Midas International Symposium

Tony Gee Case Study

Peter Reeves-Toy
Director, UAE
7th December 2015

Seminar Contents
Project Overview
Doha Metro

Structural Frame
Construction Stages
Load Manipulation

Connection Modelling
Solid Elements

Doha Metro
Major Station
Use of Construction stages to manage loads and
deflections
Use of solid elements imported into line model
for complex connections
Connection dxf exported from Civil, manipulated
in CAD and imported into FEA.
Connection modelled in full in FEA, meshed and
then inserted in to Civil via MCT

Doha Metro

Msheireb

Msheireb Station

How we modelled
Full 3d frame model in Midas civil
Use of construction stages to control articulation
of supports
Complex full moment connections modelled in
Midas FEA
Connections imported back into Midas Civil
frame model for direct stress assessment

Structural Frame
3D Line Model
Plate Elements use for the supporting walls
Beam end releases modelled as per connection
design assumptions
Offsets between connection centrelines
modelled with links for accurate load transfer
Construction stages modelled to manipulate the
load distribution.

Structural Frame
5

6
8

Stage 1
Activate the supporting walls (existing)

Stage 2
Activate Module 6 Steelwork
Apply selfweight

Stage 3
Activate Module 6 tension rods
Apply pretension to load
cantilevers

Stage 4
Activate the Module 7 Steelwork
Selfweight already active

Stage 5
Activate Module 7 tension rods
Apply pretension to load
cantilevers

Stage 6
Activate Module 1 steelwork
With props or selfsupporting

Stage 7
Activate Module 2 Steelwork
With or without props

Stage 8
Activate Module 3 steelwork
With or without props

Apply all SIDL loads (cladding etc)

Stage 9
Activate Module 4 steelwork
With props

Stage 10
Activate Module 8 steelwork

Stage 11
Deactivate the tensile rods

Apply post-construction variable loads

Connection Modelling

Connection solid modelling

Extraction of geometry from frame model
Manipulation in AutoCAD
Solid modelling in Midas FEA
Meshing of connection in Midas FEA
Importing solid model back in to frame model

Step 1
Divide the incoming elements to at connection

Export the elements immediately connected to

the node including shape and thickness

Step 2
Import into AutoCAD or similar (can be done in
FEA directly)
Rationalise the geometry

Define additional connection elements, such as

fin plates and splice plates etc.

Step 3
Import the AutoCAD DXF into Midas FEA
Create surfaces at member ends and extrude

Working from the primary elements first subtract

and fuse using the Boolean commands.

Step 4
Use the auto mesh function setting a mesh size
similar to the plate thickness.

Depending on geometry set mesh controls a

local discontinuities to help mesher

Step 5

Set material number to the same as Midas Civil

Renumber the nodes and elements
Export to MCT and then import in to Civil
Maintain the same coordinate system through
out.
Connect the face of the solid to frame with rigid
link.
Large coordinates presented an glitch

Example Stress Plot

Solid modelling top tips

Follow the same convention each time
Dont rush or cut corners
Make us of local coordinate systems to ensure
planar surfaces
Label objects clearly including tools
Use overlapping tools
Subtract or fuse progressively
Avoid narrow discontinuities

QUESTIONS!?