Software Verification

PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000

REVISION NO.: 0

EXAMPLE 2-011
SHELL – ASME COOLING TOWER PROBLEM WITH STATIC WIND PRESSURE

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
This example is Problem 9 from the ASME 1972 Program Verification and
Qualification Library (reference ASME 1972). A three-dimensional, fixed-base
cooling tower is analyzed for an asymmetrical wind pressure loading. Radial
displacements over the height of the tower are compared with published results.

The geometry, properties and loading are as suggested in ASME 1972, except
that the full tower is modeled rather than using symmetry conditions and
modeling only half of the tower. A 24x17 mesh (tangential by height) is used for
the tower. The tower wall is 7 inches thick.

LOADING
The wind pressure loading is constant over the height of the tower but varies
around the circumference of the tower. The following table describes the loading.
All of the specified wind pressures act normal to the face of the cooling tower.

θ Pressure θ Pressure
degrees lb/ft2 degrees lb/ft2
0 +151.726 180 +21.244
15 +134.641 195 +20.661
30 +82.338 210 +21.286
45 +13.165 225 +20.883
60 -47.142 240 +22.840
75 -66.998 255 +14.908
90 -27.801 270 -27.801
105 +14.908 285 -66.998
120 +22.840 300 -47.142
135 +20.883 315 +13.165
150 +21.286 330 +82.338
165 +20.661 345 +134.641

EXAMPLE 2-011 - 1
 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

In SAP2000 a joint pattern is created to define the variation of wind pressure.

Then the wind pressure is assigned to the cooling tower area objects as a pressure
load where the pressure is determined from the specified joint pattern.

TECHNICAL FEATURES OF SAP2000 TESTED

 Three-dimensional analysis using shell elements
 Joint patterns
 Shell element surface pressure load using joint pattern

GEOMETRY AND PROPERTIES

Z
87.4'
60'

r Shape of Shell
r 2 z2
84'  1
a 2 b2
a = 84 ft
b = 209.661 ft
270'

Material Properties
E = 432,000,000 lb/ft2
ν = 0.15
t = 0.5833' G = 187,826,087 lb/ft2

136.96'

EXAMPLE 2-011 - 2
 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

252 288 324 360 396 432

234 270 306 342 378 414 18
221 408
272 289 306 323 340 357

4 @ 15'
238 305 322 17 391

60'
255 15 374 X

10'
15'
Origin

10

9 @ 25'

270'
5

4
2 @ 10'

222 375
309 292
3
205 308 291 2
239 256 273 290
307 324 341 358 392
217 253 271 289 307 325 343 361 379 397 1
235 415
Elevation of Cooling Tower

127 109 91
145 73
103 86
120 69 55
163
θ = 90°

137 52
181 154 35 37
Y 24 @ 15°
171 18 19
199 °
θ = 15
217
188
θ = 180° X θ = 0° 1 1
205 392
235 415
222 375
θ = 270°

253 239 358 397 1 - Joint number

256 341 1 - Area object number
271 379
273 324
290 307
289 361
307 325 343

Plan View at Base of Cooling Tower

EXAMPLE 2-011 - 3
 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

RESULTS COMPARISON
The SAP2000 results are presented separately for the thin plate option and the
thick plate option. The independent results for the radial displacements at θ = 0°
are scaled from plotted results provided in Zienkiewicz 1977 that are calculated
using theory presented in Albasiny and Martin 1967.

Thin-Plate Option – Radial Displacement at θ = 0°

Elevation Output Percent
Z (ft) Parameter SAP2000 Independent* Difference**
60 Ux (jt 18) ft -0.276 -0.26 +4%
45 Ux (jt 17) ft -0.325 -0.31 +3%
30 Ux (jt 16) ft -0.366 -0.35 +4%
15 Ux (jt 15) ft -0.397 -0.39 +2%
0 Ux (jt 14) ft -0.416 -0.41 +1%
-10 Ux (jt 13) ft -0.423 -0.42 +1%
-25 Ux (jt 12) ft -0.423 -0.43 -2%
-50 Ux (jt 11) ft -0.400 -0.41 -2%
-75 Ux (jt 10) ft -0.355 -0.37 -3%
-100 Ux (jt 9) ft -0.297 -0.31 -3%
-125 Ux (jt 8) ft -0.235 -0.25 -3%
-150 Ux (jt 7) ft -0.176 -0.18 -1%
-175 Ux (jt 6) ft -0.124 -0.13 -1%
-200 Ux (jt 5) ft -0.081 -0.08 0%
-225 Ux (jt 4) ft -0.048 -0.05 0%
-250 Ux (jt 3) ft -0.028 -0.02 +2%
-260 Ux (jt 2) ft -0.016 -0.01 +1%
-270 Ux (jt 1) ft 0.000 0.00 0%
* Independent results are scaled (estimated) from Figure 13.10b on page 348 in Zienkiewicz
1977. Because the results in the figure are based on 1/100 of the loads used in this example,
the independent results shown in the table are 100 times those scaled from the figure.
** Percent difference is calculated with respect to the maximum independent value, 0.43.

EXAMPLE 2-011 - 4
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PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

Thick-Plate Option – Radial Displacement at θ = 0°

Elevation Output Percent
Z (ft) Parameter SAP2000 Independent* Difference**
60 Ux (jt 18) ft -0.274 -0.26 +3%
45 Ux (jt 17) ft -0.323 -0.31 +3%
30 Ux (jt 16) ft -0.365 -0.35 +3%
15 Ux (jt 15) ft -0.396 -0.39 +1%
0 Ux (jt 14) ft -0.416 -0.41 +1%
-10 Ux (jt 13) ft -0.423 -0.42 +1%
-25 Ux (jt 12) ft -0.424 -0.43 -1%
-50 Ux (jt 11) ft -0.401 -0.41 -2%
-75 Ux (jt 10) ft -0.356 -0.37 -3%
-100 Ux (jt 9) ft -0.298 -0.31 -3%
-125 Ux (jt 8) ft -0.236 -0.25 -3%
-150 Ux (jt 7) ft -0.177 -0.18 -1%
-175 Ux (jt 6) ft -0.124 -0.13 -1%
-200 Ux (jt 5) ft -0.081 -0.08 0%
-225 Ux (jt 4) ft -0.049 -0.05 0%
-250 Ux (jt 3) ft -0.028 -0.02 +2%
-260 Ux (jt 2) ft -0.015 -0.01 +1%
-270 Ux (jt 1) ft 0.000 0.00 0%
* Independent results are scaled (estimated) from Figure 13.10b on page 348 in Zienkiewicz
1977. Because the results in the figure are based on 1/100 of the loads used in this example,
the independent results shown in the table are 100 times those scaled from the figure.
** Percent difference is calculated with respect to the maximum independent value, 0.43.

EXAMPLE 2-011 - 5
 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

COMPUTER FILES: Example 2-011-thick, Example 2-011-thin

CONCLUSIONS
In general the SAP2000 results for both the thin plate and thick plate options
show an acceptable comparison with the independent results. The comparison of
the displacements is good considering that the independent results are scaled
from published graphical results.

EXAMPLE 2-011 - 6