STRAP

Training Manual

Steel Plane Frame

Modelling and Design
Using
STRAP Rel 12.0

Prepared by
zapoganchik

Unauthorised copying and alterations to this document is strictly prohibited.

STRAP Software is Proprietary product of Atir Engineering software development Ltd.
 Disclaimer

This example is intended as an aid to learning the proper use of the STRAP
program options, but not intended as a guide to proper engineering judgment
in the preparation of a model for analysis. We recommend the engineer to
Use their own judgements and experience when preparing the model, based
on the actual conditions. zapoganchik shall not be liable for any problems
that may arise by using this document.

Note

1. Only the main input options are listed in the example. To see the full features
of the program we recommend the users to explore all the possibilities at
every stage of input.

2. To get help option at any stage, press on F1 button, the program will display
the same screen, you can click on the topic you want to know to get the details.

3. This is not part of STRAP standard manuals, prepared only to supply in

electronics format, ( through a floppy or CD ) for those who undergo training on
STRAP software.

4. Some of the codal clauses mentioned here are taken from the code books,
which may change from time to time with supplements. The user should take
care of those changes.
To start the program

Go to windows start menu - click on Programs - then locate STRAP and click.

Then STRAP Model list (Main Screen) appears as follows.

1) Geometry creation

Create a new model click on “or” go to Files select a new model

Enter the name of the model as Truss on Columns then click OK

 - Set the units for length and force.

- Title – Name of the title can be changed

- Select Plane frame to work in 2D plane.

- Click on the menu “Model Wizard” to

select one of the models from the model
wizard. (If you wan to create your model with
out going to model wizard – you can choose
User defined option. Please refer to RC
space frame training manual for creation of
geometry and loads)

Then click on the model Truss on columns

Enter the data as shown in the screen.

- height of the column 8M

- Truss height 2M
- Let us take 3 panels
- Each panel length as 3M
- Rise/camber at the centre as 3M

and then click Ok.

Note: the number of panels on right side

/left side/ each panel length can be
changed in the pre-processor.
.
Then the program will display a message
select section type for the bottom chord.

To select from steel tables – you can

choose which country sections you want
(let us say Indian in our case) then
Click on Steel Table icon.

Then the next screen appears sections

available in Indian steel table. Drag the right
side button to see more sections. Here you
can select 2 angles with 1.0 cm distance
back to back (shown with arrow ) and then
select the section 75x75x6 and then select
the material Steel and click ok.

Repeat the above process to select section

type for top chord.

Select 2Ld1.0 – 80x80x6

Select section type for vertical members.

Select 2Ld1.0 – 65x65x6

 Select section type for diagonal members.

Select 2Ld1.0 – 65x65x8

Select section type for columns members.

Select ISMB-250

Here, uniform vertical load screen comes.

Considering the trusses are spanned 6M interval.

Let us take dead weight of the sheeting and
purlins around .5KN/m2. So, dead load on to
chord is 3KN/M. Take dead load on bottom chord
is zero.

Consider live load also 3KN/M on top chord and

zero on bottom chord.

Self weight 1.1 (10% extra). After entering the

data click ok.

Here you can see options to specify the wind load.

Generally we need to apply minimum four wind loads.

Wind left to right – Pressure inside

Wind left to right – Suction inside
Wind right to left – Pressure inside
Wind right to left – Suction inside.

However in the model wizard we apply initially one wind

load and the rest three can be applied in STRAP Load
module program. We can simply copy this load and
change the load values for other load cases.

For now please apply wind loads shown in the picture

and then click ok.
 In this screen you have option to provide
Factors for each load for load combination.

However, let us give combinations later.

So, click on Skip option to proceed

Next screen comes as shown above. Here you have the following options to change

1. Number of panels at left

2. Number of panels at right
3. Top camber
4. Bottom camber and
5. Dimension of each panel.

Let us type “0” ( zero ) for bottom camber and click ok. The next screen appears as
follows.
Now let us change the length of second panel (from left ) to 2.5M instead of 3M.

Click on Dimension and then click on the second panel. Then the next screen appears
with the dimension of 3. Now you enter new dimension of 2.5 and click ok.

Then the next screen comes asking you , Do you want to revise This dimension only or
All identical dimensions on this line. Then choose the option This dimension only.

Then in the next screen you will get a message at the bottom of the screen – select
another dimension to change or press escape. Then pres Esc (escape button) and it
will take you to the next screen, where you can see the change in dimension of the panel.

After this click on Ok at the bottom screen, it will take you to the main STRAP Pre-
Processor.
 To see the member numbering click on icon shown with black arrow and to see the cross
sections for different members click on the curser shown with red arrow, in the above
screen.

In the above screen you can see the orientation for different members. You can observe the
double angel section for member 13 and 19. Let us say we want to keep the same I section
property for those two members, similar to the bottom columns 26 and 27. To change the
section or define a new section please clicks on the beam icon shown with the arrow in the
above screen.
 To see the member numbering click on icon shown with black arrow and to see the cross
sections for different members click on the curser shown with red arrow, in the above
screen.

To define a property click on PROP icon.

Then the next screen appears as follows.

Here you can see property

number and description of the
property of the cross section
assigned. To assign the
property no 5 to member 13
and 19, click on property 5 and
then click on Assign icon. Then
choose the selection by individual
members and select member no
13 and 19 after that click on end
selection icon. Now you can
observe, the section has changed
to I shape.

Before proceeding further I will

introduce you to different types of
sections you can assign using
STRAP program. For that click on
property 6 and then click on
Define/Revise icon. Then the next
comes as shown below.
 Different Types of Cross Sections

Clicking on each menu here you

will get different options to feed the
sectional properties. Let us try
what you get under each menu.
Those who are not interested can
skip this part.

Click on A = I = menu to feed the

cross sectional values. Then click
cancel to select next menu.

Then click on Steel table menu to

see standard and girder sections.
Click cancel to see next menu.

Click on dimen menu and see different types of sections. You can
choose any of theses section and provide dimensions. Program
automatically calculates properties of the section. These sections can
be chosen especially for creating tapered sections. Choose two types
of same sections with different dimensions and assign one property at
the start and another property at the end. This will crate a tapered
beam. The intermediate cross section of the beam will be calculated
by the program automatically. Click cancel to proceed to the next
menu.

Click on taper menu, then the screen appears asking you to select property at the beam start and
property at the beam end. See the above explanation too. Then click cancel and click on cable
menu – next screen appears asking you to feed the area of the cable and initial tension force. You
can press f1 to see more details on each topic. Click cancel to proceed and click on Combi menu
you can see lots of built-up sections that can be possible.

These built up sections can be formed

using standard rolled sections or built-
up plate sections too. Program
automatically calculates the properties
of built up section. It is possible to
design and optimise the sections from
built up shapes. The optimisation of
built-up shapes will be explained in the
design module.

Click cancel and then Close Beam

Member Releases property definition screen.
Release the moments for top and bottom chord of the truss,
where they are joining with column members.

Click on releases icon then the next screen comes as shown

below. Choose Moment release and choose One beam end and
click Ok.

Then select the ends of members 1,

6, 7 and 12 which are meeting with
the columns and after finishing click
on end selection. Now you can view
the member releases as shown in
the picture.

You can also choose to release the

vertical and inclined members to
design them for axial forces. Repeat
the above process once again – click
on releases Icon then choose
Moment release and then choose
Both beam ends option and choose
members 14 to 18 and 20 to 25 and
then click on end selection. You can
see member releases as follows.
Definition of support conditions

Let us switch off the beam

numbers and sections orientation
display by selecting the buttons
once again shown with top
arrows. To see the node
numbers click on the button
shown with bottom arrow or go to
Display menu and select Node
numbers.

To go to restraints menu click on the button shown with arrow. Then

the next screen appears as follows.

Click on Fixed and then Individual nodes then select two

bottom nodes of the columns (node 15 and 16) and end
selection. It will assign fixed nodes to the two column
points.

Note: Generally when we provide two bolts we can

consider as pinned joint. If we provide 4 bolts then we can
consider as fixed joint. Again, if the system with 4 bolts is
connected with bracings it can be assigned as pinned bolts.
This should be judged by the engineer depending on the
force transfer to the supports.

Let us switch off node numbering

again by clicking on the icon
shown by arrow.
Display Options
To see various display options that can be possible, Click on Display icon and explore all
options one by one. After selecting one item to display and you do not want that item to be
displayed any more go back to display menu and un-tick that item.

To assign different cross section for BEAMS click on

Output Options

See node co-ordinates, member

incidences etc click on Output menu
and explore all the available options.
 To display and node and member information Using Right mouse button:

Take the mouse cursor nearer to any node

and press right mouse key of the button.
You will see lots of option to ask for the data
related to that node. Please see the picture
on the right.

Similarly take the mouse cursor nearer to a

member and right click the member then you
will get menu to choose options related to
that member.

To see the model properties keep the cursor

away from the beam and node and write
click the mouse. Then you click on Model
properties option – you can see all different
model properties.

Now let us move to STRAP loads module. Go to

File menu and click on Loads definition.
.
 Loads Definition

We have already applied dead load, live load and wind load
in the model wizard. Here you can apply new loads by
clicking on new icon or can be seen/revised the defined
loads by clicking on revise Icon. Let us see/revise wind
Load. For that click on revise icon. Then the next screen
comes as shown below, choose load 3 and click on revise.

Let us change the direction of the load on the right roof, choose the beam load option and then
click on revise menu and then click on any of the beam on right side roof.
The next screen comes displaying the
options to change the load. To invert the load
direction either you can type the load as 2
instead of -2 or click on Invert load dir
option, then click ok , next screen comes to
choose various options then select revise
load for all highlighted beams. By selecting
this option the program revises the loading
on all beams on right roof.

Repeat the above procedure to reverses the

direction of the load on right columns.

To end the load case click on end load case option.

To create a new load case by copying Existing Load

Let us create a new wind load case by copying load 3. To do that click on Copy
load option. Then the next screen asks you to select the load to copy then click
on load 3 and click on Copy option. Then the next screen asks you to give the
new load case title. Type
Wind load 2 and clik ok. Then program will take you again to load definition
options. Here you can change the load and apply more loads etc. To proceed
further let us end this load case.

To end the load case click on end load case option shown in the above picture.

Now we have totally 4 loads, one dead load, one live load and two wind loads.

To Display load commands etc.

To know the applied loads and

load commands you can go to
Output icon and explore all the
possibilities.
Sway and drift Control

In steel structures most of the times the governing criteria for design
is sway and drift. To specify the node where you want to control the
deflection or drift click on sway Icon. Then the next screen comes as
shown below. Click on Add option.

Then the next screen appears as follows. Let us say we limit the sway for node 8 in the horizontal
direction. To do that select sway option - X1 direction and click ok – then select node 8 and again the
program will prompt to you to add sway/drift options – click end option to end this selection. User can
explore later by adding drift option and etc.

To Solve the Model

To solve the model click on solve icon. Then the

program will display a next screen asking you to
save the stiffness matrix or not – click yes. Now the
analysis for the model will be finished and we will
be entering the STRAP results Module.

Note: When you save the stiffness matrix it saves

lot of time when rerunning the model. User can
save many hours when working on larger models.
 STRAP Analysis Results

Before proceeding to see the results we will make load combinations here.

Load Combination Dead Load, Live Loads and Wind loads

Grouping Option

Before going for combination of the load you can choose grouping option for wind loads.

Go to Combinations – Define/Revise groups – Add/revise group – click on undefined – Type a

group load name, say Wind load , then click on include column against two wind loads – load case
3 and 4, which will be included in this group – then click on generate combination for each load in
the group and then click on End to end the grouping definition.

This grouping option is very powerful feature in STRAP. Using which you can generate
eve n hundreds of load combinations in few minutes. In industrial structures, where you
have lot of cranes you end up having forty to fifty crane loads. In such case you can group
those all the crane loads under the group name crane load and give the combination
coefficient for Group, the program will automatically generate load combinations for each
load in the group.
Combination

To define the combination of individual loads, click on Define/Revise combination option

available under Combinations menus.

Enter the combination title and the factor for individual load cases for combination.

The factors for Dead Load, Live Load and wind Loads can be entered as follows. Those who are
working on other standards can follow those standards depending on method of design – working
stress or plastic design.

Dl + LL
DL + LL+ WL
(here the live load can taken as 50%. When full wind load is acting full live load may not be present
on the roof. )
DL+ WL
The factor for wind load can be directly given to the group. The title and combinations can be
entered as follows. After finishing this click ok to close the screen.

Display List of Combinations:

To see all the combinations go to combinations-display combination list.

Now the program will display the list of all load

combinations
 Viewing and Printing of Results
.
Choose Draw / Tables option then screen option to
see/print various results. Please explore to see various
options that are possible.

How to change the units to see the output results

Click on options menu and then units and change the units as per your requirement.

Proceed to steel Design

Let us proceed to Steel Design Module by clicking on file menu and choosing Steel Post Processor
or clicking on the menu shown below. Then the program will ask you to choose sections table from
which country standard, choose Indian and click ok.
 STRAP Steel Design

You can see the menus here that can be used for controlling the
various parameters for the design/optimisation of the structure.

Sec-table Menu

This menu is useful to tell the program what sections needs to be considered for
design/optimisation. Some sections may not be available in the market, so user can control
the available sections and instruct the program to design from them only.

To see various options in this click Sec-table menu and

the next screen appears as shown – click on Define a
new section group – then the next screen appears as
shown below. Let us say we are going to select the
sections that can be used for column design.

Type the group name as Group no.1 and then select

ISMB type – then click on Add all sections – click on
those Sections not available in the market to deselect
as shown in the picture then click ok.

Note: In the same group you can add some other

sections too by choosing other type of sections before
clicking ok.

Repeat the above procedure to select

section for truss members. Click on Sec-
table – then Define a new section
group – then type group name group
no.2 - choose section type 2Ld1.0 and
then select sections 50x50x6, 65x65x6,
65x65x8, 75x75x6, 75x75x8, 80x80x6,
80x80x8, 90x90x6, 90x90x8, 90x90x10,
100x100x8, 100x100x10, 100x100x12,
110x100x10, 110x110x12, 130x130x10,
130x130x12, and then click ok.
 How to select combined section for optimisation:

Repeat the above procedure to select

combined section group. Click on Sec-table
– then Define a combined section group -
– then click on the section shown with arrow -
- then the program will ask you to enter the
distance between flange tips – enter 100
- then type group name group no.3 - choose
section type ISMB – Add all sections – you
can click on some sections that are not
available and then click on ok

We recommend users to explore the other options possible under SEC-Table option. The user
can press f1 at any time to get more information about the topics he is working.

Defaults Menu

Click on defaults menu to key in various design parameters.

Under General options you will provide

various design requirements –
Allowable deflection, slenderness,
reduced tension area of the member
due to bolts for checking against
tension – you can choose Design at
each 1/10 to design a tapered beam.
Now you can choose those parameters
given in the screen.

Steel grade option – you can enter the

choice of steel. Let us take Fy 250 in
our case.

Design Code option will be active only

when you buy more than one code.
Here you choose the code for which
you need to design. For example you
want to design Indian sections for BS
standard you can choose the option
British standard. At the moment I will
take Indian standard.

Under End conditions option you can

choose various options. Choose
defaults option to proceed

Cold formed steel option is available

for those who purchased cold formed
steel module.

Under composite menu you have

options to design a composite section
with top slab and bottom steel beam.
Please explore this option later by
pressing F1 key. After feeding
everything click Ok to close Defaults
menu.
Sections menu

This menu is useful to specify to the program which group should be used to select for
different members. Let us say we want column members to be selected from group no1 and
for truss members from group no2. To do that click on Sections menu – then you receive
the following screen.

Here you can see different options to select. Choose the option Limit selection to
section group - then choose group no1. – then you can impose condition for maximum
minimum dimension for selection and then click ok and then select the four column
members ( 26, 13,27,19) .

Repeat the above procedure to select for truss members. Click on Sections menu –then
Choose limit selection to section group –then choose group no2 - and click ok and
choose option select by window – one node in the window - and select all truss members
as shown below. After this we will proceed to next menu.

Note: If you want to check the provided sections in the geometry, You can choose check
sections from geometry option instead of selection from groups.
 Same Sect Menu

When we ask the program to optimise,

the program will get different sizes for
different members. This kind of
theoretical optimisation is not useful for
practical construction. Here we impose
certain conditions for optimisation. Let us
I want to have same section for bottom
chord and same section for top chord,
same sections for columns etc. To define
that click on Same sect menu then the
next screen appear as follows to choose
options to select members with identical
section – here we choose select beams
by their property number.

Then the next screen appears as shown

in the right. Then click on select all and
ok. That means what ever member
same property number it will provide
same section. For the chord which
consists of beams 1 to 6 have same
property number 1. So, the program
automatically selects same section for
these members.

Grouping by property number is very

useful and very easy to select the
members for same section instead of
choosing one by one.

We suggest the user can plan same property for those members for which he wants to
provide same section, in the geometry stage itself. This saves lot of time at design stage.

Major/Minor Axis menu

Before going to this menu, switch on the
section orientations. Go to Display and
click on section orientation. Please
observe the flange orientation of the
bottom chord of the truss ( members 1 to
6 ) . The orientation is in reverse
direction. To change the flange
orientation we can use the major/Minor
menu. Click on major/minor menu then
the next screen appears as shown on
right side. Then click on Flange
Location -
 Here you choose the option at
–x3 and/or –x2 side and click
ok and then select members 1
to 6. To see the changed
orientation click on Redraw
options shown here.

After redraw you can see the orientation of bottom members of the truss as follows.
 Param menu

Using this menu we can change

design parameters of any member.
Click on param menu- Here, we
have lot of options to change
different parameters for design –
let us click on effective length –
here we have many options to feed
effective length factors – we can
provide the value and can assign
those values for selected
members- we choose option to
calculate the program
automatically. So click the option
compute Kx for a braced frame
and compute Ky for a braced
frame and click ok - select all.

To read more on effective length

factors calculation, press F1 when
you are in the following screen.

Supp Menu

Since it is a plane frame, program assigns the unsupported lengths in the other direction is from
joint to joint. Let us say for columns 26 and 27, the program assumes the unsupported length both
in major and minor axes direction are 6M. Since Iy is less for I sections, to reduce Ly/Ry, designer
will provide a tie beam. Let us say in our case we have tie beam at 3M for both the columns. We
assume that this time beam is connected to the web of the column, not to the flanges. To
introduce this support to calculate unsupported length automatically by the program, click on supp
menu – Since the tie beam is not connected to any flanges of the column, it will not have any
buckling restraints, so keep the ticks off in Major Axis bending portion for both +Z face and -z face
– regarding buckling it is free to buckle in Major axis, since there is no restraining – take of the
tick for it . keep the tick for minor axis restraint as shown below, because you have restraint at 3M
lvl in that direction – then click on intermediate supports option then select column 26 and 27
and then click on end selection. Then the next screen appears as shown in the next page.
In the above screen type the distance from beam start as 3 and press enter. Now you can
see a support in the minor axis direction at 3M LVL. Now you click on “End” to close the
screen. To display the lateral supports on the structure go to Display menu and click on
supports and combined beams option.

In our case the rafter members (top chord of the truss) are connected to a joint to joint
whose buckling length is more than 3M in both the directions. Let us say purlins are
supported on the rafter at 1.4M interval. In such case the buckling length in the minor axis
direction is 1.4M. If do not specify this program takes it as distance from joint to joint. To
provide the purlin location on the rafter, repeat the above process. Click on supp menu then
the next screen comes as shown below – please keep the tick on +z face ( since the purlin
is sitting on top of the rafter it will restrain the top flange of the beam – and then keep tick on
minor axis restraint – please follow as shown in the below picture and then click on
Intermediate supports – then select members 7 to 12 ( in practice you need to provide exact
location of the purlin for each member separately ) and then click on end selection – then
you will get another screen to enter the supports -
Enter the values in this screen. First type the Distance from beam start 1.4 and enter. To
enter the next support click on Next support and then type the distance from previous
support as 1.4and enter - then you can see the screen which looks as above. Then click
on End to close the window - then the next screen appears as follows – it says for beam no
8 ( whose length is less than 2.8M ) the second purlin can not fit. Just click on yes. Then you
can see all support conditions shown in the picture at the bottom.
End Conditions Menu

This is useful to specify the end conditions

of any members. You can also declare
what are the cantilever members in the
structure through this option. To see
various options click on end cond menu
then you can see the screen as shown on
right. Click cancel to proceed to the next
menu.

Comb beam Menu

Let us say we have a tie runner at node no 3 and 5 to transfer the wind loading. This will cause
the un supported lengths for member 1 and 2 is 5.5 M in the minor axis direction. Similarly for
members 3,4 and 5,6 have unsupported length in minor axis direction is 6 M. To define this
condition click on Comb beam icon – then the next screen comes as shown below – here you
have different options to define combined beams. The option is Automatic is quite useful when
working on space frame structures. Now let us choose By start and end beam option and keep
The boxes under Major axis bending and Buckling as shown in the screen and click on Define
Option – then select member number 1 ( start member of the combined beam ) and then select
member number 2 ( end member of the combined beam ). Please repeat the above process to
define first member 3 & 4 and again for member 5 & 6.
After finishing the combine option, now you can see the support conditions for bottom chord of
the truss as shown above. Let us say we have a tie runner at node no 3 and 5 to transfer the
wind loading.

This combine option is quite powerful and time saving feature, especially on space frames.
Suppose in a space frame one direction of the column you have beam at 3M and in the direction
beams at 6M llvl only. Then the unsupported length for this column is 3M in one direction and
6M in the other direction. By using Automatic definition option the program automatically detects
the unsupported lengths. Similarly when you have two secondary beams resting on a main
beam, the main beam is divided into three beams. By choosing Automatic option, program
automatically detects the unsupported lengths for main beam in both directions and gives the
results for a single main beam, instead of writing for three divided main beams.

Compute Menu
Click on compute menu to design the members. Then the next screen will ask you only for
displayed members or for all members – just click ok. Then you will get a screen displaying the
results summary. In this screen you can brief design of all members. Close this screen to
proceed further.
Steel Design Results:

To see the detailed results of each member click on Results menu as shown below .

We suggest the users to see all the options available under results menu.

1) Display detailed results and follow the instructions as per the next screens.
2) Display section summary – to see the total weight
3) Display selected sections
4) Display capacity and
5) Printing options etc…

Sway and drift control on the structure (at node no 8 ):

Click on sway menu and then Display sway values for current sections. Now the program
will display the sway values for those nodes we have specified earlier in loads module
definition. Then the next screen appears showing displacement of node 8 in horizontal
direction as 9.8MM. Close this screen to proceed to limit the deflection at node 8. Then click
on sway menu and select sections according to sway limit, and then the new screen
comes as shown in the next page.
To click on the node 8 in the above box to change the allowable sway – then enter new
allowable sway let us say 4 and click on change allowable sway – then you can see the
allowable sway against node 8 and then tick on check new selected sections for stresses and
you can give cost factor for each property – it helps the program to optimise the structure
based on the cost. (cost of built up section with Two I section is more than the cost of
individual I sections.) then click on Ok. Now the program will run the program for couple of
times to limit the sway.

To see the selected new sections click on sway menu and then click on Display selected
sway sections - then the next screen shows you the results of optimisation. You can see old
section – selected new sections – volume addition and cost addition etc. Close the screen to
proceed further.
To optimise the sections from Built up section group no.3

To see the optimisation from built up section click on sections menu – then choose limit
selection to section group and then select group no.3 and click ok and select the columns
members (26,13,27 and 19). After finishing this click on Compute menu - then the program will
compute the sections from Group no. 3 for columns. You can go to Results menu and see
detailed results for column members for more information. Again to check the sway details go
to sway option and repeat the process to limit the sway.

General Arrangement Drawing

Go to Display menu and click on

General arrangement parameters –
then the next screen to you asking type
of arrangement you want. In this
screen you can choose the way you
want to represent the general
arrangement drawing.

Please explore all the possibilities

here. To proceed further take the
selection as shown below and click ok.
Now go to Display menu and click on
General arrangement drawing. Now
you can see the drawing as shown in
the next screen.
Copy to Clip Board / Print Drawing / Print edit drawing – DXF out

When you click on File menu, you can see

three options.

Copy to clip board: when you choose this

option next screen comes asking you title ,
text size and choose enhanced metafile
option and click ok. Now if you go
to word file use paste command it will
paste the diagram in the file.

Print Drawing: click on print drawing

option then the next screen comes as
shown on right and then choose Fit frame
to drawing and Save for print edit
drawing option and click ok.

Print edit saved drawing: when you click

on print edit drawing the program takes you
to STRAP drawing editor, as shown in the
next page. Where you can move the text -
add text etc. Here if you go to File menu
you can see different option to print
drawing and making DXF etc.

We suggest the user to explore all

possibilities in STRAP drawing editor. To
proceed further click on file menu in
drawing editor and choose exit.
Dimension Lines

Go to Display menu and click on

Dimension lines then choose parallel to
X1 then click on define and then choose
selection by window and select the
nodes and 1 to 7 and end selection –
then click the mouse below the joints
where you want to locate the dimensions.
Ten it will display the dimension of each
panel. To locate the elevations click on
Display and then Dimension lines and
then choose elevations then define and
choose node 16, 7 and 14 – choose the
location next to those nodes to place the
levels.

You can see the dimension lines and

levels as shown in the next page.

We suggest the user to explore further

on this menu.
Grid Lines representation

Go to Display and click on Grid lines

- then the next screen appears as
shown –
Then choose the option parallel to
X1 – then names axes Letters
starting from A and click on Define
- then select by windows – select
node 15 and 16 ( supports ) – then
choose location below those nodes
to show you the grid axes system.
You can see the grid system as
shown in the next picture.

Please explore all the features

possible in this option.

You click on View menu to save the

current view.
 Updating the geometry after Design

Got o file menu and click on Exit and Update

geometry. This will replace the previously defined
sections in geometry by optimised sections.

After this the program will take you to main screen.

How to create User defined sections in STRAP library

Go to file in STRAP main menu and click

on Utilities – (see the various options
available here) then Create/edit steel
section table – then the program will take
you to section creation/editor module.

Here you can click on Edit then go to Add

section type – then it will take you to the
screen to choose type of section to add.

Here you can choose the section shape.

Let us take I section and type name of the
group as GIRD and click ok.
 Now the program creates the group name called
GIRD. Under this we can add sections we want.
To add the sections in this group click the cursor
on GIRD – Then click on Edit – then click on Add
section to current type then the program
displays another screen.

Enter the section name as 800x400x12x16 and

all other dimensions can be entered as shown in
the picture – then click Ok.

Then the program automatically calculates the

properties of the section and displays as follows.
Then click Ok.
Now the program creates section
800x400x12x16 as shown. User can
repeat the above process to add more
sections to current type.

To retrieve sections from standard

tables go to File menu and click on
Retrieve sections from the file –
Then Indian table.

Let us select ISA.EQ and select angles

that are available in the market or you
want to use for your project. To select
the sections click on ISA.EQ and then
choose the angle sections – keep the
“ctrl” key press while selecting. After
the selection click ok

Now the program will retrieve the

sections we have selected. Let us go to
file and select exit to go out of the
section editor.
How to use User defined Sections

Go to Geometry from the main model and

then beams menu and then prop and then
select steel table USER and then click on
Steel table menu, here you can see user
defined sections.

If you want to design/optimise sections from

User defined sections, when you are going
from analysis results to steel design choose
the option User defined as shown below.

*********** The End *******