Tutorial 4: Getting Results

Project Description:
The simple plane frame shown below will be used in this example to demonstrate the various analysis types that are available in VisualAnalysis. These analysis types include standard 1st order, PDelta, dynamic modal, and dynamic response. FEATURES: Graphical Results Split Member Dynamic Response Report Wizard

Basic Level Users: The Basic Level of VA does not support dynamic modal or dynamic response analysis. If you are using the Basic level of VA you should continue up until the Dynamic Results section.

Setting up the Project:

When you start up VA you are presented with the VisualAnalysis Startup Wizard. Choose Cancel in this wizard.

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VisualAnalysis Startup Wizard

A new project automatically generated for you. Make sure the project is a plane frame (Edit | Project Information), set the unit style to US ft-K (Edit | project Units), and name the project "Getting Results" (Edit | Project Information).

Modeling the Structure:

Draw the frame as shown above. The columns are 15ft and the beam is 25ft long. Specify the columns as W14x53, A992 Gr. 50 Specify the beams as W21x55, A992 Gr. 50 Make both base reactions fixed

Loading the Structure:

If a service load case titled Live loads doesnt already exist, create one. Select Live Loads as the source. Add a -1.5 k/ft uniform load to the beam. If a serive load case titled Seismic +X loads doesnt already exist, create one. Select Seismic +X Loads as the source. Add a 10 k nodal load at the left node as shown above. Now use the Load | New Custom Combination command to create a new custom combination case. Choose Factored Combination for the type. Name the Combination 1.2D + 0.5L + 1.0E. Specify factors of 1.2 for the Dead loads, 0.5 for the Live loads, and 1.0 for the Seismic +X loads.

Analysis and Results:

Before running an analysis, you should always select Analyze | Check Model for Errors. This will check your model for any potential errors before you start the analysis. You should receive a message indicating that no problems were found. 1st Order versus 2nd Order Results All of the analysis options in VisualAnalysis are located under Analyze | Analysis Options. To begin, under Analysis Options select Calculate both 1st and 2nd order results and uncheck the box to Calculate dynamic mode shapes. Click OK and run an analysis. We want to compare the

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1st order results with the 2nd order results. The result type is controlled using the Result Type drop down box in the Filter Tab of the Project Manager. Change the Result Type to First Order, then move down and change the Results to Mz, the Graphics to Colors, and check the Extremes box.

First Order results with bending moment displayed

Leaving the graphical display the same, change the Result Type to Static P-Delta. The bending moments should all increase slightly. (You may have to toggle back and forth to see the exact numerical changes.) In this case the amount of variation is fairly small, but with different member stiffnesses and member sizes this effect could become significant. For more information about P-Delta analysis refer to the VisualAnalysis 5.5 User's Guide or there are many structures texts on the subject. Dynamic Results Now lets look at the dynamic results in VisualAnalysis. The options for dynamic results include mode shapes and response analysis. The mode shapes extract the fundamental frequencies the structure can be excited at. Theoretically, there is a mode shape for each degree of freedom of the structure. Typically, only the first few are used until sufficient modal participation is achieved as specified in the building codes. Careful attention should be given to ensure that the mass and stiffness of the structure are modeled properly. These can have significant effects on the results VisualAnalysis gives you. The Analysis Options page has an option to include mass from a load case or combination. You can also add lumped mass to individual nodes to more accurately model the mass distribution in your structure. Lastly, it is a good idea to split your members up when performing a dynamic analysis. This results in a "smoother" mass distribution and will give you much better mode shapes and natural frequency values.

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Alternatively, we could have also created a load case to simulate the machinery's mass and included that load case (or combination) on the Analysis | Options page.

We first need to modify our model slightly. Start by splitting the beam into ten equal pieces. This is done by choosing Model | Split Member. We will assume that we have a piece of machinery weighing approximately 3000 lbs sitting on the right hand side of the beam. Select the three right hand nodes and specify the mass as 0.0311 K-s^2/ft for each node as shown below.

(1000lbs/32.2 ft/s^2 = 0.0311 K-s^2/ft)

Additional nodal mass to account for machinery

Now split each of the columns into ten equal pieces just like we did for the beam. Under Analyze | Analysis Options check the box to Calculate dynamic mode shapes and change the number of mode shapes to 6. If you now run an analysis you should get six different mode shapes, the first of which is shown below.

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Mode Shape #1

We now need to create a dynamic response case in order to perform a response analysis. Go to Load | New Dynamic Response Case, title it "Seismic X". Specify the Design spectra as UBC S1 Soil and the direction multipliers as shown below.

New Dynamic Response Case

Going back to the Analysis Options page (Analyze | Analysis Options), check the CQC Method and specify the damping as 5%. Please refer to the VisualAnalysis 5.5 User's Guide or a structural dynamics text for more information about the CQC and SRSS methods of combining modal response. Also note that the CQC method is a variation of the SRSS method. The SRSS method works well as long as the modes are NOT closely spaced. If the modes are closely spaced the CQC method provides a better result for total response.

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Dynamic Response Analysis Type

Now analyze the structure. We should now have results for our six mode shapes as well as our dynamic response case. Most building codes require that a dynamic response analysis include a certain minimum percentage of participating mass in the response analysis. This is something we can easily check using the Dynamic Analysis Summary report. To create this report, go to Report | Report Wizard, select Create a custom-made report from scratch, then click Next. Under the Available Items select Dynamic Analysis Summary, click the In button, and then click Next.

Add Dynamic Analysis Summary to the Reported Items list.

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On the next dialog leave the default of Report all load cases and click Finish. You should now have a report like the one shown below.

The X direction is the one we are concerned with and our report tells us we have a modal mass participation in the X direction of about 92%. Most building codes require at least 90% so we have enough mode shapes. If this percentage were too small you would probably need to analyze with more mode shapes. Another useful report is the quick report available for the response load case. In a result view, change to Seismic X on the result case pull down.

Now right-click (alternate-click) and select Report These Results from the context menu. This will bring up a report that includes the Dynamic Analysis Summary, Dynamic Response Cases, Nodal Displacements, Nodal Reactions, and Member Internal Forces. The option to Report These Results is always available in a result view and the report will automatically include the items relevant to the type of results you are viewing.

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