a line that will intersect in Columns by Point-to-point. First click at joint 9 and second
click at joint 10 and from joint 9 to joint 11 (see Fig 5)
  intersect horizontal lines and columns to produce
joint at Level 1.
o Select horizontal lines and columns
o From Geometry/Intersect Selected
Members/Intersect.
o Click “Ok” at Tolerance Prompt. (Fig. 6)

Fig 5
Horizontal lines intersecting
Columns

o Delete all horizontal members to clear the model.

Fig 6
Horizontal lines intersecting
 Construct the main diagonals and intersect. (Fig. 7) Columns
 Construct points along columns with same elevation
as joint 14 (y = 1.6 m)
o From joint 14, add member perpendicular with Left construction line.
o From Left construction line, add member perpendicular with Center construction line.
o From Center construction line, add perpendicular member with Right construction line.
The above procedure creates horizontal members that will intersect with columns at elevation 1.6 m. (See
Fig. 8)

Fig 7 Fig 8
Main Diagonals Intersecting at Joint Horizontal lines intersecting
14 Columns

 Select horizontal members that will intersect with main column and columns. Intersect selected
members.
 Delete unnecessary horizontal members to clear the model.
 Add horizontal line at joints 18-14 and 14-19. (Fig. 9).
 Fig 9
Main Horizontal member passing thru Joint 14

 Construct secondary horizontal member at midpoint of column 2-18 to column 3-19 and midpoint
of column 18-12 and column 19-13. Intersect secondary horizontal members with main diagonals.
(Fig. 10).
 Delete unnecessary horizontal members.
 Add secondary diagonal members. (Fig. 11)

Fig 10
Main Horizontal member passing thru Joint 14
 .

Fig 11
Completed Level 1

 Repeat the procedures to complete the face of tower. (Fig 12)

 Fig 12
Completed Face

 Copy all members in one face using rotational copy.

o Select all.
o Geometry/Circular Repeat/Y-axis, axis of rotation, angle 270, number of repeats 3,
coordinates (0,0). (Fig 13)
 Fig 13
Completed Tower