SAP2000

Tutorial Example
Analysis of Spiral Staircase
(Metric Units)
ACECOMS, AIT

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 Table of Content

Objective............................................................................................................................4

Problem..............................................................................................................................4

Step by Step.......................................................................................................................7

1. Create Spiral Staircase Model from Template............................................... 7

2. Assign Supports (Restraints) ....................................................................... 11

3. Add New Load Case.................................................................................... 14

4. Assign Uniform Load on Staircase.............................................................. 15

5. Define Staircase Thickness.......................................................................... 17

6. Run Analysis ............................................................................................... 19

7. View Deformed Shape and Moment Data................................................... 21

8. View Reaction in Tabular Form .................................................................. 25

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Objective

To demonstrate and practice step-by-step on the modeling

and analysis of spiral staircase.

Problem
Carry out analysis of spiral staircase with the following details

3D View

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Plan View

3m

1m

Elevation View

4.5 m

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Load Cases

Load Name Load Type Details

Self Weight
(Calculate automatically by Self Weight Multiplier)
DEAD Dead
+ 0.20 ton/m2 for Steps and Finishing
(Uniform Area Load on Slab Panels)

0.4 ton/m2
LIVE Live
(Uniform Area Load on Slab Panels)

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Step by Step

1. Create Spiral Staircase Model from Template

Step 1-1: Start SAP2000 and Select Working Unit

Start up screen of SAP2000, select working unit to be “Ton-m” at drop-down menu

on the bottom-right of screen and click on New Model button to start new model
with template

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Step 1-2: Select Template and Specify 3D Frame Parameters

Select “Staricase” from template list and select “Sprial Staircase

Enter parameters as shown in figure below

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Note: Click on “Parametric Definition” to see notations for dimension

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Step 1-3: Create Spiral Staircase

Spiral staircase has been created by parameters specified from previous steps.

Note: To Show Shell Panels in Solid Shade

Go to View >> Set Display Options or click on Set Display Options button and
select “Fill Object” and “”Apply to All Windows”

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2. Assign Supports (Restraints)

Step 2-1: Select All Nodes at Bottom of Staircase

Activate “X-Y Plan” window by clicking on right window area, make sure that current
plan view is at Z = 0 by clicking at the top of this window. (If not using Move Down in
List or Move Up in List to change Plan view elevation) and draw the
selection rectangular to cover all nodes at bottom of stair as shown in figure below.

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Step 2-2: Assign Fix Support at Bottom of Staircase

Go to Assign >> Joint >> Restraints and select Fix support type as shown in
figure below.

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Step 2-3: Assign Fix Support at Top of Staircase

Click on Move Up in List to move plan view to top of the stair and draw the
selection rectangular to cover all nodes at top of stair as shown in figure below.

Go to Assign >> Joint >> Restraints and select Fix support type as shown in
figure below.

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3. Add New Load Case

Step 3-1: Add “LIVE” Load Case

Go to Define >> Load Cases and enter load case parameters as shown below.

Click on “Add New Load” to add “LIVE” load case in the list

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4. Assign Uniform Load on Staircase

Step 4-1: Assign Uniform Load for “DEAD” Load Case at All Shell Panels

Click on Select All button to select all elements in model and go to Assign >>
Area Load >> Uniform (Shell) and enter load parameters as shown in figure
below.

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Step 4-2: Assign Uniform Load for “LIVE” Load Case at All Shell Panels

Click on Select All button to select all elements in model and go to Assign >>
Area Load >> Uniform (Shell) and enter load parameters as shown in figure
below.

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5. Define Staircase Thickness

All staircase panels have been assigned by “ASEC1” shell section
property automatically from step 1-2. This step is to specify stair
thickness.
Step 5-1: Specify Slab Thickness

Go to Define >> Area Sections, select “ASEC1” and click on “Modify/Show

Section”

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Step 5-2: Specify Area Thickness

Enter area thickness as shown in figure below.

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6. Run Analysis
Step 6-1: Start Analysis

Go to Analyze >> Run Analysis or click on Run Analysis button and click on
“Run Now”

Specify file name and click on “Save” to save model.

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Step 6-2: View Analysis Details and Check Error Message

Wait until analysis status dialogue shows “ANALYSIS COMPLETE

and scroll up to check error message.

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7. View Deformed Shape and Moment Data

Step 7-1: Select Load Case to Display Deformed Shape

Go to Display >> Show Deformed Shape or click on Show Deformed Shape

button and select desired Case/ Combo Name.

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Step 7-2: Display Deformed Shape and View Particular Displacement

Displacement details at particular node will display when moving cursor close to that
node. To view deformed shape in animation, click on “Start Animation” button. Click
on or to reduce/increase animation speed. Right click on desired node to
view particular displacement value.

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Step 7-3: Display Moment on Staircase

Go to Display >> Show Forces/Stresses >> Shell and select desired

“Case/Combo Name” and “Component”. Right mouse click on desired panel to view
particular moment

Note: Move mouse cursor over this particular diagram to view moment at particular
point

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Note: Sign Convention for Shell Element

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8. View Reaction in Tabular Form

Step 8-1: Select Reaction and Analysis Case to Display in Table

Go to Display >> Show Tables, select “Reaction as shown in figure below, click on
“Select Analysis Cases” and select only “DEAD” and “LIVE” by clicking on them one
by one while holding “Ctrl” button

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Step 8-2: Display Reaction in Table

Go to Display >> Show Deformed Shape or click on Show Deformed Shape

button and select desired Case/ Combo Name.

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Note: Joint Label can be displayed from View >> Set Display Options or
clicking on Set Display Options and select “Labels” in “Joints”

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