EXAMPLE 5

Modifying structural geometry

Set up the geometry of the problem and the applied loading.

Input data
Material: Conc
Column Frame Section: 40/60 (X/Y)
Beam Frame Section : 20/70

E
B C

1m
20 KN
3.5m

5m

Z D
X
A F
Y

6m 4m

1. Initial model from Template

The model is based on the Template models of SAP library according to the
following figure:
EXAMPLE 4: Correcting mistakes in SAP 2000 68

Figure 5.1. Determination of model geometry

The resulting structure is depicted in Figure 5.2.

Figure 5.2. Structural configuration

2. Geometry

First we should change the pined support type to full fixity at the base of the
columns.

The bay lengths are now equal to

4m, while we want the left bay length
to be 6m. Thus we select the whole
left column of the structure and apply
a move option according to Figure
5.3.

Figure 5.3. Move the left column 2m to the left

EXAMPLE 4: Correcting mistakes in SAP 2000 69

The result is depicted in Figure 5.4.

Figure 5.4. Structural configuration

If we need to change the grid lines

(now column AB is located at X=-6m
instead of the -4m of the initial structure
from Template) we can use the
DrawEdit Grid command.

Figure 5.5. Add grid line

In order to change the location of joint D we select the joint and move it by
Z=1.5m.
EXAMPLE 4: Correcting mistakes in SAP 2000 70

Finally we need to create an additional joint in column FE. This cannot be done
with the command DrawAdd Special Joint because we wont the new joint to be a
part of the column (thus devide the column at that specific location in two parts).
We select the column FE (which we know has as a start point the joint F and as
the end-point joint E). We divide the column in two Frames and we calculate the
Last/First length ratio.
The last (second) frame will have a length of 1m.
The first frame will have a length of 4m.
Thus Last/First length ratio=0.25 (Figure 5.6)

Figure 5.6. Add grid line

The resulting structure is illustrated in Figure 5.7.

Figure 5.7. Structural configuration