STAADProV8i 1

ModelGeneration
ModuleOverview
ThismodulecoversthefundamentalsofmodelgenerationinSTAAD.Pro.Various
methodsaredemonstratedtocreate,edit,andviewstructuregeometry.Topics
includethePreProcessorsgraphicalenvironment,StructureWizard,thedata
tables,andtheinputfile.Thecontentofthismoduleisspecificallyorientedtoward
modelsconsistingofbeams,braces,andcolumns(linearentities).Thetopicof
modelingwithplateelements(twodimensionalentities)iscoveredinadifferent
module.
ModulePrerequisites
Familiaritywithgeneralprinciplesofstructuralengineering
ModuleObjectives
Aftercompletingthismodule,youwillbeableto:
Createmodelgeometryusingavarietyofavailabletechniques
Identifyconvenientandefficientwaystoperformspecificmodelingtasks
Describethedefaultglobalcoordinatesystem
ModelGeneration
Copyright August-2009 Bentley Systems Incorporated
Introductory Knowledge
IntroductoryKnowledge
Beforeyoubeginthismodule,letsdefinewhatyoualreadyknow.
Questions
1. Acomputerizedstructuralanalysisisrelativelyinsensitivetotheaccuracyofthe
modelitself.
True/False
2. Theabilitytocreateanalyticalmodelswithmanualmodelingtechniquesis
outdatednowthatitispossibletoimportmodelsfromDXFfiles.
True/False
3. Formanystructures,aCartesiancoordinatesystemlendsitselftoefficiently
definingstructuregeometry.
True/False
ModelGeneration
Answers
1. Acomputerizedstructuralanalysisisrelativelyinsensitivetotheaccuracyofthe
modelitself.
False
Theresultsofsuchananalysisareentirelydependentupontheproper
constructionoftheanalyticalmodelincludingaccurategeometry,member
orientations,andmemberconnectivity.
2. Theabilitytocreateanalyticalmodelswithmanualmodelingtechniquesis
outdatednowthatitispossibletoimportmodelsfromDXFfiles.
False
EvenwhenimportingmodelgeometryfromaDXFfile,itisalmostalways
necessarytoperformsomemanualmodelingstepstocompletetheworking
model.So,aworkingknowledgeoftheavailabletoolsandtechniquesis
essential.
3. Formanystructures,aCartesiancoordinatesystemlendsitselftoefficiently
definingstructuregeometry.
True
TheCartesiancoordinatesystemtendstobethemostuniversalsystem.
STAAD.ProhasimplementedtheCartesianandcylindricalcoordinatesystems.
ModelGeneration
The Start Page
TheStartPage
OpenSTAAD.Probydoubleclickingontheicononyourdesktopornavigatingtothe
programlocationthroughtheStartmenu.TheSTAAD.ProStartPageisdisplayed.
TheStartPageisdividedintofivesectionsthatcanbeusedtoachievethefollowing:
1. ProjectTasks:
StartaNewProject.
OpenanexistingProjectusingabrowsedialogenhancedwithamodel
previewwindow.
OpenanexistingProjectfromProjectWise,Bentleysengineeringproject
teamcollaborationsystem.
SettheprogrambehaviorwiththeConfigurationoptions.
SetuptheparametersfortheautomaticBackupfunction.
AccesstheLicenseManagementTooltoviewandsetconfigurationvariables
fortheBentleySELECTlicense,suchastheservernameandsiteactivation
key.
ModelGeneration
The Start Page
2. RecentFiles:
Accessthelast6modelsopened.
Seeapreviewofeachmodelinthelistbyhoveringthecursoroverthemodel
name.
ViewthefilepathandprojectinformationenteredinaspecificJobInfo
dialog.
3. HelpTopics:
AccesstheonlineHelpdocument.
Locatetechnicalsupportcentersandfindcontactdetails.
FindthelatestinformationontheprogramonlinefromtheProductNews
link.
AccessthegrowingSTAAD.Proonlineknowledgebase.
DetermineWhatsNewinthelatestreleaseofSTAAD.Pro.
4. LicenseConfiguration:IndicateswhichSELECTlicensesarebeingusedbythe
currentsessionofSTAAD.Prousingthefollowingcolorcodingscheme:
Green:Ifthelicenseisavailableitismarkedwithagreencircle.
Grey:Licensesthathavenotbeenselectedaremarkedwithagreycircle.
Red:Iftheselectedlicensecannotbeobtainedorisnotavailablefromthe
server,itwillbeshownwitharedcircle.
5. STAADNews:
ModelGeneration
DisplaysthemostcurrentinformationaboutSTAADandBentley,suchas
programupdates,seminars,andtrainingcourses,usinganRSS(ReallySimple
Syndication)reader.
Eachnewsitemsisidentifiedwithatitlethatactsasalinktoawebsite
containingmoreinformationonthatparticularitem.
The Start Page
AutomaticBackup:
ClickBackupManagerintheProjectTasksareaoftheStartPagetoseethe
followingfeatures:
STAAD.Prohastheabilitytoperformautomaticsavesatauserspecified
frequencytoprotectagainstlossofdata.
BackupManageralsoprovidestoolstoview,compare,open,andrestorebackup
savesfromearliertimes.
Hint: Evenwithpowerfulbackupandrestorefeatures,goodpracticewould
dictateexecutingmanualsavesaftersignificantmodelingstepsbyusing
File>SavefromtheMenuBar.Undernormalconditionsthisisauser
preferenceitem.
Note: Inordertoensureuniformity,thistrainingsessionisaccompaniedbya
datasetofstandardizedSTAAD.Protrainingfiles.Toavoidfrequent
messagesduringtraining,disabletheAutoSaveoptionbyremovingthe
checkfromtheEnableAutoSavecheckbox,andthenclickOK.
CoordinateSystemOrientationandBaseUnitSystem
ClickConfigurationintheProjectTasksareaoftheStartPage.
1. ClicktheGlobalAxisOrientationtab.Notethefollowingtwooptionsforthe
verticalaxisofthestructure:
ThelocationofentitiesinaSTAAD.Promodelisdefinedwithreferencetothe
originoftheglobal(Cartesian)coordinatesystem.Thedefaultorientationof
theglobalcoordinatesystemisthattheYaxispointsintheverticaldirection,
andaplanviewisrepresentedbytheXZplane.
Thiscoordinatesystemorientationmaybedifferentthanthatusedinsome
CADprograms.Toaddressthis,STAAD.ProprovidesanoptioncalledSetZ
Up.Thisoptionmaybeusedinsituationswheremodelgeometryisbeing
importedfromaCADfilewheretheZaxishasbeenorientedvertically.
However,beawarethattheuseoftheSetZUpoptionwilleliminatethe
abilitytousesomeotherfunctionsintheprogram;thewindloadgenerator
isoneexample.
STAAD.Proalsoprovidestoolsforreorientingthecoordinateaxiswhen
importingorexportingtoaCADprogram.Itisprobablyabetterideatoreorient
thecoordinatesystemwhenimportingorexportingandtouseSTAAD.Pros
defaultglobalcoordinatesystem,ratherthanusingSetZUp.
ModelGeneration
The Start Page
2. ClicktheBaseUnittabintheConfigureProgramdialog.Twobaseunitsystems
areavailable:EnglishandMetric.Notethefollowing:
Thebaseunitselectiondictatesthesystemofunitsusedinternallytostore
numericalvaluesduringcalculations.Italsodictatesthesystemofunitsused
todisplayresultsintablesandreports.
Goodpracticeistosetthebaseunitsystemsoitisconsistentwiththeinput
unitsthatwillbeusedinthecurrentworkingsession.IftheEnglishunits
datasetfileswillbeused,settheBaseUnitselectiontoEnglish.Ifthemetric
unitsdatasetfileswillbeused,settheBaseUnitselectiontoMetric.In
Instructorledclasses,theinstructorwillindicatetheBaseUnitsystemto
select.IfanychangeismadetotheBaseUnitselection,clickAcceptto
completethechange.Ifnochangeisrequired,thenclickCancel.
Regardlessofthebaseunitsetting,itispossibletochangethecurrentinput
unitsontheflyduringthemodelingprocess.However,beawarethatmixing
unitsystemswillrequireaninternalconversionthatcarriesafinitenumber
ofsignificantdigits.Becausetheseconversionscannotbemathematically
exact,convertingbetweenunitsystemscanbeapotentialsourceof
modelingissuesifroundofferrorbecomessignificant.
Adefaultbaseunitsettingwaschosenatthetimeofinstallation,butthe
baseunitsettingcanbechangedontheStartPagebyselectingFile>
ConfigureandthenusingtheSelectBaseUnitpulldownmenuontheBase
Unittab.(NotethatitisNOTpossibletochangethebaseunitselectionwhen
amodelisopen.AllmodelsmustbeclosedinordertoaccesstheConfigure
menu.)
Exercise:Startinganewproject
1. IfSTAAD.Proisnotalreadyopen,doubleclickontheicononthedesktopor
navigatetotheprogramlocationthroughtheStartmenu.
2. ClickNewProjectintheProjectTasksboxontheSTAAD.ProStartPage.TheNew
dialogprovidesinputfor:
ModelGeneration
StructuretypeSeestructuretypedescriptionsbelow.
FileName
FileLocation
LengthUnits
ForceUnits
The Start Page
Fourstructuretypesareavailable:
a. Space:
Acceptableforanyconfigurationofmodelgeometryandloading.
Permitsthreedimensionalstructures.
Permitsloadinginanydirection.
Permitsdeformationsinallthreeglobalaxes.
Coordinatesystemfollowsrighthandrule.
BestpracticeistoorientYaxisup(sogravitypullsinnegativeY
direction),seeNotesaboutCoordinateSystemOrientationbelow.
b. Plane:
AcceptableonlyfortwodimensionalmodelsintheXYplanewithno
loadingordeformationsperpendiculartothisplane.
Allloadsanddeformationsareintheplaneofthestructure.
c. Floor:
AcceptablefortwodimensionalmodelsintheXZplanewithloadingand
deformationsperpendiculartothisplane.
AllloadsanddeformationsareparalleltotheglobalYaxis.
d. Truss:
Permitsloadinginanydirection,butmembersonlyprovideaxial
resistance.Memberscannotresistbendingorshearloads.
Permitsthreedimensionalstructures.
Permitsdeformationsinallthreeglobaldirections.
Coordinatesystemfollowsrighthandrule.
Hint: StructuretypesPlane,FloorandTrussallconservesystemresourcesby
takingadvantageofdeclaredconditionstoreducethecomplexityofthe
stiffnessmatrix.Withtodayscomputers,thisisnolongernecessary,but
theprogramstillprovidestheseoptionsforbackwardcompatibilitywith
modelsthatwerecreatedusingthesestructuretypes.
ModelGeneration
The Start Page
3. SelectthefollowingNewProjectParameters:
StructureType:Space
FileName:MyModel
FileLocation:TheLocationfieldprovidesadefaultpathwhereprojectfiles
willbestored.TochangetheLocationclickthe button,andbrowsetothe
locationwhereyouwishtosavethefile.InInstructorledclasses,the
instructorwillindicatethepathtouse.
LengthUnits:Foot{Meter}
ForceUnits:KiloPound{KiloNewton}
4. ClicktheNextbutton.
Aseconddialogappearsofferingquickaccesstoavarietyofcommonnext
steps,including:
AddBeam:StartstheprogramwiththeSnapNode/Beamdialogactive,
providingasnapgridtobeginconstructingastructureconsistingofbeams
andcolumns.
AddPlate:StartstheprogramwiththeSnapNode/Platedialogactive,
providingasnapgridtobeginconstructingastructureconsistingofplates.
AddSolid:StartstheprogramwiththeSnapNode/Soliddialogactive,
providingasnapgridtobeginconstructingastructureconsistingofsolids.
OpenStructureWizard:Opensalibraryofparametricallyscalableprototype
structuretemplatesthatcanbeusedtoquicklygeneratemodelgeometry.
OpenSTAADEditor:AllowsyoutobuildyourmodelusingtheSTAADsyntax
commandsintheSTAADeditor(nongraphicalinterface).
EditJobInformation:OpenstheJobInformationdialogwhereyoucanenter
informationrelativetothejob,suchasclientname,jobnumber,comments,
etc.
5. SelecttheEditJobInformationoptionandclickFinish.
ModelGeneration
Getting Started
GettingStarted
TheSTAAD.ProScreen
ThecomponentsoftheSTAAD.ProGraphicalUserInterface(GUI)screenare
identifiedinthefigurebelow.
StatusBar
1. MenuBar
Locatednearthetopofthescreen.
GivesaccesstoalloftheSTAAD.Promenufunctions.
ManyofthesamefunctionsarealsoavailablefromtheToolbarandfromthe
PageControl.
2. ToolBar
Locatednearthetopandleftsideofthescreen.
Givesaccesstothemostfrequentlyusedcommands.
Individualtoolbarsaredockablelayoutcanbereconfigured.
Customizedtoolbarscanbecreated.
HoverthecursoroveranyiconforToolTipHelp.
3. MainWindow
10
Centralareaofscreenwherethemodelandgraphicalresultsareshown.
Backgroundcolorcanbesettoeitherwhiteorblackusingthe
ConfigurationoptionintheProjectTaskssectionoftheStartPage.
ModelGeneration
Getting Started
4. StatusBar
Displayedatthebottomofthescreen.
Presentshelpfulinformationregardingthestatusoftheprogram.
Displayspertinentinformationforthecurrentpage,suchashintsforusing
thecurrentcommand,currentprogramoperatingmode,cursorposition,
currentinputunits,etc.
5. PageControl
AsetoftabstotheleftoftheMainWindow.
PageControlcanbeclosedfromwithintheModemenutofreethescreen
areaforotheruses.
Eachtaballowsyoutoperformspecifictasks.
OrganizationoftheTabs,fromtoptobottom,representsthelogical
sequenceofoperationsinSTAAD.Pro.
Generallyprogressthroughthetabsfromtoptobottomandenterallthe
datathatarerelevanttoyourproject.
Tabnamesmayormaynotappearonthetabsdependingonscreen
resolutionandsizeofSTAAD.Prowindow,buttheiconsonthePageControl
tabsalwaysappear.
Eachtabcontainssubtabs.
ThetabsthatdisplaydependonthecurrentModeofoperation,whichcan
besetfromtheModemenuintheMenuBar.
6. DataArea
Generallyappearsontherightsideofthescreen.
Displaysdialogs,tables,lists,andsoforth.
Contextsensitivetothetypeofoperationbeingperformed.
SettingupaJob
SetupisthetoptabinthePageControlareawheninModelingmode.WhentheJob
subtabisselected,theJobInfodialogisdisplayedintheDataArea.
TheJobInfodialogprovidesawaytodefinedatasuchasjobname,client,job
number,engineerandcheckerinitialsanddates,andsoforth.Informationentered
intheJobInfodialogwillbeprintedintheoutputreportsandshownintheRecent
FilessectionoftheStartPage.Theuseofthisdialogisoptional.
ModelGeneration
11
Getting Started
STAAD.ProStructuralEntities
STAAD.Proprovidesfivetypesofentitiestouseinmodelingstructures:
1. Beams:
Linearstructuralmembers.
Thetermsmemberandbeamaresynonymous.
Useofthetermbeamshouldnotbetakentoimplythatthemember
cannotresistanaxialload.(Beamentitiesareusedtomodelbeams,
columns,braces,etc)
SelectedinSTAAD.ProbyeithertheBeamsCursorortheGeometryCursor.
2. Nodes:
Pointsofconnectivitybetweenstructuralentities.
Thetermsjointandnodearesynonymous.
SelectedinSTAAD.ProbyeithertheNodesCursorortheGeometryCursor.
3. Plates:
12
Finiteelementscommonlyusedtomodelsurfacestructuressuchaswalls,
slabs,platesorshells.
Maybeeither3noded(triangular)or4noded(quadrilateral).
SelectedinSTAAD.ProbyeitherthePlatesCursorortheGeometryCursor.
ModelGeneration
Getting Started
4. Solids:
Finiteelementsthatenablethesolutionofstructuralproblemsinvolving
threedimensionalstresses.
Solidsareusefulforsolvingproblemssuchasstressdistributioninconcrete
dams,soilandrockstrata,etc.
Solidelementstypicallyconsistof8nodes.
Solidsmostcommonlytaketheformofcubes,but,bycollapsingvarious
nodestogether,an8nodedsolidelementcanbedegeneratedintoforms
with5to7nodes.
SelectedinSTAAD.ProbyeithertheSolidsCursorortheGeometryCursor.
5. Surfaces:
Usefulintherapidmodelingofwalls,slabsandotherplanarsurfaces.
Similartoplateelementsintermsofstructuralbehavior,butfasterand
easiertomodel.
Theentirewallorslabcanbemodeledwithjustafew"Surface"entities.
Whentheprogramperformstheanalysis,itautomaticallysubdividesthe
surfaceintoelements.
SelectedinSTAAD.ProbyeithertheSurfaceCursorortheGeometryCursor.
Hint: IfyouareunsureofwhethertousePlateelementsorSolidelements,
rememberthis:whentheratioofthewidthoftheshortestsideofthe
structuretothethicknessislessthan10,considerusingsolidelements.
t
>10t
<10t
UsePlateElement
ModelGeneration
UseSolidElement
13
Creating Structure Geometry
CreatingStructureGeometry
WorkingwithGrids
Gridsassistwithmodelconstructionbyprovidingdimensionalcontrolandsnap
points.Youcancreateandsavemultiplegridsystemsinonemodel,butonlyone
gridsystemcanbedisplayedatatime.Therearethreetypesofgridsthatcanbe
defined:Linear,RadialandIrregular:
1. Linear
Twodimensionalsystemofregularlyspacedlinear(butnotnecessarily
orthogonal)constructionlinescreatingaplaneofsnappoints.
TheplanecanbedefinedasbeingcoincidentwiththeglobalXY,XZ,orYZ
planes,oritcanberotatedaboutoneoftheglobalaxes.
Locationoftheoriginofthegridsystemisdefinedwithrespecttotheglobal
X,Y,andZcoordinatesystem.
2. Radial
Twodimensionalsystemofregularlyspacedradialandcircumferential
constructionlinescreatingaplaneofsnappoints.
planes,oritcanberotatedaboutoneoftheglobalaxes.
Locationoftheoriginofthegridsystemisdefinedwithrespecttotheglobal
X,Y,andZcoordinatesystem.
Wellsuitedfordrawingcircularmodelsusingpiecewiselineartechniques.
Thefollowingdiagramshowsanexampleofaradialgridsystem:
14
ModelGeneration
3. Irregular
Twodimensionalsystemofregularlyorirregularlyspacedlinear(butnot
necessarilyorthogonal)constructionlinescreatingaplaneofsnappoints.
planes,oritcanberotatedaboutoneoftheglobalaxes.Inaddition,
IrregulargridsystemsofferathirdorientationoptioncalledArbitrary
Plane,whichallowsthemtobeorientedinanyarbitraryplanebyspecifying
twosetsofcoordinatepointsthatdefinethegridxandgridydirections.
Spacingofthegridlinescanvaryinbothdirections.
SpacingbetweensuccessivegridlinesisspecifiedintheRelativegridline
distancesfieldusingaspacedelimitedformat.
Exercise:Settingupgrids
1. EnsurethatthemodelnamedMyModel.stdisopen.
2. ClicktheGeometrytabinthePageControlarea.
3. ClicktheBeamsubtab.
ADefaultGridappearsintheMainWindow.WewillbeusingtheDefaultGridto
constructthemodelmomentarily.
TheSnapNode/BeamdialogappearsintheDataArea.Gridlayoutiscontrolled
bythisdialog.Toexploretheavailablecontrolsforgridcreation,wewillfirst
createsomeadditionalgridsfordemonstrationpurposes.
Hint: YoucanalsoaccesstheSnapNode/BeamdialogbyclickingGeometry>
SnapGrid/Node>Beam,orbyclickingontheSnapNode/Beamicon
intheGeometrytoolbar.
4. ClickCreateintheSnapNode/Beamdialog.
NotethatthelistatthetopofthissecondarydialogiscurrentlysettoLinear,but
alsoofferstheRadial,andIrregulargridtypeoptions.KeepitsettoLinearfor
thisexample.
5. TypeTrainingGridintheNamefield,andthenclickOK.
TrainingGrid(Linear)nowappearsinthelistofavailablegridsystemsintheSnap
Node/Beamdialog,butDefaultGrid(Linear)isstilltheactivegridsystem.
6. ClickthecheckboxinfrontofTrainingGrid(Linear)tomakeittheactivegrid
system.
DefaultGrid(Linear)isautomaticallydeselected,andtheMainWindownow
displaysthenewgrid.
ModelGeneration
15
7. ClicktheEditbuttonatthebottomoftheSnapNode/Beamdialogtoredisplay
thecontrolsforthisgrid.
8. ClicktheXYradiobuttoninthePlanecategory.
9. ClicktheXXradiobuttonintheAngleofPlanecategoryandenteravalueof45
inthefieldtorotatethisgrid45abouttheXaxis.
Notethatyouwillseethesechangestakingeffectimmediatelyonthegrid
systemcurrentlydisplayedonthescreen.
10. Enter(10,10,0){(3,3,0)}intheGridOriginfields.
Hint: TheGridOrigincanalsobechangedfromthedefaultlocationof(0,0,0)
byusingthe icontoselectanexistingnodeinthemodeltorepresent
thenewgridorigin.
11. SetthenumberofConstructionLinesto12inboththeXandYdirectionsby
clickingtheuparrowinthecolumnlabeledRight.
12. SettheSpacingfieldto1ft{1m}inboththeXandYdirections.
13. KeeptheSkewsetto0inboththeXandYdirections.
Warning: UsecautiontosetthecorrectSpacingvaluewhenusingskewedgrids.
TheSpacingvalueisnotmeasuredperpendiculartothegridlinesto
whichitapplies.
14. ClickOK.
Note: SimilarcontrolsexistfortheRadialandIrregulargridsystems.
TheActiveGridLabelsSetupcategoryintheSnapNode/Beamdialogcontrols
howthelabelswillappearforthecurrentlyselectedgridsystemwheneveritis
theactivegrid.Sincethesesettingsarespecifictoindividualgridsystems,they
canbesetdifferentlyforeachgridsysteminthemodel.
16
TheEnd(s)listsofferdifferentoptionsforlabelingtheendsofthegridlines.
TheFrequencysettingprovidesawaytocontrolthefrequencyofgridlabels;
labelsoneverysinglegridline,everysecondgridline,everythirdgridline,
etc.
TheX,YandZbuttonstogglethedisplayofX,Y,andZcoordinatelabelsfor
gridlines.
ModelGeneration
ThecombinationsofsettingsthatcanbeproducedusingtheLocal
CoordinatecheckboxandtheRel.Coordscheckboxprovideavarietyof
alternativesforviewingthecoordinatesofgridlines:
Local
Coordinateis
NOTselected
Local
CoordinateIS
selected
RelativeCoordinatesisNOT
selected
Gridlabelsrepresentthe
coordinatesofgridline
intersectionsreferencedtothe
originoftheglobalcoordinate
systemandmeasuredparallel
totheaxesoftheglobal
coordinatesystem.
Gridlabelsrepresent
intersectionsreferencedtothe
originofthegridand
measuredparalleltotheaxes
ofthegrid.
RelativeCoordinatesIS
selected
relativechangeinthe
intersectionsmeasured
paralleltotheaxesofthe
globalcoordinatesystem.
relativechangeinthe
intersectionsmeasuredinthe
planeofthegridandparallel
totheXandYaxesofthegrid.
TheAxisIdscheckboxtogglesthedisplayofanaxisprefixoneachgridlabel.
ThiscanbehelpfultoestablishtheorientationoftheXandYaxesinagrid
system.
ThebuttonsintheSnapNode/Beamdialogaredescribedbelow:
TheFontbuttonprovidesaccesstooptionsthatcontroltheappearanceof
gridlabels.
TheDeletebuttondeletestheselectedgridsystem.
TheCopybuttonallowstheselectedgridsystemtobecopiedandprovided
withamodifiedname.
TheRenamebuttonprovidesawaytoeditthenameoftheselectedgrid
system.
TheImportbuttonprovidestwooptionsforimportinggridsystemsintothe
currentmodel:importgridfiles(withthe.grdfileextension)thathavebeen
createdinotherSTAAD.Promodels;or,importDXFfilesforuseasgrids.
15. Keepthecurrentfileopenforuseinthenextsection.
ModelGeneration
17
EnteringStructureGeometry
Exercise:DrawingbeamswiththeSnapNode/Beamtool
1. ClicktheDefaultGrid(Linear)checkboxinthelistofgridsintheSnap
Node/Beamdialog.
Hint: IftheSnapNode/Beamdialogisnotcurrentlydisplayed,itcanberecalled
byclickingGeometry>SnapGrid/Node>Beam.
ThedefaultgridappearsintheMainWindow.
Note: Ifworkinginmetric,editthespacingvaluesto0.25masshownbelow
andthenclickOK:
18
ModelGeneration
2. Followthestepsoutlinedbelowtoconstructthissimplebracedframe:
TheSnapNode/BeambuttonintheSnapNode/Beamdialogshouldbe
automaticallyactivated,sothatthecursorsnapstogridintersections.(Ifnot,
clicktheSnapNode/Beambutton.)
3. NoticethetextpromptintheStatusBaratthebottomofthescreenthatsays,
Addnodes/beamstolineintersectionsusingcursor.HoldCtrlkeydownto
reset.
Initsdefaultmode,theSnapNode/Beamtoolonlysnapstogridintersections.
However,notethattheSnapNode/BeamdialoghasacheckboxlabeledSnapto
existingnodestoo.Whenthischeckboxisactivated,theSnapNode/Beamtool
willbeabletosnaptoanynodeinthemodel.Thiscanbeusefulifitever
becomesnecessarytosnaptoanexistingnodethatis:
Outoftheplaneofthegrid,or
Outsidetheextentsofthegrid,or
Betweengridintersectionpoints.
4. Clickattheorigin(0,0,0)tocreatethefirstnode.
Thehotspotappearsasareddotattheorigin,andalinewillstartrubber
bandingfromthehotspot.
ModelGeneration
19
5. Moveupthegridandclickagainat(0,8,0){(0,2.5,0)}todrawthefirst
member.
ThestartingendofamemberisalsoreferredtoasEndAorNodeA;theother
endiscalledEndBorNodeB.
Nowthehotspotappearsattheendofthefirstmember,indicatingthatitwill
bethestartingpointforthenextmember.
6. Moveto(7,8,0){(2,2.5,0)}andclickagain.
7. Moveto(7,0,0){(2,0,0)}andclickonemoretime.
ThecoordinatesofthecurrentcursorpositionarealwaysprovidedintheStatus
Baratthelowerrightcornerofthescreen.
Hint: Usegridstotheirbestadvantage.Thisgridcouldhavebeensetupwith
theappropriatenumberandspacingofhorizontalandverticallinesso
thatthegridrepresentedtheoutsidedimensionsoftheportalframe.
Thiswouldhaveeliminatedtheneedtoconstantlycheckthecursor
locationbycountinggridlinesorlookingatthecoordinatereadout.
Hint: Anothergoodwaytosetthegridforthisexamplewouldhavebeentoset
upthegridwith1linetotherightoftheorigininthepositiveXdirection,
and1lineabovetheorigininthepositiveYdirection,thensetthe
spacingtotheappropriatedimensionineachdirection.
8. Moveto(0,8,0){(0,2.5,0)}andclicktodrawthefirstdiagonalmember.
Todrawtheseconddiagonal,itwillbenecessarytoresetthehotspot.The
StatusBarinthelowerleftcornerofthescreendisplayssomeinstructionsfor
thecurrentlyactivecommandorprogrammode.Remembertocheckthisarea
anytimeyouareindoubtaboutwhatresponsetheprogramexpectsnext.
Currently,itprovidesahintregardinguseoftheControl(Ctrl)keytoresetthe
hotspot.
9. PressandholdtheControl(Ctrl)key.
10. Movethecursoraroundandnoticethatthelineisnolongerrubberbanding
fromthepreviousclicklocation.Thelastnodewillnolongerbeconsideredthe
startingpointofthenextmember.
11. WhileholdingtheControl(Ctrl)key,clickonthenodeat(0,0,0){(0,0,0)}.
12. ReleasetheControl(Ctrl)key,andnotethatthecursorisnowrubberbanding
fromthenodeat(0,0,0){(0,0,0)}.
13. Clickonthenodeat(7,8,0){(2,2.5,0)}todrawtheseconddiagonal.
14. ClicktheSnapNode/Beambuttontostopdrawingbeams.
20
ModelGeneration
Exercise:Adjustinggridsonthefly
Note: Gridscanbeadjustedonthefly.Nodesthathavealreadybeenplaced
willNOTmovewiththegrid.Instead,nodesmaintaintheircoordinates
oncetheyhavebeenplaced.Todemonstrate:
1. MakesureDefaultGrid(Linear)isstilltheactivegridsystem,andthenclickthe
Editbutton.
2. EdittheSpacingoftheXgridlinesto1.5{0.35}andpresstheTabkey.
3. NotethatthegridchangedintheMainWindow,buttheexistingnodesdidnot
movewiththegrid.
4. EdittheSpacingoftheXgridlinesbackto1{0.25},andthenclickOK.
UndoandRedoTools
STAAD.ProhasUndo andRedo
throughtheEditmenu.
toolsthatareaccessiblefromtoolbariconsor
Whenaccessedfromthetoolbaricons,bothtoolsprovidetheabilitytoUndo/Redo
multiplecommandsatonetime.Thepulldownarrowtotherightoftheiconopensa
listofmodelingstepswiththemostrecentcommandonthetopofthelist.Double
clickingonaniteminthelistwillUndo/Redobacktothatcommand.
STAAD.ProwillpurgetheUndocacheintheGUIifchangesaremadeinthe
commandfileeditorandtheSavecommandisissued.Nothingthatwasdoneinthe
GUIbeforethecommandfilewaschangedandsavedwillbeavailabletoUndo.
ThereisanUndofeatureinthecommandfileeditor,itself,too,butoncechanges
aresavedandtheeditorisclosed,thatcacheispurgedaswell.TheUndocommand
intheGUIcannotundochangesmadeinthecommandfileeditor.
ClickFile>ClosetoreturntotheStartPage.Itisnotnecessarytosavethecurrent
file.
ModelGeneration
21
AddBeamsTool
OpenthedatasetfilenamedModeling1.stdforreference.
TheAddBeamsicon
ontheGeometrytoolbarprovidesanotherwaytoadd
memberstoamodel.Itwillautomaticallysnaptoexistingnodesinthestructureand
allowabeamtobeaddedbetweentwoexistingnodes,withouttheuseofagrid.
Youshouldnotethefollowing:
TheAddBeamstooladdsonebeamatatime.
TheAddBeamstooldoesnotusethelastnodeasthebeginningforthenext
beam.
Exercise:UsingtheAddBeamstool
1. EnsurethatthedatasetfilenamedModeling1.stdisopen.
2. ClicktheAddBeamsicon
ontheGeometrytoolbar.
Hint: TheAddBeamstoolisalsoaccessiblefromtheMenuBarbyclicking
Geometry>AddBeam>AddBeamfromPointtoPoint.
ThecursorchangestotheAddBeamsCursor.
3. Clickatthelowerleftnodeintheportalframe,andnotethatalinestarts
rubberbandingbetweenthatnodeandthecursorlocation.
4. Clickattheupperrightnode.Asinglememberiscreatedbetweenthosetwo
nodes.
5. Drawtheotherdiagonalinasimilarmanner.
TheAddBeamtoolcanalsobeusedtoaddabeamwherethereisnonode.
6. Clicknearthemiddleofthehorizontalmember.
7. ClickYesinresponsetothepromptaskingifyouwanttoaddanode.
TheInsertNodesintoBeamdialogoffersmanywaystospecifythelocationof
newnodestobeadded.
8. Enter0.5intheProportionfield,andclicktheAddNewPointbutton.Avalueof
3.5000{1.0000}appearsintheInsertionPointsbox.
9. ClickOK.Anewnodeiscreatedatthespecifiedlocation,andthetextpromptin
thelowerleftcornerofthescreenindicatesClickonnodeatstartofbeam.
10. Clickonthenodethatwasjustcreated.Alinestartsrubberbandingbetween
thatnodeandthecursorlocation.
22
ModelGeneration
11. Clicknearthemiddleoftheverticalmemberontheright.
12. ClickYestothepromptaboutaddinganewnode.
13. Thistime,clicktheAddMidPointbutton,andthenclickOK.
14. Clickonthisnewnodetofinishaddingthenewmember.
Hint: AnevenfastermethodwouldbetouseGeometry>AddBeam>Add
BeambetweenMidPoints
Exercise:UsingFlyouttoolbars
Note: NoticetheblacktriangleinthelowerrightcorneroftheAddBeamsicon.
Thisiconindicatesthatthereareadditionalrelatedtoolsavailable
beneaththevisibleicon.Therelatedtoolsaregroupedandhiddenona
flyouttoolbartosavescreenspace.Tochooseadifferenttoolonafly
outtoolbar,takethefollowingsteps:
1. ClickandholdtheleftmousebuttonwhilepointingtotheAddBeamsiconinthe
Geometrytoolbar.
2. Whentheflyouttoolbaropens,keeptheleftmousebuttonpressed,andmove
thecursortopointtothethirdiconfromtheleft(AddBeambetweenMid
Points).
3. Releasethemousebutton.TheAddBeambetweenMidPointsiconisnowthe
visibleicononthetoolbar,makingitavailableforuse.Notethatthisdoesnot
automaticallyactivatethetoolforimmediateuse.Theiconmustbeclickedto
activatethetool.
ModelGeneration
23
Exercise:UsingtheAddBeambetweenMidPointstool
1. ClicktheAddBeambetweenMidPointsicon.ThemessageintheStatusBar
saysSelectFirstBeam.
2. Clickontheverticalmemberontheleft.Thelinestartsrubberbandingfrom
themidpointoftheverticalmember,andthemessageintheStatusBarnow
saysSelectSecondBeam.
3. Clickonthelefthalfofthetophorizontalbeam.
Anotherdiagonalmemberiscreatedasshownbelow:
4. ClicktheAddBeambetweenMidPointsiconagaintoturnthetooloff.
5. ClickFile>ClosetoreturntotheStartPage.Itisnotnecessarytosavethe
currentfile.
24
ModelGeneration
CreatingGeometryUsingtheTables
ThefollowingexercisedescribeshowtocreatestructuregeometryusingtheNodes
andBeamstables.
Exercise:Usingthetablestocreategeometry
1. OpenthedatasetfilenamedModeling2.std.
3. ClicktheBeamsubtab.
Note: Gridswillintentionallybeleftofftoillustratethatthismethodofentering
geometryiscompletelyindependentofgridsystems.
4. Node1hasalreadybeenentered.IntheNodestableintheDataArea,inputthe
remainingcoordinatevalues,asindicatedinthetablebelow.Usethetabor
arrowkeystomovebetweencells.
Node
1
2
3
4
(X,Y,Z)
(0,0,0)
(0,8,0){(0,2.5,0)}
(7,8,0){(2,2.5,0)}
(7,0,0){(2,0,0)}
ThenodesappearintheMainWindowastheircoordinatesareenteredinthe
table.
5. IntheBeamstable,inputthefollowingnodenumbers,usingthetab,cursoror
arrowkeystomovebetweencells:
Beam
1
2
3
4
5
NodeA
1
2
3
1
2
NodeB
2
3
4
3
4
ThebeamsappearintheMainWindowastheirendnodesareenteredinthe
table.Notethatthisbracedframehasbeencreatedcompletelyindependentlyof
anygridsystems.
currentfile.
ModelGeneration
25
UsingtheStructureWizard
StructureWizardisapowerfulandusefulutilityforcreatingstructuresfromabuilt
inlibraryofstandardprototypestructures.
Forademonstrationofsomeofitscapabilities,StructureWizardwillbeusedto
developaportionofthemodelforthestructureshowninthefigurebelow:
Thegeneralprocedurewillbetocreatethestructuregeometryinthreesteps:
1. Getthebasictrussunit
fromStructureWizard.
2. Addacolumn.
3. UsetheMirrorcommand
tocreatetheleftside.This
willbedemonstratedina
latersection.
26
ModelGeneration
Exercise:Creatingthetruss
1. ClickNewProjectfromtheProjectTaskssectionoftheStartPage.
2. ClickSpacetypestructureintheNewdialog.
3. EnterSTRUCTUREWIZARDfortheFileName.
STAAD.Prowillautomaticallyappendthe.stdextension.
4. SelectFoot{Meter}forLengthUnitsandKiloPound{KiloNewton}forForce
Units.
5. ClicktheNextbutton.
6. ClicktheOpenStructureWizardcheckboxintheWheredoyouwanttogo?
dialog,andthenclicktheFinishbutton.
Hint: TheStructureWizardcanalsobeaccessedfromwithinSTAAD.Proatany
timebyusingtheGeometry>RunStructureWizardcommand.
TheSTAAD.Prographicenvironmentnowappears,andtheStructureWizard
windowopens.NotetheradiobuttonoptionstotogglebetweenPrototype
ModelsandSavedUserModels.
STAAD.Proprovidestheabilitytosaveusermodelsinaparametricformatthat
allowsthemtoberecalledandmodifiedquickly.
7. SelectPrototypeModels.
8. ClickFile>SelectUnitsintheStructureWizardsMenuBar.
TheSelectUnitsdialogopensandallowsachoiceofunitsystemstouseinthe
definitionoftheprototypestructure.Thisdoesnotnecessarilyhavetobesetto
thesameunitsasthemainSTAAD.Promodel.Thismakesitpossibletocreatea
prototypeinoneunitsystemandthenmergeitintoamodelwithadifferentunit
system.
9. EnsurethattheunitsaresettoFeet{Meters},andclickOK.
10. ClicktheModelTypelistintheupperleftcornerandnotethebuiltincategories
ofstructureprototypemodelsthatarealreadyavailable.
11. SelectTrussModelsintheModelTypelist.
12. DoubleclicktheNorthLighttrussicontocreatetherighthalfofthetruss
structure.
Hint: Anotheroptiontoselectanyprototypeistodragtheprototypeiconover
totherightsideoftheStructureWizardwindowanddropitwherethe
coordinateaxestripodisdisplayed.
ModelGeneration
27
TheSelectParametersdialogcontainsfieldsforenteringparametricdimensions
forthestructure.Notethattheunitsareinfeet{meters},asexpected.
13. Entervaluesasshowninthefigurebelow:
Note: {Formetricunits,settheLengthdimensionto7.5metersandtheHeight
to3meters.}
Inthisexample,theNo.ofbaysalongwidthissetto0,becauseonlyaplanar
modelisdesired,ratherthanmultipleunitsinthewidthdirection.
14. Clickthebuttonwith3dotsinit
lengthfield.
justtotherightoftheNo.ofbaysalong
Adialogisdisplayedshowingthecurrentbreakdownofbaylengths.Bydefault,
theprogramsetsthebaylengthsequal.Thisdialogpermitstheindividualbay
lengthstoberevisedmanually,butitenforcestheconstraintthatthesumofthe
baylengthsmustremainthesameastheoveralllengthofthetruss.
Forthisexample,leavethebaylengthssettotheirdefaultvalues.
15. ClickOKorCanceltodismissthisdialog.
16. ClicktheApplybuttonintheSelectParametersdialog.Thestructurenow
appearsontherightsideoftheStructureWizardwindow.
Thelocaloriginforthestructureisindicatedbyacoloredcoordinateaxistripod.
Notethelocationoftheoriginandtheorientationofthelocalcoordinateaxes.It
willbeusefultoknowwherethelocaloriginiswhenimportingthestructureinto
theSTAAD.Promodel.Thecoordinateaxistripodshowsthattheoriginislocated
atthelowerleftcornerofthetruss.
Hint: Thestructurecanbeviewedfromvariousanglesbydraggingitwiththe
cursor.TheControl(Ctrl)keyandtheShiftkeycanbeusedtoconstrain
theprototypetorotateinspecificdirections.
28
ModelGeneration
17. Now,fromtheStructureWizardsMenuBar,selectFile>MergeModelwith
STAAD.ProModel.
Hint: IfyoudonotseetheMergeModelwithSTAAD.ProModelcommand,
checktobesurethatyouhaveusedStructureWizardsFilemenu,notthe
FilemenuinSTAAD.ProsMainWindow.
18. ClickYesinthenextdialogtoconfirmtheintenttotransfertheprototype
structureintotheSTAAD.Proproject.
Somediscussionaboutunits
ThepurposeofthePastePrototypeModeldialogistoadjustthepositionofthe
prototypemodelwhenitisplacedintheSTAAD.Promodel.Therefore,theunits
providedinthePastePrototypeModeldialogarecontrolledbytheSetCurrent
DisplayUnitsettingintheSTAAD.ProToolsmenu.(Tools>SetCurrentDisplay
Unit)
Bycontrast,thepurposeoftheSelectParametersdialogistocreatethegeometryof
theprototypewithintheStructureWizard.Therefore,theunitsprovidedinthe
SelectParametersdialogarecontrolledbytheSelectUnitssettingintheStructure
WizardsFilemenu.(File>SelectUnit).
Forthisreason,itispossiblethattheunitsthatcomeupinthePastePrototype
ModeldialogcouldbedifferentthantheunitsthatcomeupintheSelectParameters
dialog.
Bydefault,aprototypemodelwillbeplacedintoaSTAAD.Promodelsothatthe
originoftheprototypemodelcoincideswiththeoriginoftheSTAAD.Promodel.
ThePastePrototypeModeldialogcurrentlyprovidestwomethodstoshiftthe
insertionpointoftheprototypemodeltoalocationotherthan(0,0,0)inthe
STAAD.Promodel:
Bydistancebetweenfollowingtwonodesandspecifyingtworeferencenodes,or
BythefollowingX,Y,andZvaluesandenteringthedesiredcoordinatelocation.
Note: WhenaprototypemodelismergedintoaSTAAD.Promodelthatalready
containssomegeometry,athirdoptionisofferedtospecifytheinsertion
pointoftheprototype.ItisaReferencePtbuttonthatallowsanynodein
theprototypetoactasahandlepointthatcanthenbeinsertedatany
existingnodeintheSTAAD.Promodel.Thisoptionwillbedemonstrated
inalatersection.
ModelGeneration
29
Exercise:UsingthePastePrototypeModeldialog
1. Thetrussistobesupportedby15foot{5meter}columns.Ifthecoordinate
locationofthebottomofthecolumnsistobeatY=0,thenthetrussshouldbe
inserted15feet{5meters}inthepositiveYdirectionfromtheoriginofthe
globalcoordinatesystem.SelecttheBythefollowingX,Y,andZvaluesradio
buttoninthePastePrototypeModeldialog,andenteravalueof15ft{5meters}
intheYfield.
2. ClickOK.
ThestructureistransferredintotheSTAAD.Promodel.TheStructureWizardis
dismissed,andtheSTAAD.ProMainWindowisnowvisible.
3. ClicktheGeometrytabandthentheBeamsubtabinthePageControl.
IntheNodestableintheDataArea,notethattheYcoordinatefornodes1
through5is15ft.{5m},asexpected.
Exercise:Addingthecolumn
Note: Thenextstepincreatingthismodelistoaddthecolumnattheshallow
endofthetruss.Butfirst,thenodeatthebaseofthecolumnmustbe
created.
1. IntheNodestableoftheDataArea,inputthecoordinates(25,0,0){7.5,0,0}on
thelinefornode11.
Thenewlycreatednode11appearsinthestructurediagram.
2. ClickGeometry>AddBeam>AddBeamfromPointtoPoint.
ThecursorchangestotheAddBeamsCursor.
3. Clickthenodeontheshallowendofthetrussandclickagainatthenewnode.
4. ClicktheAddBeams
icontoturntheAddBeamstooloff.
Thistoolremainsactiveuntilitisturnedoff.
currentfile.
Theremainingstepsforcompletingthismodelwillbedemonstratedinalater
section.
30
ModelGeneration
Editing Structure Geometry
EditingStructureGeometry
OpenthedatasetfilenamedModeling3.stdforreferenceinthissection.
STAAD.ProoffersavarietyofcursorsontheSelectiontoolbarforthepurposeof
selectingandeditingthestructuregeometry.Thissectiondescribesand
demonstratestheiruse.
TheSelectiontoolbarisnormallydockedverticallyontheleftsideofthescreen.
HoverthecursoroveranyoftheSelectiontoolbariconsandalabelpopsupwiththe
nameofthetool.
TwelvedifferentcursorsareavailableforselectingthevarioustypesofSTAAD.Pro
entities.Eachcursorselectsspecifictypesofobjectsforeditingormanipulation.
Havingspecificcursorscanbeveryconvenientwhenassigningpropertieswhere
varioustypesofentitiesarecrowdedtogether.
Cursor
Selects
Nodesonly
NodesCursor
BeamsCursor
PlatesCursor
Plateelementsonly
SurfaceCursor
SolidsCursor
Solidelementsonly
GeometryCursor
Alltypesofentities
SelectTextCursor
LoadEditCursor
SupportEditCursor
MemberReleaseEditCursor
FilteredSelectionCursor
SelectJointsCursor
Membersonly
Surfaceentitiesonly
Textlabelsonly
Loadsonly
Supportsonly
Memberreleasesonly
Multipletypesofgeometricentitieswith
specificattributes
ConnectionsdefinedintheRAMConnection
module
ModelGeneration
31
CursorFacts
TheNodesCursorselectsthenearestnodewhenyouclickincloseproximitytoa
node.
TheBeamsCursorselects/deselectsindividualmembersbyclickingonthem.
MultiplemembersareselectedbypressingControl(Ctrl)andclicking.
Hint: ThekeyboardshortcutCtrl+Acanbeusedtoquicklyselectallentities
basedonthecurrentcursorselection.
32
TheGeometryCursorselectsallentitiesinacertainarea,nomatterwhattypeof
entitiestheyare.
TheSelectTextCursorisdisabledorgrayedoutiftherearenotextobjectsin
themodel.
TheFilteredSelectionCursorhelpsquicklyidentifythelocationofentitieswith
certainattributes.ItworkshandinhandwithSelect>ConfigureSelection
Filter.Inthecurrentfileitwouldmakeitpossible,forexample,toselectonly
aluminumW8x35members,orallstainlesssteelmembers.
TheSelectJointsCursorisdisabledorgrayedoutunlessyouareintheRAM
Connectionmoduleandatleastoneconnectionhasbeendefined.
Inadditiontousingthetoolbars,youcanalsochoosecursorsfromtheSelect
menuontheMenuBar.
ClickSelect>SelectionMode,andnotethatthreeoptionsareavailable:Drag
Box,DragLine,andRegion.Thisworkshandinhandwiththecursorchoice.
ThecursorchoicecontrolsWHATitemswillbeselected.TheSelectionMode
controlsHOWthoseitemswillbeselected.
ModelGeneration
CursorSelectionModes
WewillusetheBeamsCursortodemonstratethedifferentSelectionModesthatare
availableforusewithcursors.
DragBoxMode:WhentheBeamsCursorisusedintheDragBoxmode,a
rectangularselectionboxiscreated.Theruleisthatamemberwillbeselectedif
theboxincludesthemidpointofthemember.
DragLineMode:WhentheBeamsCursorisusedintheDragLinemode,it
createsaselectionline.AnybeamcrossedbytheDragLinewillbeselected.
RegionMode:WhentheBeamsCursorisusedintheRegionmode,aselection
polygonofanyshapecanbedrawn.Thepolygonisalwaysclosed,andleft
clickingwiththemouseinsertsadditionalvertices.Doubleclicktostopcreating
moreverticesandexecutetheselection.SimilartoDragBox,amemberwillbe
selectediftheregionincludesthemidpointofthemember.
UsingSelectoptionsfromtheMenuBar
ClickSelectintheMenuBarandnotethevarietyofselectionoptionsthatappearin
thelowerhalfofthemenu.Somehighlightsinclude:
Select>BeamsParallelTo>(XorYorZ)toselectallbeamsthatareparallelto
theselectedaxis.
Select>ByRange>(XYorYZorXZ)toselectallentitiesthatlieentirely
withintherangeofcoordinatevaluesspecifiedforaselectedaxis.Notethatthe
entitiestobeselectedaredependentupontheactivecursor.Forinstance,to
selectnodesbyrange,ensurethattheNodesCursorisactivewhenactivating
thisselectionoption.
Select>ByInverse>InverseBeamSelectiontoinvertthecurrentselection
statusofallbeamsinthemodel.Selectedbeamsbecomedeselectedandvice
versa.
Select>BySpecificationtoselectonthebasisofavarietyofavailable
Specificationitems.
ModelGeneration
33
DeletingMembersGraphically
Todemonstratehowamembercanbedeletedgraphically:
EnsurethattheBeamsCursorisactive.
Selectanymemberbyclickingonit.
PresstheDeletekeyonthekeyboard,orclicktheDeleteiconontheMenuBar,
orclickEdit>Delete.
ClickOKtoconfirm.
Hint: Todeletemultiplemembersatonetime,holdControl(Ctrl)andclickon
allofthememberstobedeleted,thenreleasetheControl(Ctrl)key.
Sometimesdeletingmembersleavesnodeswithnostructuralentitiesattached.
TheseareknownasOrphanNodes,andtheyareaddressedinanupcomingexercise.
Note: IfOrphanNodesarecreatedwhenmembersaredeletedgraphically,
STAAD.Prowillpromptforadecisionastowhetherornottodeletethese
nodes.
UsingtheTablestoDeleteorModifyGeometry
Exercise:DeletingbeamsusingtheBeamstable
2. ClickontheBeamsubtab.
NoticetheNodesandBeamstablesintheDataArearesemblespreadsheets.
Hint: Ifthetablenamesarenotvisible,maketheirwindowswider.
ThesetablesareactuallycompatiblewithMicrosoftExcelworksheets.Theycan
becopiedandpastedintoMicrosoftExcel.Thestructuregeometrycanalsobe
createdinaspreadsheetandthencopiedandpastedintoSTAAD.Pro.
Hint: WhenpastingfromExcel,selectthefirstrowintheSTAAD.Protable,
rightmouseclick,andchoosePaste.Usethecolumnmappingtableto
mapthedataintotheappropriatecolumns.
TabledatacanalsobecopiedandpastedfromRAMElementsintoSTAAD.Pro.
Thesetablesarecompletelyinteractivewiththegraphicsdisplay.
3. ClickonanymemberwiththeBeamsCursor.
Thecorrespondingmemberinthetableishighlighted.
34
ModelGeneration
4. FencearoundanynodewiththeNodesCursor.
ThelineintheNodestablecorrespondingtothatnodebecomeshighlighted.
5. ClickanyrowintheBeamsorNodestablesandthecorrespondingbeamornode
ishighlightedinthegraphicdisplay.
6. ChangeoneofthecoordinatesintheNodestableandwatchthedisplaychange,
thenchangeitbacktoitsoriginalvalue.
7. DeleteanylinefromtheBeamstableandnotetheeffectinthegraphicdisplay.
8. ClickUndotogetthebeamback.
Note: IfOrphanNodesarecreatedwhenmembersaredeletedfromthe
spreadsheet,STAAD.Prodoesnotautomaticallypromptforadecisionas
towhethertodeletethemornot.However,theycanbeautomatically
detectedwithTools>OrphanNodes>Highlight,ortheycanbe
automaticallydeletedwithTools>OrphanNodes>Delete.Thesetools
aredemonstratedinanupcomingexercise.
9. ClickFile>ClosetoreturntotheStartPage.
10. ClickNowhenaskedifyouwanttosave.
UsingtheSTAAD.ProEditortoModifyStructureGeometry
Asyoucreateyourstructureusingthegraphicinterface,STAAD.Proconvertsyour
actionsintoacommandlanguageandstorestheminacommandfile,asimpletext
fileinASCIIformat.
STAAD.Proappendsthecommandfilewiththeextension.std.
ExperiencedSTAAD.Prousersoftenfindthatiftheyjustwanttomakeaquick
changetoavalue,itiseasiertoeditthevalueinthecommandfile,ratherthan
modifyingitwiththegraphicinterface.
EarlyreleasesofSTAADdidnotincludeagraphicaluserinterface(GUI).Allprogram
inputhadtobeperformedbywritingstatementsinacommandfile.
TheSTAAD.ProExamplesmanualcontainstwentynineexampleproblemsand
fourteenverificationproblemscreatedusingtheinputfileastheprimaryinput
method.Youcanstudytheseexamplesifyouwishtolearnhowtowriteorinterpret
STAAD.Procommandfiles.
Youcanalsoissueacommandusingthegraphicinterface,andthenopenthe
commandfiletoseetheequivalentcommandlanguage.
ModelGeneration
35
Exercise:UsingtheSTAAD.ProEditor
2. OpentheeditorbyclickingEdit>EditInputCommandFileorbyclickingthe
STAADEditor
iconontheFiletoolbar.
WhileanystandardtexteditorcanbeusedtocreateoredittheSTAAD.Proinput
file,theSTAAD.Procommandfileeditorofferstwoadvantages:syntaxchecking
andcolorcodingbycontext.
3. ReviewtheSTAADEditor.IntheSTAAD.Proeditor,STAAD.Prokeywords,
numericdata,comments,etc.,aredisplayedindistinctcolors:
Red
Black
Blue
Green
=Commands
=Userdefinedtextlabelsandnames
=Numericalvalues
=Remarksandcomments
Thecommandlanguagesyntaxcanbeinterpretedwithrelativeease.For
instance,fromtheJointCoordinatesstatement,youcanseethatthenode
definitionsconsistofnodenumbersfollowedbytheXYZcoordinates.Nodedata
fieldsareseparated(delimited)bysemicolons(;).
4. Findthecoordinatesofnodenumber3,andedittheYcoordinatefrom8to12
{from2.5to4}.
5. ClickFile>SaveandthenFile>ExitintheSTAADEditorsMenuBar(notthe
STAAD.ProMenuBar).
6. ClicktheGeometrytabinthePageControl.
Notethatnodenumber3inthegraphicdisplayhasmoved.TheNodetablein
theDataAreanowshowsavalueof12{4}fortheYcoordinateofnodenumber
3.
Hint: Remembertonevermakechangesinthecommandfileandinthe
graphicsinputmodesimultaneously.Alwaysbesuretosaveandclose
thecommandfilebeforegoingbacktoworkingonthemodelinthe
graphicinterface.
currentfile.
36
ModelGeneration
MergingMembers
Exercise:Mergemultiplemembersintoone
2. UsethekeyboardcombinationShift+BtoturnonBeamNumbersandShift+K
toturnonNodePoints.Wewilldiscusstheseshortcutsinmoredetaillater.
Noticethatthetophorizontalbeamissegmentedintothreeindividualmembers
ofvariouslengths,withtwointermediatenodes.Thiswascausedbymembers
thatweremodeledandthensubsequentlydeleted.
Sincethereisnolongerareasontomaintainthoseparticularintermediate
nodes,theycanberemoved,andtheindividualmemberscanbemergedinto
one.
3. SelectthethreehorizontalmemberswiththeBeamsCursor.
4. ClickGeometry>MergeSelectedMembers.
TheMergeSelectedBeamsdialogopens,andthethreemembernumbersare
listed.
Thedropdownlistboxesprovideaconvenientwaytoidentifywhichvaluesto
maintainforitemslikeBeamNumber,Property,etc.,afterthemergetakes
place.Forthepurposeofthisexercise,theseitemscanallbeleftattheirdefault
values.
5. ClickMergeandClose.
Thetopthreehorizontalmembershavenowbeenconsolidatedintoone
member.
ModelGeneration
37
SplittingaBeamintotwoormoreMembers
Exercise:Splitonememberintothree
1. Keepthesamefileopen,oropenthedatasetfilenamedModeling6.std.
2. Assumethatthetophorizontalmemberneedstobesegmentedintothree,
equallengthsegments.
3. Selectthetophorizontalmember.
4. ClickGeometry>SplitBeam.
TheInsertNodesintoBeamdialogdisplaysthemembernumberandlength.It
containsthreeoptionsforspecifyingwheretoinsertnewnodesalongthebeam:
AddNewPoint:Distancefromthestartingendofthemembertothenew
nodecanbeenteredintheDistancefield,oraratiocanbeenteredinthe
Proportionfield,wherethevaluerepresentsdistancefromthestartingend
ofthemembertothenewnodedividedbythetotallength,expressedasa
decimalvalue.
AddMidPoint:Createsanewnodeatthemidpointofthemember.
AddnPoints:Createsnnewnodesequallyspacedalongthelengthofthe
member,wherethevalueofnisspecifiedinthen=field.Theprogram
dividesthebeaminton+1equallengthsegments,separatedbynnodes.
5. Enteravalueof2inthen=field.
6. ClickAddnPoints.
7. ClickOK.
currentfile.
Hint: Geometry>InsertNodeandGeometry>SplitBeamareidentical
commandsprovidedforconvenience.
Hint: TheInsertNodecommandisalsoaccessiblethroughthemenuthatpops
upfromarightclickofthemouseintheMainWindow.
Note: NotethattheInsertNodecommandwillnotappearinthepopupmenu
unlessatleastonememberhasbeenselected.
38
ModelGeneration
WorkingwithIntersectingMembers
Justbecausetwomemberscrosseachothergraphicallydoesnotmeanthereisa
connectionbetweentheminaSTAAD.Promodel.Itispermissibletomodelcrossing
membersinSTAAD.Pro,anditisuptoourdiscretiontodecidewhetherthecrossing
membersshouldbeconsideredtobeconnectedattheircrossingpointornot.
STAAD.Proprovidessometoolstohelplocatecrossingmembersandtohelpcreate
astructuralconnectionatthecrossingpointifdesired.
Exercise:Identifycrossingmembers
Eveninarelativelysmallmodellikethisone,itcansometimesbedifficultto
determinewhetherthereareanycrossingmembersornot.Toassistinfinding
anyiftheyexist,STAAD.Proprovidesatoolthathighlightscrossingmembersif
anyexist.
2. ClickGeometry>IntersectSelectedMembers>Highlight.
TheEnterTolerancefieldintheIntersectMembersdialogisanoptionthrough
whichtotelltheprogramtofindthepointofclosestapproachbetweentwo
lines.Ifthedistancebetweenthemembersatthispointislessthanthe
Tolerancevalue,theyarehighlighted.Thiscanbeusefulinsituationswhere
mathematicalprecisioncausesthetwolinestobeindifferentplanes.
Forlinesthattrulyintersecteachother,theTolerancecanbesettozero,andthe
intersectmemberscommandwillfunctionproperly.
3. LeavetheEnterTolerancesetto0andclickOK.
Theresultrevealsfourhighlightedmembers.Twodiagonalscrosseachotherin
thefrontplaneandtwocrosseachotherintherearplane.
Iftheintentwastocreateaconnectioninbothinstances,thenwecould
immediatelyissuethenextcommandtoautomaticallycreatethatconnection.
Butratherthandothat,letsexplorehowthenextcommandcouldbeusedto
selectivelycreateconnectionsatsomelocationsandnotaltertheframing
configurationatotherlocations.
ModelGeneration
39
Exercise:Intersectselectedmembers
Note: Assumethattheintentisforthebracingmembersinthefrontplaneto
beconnectedandtotransferloadattheirintersection,whileleavingthe
bracingmembersintherearplaneastheyarecurrentlymodeled.
1. SelectonlythetwodiagonalmembersintheXYplaneintheforegroundwiththe
BeamsCursor.
2. ClickGeometry>IntersectSelectedMembers>Intersect.
3. LeavetheEnterTolerancesetto0andclickOK.
4. ClickOKtoacknowledgethemessageboxindicatingthattwonewbeamshave
beencreated.
Theselecteddiagonalmembershaveeachbeensplitintotwomembers,anda
newnodenowexistsattheintersectionpoint.
currentfile.
40
ModelGeneration
RenumberingBeamsandNodes
Havingmembersandnodesinconsecutivenumericalorderisnotarequirementfor
STAAD.Pro,butitcanbeaconvenienceininterpretingresultsoutput.
Exercise:Renumberingbeamsintoconsecutivenumericalorder(eliminating
thegapsinnumbering)
2. ClickontheGeometrytabinthePageControlarea.TheBeamsubtabisactive
bydefault.
3. UsethekeyboardcombinationShift+BtoturnonBeamNumbers.
TheBeamstableshowsthatthemembernumbersarenotinconsecutive
numericalorderduetoediting.
4. ClickSelect>ByAll>AllBeams.
5. ClickGeometry>Renumber>Members.
6. ClickYesinthenextdialogtoproceedbyconfirmingthatrenumberingisan
irreversibleoperation.
7. Keepthevaluesetto1intheStartnumberingfromfieldoftheRenumberdialog.
8. KeeptheNewNumberingOrdersettoAscending.
Theremainingcontrolsinthisdialogprovidecriteriaforrenumberingandallow
theassignmentofahierarchy,orsortingorder,duringtherenumbering
process.
9. ClickMemberNo.fromtheAvailableSortCriteriacolumnandmoveittothe
rightbyclicking soMemberNo.appearsunderSelectedSortCriteria.
Thisistheonlysortcriteriarequiredtoaccomplishthegoalofeliminatingthe
gapsinthemembernumbering.
10. ClicktheAcceptbutton.
11. ClickOKtoacknowledgethatsomemembershavebeenrenumbered.
TheBeamstableshowsthatbeamnumbersnowrunconsecutivelyfrom1to11.
ModelGeneration
41
Now,thegapsinthebeamnumberingsequencehavebeeneliminated,butnotice
thedistributionofthemembers.Beam1occursinthelowerleftcornerofthe
model,andthenextbeamoccursattheoppositecorner.Again,thisdoesnt
representaproblemforSTAAD.Prosabilitytoanalyzeanddesign.Butitmightbe
moreconvenientifmembernumbersweresomewhatmoreorganizedinthemodel.
WewillnowuseadditionalsortingoptionsintheRenumberdialogthatwillhelpus
achievethisorganization.
Exercise:Renumberingbeamsintoamorelogicalphysicalorder
2. ClickGeometry>Renumber>Members.
3. ClickYesinthenextdialogtoproceedbyconfirmingthatrenumberingisan
irreversibleoperation.
4. Keepthevaluesetto1intheStartnumberingfromfieldoftheRenumberdialog.
5. KeeptheNewNumberingOrdersettoAscending.
6. ClickXCoordinateandYCoordinatefromtheAvailableSortCriteriacolumnand
movethemtotherightbyclicking sotheybothappearunderSelectedSort
Criteria.
7. Ifnecessary,usethesmallblackuparrowanddownarrowiconstoorderthelist
sothatXCoordinateisonthetopofthelistandYCoordinateisonthebottom.
ThismeansthattherenumberingwillbebasedprimarilyontheXcoordinate(of
themidpoint)ofeachmember.Incaseswherethemidpointofmorethanone
memberhasthesameXcoordinate,thenthesecondarysortcriteriaoftheY
coordinatewillbeevaluatedtoestablishthenumberingorderforthose
members.
8. ClicktheAcceptbutton.
9. ClickOKtoacknowledgethatsomemembershavebeenrenumbered.
TheStructureDiagramnowshowsthatthemembernumberingfollowsalogical
andorderlyprogression.Themembernumbersgenerallygethigherasyoumove
inthepositiveXdirection,andincaseswheremorethanonemembersharesthe
sameXcoordinate,themembernumbersgethigherasyoumoveinthepositive
Ydirection.
currentfile.
Note: Ananalogouscommandsequencescouldalsobeappliedtorenumber
thenodesinamodelifdesired.
Note: Beamsandnodescanalsoberenumberedbyeditingthecommandfile.
42
ModelGeneration
UsingCopyandPasteonNodes
Exercise:Copyingandpastingnodes
2. UsethekeyboardcombinationShift+NtoshowNodeNumbers.
Assumethatthegoalistoadda2.5foot{0.75meter}longhorizontalcantilever
ontheleftsideofnode6.
3. Clickonnodenumber6withtheNodesCursor
4. ClickEdit>Copy.
NotethatnexttotheCopycommand,thecorrespondingshortcutkeyCtrl+Cis
shownontherightsideoftheEditmenu.
Hint: ThisisastandardWindowsshortcuttotheCopycommand.Insteadof
selectingEdit>Copy,youcanalsoholddowntheControl(Ctrl)keyand
presstheCkey.
5. ClickEdit>PasteNodes.
Hint: AnotheralternativeistorightclickandchoosePasteNodes,orsimply
usethestandardshortcutkeyCtrl+V.
6. Enteravalueof2.5{0.75}intheXfieldofthePastewithMovedialog,andthen
clickOK.
Anodenumber10isaddedtothemodel.
7. PressShift+KtodisplaytheNodePointsiftheyarenotclearlyvisible.
8. ClickGeometry>AddBeam>AddBeamfromPointtoPoint.
9. Clickonnode6andthenclickonnode10tocreatethecantilever.
ModelGeneration
43
UsingCopyandPasteonMembers
Exercise:Copyingandpastingmembers
1. Continueworkinginthecurrentmodel,oropenthedatasetfilenamed
Modeling10.std.
2. IfNodeNumbersarenotcurrentlyvisible,usethekeyboardcombinationShift+
N.
Nowassumethatacantileveristobeaddedatthetopofthisbracedframe,
similartothecantileveratmidheight.
3. ClickontheGeometrytabinthePageControlarea.TheBeamsubtabwillbe
activebydefault.
4. NotethattheNodestableindicatesthattherearecurrently10nodesinthe
model.
5. SelectthecantileverontheleftsideofthebracedframeusingtheBeamsCursor.
6. ClickEdit>Copy.
7. ClickEdit>PasteBeams.
Ifthedistancebetweennode6andnode2isknown,thenitcouldbeenteredin
thefieldfortheYmovevalueinthePastewithMovedialog.Inthiscase,itis
easiertousetheotheroption.
8. ChecktheBydistancebetweenfollowingtwonodesradiobutton.
9. Enter6forNode1and2forNode2,andthenclickOK.
Anewcantileverisaddedatthelevelofthetopofthebracedframe.
Note: TheNodestablenowindicatesthatthereare11nodesinthemodel.The
significanceofthisisthatSTAAD.Proautomaticallyhandlesthecondition
atnode2,anddoesnotallowthePastewithMovecommandtocreatea
duplicatenodeatthatlocation.
Note: TheCopyandPasteBeamscommandscanalsobeusedtocopyandpaste
agroupofmembersallatonetime.
44
ModelGeneration
OptiontoSplitMemberifNewNodeisAddedonMember
ThisnextsectiondemonstratesanimportantsettinginSTAAD.Prothataffectsthe
waytheprogrambehaves.WhenmodelingwithaproceduresuchasCopyandPaste
tocreatenewnodesonexistingmembers,youcancontrolwhetherthosenodes
shouldautomaticallycausethemembertobesplitornot.
Exercise:ObservetheeffectsoftheSplitmemberifnewnodeisaddedonthe
membersetting
1. Continueworkinginthecurrentmodel,oropenthedatasetfilenamed
Modeling11.std.
2. ClickView>OptionsandthenselectToleranceintheOptionsdialog.
3. DeselectthecheckboxfortheoptiontoSplitmemberifnewnodeisaddedon
themember,asshowninthefigurebelow,andthenclickOK.
ModelGeneration
45
4. ClickthecantileverattherooflevelwiththeBeamsCursortoselectit.
5. ClickEdit>Copy.
6. ClickEdit>PasteBeams.
7. ChecktheBythefollowingX,Y,andZvaluesradiobutton,enter2ft{1m}in
theYinputfield,andclickOK.
8. UsetheBeamsCursortoselecttheuppersegmentoftheleftcolumn,andnote
thatitisstillasinglememberspanningbetweennodes2and6.
Thisindicatesthattheendofthenewlycreatedcantileverisnotconnectedto
thecolumn.Inorderforproperloadtransfertooccur,thecantilevermustbe
connectedtoanodethatiscommontoboththecolumnandthecantilever.To
demonstrateaneasywaytoaccomplishthis,takethefollowingsteps:
9. ClickUndoonce.
10. ClickView>OptionsandthenselectToleranceintheOptionsdialog.
11. Thistime,selectthecheckboxfortheoptiontoSplitmemberifnewnodeis
addedonthemember,andthenclickOK.
12. RepeattheCopyandPasteBeamsprocedure,andthenusetheBeamsCursorto
selectindividualcolumnsegmentsandnotethedifference.
WhentheSplitmembersifcheckboxisselected,thecolumnissplitandthe
cantileverisproperlyconnectedtothecolumn.
currentfile.
46
ModelGeneration
MirroringStructureGeometry
TheMirrorcommandwillbeusedtocompletethemodelthatwasstartedearlierin
theUsingtheStructureWizardsection.
Exercise:Creatingmirroredgeometry
2. Selectallbeamsinthemodel.
3. ClickGeometry>Mirror.
Hint: ThiscommandcanalsobeaccessedbyusingtheGenerateMirroricon,
,ontheGeneratetoolbar.
TheMirrordialogopens.Thisdialogcontainsaschematicdiagramtohelp
explaintheuseofthecontroloptions.
4. ClicktheYZradiobuttonintheMirrorPlanecategory,toindicatethatthe
mirrorplanewillbeparalleltotheYZplane.
5. LeavethePlanePositionatitspresentsettingofPlaneatX=0.
Inthiscasethemirrorplanegoesthroughtheorigin,soitislocatedcorrectlyby
thedefaultvalue.NotethatthePlanePositioncategoryalsoprovidestheability
tolocatethemirrorplanegraphicallybyclickingonanodethatliesintheplane
usingtheHighlightNodesicon,
6. ClicktheCopyradiobuttonintheGenerateModecategory.
Inthiscasetheintentistocreatethefulltrussbymirroringandcopyingthefirst
half.
7. LeavetheMirrorMemberOrientationoptiondeselected.
ThisoptionisdiscussedindetailinanotherModule.
8. ClickOK.Theotherhalfofthetrussismirrored,andthedisplayreturnstothe
MainWindow.
9. ClickinsidetheMainWindowtodeselectallmembers.
Note: NotethattheMirrorcommanddoesnotcreateaduplicatememberor
duplicatenodesatthecenterofthetruss.STAAD.Prowillnotduplicate
anymembersthatlieinthemirrorplane.TohaveSTAAD.Proprovethis
foryou,followthestepbystepinstructionsbelow.
ModelGeneration
47
Exercise:Verifyingtheabsenceofduplicatenodes
1. ClickTools>CheckDuplicate>Nodes.
2. Leave0intheEnterTolerancefieldintheRemoveDuplicateNodesdialog,and
clickOK.
Amessageboxappearsconfirmingthatnoduplicatenodeswerefound.
3. ClickOKtodismissthemessage.
4. ClickTools>CheckDuplicate>Members.
Amessageboxappearsconfirmingthatnoduplicatememberswerefound.
5. ClickOKtodismissthemessage.
currentfile.
48
ModelGeneration
UsingTranslationalRepeat
TranslationalRepeatisanotherwayofcreatingmultiplecopiesofmembers,andit
hassomeadvantagesoversimplycopyingandpastingthemembers.
NotethataverycommonmistakeinSTAAD.Proistoopenadialoglikethe3D
Repeatdialogthatactsonamemberorgroupofmembers,withoutfirstselecting
anymembers.
Alwaysstartbyselectingthememberstobeoperatedonbeforeselecting
TranslationalRepeat,oranyothercommandthatdoessomethingtoselected
members.
Ifnomembersareselectedinitially,adialogsimilartothefollowingwillbedisplayed
whentheOKbuttonisclicked:
STAAD.Proallowsthewarningmessageboxtobedismissed,andthememberstobe
selectedwithoutclosingtheTranslationalRepeatdialog.
Supposethegoalistomodeltwoadditionalportalframes,15feet{4.5meters}
apart,andtolinktheportalframeswithmembersconnectingthecolumns,thefree
endsofthecantilevers,andtheintermediatenodesalongtheroofmember,butwe
donotwantanygradebeamslinkingtheportalframesatthebasesofthecolumns.
Intheexercisebelow,wewillmodeltheseframes.
Exercise:UsingTransitionalRepeat
3. ClickGeometry>TranslationalRepeat,orclickontheTranslationalRepeat
icon
ontheGeneratetoolbar.
4. ClicktheZradiobuttonintheGlobalDirectioncategoryofthe3DRepeatdialog.
5. Setthevalueto2intheNo.ofStepslist.
ModelGeneration
49
6. Enter15{4.5}intheDefaultStepSpacingfield,andpresstheTabkeytoseethe
changereflectedintheStep/Spacingtable.
Notethatthespacingvalueslistedinthetablecouldbeeditedindividually,if
variablestepspacingswererequired.
7. ToggleontheLinkStepscheckbox.
ThiscausestheprogramtocreatetransversemembersintheZdirection,
connectingallnodesontheportalframes.
NoticethattheOpenBasecheckboxbecomesactivewhentheLinkSteps
checkboxistoggledon.
8. ToggleontheOpenBasecheckbox.
Thispreventsthegenerationofmembersconnectingthebasesoftheportal
framecolumns.
TheGenerationFlagscategorycontrolstheitemsthatarecopiedwhenthe
TranslationalRepeatcommandisused.
TherearethreeoptionsforGenerationFlags:All,GeometryOnly,orGeometry
andPropertyOnly.Thefollowingtableindicateswhichitemsdoanddonotget
copiedinaTranslationalRepeatbasedontheGenerationFlagssetting.
All
GeometryOnly
MembersandNodes
Yes
Yes
Geometryand
PropertyOnly
Yes
Materials(ex.Steel)
Yes
No
Yes
Properties(ex.section
andbetaangle)
MemberSpecifications
(ex.trussandmember
releases)
Supports
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
Loads
Yes
No
No
9. KeepthedefaultsettingofAllintheGenerationFlagscategory.
10. ClicktheRenumberBaycheckbox.
AnewcolumnlabeledNumberFromappearsinthetable.Thisisawayof
providingauserspecifiedstartingnumberforthemembersgeneratedineachof
thesteps.
50
ModelGeneration
11. Enteravalueof101intheNumberFromcolumnforStep1,andenter201for
Step2.
12. ClickOK.
13. ClickYestoacknowledgethedialogwarningthatthisisanirreversibleoperation.
Theadditionalcopiesarecreatedalongwiththehorizontallinkingmembersas
requestedbytheLinkStepsoption.Notethatnolinkingmemberswere
generatedatthebaseduetotheOpenBaseoption.
14. ClicktheRotateUpicon twice,andnotethathorizontalmemberswere
generatedbetweentheintersectionsofthediagonalbracing.Ifthesetwo
memberswerenotdesired,theycouldbedeleted.
15. UsethekeyboardshortcutShift+KtoturnonNodePoints.
Notethatnodeswereautomaticallycopied,eventhoughonlybeamswere
selected.
16. UsethekeyboardshortcutShift+BtoturnonBeamNumbers.
Note: Themembernumbersrangefrom1through13intheoriginalportal
frame,101through113inthefirstcopy,and201through213inthe
secondcopyasrequestedbytherenumberbayoption.
Note: TranslationalRepeathastwoadvantagesoverthesimpleCopyPaste
Beamstechnique:1)itallowsmorethanonecopytobecreatedina
singleoperation;and2)thenewlycreatedmemberscanbeautomatically
linkedtoeachotherwithnewmembers.
currentfile.
ModelGeneration
51
UsingCircularRepeat
TheCircularRepeatcommandisusefulforcreatingstructuresthatareradially
symmetrical.ItsfunctionandusagearesimilartotheTranslationalRepeat
command.
Exercise:UsingCircularRepeat
2. UsethekeyboardcombinationShift+BtoturnonBeamNumbers.
3. Clickmember13(thetallestcolumn)withtheBeamsCursor.
4. ClickSelect>ByInverse>InverseBeamSelectiontoselecteverythingEXCEPT
member13.
5. ClickGeometry>CircularRepeat.
6. LeavetheAxisofRotationsettothe(global)Yaxisinthe3DCirculardialog.
TheThroughcategoryprovidesthreemethodstospecifyapointthroughwhich
theAxisofRotationmustpass:byclickingonanode,byenteringanode
number,orbyprovidingthecoordinates.
7. ClicktheHighlightNodeicon ,thenclickonnode#11(thenodeatthe
bottomofthetallestcolumn).
Thenumber11appearsintheNodefield.TheXCoordinatefieldreportsavalue
of20{6},andtheZCoordinatefieldreportsavalueof0.
8. ActivatetheUsethisasReferencePointforBetaanglegenerationcheckbox.
Thisoptionisexplainedbelow.
52
ModelGeneration
Assumethatthewebofacolumn(inastructuretobecopiedwithCircular
Repeat)isorientedsothatitpointsthroughtheAxisofRotation.Ifthecheckbox
forUsethisasReferencePointforBetaanglegenerationisactivated,thenthe
webofthatcolumnwillberotatedascopiesaregenerated,sothatthewebsof
thecolumnsinallofthecopiesalsopointthroughtheAxisofRotation,asshown
below.
IfthecheckboxforUsethisasReferencePointforBetaanglegenerationisnot
activated,thenthewebsofthecolumnsinallcopieswillremainparalleltothe
weboftheoriginalcolumn,asshownbelow.
ModelGeneration
53
9. LeavetheTotalAnglesettoitsdefaultvalueof360degrees.
TotalAngleistheanglesubtendedbythearcthroughwhichthecopiesare
rotated.Apositiveanglevaluerotatesthecopiesinthepositivedirectionofthe
chosenaxis(righthandrule).
10. SettheNo.ofStepsto8.
No.ofStepsdeterminesthenumberofcopiesoftheselectedgeometrythat
STAAD.Prowillgenerate.TheprogramdividestheTotalAnglebytheNo.ofSteps
specified,andplacescopiesoftheselectedgeometryatthedivisionpoints.
11. ToggleontheLinkStepsandOpenBasecheckboxes,andleavetheGeometry
Onlycheckboxdeselected.
SeethesectionontheTranslationalRepeatcommandfordetailedexplanations
oftheseoptions.
12. ClickOK.
STAAD.Procreateseightframesarrangedsymmetricallyabout(20,0,0){(6,0,
0)}.
13. UsethekeyboardshortcutShift+BtotoggleoffthedisplayofBeamNumbers.
Notethattheprogramdoesnotcreateduplicatemembersatthe8thstepofthe
360degreeTotalAnglespecified,sincetheoriginalmembersarealreadythere.
Theprogramactuallycreatedonly7copiesoftheselectedgeometryratherthan
8.
IftheTotalAnglehadbeensetto315degreesandonly7stepshadbeen
requested,theresultingstructurewouldhavebeensimilar,exceptthattheLink
Stepsoptionwouldnothavelinkedthe7thstepat315degreestotheoriginal
frameat0degrees.
Theselectiontobecopiedincludedeverymemberexceptforthetallestcolumn
atthecenterofthecircularrepeat.Notethateveniftheentireframehadbeen
selected,includingthetallestcolumn,STAAD.Prowouldnothavegenerated
duplicatemembersatthatcentercolumnlocation.
currentfile.
54
ModelGeneration
IdentifyingandRemovingOrphanNodes
Orphannodesarethosenodeswithnostructuralattachmenttotherestofthe
model.Theycanbecreated,forexample,byinadvertentclicksonagridduring
modelingorbyincompleteeditingintheSTAADInputFileEditor.Theymayalsobe
intentionallycreatedtoservepurposessuchasactingasaworkingpointfora
circulargeneration,actingasareferencepointforinsertionofadditionalgeometry,
oractingasaconvenienthandlepointformovingorcopyinggeometry.
Althoughtheymayserveavalidpurposeforsomemodelingsteps,thepresenceof
orphannodesmaycausetheprogramtofailtoanalyzethestructuresuccessfully.
Goodpracticedictateseliminatinganyorphannodespriortorunningananalysis.
STAAD.Proprovidessometoolstohelplocateorphannodesandtoremovethemif
desired.
Exercise:IdentifyingandremovingOrphanNodes
2. UsingtheBeamsCursor,selectthetwocantileveredmembersontheleftsideof
themodel.
3. ClickEdit>Delete.
4. ClickOKinthewarningboxthatindicatesthat2beamswillbedeleted.
Note: BecausethismodelingworkisbeingdoneintheGUI,STAAD.Proprovides
asecondwarningboxtoindicatethatdeletingsomebeamshascreated
someorphannodes.Itgoesontooffertoautomaticallydeletethese
nodes.Thesewarningsareconvenient,butbearinmindthatSTAAD.Pro
cannotofferthesewarningsiforphannodesarecreatedasaresultof
editingintheSTAADInputFileEditor.
5. ClickNointhewarningboxthatofferstoautomaticallydeletetheorphannodes.
Therearenowtwoorphannodesthatusedtodefinethefreeendsofthe
cantilevers,buttheymaynotbeobvious,eveninthisrelativelysimplemodel.
Thenextstepwillbetouseatoolthatwillautomaticallysearchfororphan
nodesandhighlightthemgraphicallytomakethemobvious.
6. ClickTools>OrphanNodes>Highlight.
Nowthattwoorphannodesaregraphicallyobvious,wecoulddecidetokeep
oneorbothfornow,ordeletethemboth.Letsassumewewanttodeleteboth
now.
7. ClickTools>OrphanNodes>Remove.
ModelGeneration
55
8. Finally,nowthatweknowtherearenoorphannodesinthismodel,clickTools>
OrphanNodes>HighlightagaintoseethemessageSTAAD.Prodisplayswhenit
findsnoorphannodesinamodel.
9. ClickOKtodismissthedialog.
currentfile.
CombiningtwoSTAAD.ProModelsbyCopyandPaste
Thefollowingstepsoutlineaproceduretousecopyandpastemethodstocombine
thetwosimpleframemodelsshownbelowfromseparateSTAAD.Promodels.
TheproceduredescribedherecanalsobeusedforinsertingaStructureWizard
modelintoanexistingSTAAD.Promodel.
56
ModelGeneration
Exercise:CombiningtwoSTAAD.Promodels
2. Selectallmembersinthemodel.
3. ClickEdit>Copy.
4. ClickFile>Close.
6. ClickEdit>PasteBeamstoopenthePastewithMovedialog.
7. ClickReferencePtinthePastewithMovedialog.
TheSpecifyReferencePointdialogopensshowingagraphicofthebracedframe
model.
Apromptinthedialogindicatesclickonthenodetoactasthereferencepoint.
Thenodeinthelowerlefthandcorneriscurrentlyselected,butitishiddenby
thecoordinateaxistripod.
8. Usethearrowkeysonthekeyboardtorotatethestructureuntilthenodeatthe
lowerlefthandcorneroftheframeisvisible.
ThecurrentlyhighlightednodeservesastheReferencePoint.
9. ClickonanyothernodetoseehowSTAAD.ProhighlightstheselectedReference
Point.Thenclickbackonthenodeinthelowerlefthandcorner,andclickOK.
ThecursorchangestotheConnectionPointCursor.Apromptinthelowerleft
handcornerofthescreenindicates,Clickonnodetomovereferencepointto.
10. Clickonthetopofthelefthandcolumn.ThePastewithMovedialogreappears,
confirmingthenewYcoordinatevalueof10feet{3meters}.
11. ClickOK.
Thetwomodelsaremergedatthedefinedconnectionpoint.Theynowboth
existinthesamemodel,whichcouldbefurtheredited,saved,etc
currentfile.
ModelGeneration
57
Thisexampleobviouslyusesverysimplemodelstodemonstratethecopyandpaste
function,butamorerealisticrealworldapplicationforthisfunctionmightbea
complexmodel,where:
AcommongridisestablishedandsharedbyusingSaveAsorbyexportingthe
gridfile,sothat:
MultipleSTAAD.Promodelsaregeneratedbasedontheoriginalgrid,and
Multipleengineersworkondifferentportionsofthestructuresimultaneouslyin
separatefiles,until
Individualfilesarecombinedintoonesinglemodelusingcopyandpaste
methods,where
Finalmodelingstepscanbecompleted,and
Theentirestructureisanalyzedanddesigned.
Note: STAAD.Proofferstheabilitytosimultaneouslyrunmultipleseparate
instancesoftheprogram.Sowhenperformingacopyandpasteas
demonstratedabove,itisalsopermissibletoleavebothinstancesof
STAAD.Proopen.
58
ModelGeneration
Viewing Structure Geometry
ViewingStructureGeometry
STAAD.Proprovidesavarietyoftoolsandsettingsthatcanbehelpfulinvisualizing
structuregeometryanddisplayinginformationaboutamodel.Thefollowingsection
willhighlightsomeofthemostcommonlyusedoptions.
WorkingwithStructuralToolTip
StructuralToolTipprovidesawaytodisplayselectedinformationaboutanentityby
hoveringtheappropriatecursorontheentityofinterest.
Exercise:SelectingStructuralToolTipoptions
2. MakesuretheBeamsCursorisactive.
3. Hoverthecursoroverthehorizontalmember.TheStructuralToolTippopsupto
displaysomeinformationaboutthebeam.
TheinformationdisplayedbyStructuralToolTipisconfigurablebytheuser.
4. ClickView>StructuralToolTipOptions.
NotethatStructuralToolTipcanbecompletelyturnedoffifdesired.TheTip
Delaycanbeadjustedtocontrolthedelaytimebeforethetooltipisdisplayed.
TheTipDelayisinunitsofmilliseconds,so500=seconddelay.
NotethatStructuralToolTipsettingsareavailabletoindividuallycontrolthe
displayofinformationforNodes,Beams,Plates,Solids,andSurfaces.
5. ClickBeamintheToolcategory.
Notetheoptionsthatareavailabletodisplayforbeams.
6. MakesurethatNumberandLengthareselectedintheOptionscategory,and
thenclickOK.
7. Hoverthecursoroverthehorizontalmemberagain,andnotethatthetooltip
nowprovidesthebeamnumberandthememberlength.
8. Leavethisfileopenforuseinthenextsection.
ModelGeneration
59
WorkingwiththeQueryFunction
AnotherwaytoobtaininformationaboutentitiesinamodeliswiththeQuery
function,whichislaunchedbydoubleclickingonanentityofinterestwiththe
correspondingcursor.
Exercise:ObservingBeamQueryandNodeQuery
1. DoubleclickonthehorizontalmemberwiththeBeamsCursor.
Adialogopensprovidingthebeamnumberandotherinformationaboutthe
beam.
TheGeometrytabisselectedbydefault.Itindicatesthatasteelsectionhasbeen
assignedtothemember,anditprovidesdimensionsforthesection.Thestarting
andendingnodenumbersandtheircoordinatesareprovided.TheAdditional
InfocategoryshowsthataBetaAnglehasbeenassignedtothismember.The
Releasescategoryindicatesthatsomememberendreleaseshavebeenapplied
ateachend.NotethatbuttonsareprovidedonthistabtochangetheBeta
Angle,aswellasthememberReleasesatthestartingandendingendofthe
selectedmember.
2. ClickthePropertytab.
Thistabprovidesmoresectionspecificdimensions,aswellasPhysicalProperties
andMaterialProperties.ButtonsareprovidedonthistabtochangetheProperty
andtheMaterialoftheselectedmember.
3. ClicktheLoadingtab.
Thistabcanbeusedtoreviewtheloaditemsthathavebeenassignedtothe
selectedmemberforvariousloadcases.ButtonsareprovidedonthistabtoAdd,
Edit,orRemoveselectedloaditemsfromthemember.
Note: Afterananalysishasbeenrun,thisdialogwillaccumulateadditionaltabs
thatcanbeusedtoreviewanalysisresults,shear,bendinganddeflection
diagrams,andsoforth.
4. ClicktheClosebuttonintheBeamQuerydialog.
60
ModelGeneration
5. DoubleclickonanynodewiththeNodesCursor.
TheNodeQuerydialogopensanddisplaysthenodenumberandcoordinatesof
theselectednode.TheTablescategoryprovidesdirectaccesstoseveraltables
pertainingtonodesingeneral:
TheNodesbuttonopenstheNodestable,whichprovidesthecoordinatesof
allthenodesinthemodel.Thecurrentnodeishighlightedinthetable.
TheLoadsbuttonopenstheLoadValuestable,whichindicatesthe
magnitudesanddirectionsofanyloadsappliedtothemodel,ifanyhave
beendefined.
TheSupportsbuttonopenstheSupportedNodestable,whichprovides
informationaboutsupports,ifanyhavebeendefined.
TheReactionsbuttonleadstotheSupportReactionstable.
TheDisplacementsbuttonleadstotheNodeDisplacementstable.
BoththeReactionsbuttonandtheDisplacementsbuttontriggertheResults
Setupdialogtoopen,inordertoselectwhichloadsandnodeswillbe
reportedon.
Neithertableisavailableforthismodelinitscurrentstate,becausethe
modelhasnotbeenanalyzed.
6. ClicktheClosebuttonintheNodesdialog.
ModelGeneration
61
DisplayingStructureLabels
STAAD.Proofferstheabilitytodisplaybeamandnodenumberlabels,aswellas
manyothertypesoflabels,directlyonthestructurediagramintheMainWindow.
Exercise:Displayingstructurallabels
1. RightclickintheMainWindow.
Apopupmenuappearswithsomeofthemostfrequentlyusedcommandsin
STAAD.Pro.
2. SelecttheLabelscommand.TheDiagramsdialogopenswiththeLabelspage
active.
TheLabelspagecanalsobeaccessedquicklyfromtheSymbolsandLabelsicon
ontheStructuretoolbar.TheLabelspageisanextremelyusefulpagethatis
usedfrequently.ItprovidesoptionsforlabelingNodes,Beams(Members),
Plates,Solids,Surfaces,PhysicalMembers,Loads,Properties,Generaldisplay
information,etc...
3. ClicktheNodeNumberscheckboxintheNodescategoryandtheBeam
NumberscheckboxintheBeamscategory.
BeforeclosingtheLabelsdialog,notethatHotkeysareshowninparenthesis
followingthevariouslabelnames.Thesehotkeysareavailableformostofthe
labelingoptions.
Hint: AreminderisshownatthebottomoftheLabelspageindicating,For
quickaccesstothelabelsusingkeyboardhotkeys,pressShift+theletter
showninbrackets.Forexample,todisplaynodenumbers,simplyhold
downtheShiftkeyandpresstheNkeywithoutleavingtheMain
Window.ForLabelsindicatedwiththecaratsymbol,^,andaletterin
parenthesis,pressControl(Ctrl)+Shift+thelettershowninparenthesis.
4. ClickOK.
NoticethatthenodeandbeamnumbersnowappearintheMainWindow,next
tothecorrespondingbeamornode.
5. HolddowntheShiftkeyandpresstheNkeyrepeatedly.Notehowthehotkey
fornodenumberscanbeusedtotogglethemonandoffwithouthavingtoleave
theMainWindow.
6. Ensurethatnodenumbersandbeamnumbersaredisplayed,andthenleavethis
fileopenforuseinthenextsection.
62
ModelGeneration
Controllinglabelappearance
Labelappearancecanbemodifiedtosuitpersonalpreferenceandtohelp
distinguishbetweennodenumbersandbeamnumbers.
Exercise:Modifyinglabelappearance
1. ClickView>Options.TheOptionsdialogopens.
2. SelecttheNodeLabelsitem.
Thecontrolsonthispageprovideoptionsfortheappearanceofnodelabelsin
theMainWindow.
TheStylelistoffersvariousbuiltinstylesthatareavailablefornode
numbering.
Thealignment(positioning)ofthelabelscanbecontrolledinboththe
verticalandhorizontaldirections.
TheFontbuttonprovidesaccesstoavarietyofFonts,FontStyles,Size,Color,
andEffectssettings.
IftheOpaqueoptionisselected,anymodelgeometrythattendstointerfere
withthenodenumberlabelswillbewhitedouttoclarifythelabeling.
3. SelecttheBeamLabelsitem.
Thecontrolsonthispageprovideoptionsfortheappearanceofbeamlabelsin
theMainWindow.Theyareverysimilartotheoptionsfornodelabels.One
importantdifferenceistheAngleTextoptionforbeamlabels.Ifthisoptionis
selected,beamlabelswillbeorientedparalleltothememberstheycorrespond
to,makingiteveneasiertoassociatethemembersandthenumbers.
Note: ThesesettingsaresavedinatextfilenamedStaadPro20070.ini,whichis
savedintheWindows(orWINNT)folder,sothesettingsaffectall
STAAD.Promodelsthatareopenedonaparticularcomputer.
4. ClickCanceltodismisstheOptionsdialog.
currentfile.
ModelGeneration
63
Displayingmemberlengthsandthedistancebetweentwonodes
Thereareseveralwaystodisplaymemberlengths.Onemethodistousethe
DimensionBeamstool.
Exercise:UsingtheDimensionBeamstool
2. ClickTools>DimensionBeams.
3. TheDimensiontoViewradiobuttonisselectedbydefaultintheOptions
category.
4. ClicktheDisplaybutton.
Thedimensionsforallmembersaredisplayed.
Twolimitationstothistoolshouldnowbeobvious:
First,forstructuralelementsconsistingofmultiplesegments,theDimension
Beamstoolisinconvenientbecauseitreportstheindividualmemberlengths
ratherthantheoveralllength.
Second,theDimensionBeamstoolonlyworksonmembers.Itcannotbe
usedtomeasurethedistancebetweentwoarbitrarynodesunlesstheyhave
amembermodeledbetweenthem.
Forthesekindsofconditions,thereisamoreappropriatetool.
5. ClicktheRemoveradiobuttonintheDisplay/RemoveDimensiondialog.
6. VerifythatDimensiontoViewisstillselectedintheOptionscategory.
7. ClicktheRemovebutton.Alldimensionsintheviewareremoved.
8. ClickClosetodismisstheDisplay/RemoveDimensiondialog.
64
ModelGeneration
Exercise:UsingtheDisplayNodetoNodeDistancetool
1. ClickTools>DisplayNodetoNodeDistance.
Hint: AnalternatemethodofaccessingthistoolistoclicktheDisplayNodeto
NodeDistanceicon
intheStructuretoolbar.
Allexistingnodesinthemodelbecomebold,andthecursorchangestoindicate
thatSTAAD.Proisinthenodetonodedistancemeasuringmode.
2. Clickonanytwonodestoobtainthedistancebetweenthem.
Notehowthistoolcouldbeusedtoobtaintheoveralllengthofaseriesof
collinearbeamsegments.Thistoolcouldalsobeusedtoobtainthedistance
betweenanytwonodes,eveniftheyarenotconnectedbyamember.
3. Toremoveonedimensionatatime,selecttheDisplayNodetoNodeDistance
icon,andthenclicktheendnodesofthedimensiontoberemoved.
4. ClickTools>RemoveNodeDimensiontoremovealldimensionsatonce.
currentfile.
ModelGeneration
65
ControllingtheView
OpenthedatasetfilenamedModeling20.stdtoexperimentwiththeviewcontrol
tools.
STAAD.ProprovidesavarietyofViewManagementoptionsforviewingthe
structure.TherearetoolsforchangingtheperspectiveoftheMainWindow,and
alsoforcreatingseparateviewwindowsofallorpartofthestructure.
STAAD.Proprovidestwotoolbarsforchangingtheviewingaspect:theRotate
toolbarandtheViewtoolbar.
TheRotatetoolbarisdockedintheupperleftcorneroftheSTAAD.Proscreenby
default,butcanbedraggedtoanydesiredlocation.Itcontainsnumerousbuttons
forchangingtheviewingangle.ThefunctionsoftheRotatetoolsaregenerally
evidentfromtheirnames.
ViewFrom+Z/Z
ViewFrom+X/X
ViewFrom+Y/Y
IsometricView
RotateUp/Down
RotateLeft/Right
SpinLeft/Right
ToggleViewRotationModeisusedtoselectanodetoserveasthecenterof
viewrotation.
TheViewtoolbarisdockedinthetopmiddleoftheSTAAD.Proscreenbydefault.It,
too,canbedraggedtoanydesiredlocation.TheViewtoolbarcontainsavarietyof
toolsgenerallyusedtochangetheviewingdistanceandlocation:
1. DisplayWholeStructure
66
Turnsonallmembersinthestructure
ReturnsstructuretotheIsometricVieworientation
ResizesthestructuretothemaximumsizethatwillfitwithintheMain
Window.
ModelGeneration
2. DynamicZoom
Providesafencetoselectaportionofthemodeltobemagnifiedina
separateZoomwindow.
TheextentofthefenceremainsvisibleasaheavyrectangleintheWhole
StructurewindowaslongastheZoomwindowremainsopen.
Thefencecanberepositionedbydraggingthefencewiththecursorinthe
WholeStructurewindowtoviewdifferentpartsofthestructureintheZoom
window.
Scrollbarsareprovidedtomovefromsidetoside,andupanddown.
Plus(+),minus()andextents(E)buttonsareprovidedinthelowerright
cornerofthewindowtoadjustthezoomlevel.
SeveralDynamicZoomwindowscanbeopenedatthesametime.Eachof
theirrespectivefencerectanglesremainsvisibleintheWholeStructure
windowaslongastheZoomwindowremainsopen.
3. ZoomExtents
PerformssimilartoDisplayWholeStructurewiththeexceptionthatZoom
Extentsdoesnotturnonelementsthatarenotcurrentlydisplayed.
Forexample,ifsomeelementshavebeenturnedoffinaviewbyusingView
>ViewSelectedObjectsOnly,thoseparticularelementswillremaininvisible
whenZoomExtentsisused.
ReturnsstructuretotheIsometricVieworientation.
ResizesthestructuretothemaximumsizethatwillfitwithintheMain
Window.
4. ZoomIn/Out
Zoomsinoroutonthemodelasetamountwitheachclick.
5. ZoomFactor
Zoomsinoroutbasedonthefactorenteredinpopupdialog.
Factorsgreaterthan1willzoomin.
Factorslessthan1willzoomout.
6. ZoomPrevious
Restorestheviewtothepreviouszoomlevel.
OnlyretainsonepreviouszoomstepsetbyZoomFactororZoomWindow.
7. ZoomWindow
ModelGeneration
Providesafencetoselectaportionofthemodeltobemagnifiedinthe
currentwindow.
67
8. PreviousSelection
Returnstheselectionstatetotheconditionitwasinonesteppriortothe
currentstate.
9. Pan
Allowsthemodeltoberepositionedwithinthecurrentview.
Zoomlevelremainsunchanged.
Panremainsactiveuntilitistoggledoff.
10. MagnifyingGlass
Providesaquickwaytotemporarilyenlargeaportionofthestructurefor
closerinspection.
11. 3DRenderedView
Displaysthemodelinanewwindowwithitsassignedsections.
Providescontrolsforadjustinglighting.
Enablesdynamicpanning,sothemodelcanberotatedbyclickingand
draggingwiththecursor.
Hint: AllfunctionsintheViewtoolbarareavailableintheViewpulldown
menu.AllfunctionsintheRotatetoolbararealsoavailableintheView
pulldownmenuundertheOrientationitem,althoughtheyareina
slightlydifferentformat.
AlthoughSTAAD.Proprovidesmanytoolsforzooming,panningandrotating,often
themouseitselfisallthatisnecessary.
68
ClickintheMainWindowandrollthemousewheeltozoominandout.
Clickandholdthewheeltograbthemodelandpan.
ClickintheMainWindowtomakeitactive,andthenusethearrowkeysonthe
keyboardtorotatethemodelup,down,leftorright.
ModelGeneration
DisplayingonlySelectedObjectsintheMainWindow
SometimesyouwillwanttodisplayonlyspecificobjectsintheMainWindow.Inthis
exercise,assumethatthegoalistoturnoffthedisplayofthehipraftersandcentral
column.
Exercise:Displayingonlyselectedobjects
1. WiththefilenamedModeling20.stdstillopen,clicktheViewFrom+Z
icon.
2. ClickSelect>SelectionMode>DragLine.
3. Dragahorizontallineacrossallrafters,justbelowthevertex.Allraftersandthe
centralcolumnareselected.
4. ClickSelect>ByInverse>InverseBeamSelection.Theselectioninverts.
5. ClickView>ViewSelectedObjectsOnly.
Allunselectedobjectsbecomeinvisible.
6. ClicktheIsometricView
icon.
Thestructureisdisplayedwithoutthehipraftersandcentralcolumn.
7. ClickViewmenuagain,andnotethecheckmarknexttotheViewSelected
ObjectsOnlycommand,indicatingthatthecommandistoggledon.
8. ClickView>ViewSelectedObjectsOnlyonceagaintorestoretheentire
structuretotheMainWindow.AnotheroptionistoclicktheDisplayWhole
Structureicon.
ModelGeneration
69
IsolatingaPortionoftheStructureintoitsownView
WiththefilenamedModeling20.stdstillopen,assumethegoalistoisolatethe
framingmembersinthehorizontalplaneattheeaveofthehiproofsotheyappear
inaseparateview.
Exercise:Isolateaportionofthestructureintoitsownview
1. ClicktheViewFrom+Z
icon.
2. ClickSelect>SelectionMode>DragBox.
3. Clickanddragafencearoundtheframingmembersattheelevationoftheeave.
Maketheboxlargeenoughtocompletelyincludethemembersinthehorizontal
plane,butsmallenoughnottoincludethemidpointsofanyoftheother
members.
4. ClickView>NewView.
5. ChoosetheoptiontoCreateanewwindowfortheviewintheNewViewdialog,
andthenclickOK.
Anewwindowiscreatedinwhichonlythemembersinthehorizontalplaneat
theeaveelevationarevisible.
6. ClicktheIsometricView
icon.
7. ClickView>ViewManagement>SaveView.TheSaveViewAsdialogopens.
8. EnterthenameEave,andclickOK.Thisisometricviewhasnowbeensaved.
Itispossibletocreateandsaveasmanyviewsasdesired.
Toaccessthesavedviews,clickView>OpenView,andthenchoosethe
desiredviewfromthelist
Notethatviewsarefullyfunctional,andbeamscanbeaddedinanyview.Grids
canalsobedisplayedinanywindow,notjustintheMainWindow.
Notethatviewsaresavedinanauxiliaryfilenamed
modelname.REI_SPRO_Auxilary_Data.Thedatarequiredtodefineviewsisnot
savedinthe.stdfileitself.
currentfile.
70
ModelGeneration
Module Review
ModuleReview
Nowthatyouhavecompletedthismodule,letsmeasurewhatyouhavelearned.
Questions
1. TranslationalRepeat,AddBeamstool,andrighthandruleareexamplesof
modelgenerationtoolsavailableintheSTAAD.ProGraphicalUserInterface.
True/False
2. CopyandPastetechniquescanbeusedtocopygeometryfromoneSTAAD.Pro
modelandpasteitintoanother.
True/False
3. ThedefaultorientationoftheglobalcoordinatesysteminSTAAD.Procouldbe
describedbystatingthatgravityactsinthenegativeglobalYdirection.
ModelGeneration
True/False
71
Module Summary
Answers
1. TranslationalRepeat,AddBeamstool,andrighthandruleareexamplesof
modelgenerationtoolsavailableintheSTAAD.ProGraphicalUserInterface.
False
ItistruethatTranslationalRepeatandtheAddBeamstoolareexamplesof
modelgenerationtoolsofferedintheGUI.However,therighthandruleisnota
GUItool,butratheramnemonicthatisusedtodescribemanyorientationand
signconventionsinSTAAD.Pro.
2. CopyandPastetechniquescanbeusedtocopygeometryfromoneSTAAD.Pro
modelandpasteitintoanother.
True
Thistechniquewasillustratedinanexerciseinthismodule.
3. ThedefaultorientationoftheglobalcoordinatesysteminSTAAD.Procouldbe
describedbystatingthatgravityactsinthenegativeglobalYdirection.
True
Bydefault,theglobalYaxisinaSTAAD.Promodelisdirectedupward,implying
thatgravityactsinthenegativeglobalYdirection.
ModuleSummary
Youarenowableto:
Createmodelgeometryusingavarietyofavailabletechniques
Identifyconvenientandefficientwaystoperformspecificmodelingtasks
Describethedefaultglobalcoordinatesystem
72
ModelGeneration
FiniteElementModeling
ModuleOverview
Thismodulecoversthefundamentalsofmodelingwithplateelements(two
dimensionalentities)inSTAAD.Pro.Variousmethodsaredemonstratedtocreate
individualplateelementsandtogeneratemeshesofplates.Theplatespecifications
arereviewed.
ModulePrerequisites
Generalfamiliaritywithfiniteelementanalysis
PriorexperiencewithSTAAD.ProorcompletionoftheModelGenerationmodule
ModuleObjectives
Createplatemodelgeometryusingavarietyofavailabletechniques
Distinguishconditionsthatmightrequiretheuseofsolidelementsasopposedto
plateelements
Applyplatespecificationseffectively
73
Questions
1. Finiteelementscanbeusedtomodelcomponentslikeconcretewallsthatspan
inmorethanonedirection.
True/False
2. Finiteelementmodelsapproximatethebehaviorofarealstructurebymodeling
therealstructureasameshofmanysmallplateelements.
True/False
3. Theprocessofgeneratingameshofplatesrequiresthecalculationofthe
coordinatesofallofthenodesinthemesh.
74
True/False
Answers
1. Finiteelementscanbeusedtomodelcomponentslikeconcretewallsthatspan
inmorethanonedirection.
True
FiniteelementsinSTAAD.Procanhaveoutofplanebendingstiffnessinaddition
toinplanestiffness,sotheyhavetheabilitytospanindifferentdirections
dependingontheboundaryorsupportconditions.
2. Finiteelementmodelsapproximatethebehaviorofarealstructurebymodeling
therealstructureasameshofmanysmallplateelements.
True
Theprincipleoffiniteelementmodelinginvolvesmeshingastructureintomany
smallelementsconnectedattheirnodes.
3. Theprocessofgeneratingameshofplatesrequiresthecalculationofthe
coordinatesofallofthenodesinthemesh.
False
ThegraphicaluserinterfaceinSTAAD.Proprovidesmanytoolstorapidly
generatemeshesofplateelementswithouteverhavingtomanuallycalculate
nodalcoordinates.
75
Introduction to Finite Element Analysis
IntroductiontoFiniteElementAnalysis
Beamsandcolumnsaremodeledwithlinetypeentities,butmodelingwalls,roofs,
slabsandothersurfacecomponentsrequiresanareatypeentitycapableof
distributingloadinmorethanonedirection.Thisentityisknownasafiniteelement,
orplate.
Inafiniteelementanalysis,awalloraslabismodeledbyanassemblageofsmall
platesconsistingoftriangles(3nodedplates)orquadrilaterals(4nodedplates).
Thedifferencebetweenabeamandaplaterelatestotheirabilitiestodistribute
loads.Aloadthatisappliedtoabeammustbereactedatoneendortheotheras
indicatedgraphicallyinthefigurebelow.
Bycontrast,dependingontheirboundaryconditions,plateshavetheabilityto
distributeloadinmultipledirectionsasindicatedgraphicallyinthefigurebelow.
Bydefault,platesinSTAAD.Prohavetheabilitytoresistbothinplaneforces(plane
stressaction)andoutofplaneforces(platebendingaction).
Note: STAAD.ProincludesanothertypeofentitycalledaSurface,which
inherentlyisameshofplateelements.Surfacesarenotcoveredindetail
inthisModule.
76
AnotherfiniteelementavailableinSTAAD.Proisasolidelement,orcube.Solid
elementsarenormallyusedinsituationswherethethicknessoftheobjectbeing
modeledislargeinproportiontothelateraldimensions.Theeightnodedsolid
elementasimplementedinSTAAD.Proisshowninthefigurebelow.
Bycollapsingvariousnodestogether,aneightnodedsolidelementcanbe
degeneratedtoformswithfourtosevennodes,asshowninthefigurebelow.
Solidelementswillnotbeusedinthistraining,buttheyarepresentedhereinorder
tointroducetheconceptoftheleastlateraldimensiontothicknessratioasameans
todecidebetweenplateelementsandsolidelements.
Inastructurewheretheratiooftheleastlateraldimensiontothethicknessisless
than10,itisgenerallyadvisabletomodelthatstructureusingsolidelements,as
indicatedgraphicallyinthefigurebelow.Whentheleastlateraldimensiontothe
thicknessratioexceeds10itisgenerallyacceptabletouseplateelements.
t
<10t
>10t
UsePlateElement
UseSolidElement
77
WhyUseaMesh?
Whenanalyzingabeam,ifthedisplacementsattheendsareknown,the
displacementsatintermediatepointscanbedeterminedusingsecondaryanalysis
techniqueslikethemomentareamethod.
However,therearenosimilarequationstodeterminethedisplacementatsome
arbitrarypointwithinthethreeorfourcornersofaplate.So,itisimpossibleto
accuratelymodelthebehaviorofaplateusingjustasingleelement.
Inafiniteelementanalysis,displacementscanonlybedeterminedatthenodes
(corners)oftheelements,andstressescanonlybeaccuratelydeterminedatthe
centersoftheelements.
So,sincethereisfrequentlyaneedtoevaluatedisplacementsatarbitrarypoints
withinaslaborarounditsperimeter,slabsmustbemodeledusingameshofplate
elementsinsuchawaythatthenodesofsomeelementscoordinatewiththepoints
ofinterest.
Likewise,whenthereisaneedtostudystressesandstressgradientsinaslabat
pointsofinterestsuchasnearpointloads,holes,insidecorners,depressions,
changesinthickness,etc.,itisnecessarytouseameshthatplacesthecentersof
elementsincloseproximitytothepointsofinterest.
Forthesereasons,afiniteelementanalysiswillalmostalwaysrequireameshof
elementsasopposedtojustasingleelementorafewelements.
78
GuidelinesforMeshDensity
Nowthatwehaveestablishedtheneedforameshofelementsinmostpractical
situations,thenextitemtoconsideristhemeshdensity.Theguidingconceptshould
betouseameshthatisascoarseasitcanbe,whilestillprovidingadequateresults.
Ingeneral,coarsermesheswillbestifferthanfinermeshes,andtheanalysisresults
shouldconvergetowardthetheoreticalsolutionasthemeshdensityincreases.So
thegoalistoselectameshdensitythathasachievedreasonableconvergence,while
stillbeingcoarseenoughtobemanageablefromananalysisperspective.
Hint: Determiningwhetherconvergencehasbeenachievedmayrequire
creatingafewdifferentmeshdensitiesandobservingaparameterto
determineifthevalueofthatparametercontinuestoexperience
significantchangeasthemeshismadefiner.
Engineeringjudgmentmustbeusedwhenselectingameshdensityforamodel,in
ordertobalanceaccuracywithmodelingefficiency.Thefollowingitemsprovide
someguidanceinselectingameshdensity.
Consideraslabsupportedbyaframe,andassumethatunderloadithasa
deflectedshapesimilartotheshapeshowninthefigurebelow.
Inordertoobtaindeflectioninformationalongtheindicatededge,itisnecessary
toknowthedeflectionsatthepointsofmaximumdeflection,attheendpoints,
andatafewintermediatepoints,asshownbytheXsinthefigure.Themore
datapointsthereare,themoreaccuratelythedeflectedshapecanbemodeled.
Ontheotherhand,itwouldbeundesirabletohavetoomanypoints,sinceit
wouldmakethestructuretoocumbersometoanalyze.
79
80
Trytopredicttheapproximatedeflectedshapeofthestructure,andenvisionthe
numberofnodesthatwouldberequiredtoprovideareasonablyaccurate
indicationofthatdeflectedshape.Forexample,asimplysupportedplate
deflectslikeabowl.Envisionthedeflectedshapethatwouldberevealedif
longitudinalandtransversesectionswerecutthroughthepointofmaximum
deflection.Theshapewouldbeparabolic,similartothedeflectedshapeofa
beam.Howmanypointsdoesittaketoaccuratelyrepresentadeflectedshape
ofthattype?Probablyatotalofsevenpointswouldbeaminimum.Sevenpoints
wouldimplysixelementsalongthelengthoftheslab.Thusasixbysixgridof
elementsseemslikeaminimumforthisplate.Iftheedgesoftheelementare
fixedormonolithicwithaconcretebeam,thedeflectedshapemayincludesome
reversecurvature.Inthiscase,nineormorepointsmayberequiredto
accuratelyrepresentthedeflectedshape.Thatwouldimplyeightormore
elementsinthatdirection.
Finermeshesmaybeneededinthevicinityofaconcentratedforcetovisualize
thedeflectedshapeortoevaluatethestressesandstressgradientsinthat
location.Oneruleofthumbfordeterminingthenumberofnodestobemodeled
aroundapointloadistostartbyenvisioningacircularareaaroundthe
concentratedload.Dividethatcircleinto30pieshapedsegments.Thisimplies
12triangularelementsaroundacirclewhosecenteristhelocationofthepoint
load.
Afinermeshshouldbeconsideredaroundanyholesinaplate.
Therearenohardandfastrulesformeshdensity.Butonceameshhasbeen
createdandincorporatedintoamodel,itcanbedifficulttogobackandchange
themeshdensityandstillachieveproperconnectivity,soitisworthconsidering
thoroughlybeforedevelopingamodeltoofar.
GuidelinesforElementShape
Theshapeoftheindividualelementsisimportanttoobtaingoodresultsfroma
finiteelementanalysis.Theoptimumshapeforaquadrilateralelementisasquare.
Themoreaquadplatedeviatesfromasquaretowardarectangularshape,the
greaterthepotentialforerrorintheresults.Thebestresultsareobtainedwhenthe
ratiooftheelementslongestsidetoitsshortestsideisnogreaterthan2:1.Inno
caseshouldtheratioexceed4:1.Thepotentialforerroralsoincreasesasthe
internalanglesofaquadrilateralplatedeviatefrom90degrees.Asageneralrule,
theinternalanglesofanindividualquadrilateralplateelementshouldbekept
between60and120degrees.Internalanglesinexcessof180degreesarenot
permitted.
Inthecaseoftriangularelements,theidealshapeisanequilateraltriangle.Asa
generalrulefortriangularplates,internalanglesshouldbekeptascloseto60
degreesaspossible.
Hint: Thefigurebelow,takenfromSection1.6oftheSTAAD.ProTechnical
Referencemanual,showsexamplesofwellformedandpoorlyformed
plates.
Goodpracticedictatesthatallfournodesofaquadrilateralelementshouldlieinthe
sameplane.
Note: Iffournodesdonotlieononeplane,considerusingtwotriangular
elements.
Quadrilateralelementsaregenerallypreferabletotriangularelements,because
quadshavemoredegreesoffreedomandthereforetheyinherentlyhavegreater
accuracy.
81
Whencreatingameshofquadrilateralelements,itisbesttoorienttheminthe
principalstressdirections.Ifaquadisrectangular,orienttheshortsideparallelto
thedirectionoflargerstressgradientasshowninthefigurebelow.These
considerationsarelessimportantinareasoflowstress,ornearlyconstantstrain
energy.
82
ResolvingPoorlyShapedPlatesinaModel
Onecommoncauseofpoorlyshapedplatesariseswhentryingtomodelcircular
meshes.SinceplatescannothavecurvedsidesinSTAAD.Pro,circularstructures
mustbeapproximatedusingameshoftriangularorquadelements.Theseelements
arecommonlydrawnusingaradialgrid.Becausethedistancebetweengridpoints
getslargertowardtheoutsideofaradialgrid,itispossibletoendupwithelements
neartheouteredgesthatareverylongandnarrowasshowninthefigurebelow.
Whentheratiooftheelementslongestsidetoitsshortestsideexceeds4:1,the
resultsofafiniteelementanalysiscanbecomelessaccurate.Thefigurebelow
showsonepotentialmethodofcreatingelementsincircularorradialstructures.
Theseelementsgetsmallertowardsthecenterbutretainthesameapproximate
proportionsbetweenthesides.
Inmostothercasesofpoorlyshapedelements,theproblemcangenerallybe
resolvedbybreakingapoorlyshapedplateintotwoormoreplatesthathavea
bettershape.
83
Creating Individual Finite Elements
CreatingIndividualFiniteElements
SnapNode/PlateTool
TheSnapNode/Platetoolmakesuseofthedimensionalcontrolprovidedbyagrid
toaddindividualplates.Itsuseisdemonstratedinthefollowingexercise.
Exercise:CreateindividualfiniteelementswiththeSnapNode/Platetool
1. OpenthedatasetfilenamedFiniteElements1.std.
2. ClickGeometry>Snap/GridNode>Plate>QuadintheMenuBar.
TheSnapNode/Platedialogopens,andagridisdisplayed.Thisdialogisusedto
controlthegridsettingsandtotoggletheplatedrawingmodeonandoff.
Bydefault,theplatedrawingmodewillbeactive.Wecanconfirmthisbymoving
thecursoraroundonthegrid.Notethatthecursorsnapstogridintersections
only.
3. Clickthecursoratanyfourgridintersections,movinginaclockwiseor
counterclockwisedirection,toexperimentwithdrawingaquadrilateralplate.
STAAD.Prodrawsafournodedelement,automaticallyclosingthepolygon
betweenthefourthnodeandthefirstnode.
Noticethatthenextlineisrubberbandingfromthelastclick.TheSnap
Node/PlatetoolbehavesliketheSnapNode/Beamtoolinthesensethatthelast
nodeforoneplatebecomesthefirstnodeforthenextplate,unlessthehotspot
ismovedbypressingtheControl(Ctrl)keyandclickingonadifferentlocation.
4. ClicktheSnapNode/PlatebuttonintheSnapNode/Platedialogtotoggleoffthe
platedrawingmode.
Note: ThePlatesCursor
iscurrentlyactive.
5. Doubleclickontheplatejustdrawn.APlatequerydialogopens,andprovides
thefollowingdata:
84
Nodecoordinates
Lengthsofthesides
Platearea
Note: ThePropertyConstantstabdoesnotcontainanyinformationatthis
point,becausepropertieshavenotyetbeendefined.Moreinformation
willappearinthePlatequerydialogasthemodelisdevelopedandthe
informationbecomesavailable.Whenthemodeliscompletedandthe
analysishasbeenrun,additionaltabswillappearinthisdialogtodisplay
resultssuchasstresses,displacements,andsoforth.
6. ClickClosetodismissthePlatequerydialog.
Hint: Tooltiphelp,orbubblehelp,isalsoavailableforplates.Hoverthe
PlatesCursorovertheplate.Awindowdisplayingsomeinformation
abouttheplatepopsupnexttothePlatesCursor.Theamountandtype
ofinformationdisplayedbythetooltiphelpiscontrolledbyselecting
View>StructuralToolTipOptionsfromtheMenuBar.
7. ClickGeometry>SnapGrid/Node>Plate>TriangleintheMenuBar.
8. Clickatanythreelocationsonthegridtocreateathreenodedplateelement.
9. ClicktheSnapNode/Platebuttontotoggleitoff.
10. Keepthecurrentmodelopenforuseinthenextsection.
WhentheGeometrytab,Platesubtabisactive,twotableslabeledNodesandPlates
aredisplayedintheDataAreaontherightsideofthescreen.Thesetablesare
analogoustotheNodesandBeamstablesforstructurescomposedoflinear
elements.
TheNodestableprovidestheXYZcoordinatesforeachnodeinthemodel.
ThePlatestablecontainsalistingoftheplatesinthemodel,andtheir
incidences,thatis,thenodesattheircornersA,B,CandD.
Theorderinwhichthenodesarelistedrepresentstheorderinwhichtheywere
addedtothemodel.Thesignificanceofthisorderisthatitestablishesthelocal
coordinatesystemforeachplate.Thislocalcoordinatesystemisdiscussedindetail
inadifferentmodule,butfornow,beawareofthefactthattheorderofthenodes
definesatopandabottomsurfaceforeachplate.
Inthenormalprocessofmodelingwithplates,itiscommontoendupwithplatesin
variousorientations.Toaddressthis,andtoprovidesomeconsistencytothe
orientationoflogicalgroupsofplates,STAAD.Proprovidesatoolcalled
Commands>GeometricConstants>PlateReferencePointThistoolcanbeused
toreorientplates.Itsuseisdemonstratedinanothermodule,butfornowjustbe
awarethatthefunctionexists,anddontbeconcernedaboutcreatingplateswith
consistentorientations.
85
Hint: Additionalinformationoncreatingplateelements,anddetailsonthe
theoreticalbasisofSTAAD.ProfiniteelementsareprovidedinSection
1.6.1oftheSTAAD.ProTechnicalReference,whichisaccessiblethrough
theHelpmenuitem.
Itisessentialtodrawthenodesofaplateelementineitheraclockwiseor
counterclockwisesequence.AlthoughSTAAD.Prowillallowaplatetobedrawnina
sequencethatisnotclockwiseorcounterclockwise,aplatedefinedinthismanner
willbewarpedandwillcauseerrorswhentheanalysisisrun.
Thegeometryshowninthefigurebelowrepresentsanattempttodrawaplate
withoutdrawingthenodesinconsecutiveorder,clockwiseorcounterclockwise.The
figureshownbelowisnottwotriangularplates,becausethereisnonodewherethe
diagonallinescross.Insteaditisafoldedorwarpedquadplate.
Warning: Platesshouldnotbedefinedinthismanner,eventhoughthe
programdoesnotprohibitnodesfrombeingselectedthisway.
TherearetimeswhenitisgenerallyconvenienttousetheSnap/GridNodetool,but
itbecomesnecessarytosnaptoanexistingnodethatisnotatagridintersection.
Thefollowingexercisedemonstrateshowthiscanbedone.
86
Exercise:SnappingtooffgridnodeswhileusingtheSnap/GridNodetool
1. EnsurethatthefilenamedFiniteElements1.stdisstillopen.
2. ClickanywhereintheMainWindowandthenpressthekeyboardhotkey
Shift+KtodisplayNodePoints.
Notethatthereisanodeneartheupperrightcornerofthegrid,butitdoesnot
coordinatewithagridintersection.
3. ClicktheSnapNode/Platebuttontotoggletheplatedrawingmodeon.
Noticethatthecursortrackstogridintersections,butinthedefaultmodeitwill
notsnaptothenodethatisoffgrid.
4. ClickthecheckboxlabeledSnaptoexistingnodestoointheSnapNode/Plate
dialogasshownbelow.Whenthisoptionisselected,STAAD.Prowillsnapto
existingnodesthatdonotfallonagridintersection.
5. Movethecursorbacktothegridandnoticethatitnowsnapstotheoffgrid
nodeinadditiontosnappingtothegridintersections.
Aplatecouldnowbedrawnifdesired.
currentfile.
87
AddPlatesTools
Inadditiontobeingabletodrawindividualplatesusingagrid,therearealsotools
thatallowplatestobedrawngraphicallywithouttheuseofthegrid.Thesearethe
AddPlatestools,whicharetheplateanalogoustotheAddBeamstool.Theyoffer
twooptions:
Add3NodedPlatesicon
,and
Add4NodedPlatesicon
TheuseoftheAdd4NodedPlatestoolwillbedemonstratedinthenextexercise.
Exercise:UsingtheAdd4NodedPlatestool
Assumethatthegoalistoadda4nodedplatetoclosethe8sidedstructure.
2. PressthekeyboardhotkeyShift+TtotoggleonPlateOrientation.
NotethattheexistingplatesareallorientedsuchthattheirlocalZaxespoint
towardthecenterofthestructure.Assumethatthegoalistoinfillthemissing
plateandorientitinthesameway.
3. ClickGeometry>AddPlate>Quad.
4. Startingatthelowerleftcornerandmovinginaclockwisedirection,clickatthe
fournodestodefinethecornersoftheinfillplate.
currentfile.
88
Mesh Generation
MeshGeneration
Supposeamodelcontainssomenodesthatdefinethecornersofawallthatistobe
representedwithaseriesoffiniteelements.Thisseriesormatrixoffiniteelements
isoftenreferredtoasamesh,andtheprocessofcreatingaseriesormatrixof
elementsisknownasmeshgenerationormeshing.
Theprevioussectionshavedemonstratedhowtomanuallycreateelementsby
drawingthemwiththehelpofagrid,orbydrawingthemfromnodetonode.Thatis
whatonemightcallabruteforcemethodforgeneratingamesh.Fortunately
STAAD.Prooffersmanyalternativemethodsthataremuchmoreconvenientand
muchlesslaborintensive.
StructureWizardmethod
SuperElementmethod
MeshGenerationCursormethod
Thesemethodsaredemonstratedindetailinthefollowingexercisestoillustrate
threedifferentmethodstocreatea20ftx40ft{6mx12m}rectangularmesh.
Finally,somediscussionispresentedontheSTAAD.ProInputEditormethod.
89
Mesh Generation
UsingStructureWizardtoGenerateaMesh
TheStructureWizardoffersalibraryofprototypemodelswhosedimensionscanbe
specifiedparametricallytoquicklycreateavarietyofstructures.TheStructure
Wizardcanbeusedtogenerateplateelementsbyselectingfromseveralavailable
prototypes,including:
PolygonalPlateWithHoles
CircularPlateWithHoles
QuadPlate
CylindricalSurface
SphericalSurface
CoolingTower
HyperbolicParaboloidShell
Forthisexercise,wewillusetheQuadPlateprototype.
Exercise:UsingtheStructureWizardtogenerateamesh
2. ClickGeometry>RunStructureWizardintheMenuBar.
3. LookinthelowerrightcorneroftheStructureWizardwindowtoverifythatthe
StructureWizardsinputunitsaresettoft{m}.
Ifnecessary,inputunitscanberevisedbyclickingFile>SelectUnitsinthe
StructureWizardsMenuBar.
4. VerifythatthePrototypeModelsradiobuttonisselected.
5. SelectSurface/PlateModelsintheModelTypelist.
Iconsrepresentingtheavailableprototypemodelsforplatetypestructures
appearintheleftpaneoftheStructureWizardwindow.
90
Mesh Generation
6. DoubleclicktheQuadPlateicon.
TheSelectMeshingParametersdialogfortheQuadPlateappears.Thisdialog
providesthefollowingparameterstocontrolthemeshgeneration:
Cornerscategory:toinputtheX,Y,andZcoordinatesofthefourcornersA,
B,CandDoftheplate.
ElementTypecategory:tochoosewhethertogenerateameshoftriangular
orquadrilateralplates.
Divn.column:tospecifythenumberofdivisionstocreatealongtheAB,BC,
CDandDAsides.Theminimumandmaximumlimitsofnumberofdivisions
oneachsideare1and100respectively.Twooppositesidesmayhavea
differentnumberofdivisions.However,ifthenumberofdivisionsfortwo
oppositesidesisdifferent,andifQuadrilateralelementsarebeingused,then
thesumofalldivisionsmustbeanevennumber.
Biascolumn:tocreatedivisionsofvaryinglengthsasshownbelowifdesired.
Ifthegoalistocreateequaldivisionsalongthelengthofaside,keeptheBias
parametersettoitsdefaultvalueof1.Thefigurebelowshowsanexample
with5divisionsalonglineBC.MovingfromBtowardC,thedivisionsvary
from1unitlongto5unitslong.Ameshwiththisspacingcouldbecreatedby
specifyingtheBiasforthatsideas5.
TheBiasvaluemayalsobenegative.Whennegativebiasingisspecified,theside
isdividedsothatthefirstdivisionlengthisthevalueofthebiasingtimesthelast
divisionlength.
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Mesh Generation
Note: Forthisexample,wewillcreatea20ftx40ft{6mx12m}rectangular
meshasshowninthefigurebelow.
Hint: Thegeometrymustbedefinedeitherinclockwiseorcounterclockwise
ordertoavoidawarpedplate.
7. EnterthevaluesintheSelectMeshingParametersdialogasshowninthe
appropriatefigurebelowtoproducea10x20meshof2foot{0.6meter}square
plateelements.
EnglishUnits
MetricUnits
92
Mesh Generation
8. LeavetheElementTypecategorysettoQuadrilateral,andclickApply.
AgraphicalrepresentationoftheplateappearsintherightpaneoftheStructure
Wizardwindow.
Anyoftheparameterscanberevisedbydoubleclickingonthegraphictore
opentheSelectMeshingParametersdialog,orbyrightclickingonthegraphic
andselectingChangePropertyfromthepopupmenu.Theeffectofchanging
variousparameterscanquicklybeviewedandevaluatedbyobservingthe
resultingprototypemodelintherightpaneoftheStructureWizard.
9. ClickFile>MergeModelwithSTAAD.ProModelintheStructureWizardsMenu
Bar,andclickYestoconfirm.
10. ClickOKinthePastePrototypeModeldialogtocompletethemergeandposition
theprototypeattheorigin.
Inthismodel,anotherwarningdialogpopsuptoindicatethatduplicatenodes
havebeenignored.Thisoccursbecausethedatasetmodelalreadyhadonenode
attheorigin.
11. ClickOKtoacknowledge.
The10x20meshwillbedisplayedintheMainWindow.
Note: Byusinganycombinationoftheavailableprototypemodels,awide
rangeofstructuregeometrycanquicklybegeneratedandtransferred
intothemainSTAAD.Promodel.
Hint: AdditionalinformationonusingtheStructureWizardtomodelslabsmay
befoundinSection2.3.6.16oftheSTAAD.ProGraphicalEnvironment
manual.
currentfile.
93
Mesh Generation
CreatingaMeshfromaSuperElement
TheGeneratePlateMeshcommandisanexcellentwaytogenerateameshfroma
triangularorquadrilateralsuperelement.Thefollowingexercisewilldemonstrate
thesuperelementmethodtogeneratethesamemeshasinthepreviousexercise.
Exercise:CreatingameshfromaSuperElement
Thisfilealreadycontainsone20ft.by40ft.{6mx12m}plate(orsuper
element)thatrepresentstheoverallsizeofthemeshtobecreated.
2. ClicktheplatewiththePlatesCursor
toselectit.Whentheedgeshighlight
toconfirmthatitisselected,clicktherightmousebuttonanywhereintheMain
Window.Apopupmenuisdisplayed.
3. ClickonGeneratePlateMeshinthepopupmenu.
4. ChoosetheQuadrilateralMeshingradiobuttonandthenclickOK.
ThecoordinatesforthecornersautomaticallyappearintheSelectMeshing
Parametersdialog.NodeAisthefirstnodethatwasclickedtodefinetheplate,
NodeBisthesecondone,etc.
5. LeavetheBiasparameterinallfourfieldssettoitsdefaultvalueof1,sothat
eachsidewillbedividedintoequalproportionscreatingequallengthelements.
6. SettheDivisionparametersasfollowstoproducea10x20meshof2ft.by2ft.
{0.6mx0.6m}elements:
AB:10
BC:20
CD:10
DA:20
7. ClickApplytomeshtheplate.
94
Mesh Generation
8. Clickonthetoolbarbuttonthatlookslikeaquestionmarkasshowninthefigure
below.
TheStructuralDiagramInfodialogopensanddisplaysstatisticalinformation
aboutthemodel.Inthiscase,itisusefultoconfirmthatatotalof200plates
existinthemodel.
Note: TheGeneratePlateMeshcommandisanexcellentwaytogeneratea
meshfromatriangularorquadrilateralsuperelement,butitcannotbe
usedforpolygonswithfiveormoresides.Thenextsectionpresents
anothermethodforgeneratingmeshesthatallowsameshtobecreated
foranyshape.
currentfile.
95
Mesh Generation
UsingtheMeshGenerationCursor
FirstwewilldemonstratehowtheMeshGenerationCursorcanbeusedtocreate
exactlythesame20ft.by40ft.{6mx12m}meshaswecreatedabove.Thenwe
willexplorehowtheMeshGenerationCursorcanbeusedtogeneratemeshesin
polygonswithfiveormoresides.
Exercise:UsingtheMeshGenerationCursorforfoursidedpolygons
2. PressthekeyboardhotkeyShift+Ktotoggleonthedisplayofnodepoints.This
filealreadyhasthesamefourcornernodesdefined.
3. ClickGeometry>GenerateSurfaceMeshingintheMenuBartoactivatethe
MeshGenerationCursor
4. Clickonthenodesintheordershowninthefigurebelow:
5. Rightclickthemousetoclosethepolygondesignatingtheboundaryofthe
mesh.
Note: Anotheroptiontoclosethepolygonistoclickbackonthestartingnode.
6. SelecttheQuadrilateralMeshingradiobuttonandclickOK.
TheSelectMeshingParametersdialogopenswiththecoordinatesforthe
cornersalreadypopulated.NodeAisthefirstnodethatwasclickedtodefinethe
plate,NodeBisthesecondone,etc.
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Mesh Generation
7. LeavetheBiasparameterinallfourfieldssettoitsdefaultvalueof1.
8. SettheDivisionparametersasfollowstoproducea10x20mesh:
AB:10
BC:20
CD:10
DA:20
9. ClickApplytomeshtheplate.
Theresultisa10x20meshof2ft.by2ft.{0.6mx0.6m}elementsidenticalto
themeshcreatedintheprevioussection.
currentfile.
NowletsexploreSTAAD.Prosabilitytogeneratemeshesinpolygonswithfiveor
moresidesusingtheMeshGenerationCursor.
Exercise:UsingtheMeshGenerationCursorforpolygonswithmorethanfour
sides
2. PressthekeyboardhotkeyShift+Ktotoggleonthedisplayofnodepoints.This
filehasbeenprepopulatedwithsixnodesthatwilldefinetheverticesofasix
sidedshape.
3. ClickGeometry>GenerateSurfaceMeshingintheMenuBartoactivatethe
MeshGenerationCursor.
97
Mesh Generation
mesh.
TheBoundaryiteminthetreeviewshowsthecoordinatesofthecornernodes
usedtodefinethepolygon.Italsoshowsthenumberofdivisions,thatis,the
numberofelementstobecreatedalongeachsideofthepolygon,aswellasthe
Biasvalueasdescribedabove.Thesevaluescanbeediteddirectlyinthistable.
ThedefaultisforSTAAD.Protosegmenteachsideofthepolygoninto10
divisions,regardlessofthelengthoftheside.
6. ClickOKintheDefineMeshRegiondialog,andnotetheeffect.
Byallowingtheprogramtodivideeverysideinto10segments,itresultsina
widerangeofelementsizesthroughoutthemesh.Letsassumethatwewould
preferamoreuniformdistributionofelementsizes.Toseehowtoaccomplish
this,takethefollowingsteps:
7. ClickEdit>UndoGenerateMeshintheMenuBar.
Thefollowingfigureshowsthedimensionsaroundtheperimeterofthepolygon.
TheseweredisplayedbyclickingTools>DisplayNodetoNodeDistance,and
thenclickingaroundtheperimeter.
98
Mesh Generation
Byusingthesedimensions,orthecorrespondingmetricdimensions,asetof
Divisionvaluescanbeestablishedthatwillsetthenumberofdivisions
proportionaltothelengthsofthesides.
99
Mesh Generation
8. ClickGeometry>GenerateSurfaceMeshingintheMenuBar.
mesh.
11. SetthevaluesintheDiv.columnasshowninthefigurebelow:
100
Mesh Generation
Note: Westarteddrawingthepolygonattheextremeleftnodeinorderto
establishthecorrelationbetweenthesidesofthepolygonandtherows
inthetableshownintheDefineMeshRegiondialog.
Whenthismeshisgenerated,wewillseethatitnowconsistsofelementsofa
muchmoreuniformsize.Beforeweactuallygeneratethemeshletsexploreone
morepowerfulfunctionoftheMeshGenerationCursor,whichistheabilityto
incorporateholesintoamesh.
12. ClickontheitemlabeledHOLESbeneaththeBoundaryiteminthetreeviewas
shownbelow:
Twonewiconsappearjustabovethetreeview:AddNewHoleandDeleteHole.
13. ClicktheAddNewHoleicon
.AnewitemlabeledHole1appearsbeneath
theHOLESiteminthetreeview.Additionalitemswillappearforeachnewhole
thatisadded.
Note: Thelabelassociatedwitheachholecanbeeditedifdesired.Forinstance,
aholecouldbelabeledasSupplyorReturnorElevatororStair.
14. ClickontheupperrightcelloftheDefineMeshRegiondialogtoopena
dropdownmenuofavailableholeshapesasshownbelow:
15. SelecttheCircleoption.
Note: TheinputcellschangebasedontheselectedRegionType,tooffer
contextappropriateoptionsfordefiningholeswithdifferentgeometries.
101
Mesh Generation
16. Enterthefollowingparameters:
XcoordinateofOrigin:20{6}
YcoordinateofOrigin:10{3}
ZcoordinateofOrigin:0{0}
RadiusofCircle:5{1.5}
DivisionsAlongPeriphery:30{30}
Atthispoint,additionalholescouldbeenteredbyclickingontheHOLESitemin
thetreeviewandthenclickingtheAddNewHoleicon
wewillonlyaddtheonecircularhole.
.Butforthisexercise,
17. ClicktheOKbuttonintheDefineMeshRegiondialogtogeneratethemesh
shownbelow.
TheDivisionvaluesthatweenteredcreatedaveryuniformelementsize
throughoutthemesh.
Thecircularholeisnottrulycircular,becauseitisformedbythe(straight)edges
oftheadjacentplates.However,ouruseof30divisionsaroundtheperiphery
resultsinaholethatappearsverysmooth,andtheelementsaroundthe
perimeteroftheholeareveryclosetothesizeoftheotherplatesinthemesh.
currentfile.
102
Mesh Generation
Afewcommentsaboutthisexercise:
Withthis6sidedshapetheprogramdidnotofferanoptiontochoosebetween
polygonalmeshingorquadrilateralmeshing.ThatisbecauseSTAAD.Pro
automaticallydeterminesthata6sidedshapeisnotagoodcandidatefor
quadrilateralmeshing.However,ifafoursidedpolygonisdefinedwiththeMesh
GenerationCursor,evenifitisnotarectangularshape,STAAD.Proofferstheoption
ofeitherpolygonalmeshingorquadrilateralmeshing.
HolescanalsobecreatedinameshsimplybyselectingelementswiththePlates
Cursoranddeletingthem,butthismethodcanonlybeusedaftertheelementshave
actuallybeengenerated,anditlimitstheshapeandlocationofholestoconformto
theexistingmeshgeometry.
OnceameshhasbeengeneratedwiththeGenerateSurfaceMeshingtool,thereis
nowaytoreopentheDefineMeshRegiondialogtochangeparametersorintroduce
newholes.Ifchangesarerequired,themeshmusteitherbecompletelyregenerated
orthemodificationsmustbemademanually.
UsingtheEditortoCreateaMesh
ActionsperformedintheGUItobuildamodelhavetheeffectofaddingnew
commandstotheSTAAD.Proinputfile.
Itisalsopossibletomodifytheinputfiledirectly,ratherthandoingitindirectly
throughtheGUI.Insomesituations,thismaybetheeasiestandmostefficientway
toaddcommandsorgeometrytotheinputfile.Thisconceptholdstrueformesh
generationaswell.Ifasituationariseswherethenodecoordinatesandplate
incidencescanbeeasilygeneratedandoutputinatextfileformat,thenthisdata
canbeplaceddirectlyintotheSTAADInputFile.
Hint: TheSTAAD.ProTechnicalReferencemanual,Section5.14containsa
completedescriptionofthecommandsavailableforgeneratingmeshes.
Hint: SeveralexamplesillustratinghowtocreatemeshesusingtheInputFile
EditorarepresentedintheSTAAD.ProExamplesmanual.SeeExample
ProblemNo.9,No.19andNo.20.
103
Plate Specifications
PlateSpecifications
Thismodulehasfocusedonmethodsofmodelingwithfiniteelementsandthetools
availableformeshgeneration.Thegeneralguidelinespresentedhereshouldprovide
assistanceinproducingwellbehavedmeshes.Inadditiontotheseconsiderations,
thebehavioroffiniteelementsisfurtherinfluencedbytheassignmentofthickness,
materialproperties,loads,andsupports,allofwhicharediscussedindetailin
anothermodule.
Therearealsospecificationsthatareavailableforassignmenttoplates,eachof
whichhasaparticulareffectonthebehaviorofplates.Theavailableplate
specificationsarealsodiscussedindetailinanothermodule,buttheyare
reproducedhereforreference.
Release:Releasesareusedtomodifyaplatesabilitytotransferloadinanyof
thesixdegreesoffreedomatoneofitsnodes.
IgnoreInplaneRotation:Ignoreinplanerotationisusedtospecifythatthe
programistoignoreinplanestiffnessassociatedwiththeMzdegreeof
freedomatthenodesofplates.
RigidInplaneRotation:Rigidinplanerotationisusedtospecifythatallnodesina
platehaveaninfiniterotationalstiffnessabouttheMzdegreeoffreedom.
Note: ThisspecificationisnotavailablethroughtheGUI.Itisonlyaccessibleby
manuallyenteringthecommandintotheinputfile.
PlaneStress:PlaneStressisusedtospecifythataplateisonlycapableof
resistinginplaneloads,i.e.membranestressesandinplaneshear,butis
incapableofresistingoutofplaneshearsoredgemoments.
Warning: UsingthePlaneStressspecificationonaplateinafloororroofslabcan
leadtolossofloadssuchasselfweight,because,forPlaneStress
elements,theoutofplaneshearactionandthebendingdegreesof
freedomareswitchedoff.
104
IgnoreStiffness:IgnoreStiffnessisusedtospecifythatthestiffnessofaplate
elementistobecompletelyignoredintheassemblyofthestiffnessmatrix.This
specificationallowsplateelementstobemodeledforthepurposeofapplying
loadstoastructurewithoutallowingthoseelementstocontributeresistancein
anyway.
Additional Considerations
AdditionalConsiderations
Onefinalprogramconsiderationthathasaninfluenceonfiniteelementmodeling
behavioristheoptiontosplitanexistingmemberifanewnodeisplacedonthe
member.ItcanbefoundbyclickingView>Options>ToleranceintheMenuBaras
showninthefigurebelow.
Whenthisoptionisselected,ifmodelingchangescauseanewnodetobeplaced
somewherealongthelengthofanexistingbeammember,theexistingmemberwill
automaticallybesplitatthelocationofthenewnode,andbothportionsofthesplit
memberwillbeconnectedtothenewnode.Ifthisoptionisnotselected,then
existingmemberswillnotbesplitifnewnodesareaddedsomewherealongthe
lengthoftheexistingmember.Instead,theexistingmemberwillremainasasingle,
continuousmemberrunningthroughthenewnodelocationandhavingno
structuralconnectiontothenewnode.
Thissettingissignificantwithrespecttofiniteelementmodeling,becausethereare
oftentimeswhereameshiscreatedtorepresentaconcreteslabthatisintendedto
behavemonolithicallywiththesupportingreinforcedconcreteframe.Ifthisisthe
intent,thenitmaybebeneficialtokeepthisoptionselected,sothatwhenameshis
generatedatafloorlevel,itwillautomaticallysplitthebeamsatthemeshnodes,
andtransferloadatthecommonnodes,torepresentmonolithicbehaviorbetween
beamsandslab.
105
Module Review
ModuleReview
Questions
1. Theidealmeshdensityisachievedwhenapolygonissegmentedsuchthateach
sidehas10divisions.
True/False
2. TheidealshapeforaQuadrilateralplateisasquare.
True/False
3. ThreemeshgenerationtechniquesinSTAAD.Proinclude:StructureWizard
method,SuperElementmethod,andMeshGenerationCursormethod.
106
True/False
Module Summary
Answers
1. Theidealmeshdensityisachievedwhenapolygonissegmentedsuchthateach
sidehas10divisions.
False
Therearenohardandfastrulesthatdictateanidealmeshdensity.The
guidingconceptshouldbetouseameshthatisascoarseasitcanbe,whilestill
providingadequateresults.Theguidelinespresentedinthismoduleprovide
sometipstoaccomplishthis.
2. TheidealshapeforaQuadrilateralplateisasquare.
True
Thepotentialforerrorintheresultsincreasesasaquadplatedeviatesfroma
squaretowardarectangularshape,andastheinternalanglesofaquadplate
deviatefrom90degrees.
3. ThreemeshgenerationtechniquesinSTAAD.Proinclude:StructureWizard
method,SuperElementmethod,andMeshGenerationCursormethod.
True
Inadditiontodemonstratingthesethreemethods,thismodulealsodiscusses
thefactthattheremaybesomeinstanceswheremeshgenerationmaybe
accomplishedbyenteringdatadirectlyintotheSTAADInputFile.
ModuleSummary
Youarenowableto:
Createplatemodelgeometryusingavarietyofavailabletechniques
Distinguishconditionsthatmightrequiretheuseofsolidelementsasopposedto
plateelements
Applyplatespecificationseffectively
107
Module Summary
(Thispageintentionallyleftblank)
108
PropertyAssignment
ModuleOverview
ThismodulecoversthefundamentalsofdefiningandassigningProperties,
Specifications,Supports,Loads,andMaterialsinSTAAD.Pro.TheuseofGroupsis
demonstrated.Member/Plateorientationsarediscussedusingalocalcoordinate
system,whichisthenrelatedtotheglobalcoordinatesystem.
ModulePrerequisites
PriorexperienceusingSTAAD.Pro,orcompletionoftheModelGeneration
module.
ModuleObjectives
Describememberlocalcoordinatesystemandplatelocalcoordinatesystem
CreateGroupsandusethemtoperformfunctionsonmultipleentitiesatone
time
DefineandassignProperties,BetaAngles,Specifications,Supports,and
Materials
CreateprimaryLoadCases,populatethemwithsimpleLoadItems,andassign
themtothemodel
HaveageneralfamiliaritywithcreatingUserTables,addingorremovingsections
fromthemodel,modifyingthesectiondatabase,andcreatingcustommaterials
Property Assignment
109
Questions
1. ModelgeometrycanbegeneratedusingtheGraphicalUserInterface,theInput
Editor,theStructureWizard,importedfromDXF,oracombinationofthese
methods.
True/False
2. Modelgeometrycanbedefinedusingacombinationofnodes,members,plates,
surfaces,andsolids.
True/False
3. ASTAAD.PromodeldefinedasaSPACEtypestructurehasthreemutually
perpendicularglobalaxesthatareusedtodefinethegeometryofthemodel.
True/False
110
Property Assignment
Answers
1. ModelgeometrycanbegeneratedusingtheGraphicalUserInterface,theInput
Editor,StructureWizard,importedfromDXF,oracombinationofthese
methods.
TrueTheGUIhasmanytoolstocreateandeditmodelgeometry.
STAAD.Proprovidestheflexibilityofbeingabletoaccessthemodel
geometrythroughtablesandtheSTAADInputEditor.Modelgeometrycan
alsobecreatedwiththeStructureWizardorimportedfromaDXForother
fileformats.
2. Modelgeometrycanbedefinedusingacombinationofnodes,members,plates,
surfaces,andsolids.
TrueAllofthesefiveentitiescanbeincorporatedtodefinethegeometry
foramodel.
3. ASTAAD.PromodeldefinedasaSPACEtypestructurehasaglobalcoordinate
systemdefinedbythreemutuallyperpendicularglobalaxesthatareusedto
definethegeometryofanymodel.
TrueASPACEtypestructuredefinesmodelgeometryintermsof
coordinatesthatrefertotheglobalX,Y,andZaxes.Typically,theYaxisis
verticalandtheXandZaxesdefinethehorizontalplane.
Property Assignment
111
Establishing member/plate orientation and local coordinate system
Establishingmember/plateorientationandlocalcoordinatesystem
MembersinSTAAD.Proaredefinedasspanningfromastartingnodetoanending
node.Thestartingnodeandendingnodearebasedontheorderinwhichthenodes
wereclickedifthebeamwasaddedgraphically,orbasedontheorderofthe
memberincidencesifthebeamwasaddeddirectlyintheBeamstableorSTAAD
InputFile.STAAD.Proprovidessomegraphicalmethodsofidentifyingthestarting
andendingnodesofmembers.
Exercise:Identifyingstartingandendingendsofbeams
1. OpenthedatasetfilenamedProperties1.std.
2. ClicktheSymbolsandLabelsicon
ontheStructuretoolbar.
3. OntheLabelstab,intheBeamscategory,selecttheoptionnamedBeamEnds.
Notethattwocolorswatchesaredisplayed.Theserepresentthecolorsthatwill
beusedtoidentifytherespectiveendsofbeams.
Thecolorswatchesactaslinkstoopenacolorpalette,sobeamendcolorscan
beconfiguredasdesired.
4. ClickOKtodismisstheDiagramsdialogbox.
Beamendcolorswillbedisplayedonallmembersuntiltheyarespecifically
toggledoff.ThekeyboardhotkeytotogglethedisplayofbeamendcolorsisShift
+E.
5. PressShift+Etotoggleoffbeamendcolors.
6. HovertheBeamsCursoroveranybeaminthemodel.Inthisway,beamend
colorscanbeobservedforasinglememberatatime,andonlyforaslongas
necessary.
Nowthatwehaveobservedthedirectionalityofabeam,wecanintroducethe
conceptofthememberlocalcoordinatesystem.Eachmemberhasitsownlocal
coordinatesystemconsistingoflocalx,localy,andlocalzaxes.Theoriginofthe
localaxissystemforanymemberoccursatthestartingnodeforthatmember.The
localxaxisstartsatthe(local)originandpointstowardtheendingnode.
Hint: RefertoTechnicalReferencesection1.5.2formoreoncoordinatesystems.
Allthreelocalaxesaremutuallyperpendicular,andtheirrelationshipstoeachother
aredefinedbytherighthandrule(closethexaxisintotheyaxiswiththefingersof
therighthandandtherightthumbwillindicatethepositivesenseofthezaxis).
112
Property Assignment
BenefitsoftheLocalCoordinateSystem
Thememberlocalcoordinatesystemofferssomesignificantbenefitsduring
modelinganddesign.Forinstance,havingamemberlocalcoordinatesystemmakes
itpossibletospecifyuniquememberorientations,suchascolumnswiththeirwebs
orientedradiallyasshowninthefigurebelow.
Withoutamemberlocalcoordinatesystem,therewouldbenowaytodescribethis
orientationofthecolumns,andSTAAD.Prowouldhavenochoicebuttoassume
theyareallorientedinthesamedirectionassuggestedinthefigurebelow.
Property Assignment
113
Asanotherexample,considermodelingwindloadontheroofofthestructureinthe
diagrambelow.
Intheabsenceofamemberlocalcoordinatesystem,windloadperpendiculartothe
inclinedroofsurfacewouldhavetoberesolvedintoX,YandZcomponentsinthe
globalaxisdirections.Inthiscase,havingamemberlocalcoordinatesystem
providesasimpleandconvenientwayofspecifyingtheseloadsasacting
perpendiculartotheroofmembers.
Asafinalexample,havinglocalyandlocalzaxesprovidesaconvenientwayto
obtainresultssuchasmajoraxisbendingmomentandshearforceinthestrong
direction,etc.,regardlessoftheorientationofthemember.
Thesamebenefitsholdtruewhenconsideringthelocalcoordinatesystemfor
plates.
DefaultOrientationoftheMemberLocalCoordinateSystem
Sincethismemberlocalcoordinatesystemexistsassoonasamemberisaddedtoa
model,STAAD.Prohasaconventionforestablishingthedefaultorientationofa
memberlocalcoordinatesystem.Theconventioncanbedescribedbythefollowing
rulebasedonvectorcrossproductconcepts:
114
Property Assignment
ThememberlocalxaxiscrossedwiththeglobalYaxisproducesthepositivelocalz
axis.
Note: Itisnotpossibletotakethevectorcrossproductoftwoparallelvectors.So
inthecaseofverticallyorientedmembers,STAAD.Prosimplyadoptsthe
conventionthatthepositivelocalzaxiswillbeorientedparallelto,andinthe
samepositivedirectionas,theglobalZaxis.
Theserulesprovideauniquedefinitionforthedefaultorientationofanymemberin
threedimensionalspace.Insummary:
Thelocalxaxisisdefinedbythestartingandendingnodes.
Thelocalzaxisisorientedbasedontheconventionsdescribedabove.
Thelocalyaxiscanbedeterminedbyusingthevectorcrossproductrule:zcross
x=y.
Thisdefaultorientationisadoptedwhenmembersarefirstintroducedintoamodel.
Inanupcomingsectionwewillexplainhowmemberorientationcanbemodifiedas
necessaryonamemberbymemberbasisthroughtheapplicationofaBetaAngle.
InthesamewaythatSTAAD.Proprovidesgraphicaltoolsforvisualizingthestarting
andendingnodesofmembers,italsoprovidestoolsforvisualizingtheorientationof
localcoordinatesystems.
Exercise:Observingmemberorientation
2. OntheLabelstab,intheBeamscategory,selecttheoptionnamedBeam
Orientation.
3. IntheGeneralcategory,selecttheoptionnamedShowAxesAtOrg(I).
4. ClickOK.
Property Assignment
115
TheoptiontoshowBeamOrientationproducescolorcodedlocalcoordinate
axistriadsonalloftheindividualmembers.
TheoptiontoShowAxesAtOriginproducesacolorcodedcoordinateaxistriad
attheoriginoftheglobalcoordinatesystem.Itspurposeistoprovidethekeyto
thecolorcodingofthelocalcoordinateaxistriads.Thereforebluerepresents
localx,redrepresentslocaly,andgreenrepresentslocalz.
5. UsethekeyboardhotkeyShift+OtotoggleoffBeamOrientation,andShift+I
totoggleoffShowAxesAtOrigin.
DefaultOrientationofthePlateLocalCoordinateSystem
PlatesinSTAAD.Proaredefinedbythreeorfourcornernodes.Considertheplates
withnodesatthecornerslabeledA,B,CandDasshowninthefigurebelow.The
orientationofthelocalcoordinatesystemforplatesisdeterminedasfollows:
ThelocalxaxisisdefinedtobeparalleltothevectorpointingfromnodeAto
nodeB.
ThecrossproductofvectorsABandACdefinesavectorparalleltothelocalz
axisoftheplate,i.e.,z=ABxAC.Thelocalzaxisisalwaysnormaltotheplate
surface.
Thecrossproductofvectorszandxdefinesavectorparalleltothelocalyaxis,
i.e.,y=zcrossx.(Boththexandyaxesalwayslieintheplaneoftheplate.)
Theoriginoftheplatelocalaxissystemoccursatthemathematicalaverageof
theplatesnodalcoordinates.
Thislocalcoordinatesystemmakesitpossibletodiscussthestressesonan
individualelementwithouthavingtoresolvethosestresseswithrespecttothe
116
Property Assignment
ThelocationsofnodesA,B,CandDaredependentsolelyupontheorderinwhich
theyareselected(ortypedintheeditor)whendefiningtheplateelement.
Therefore,theorientationofthelocalaxissystemisalsosolelydependentonthe
orderinwhichtheplatecornersareselected.Thesideoftheplatefromwhichthez
axispointsinthepositivedirectionisconsideredtobethetopoftheplate.Inan
upcomingsectionwewillexplainhowplateorientationcanbemodifiedas
necessaryonaplatebyplatebasisthroughtheassignmentofaplatereference
point.
Exercise:Observingplateorientation
2. OntheLabelstab,inthePlatescategory,selecttheoptionnamedPlate
Orientation.
3. IntheNodescategory,selectNodeNumbers.
4. ClickOK.
Theplatelocalcoordinateaxistriadisdisplayedontheoneandonlyplateinthe
currentmodel.
5. ClicktheGeometrytab,PlatesubtabinthePageControl.
Theorientationoftheplatelocalaxissystemcanbeconfirmedusingtherules
aboveandthenodenumberorderasprovidedinthePlatestable.
Note: STAAD.Proalsoprovidestheoptiontodisplayplateswithacolorcoding,
whereuserconfigurablecolorsareusedtodistinguishthetopandbottomof
plates.
Property Assignment
117
currentfile.
118
Property Assignment
Model Geometry
ModelGeometry
Manyoftheexercisesinthismoduleusethemodelshownbelowtodemonstrate
theassignmentofmemberproperties,materialconstants,supports,andloadsto
thestructure.
ThismodelwascreatedusingtheMirrorcommand.IntheMirrordialog,anoption
calledMirrorMemberOrientationwasleftunselected.IftheMirrorMember
Orientationfeatureisturnedon,theprogramattemptstomirrorthemember
orientation,inadditiontothemembergeometry,asshownbelow.Theimplications
ofthisselectionwillbeexplainedindetaillaterinthismodule.
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119
Working with Groups
WorkingwithGroups
Whenworkingwithstructuralmodels,itsometimeshelpstoclusterasetofentities
underasingleumbrellaforeaseofhandlingthedataassociatedwiththoseentities.
Forexample,onemaywanttorefertoalloftheprincipalraftersofawarehouse
structureasagroup,ratherthanworkingwithallofthemembersindividually.
TheseclustersarereferredtoasgroupsinSTAAD.Pro,andtheycansavealotof
timewhenassigningattributestomembersofthestructure.STAAD.Proallows
propertiestobeassignedtoagroupusingasingleinstruction,ratherthanhavingto
repeatedlyselecttheindividualmembersinordertoassignvariouspropertiesto
them.
GroupdefinitionsareinsertedintotheSTAAD.Proinputfile,sotheyremainpartof
themodelafterthecurrentSTAAD.Prosessionisclosed.Ifyouprovideyourinput
filetoanotherSTAAD.Prouser,theywillbeabletousethegroupsyoucreated.
Note: CreatingNewViewsisanothermethodoffilteringSTAAD.Proentities,as
presentedinadifferentmodule.However,theinformationrequiredto
defineviewsissavedinaseparatefile,ratherthanwithintheSTAAD.Pro
inputfile,whichmakesitalittlelessconvenientforthispurposethan
workingwithgroups.
Exercise:Creatingandassigninggroups
Fourgroupswillbecreated:
Groupname
Description
_BOTC
Trussbottomchord
_TOPC
Trusstopchord
_COL
Columns
_WEB
Trusswebs
2. ClickTools>CreateNewGroupintheMenuBar.
3. ChoosetheBeamoptionintheSelectTypelistoftheDefineGroupNamedialog.
Warning: AcommonmistakeistoleavetheSelectTypeoptionsettoNode,when
theintentistocreateaBeamgroup.
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4. Enter_BOTCintheGroupNamefield,andclickOK.
Hint: STAAD.Progroupnamesmuststartwithanunderscorecharacter(referto
Section5.16oftheTechnicalReferencemanualforadditionalinformationon
forminggroupnames).However,iftheunderscoreisnotenteredmanuallyin
theDefineGroupNamedialog,STAAD.Prowilladditautomaticallywhenthe
dialogisclosed.
TheCreateGroupdialogliststhenamesofgroupsthathavebeencreatedinthe
model.Wewillnowcreatetherestofthegroups,andthenwewillassignthem
totheappropriatemembers.
5. ClicktheCreatebuttonintheCreateGroupdialog.
6. ChoosetheBeamoptionintheSelectTypelist.
7. EnterTOPC(butthistimewithouttheleadingunderscore)intheGroupName
field,andclickOK.
Note: STAAD.Proautomaticallyinsertedtherequiredleadingunderscorein_TOPC
intheCreateGroupdialog.Itcandothis,becauseitisclearfromthecontext
ofthedialogboxesbeingusedthattheintentistocreateagroup.However,
ifagroupisbeingcreatedbydirectlyeditingtheSTAADInputFile,STAAD.Pro
doesnothavethecontexttorecognizethetextasagroupname,soitwould
nothavetheabilitytomakethisautomaticcorrection.Forthisreason,good
practicedictatesgettingintothehabitofalwaysusingtheleading
underscorewhenreferringtogroupnames.
8. RepeattheaboveprocesstwicemoretocreateBeamtypegroupsnamed_COL
and_WEB.
Note: ThelistofgroupnamesintheCreateGroupdialogprovidesanindicationas
towhichtypeofelementscanbeincludedineachgroup.Allfourofour
groupscanonlybeassignedtobeams.
Thenextstepistoassign(orAssociate)theappropriatememberstoeachgroup.
Note: IntheAssignmethodscategory,therearethreeoptionsavailabletoassign
memberstogroups.Theseassignmentmethodsareacommontheme
throughoutSTAAD.Pro.Adescriptionofeachoptionisprovidedbelow:
AssociatetoViewassociatesthehighlightedgroupnamewithallofthe
membersintheview.
AssociatetoSelectedGeometryassociatesthehighlightedgroupname
withallofthecurrentlyselectedmembers.(Thisoptionwillappeargrayed
outifnomembersareselected.)
AssociatetoListassociatesthehighlightedgroupnamewithallofthe
memberswhosenumbersareenteredintheListfield.
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Working with Groups
9. ClickthefirstlineintheCreateGroupdialogtohighlightthegroupnamed
_BOTC.
10. LeavetheCreateGroupdialogopen,andclickSelect>BeamsParallelTo>Xin
theMenuBar.
Thebottomchordmembers,andonlythebottomchordmembers,willbe
selected.NoticethattheAssociatetoSelectedGeometryradiobuttoninthe
CreateGroupdialogisnowactive.
11. ClicktheAssociatebuttonatthebottomoftheCreateGroupdialog.STAAD.Pro
associatesthebottomchordmemberswiththegroupnamed_BOTC.Italso
displaysthemembernumbersintheListfieldandchangesthe1:_BOTClistingin
theCreateGroupdialogtosayBeamAssigned,implyingthatthegroupnamehas
beenassignedtoatleastsomebeamsinthemodel.
12. ClickinsidetheMainWindowtodeselectallmembers.
13. ClickthesecondlineintheCreateGroupdialogtohighlightthegroupnamed
_TOPC.
14. HoldtheControl(Ctrl)keyandclickthetopchordmembersoneatatimeusing
theBeamsCursortoselectthem.
Note: Duetotheinclinedorientationofthesemembers,thereisnoeasiermethod
toselectthem.
15. VerifythattheAssignmentMethodissettoAssociatetoSelectedGeometry,
andthenclicktheAssociatebutton.
Thetopchordmembersareassignedtothe_TOPCgroup,andtheirmember
numbersappearintheListfield.
16. ClickthethirdlineintheCreateGroupdialogtohighlightthegroupnamed_COL.
17. Clickonthecolumnattheleftsideofthemodel,thenpressandholdControl
(Ctrl)andclickonthecolumnattherightsideofthemodel.
Thecolumnsarenowassignedtothe_COLgroup.
19. ClickthefourthlineintheCreateGroupdialogtohighlightthegroupnamed
_WEB.
Thewebmemberscouldbeselectedusingthetediousmethodofclickingon
themoneatatime.Amoreefficientmethodwouldbetousethegroupswe
havecreatedtoselectallofthemembersinthethreeexistinggroups,andthen
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Property Assignment
Working with Groups
useanInverseSelectioncommandtoselecttheremainingmembersnot
includedinthethreeexistinggroups.
20. ClickSelect>ByGroupNameintheMenuBar.
21. ClickonallthreegroupnamesintheSelectGroupsdialog.
22. ClickClosetodismisstheSelectGroupsdialog.
Thetopchord,bottomchordandcolumnswillbehighlightedintheMain
Windowindicatingthattheyareallselected.
23. ClickSelect>ByInverse>InverseBeamSelectionintheMenuBar.
Theselectionisinvertedsoonlythetrusswebmembersareselected.
Thewebsarenowassignedtothe_WEBgroup.
25. ClickthefirstlineintheCreateGroupdialogtohighlightthegroupnamed_BOTC
again,andthenclicktheHighlightbutton.
ThemembersoftheselectedgroupshouldbehighlightedintheMainWindow.
26. Verifytheproperassignmentofeachgroupbyselectingeachgroupnameoneat
atimeandclickingHighlight.
Ifnomembersarehighlightedafterselectingagroupnameandclickingthe
Highlightbutton,checktomakesurethatthegroupisindicatedasaBeam
grouptypeinthelistofgroupsintheCreateGroupdialog.
IfanyofthegroupswereaccidentallycreatedasNodetypegroups,theywill
needtobedeletedandrecreatedasBeamtypegroups,beforethemembers
ofthismodelcanbecorrectlyassignedtheirgroupname.
Ifanymemberswereunintentionallyomittedfromagroup,theycanbe
addedtothegroupusingtheCreateGroupdialog,ortheycanbeaddedto
thelistintheInputFileusingtheSTAAD.ProEditor.
If,lateron,amemberisremovedfromthemodel,andifthatmemberwas
partofoneofthedefinedgroups,STAAD.Prowillremovethemember
numberfromthegroupautomatically.
Note: STAAD.Proalsoallowsgroupsofplateorsolidelementstobecreated.
However,theseoptionsareofferedonlyinthelistoftheDefineGroupName
dialogifthemodelcontainsplatesorsolids.
27. ClicktheClosebuttontodismisstheCreateGroupdialog.
currentfile.
Property Assignment
123
General Tab
GeneralTab
InthefollowingsectionswewillexploretheGeneraltabanditsfivesubtabs:
Propertydefinesandassignssectionproperties,platethicknesses,andBeta
Angles,andallowstheoptionofassociatingamaterialtoasection.
Specdefinesandassignsparametersthatmodifythewaystructuralentities
behave
Supportdefinesandassignsboundaryconditionsforthemodel
Load&Definitiondefinesandassignsloadconditionsandcombinations
Materialdefinesandassignsmaterialpropertiestostructuralentities
Thegeneralprogressionwillbetoworkthroughthesesubtabsfromtoptobottom.
Wewillnowexploreeachofthembywayofexercises.
MemberProperty
Exercise:DefineProperties
1. Continueworkinginthecurrentfile,oropenthedatasetfilenamedProperties
3.std.
2. ClicktheGeneraltabinthePageControlarea.ThePropertysubtabisactiveby
default.TheDataAreaontherightsidenowcontainsadialoglabeledProperties
WholeStructure,referredtofromhereonasthePropertiesdialog.
Hint: IfthePropertiesdialogiseverclosed,itcanberecalledbyclickingonthe
PropertysubtaboftheGeneraltab.
ThePropertiesdialogisusedtodefineandassignsectionpropertiestomembers.
Italsoofferstheoptionofassociatingmaterialpropertiestoasection.
Standardcrosssectionscanbechosenfromtables,orcustomsectionscanbe
defined.ThefollowingstandardsectionsfromtheAmericansteeltableareused
inthecurrentexercise:
Columns
Bottomchord
Topchord
Webs
Wideflange:W18x35
Channel:C12x30
RectangularHSS:7in.x4in.x3/16in.
Angle:3in.x3in.xin.
3. ClicktheSectionDatabasebuttoninthePropertiesdialog.
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Property Assignment
Member Property
Note: ThetabsacrossthetopoftheSectionProfileTablesdialogprovideaccessto
sectiontablesfordifferentmaterials.
Steelprovidesaccesstoalistofsteeltablesofmorethanfifteen
differentcountries.
ColdformedSteelprovidesaccesstoalistoftablesfromvarious
manufacturersofcoldformedsteelproducts.
Timberprovidesaccesstoanextensivelistofwoodsections
comprisedofvariouscombinationsofspecies,grades,andsawn
lumbersizes.AlsoincludespropertiesforGluedLaminated
material.
AluminumprovidesaccesstotheAmericanAluminumtable.
TheAmericanWShapetablefromtheSteeltabisactivebydefault.
4. ScrolldownthroughtheshapeslistedintheSelectBeamcategory,andclickon
W18x35.MakesurethattheSTradiobuttonisselectedundertheType
Specificationheading,butnoticethatthereareavarietyofoptionsavailable:
STspecifiesasinglesectionfromthestandardtable.
TisusedtoindicateaTshapedsectionformedbycuttinga
standardWsectionatthemiddepthoftheweb.
Dspecifiesadoubleprofilewheretheclearspacingcanbe
defined.
CMspecifiesacompositesectioncomprisedofaconcreteslabon
topofawideflangesteelshape.Thisspecificationrequiresthe
definitionofsomeadditionalrelatedvariables.
TC,BC,andTBallowthespecificationoftopand/orbottomcover
plates.
Hint: InformationonallthesespecificationsisavailableinSection5.20.1ofthe
TechnicalReferencemanual.
Note: BelowtheSelectBeamlististheViewTablebutton.Thisbuttonaccessesa
sectionpropertiestableforthesectiontypeselected(inthiscase,the
AmericanWShapes).
Note: BelowtheViewTablebuttonistheMaterialcheckbox.Thisprovidesan
optiontoassociateamaterialwiththecurrentProperty.Ifthecheckboxis
selected,membersthatreceivethePropertyassignmentalsoreceivea
materialassignment.Ifthecheckboxisdeselected,thematerialwillneedto
beassignedasaseparatestep.
5. LeavetheMaterialcheckboxtoggledonandthematerialsettoSTEEL.Thiswill
associatesteelmaterialpropertieswiththeW18x35onceitisaddedtothelistof
availablesections.
Property Assignment
125
Member Property
Hint: Section5.26.2oftheTechnicalReferencemanualprovidesthevalues
associatedwitheachofthefourhardcodedmaterials.
6. ClickAdd.W18x35appearsasanavailablesectioninthePropertiesdialog.
7. ClicktheChannelitemintheSectionProfileTablesdialog.
8. ScrolldowntotheC12sections,andclickonC12X30.
9. LeavetheTypeSpecificationsettoST(SingleSectionfromTable),butnoticethat
thereareotheroptionsavailableincludingDoubleChannelsintheBacktoBack
andFronttoFrontconfigurations.
10. EnsurethattheMaterialcheckboxischecked,andthatthematerialissetto
STEEL.
11. ClicktheAddbutton.TheC12X30sectionisaddedtothelistofsectionsinthe
Propertiesdialog.
12. ClicktheHSSRectangleitemintheSectionProfileTablesdialog.
13. ScrollthroughthelistofprofilesandclickonHSST7X4X0.188.(Thisrepresentsan
HSS7x4x3/16).
STEEL.
15. ClicktheAddbutton.TheHSSsectionisaddedtothelistofsectionsinthe
Propertiesdialog.
16. ClicktheAngleitemintheSectionProfileTablesdialog.
Hint: ThefollowingfigureillustrateshowanglesarespecifiedinSTAAD.Pro
Note: TheanglecodeLisfollowedbynumbersrepresentingthelengthofthe
longerlegintenthsofaninch,thelengthoftheshorterlegintenthsofan
inch,andthethicknessoftheangleinsixteenthsofaninch.Therefore,the3
in.x3in.xin.anglesectionforthetrusswebswouldbespecifiedas
L30308.
17. ClickonL30308tohighlightit.
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Property Assignment
Member Property
18. LeavetheTypeSpecificationsettoST(SingleSectionfromTable),butnoticethat
thereareotheroptionsavailableincludingdoubleanglesinvarious
configurations.
STEEL.
20. ClicktheAddbutton.TheL30308sectionisaddedtothelistofsectionsinthe
Propertiesdialog.
21. ClicktheClosebuttontodismisstheSectionProfileTablesdialog.
Atthispoint,allofthesectionsthatwillbeusedinthismodelareaddedtothe
Propertieslist,butnonehaveactuallybeenassignedtothemembersofthe
model.Thiswillbethesubjectofthenextexercise,butfirst,awordofcautionis
warranted.
Warning: Ifthismodelwassavedandclosedatthispoint,withoutactually
assigningsectionstoanyofthemembers,ALLOFTHESECTIONSWOULD
BEREMOVEDfromthelistinthePropertiesdialogwhenthemodelis
reopened.
TheimportantthingtorememberistoASSIGNeachofthesectionstoatleast
onememberpriortoclosingthemodel.
Exercise:AssignProperties
1. ClickonW18X35inthesectionlistinthePropertiesdialog.
2. SelecttheUseCursorToAssignoptionintheAssignmentMethodarea.
3. ClicktheAssignbuttoninthelowerleftcornerofthePropertiesdialog.
ThenameofthisbuttonchangestoAssigning,andthecursorchangestoasteel
beamshapewithatriangleintheupperleftcorner,indicatingthatwearenow
inanactiveassignmentmode.
4. ClickoneachofthetwocolumnswiththecursortoassigntheW18x35section
tothem.
ThelabelR1appearsnearthecenterofbothcolumns.Thisisareference
numberthatcorrespondstotheW18X35section,anditappearsjusttotheleft
ofthesectionnameinthePropertiesdialog,inacolumnlabeledRef.
5. ClicktheAssigningbuttoninthelowerleftcornerofthePropertiesdialogto
toggleofftheactiveassignmentmode.
Hint: Totogglebetweenthedisplayoffullsectionnamesorreferencenumberson
members,usethekeyboardhotkeyShift+X,orfollowthestepsbelow:
RightclickintheMainWindow.
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127
Member Property
SelectLabelsfromthepopupmenu.
ClicktheSectionsradiobuttonunderthePropertiescategoryon
theLabelstaboftheDiagramsdialog.
ClickOK.
6. ClickonC12X30inthesectionlistinthePropertiesdialog.
8. IntheSelectGroupsdialog,clickthelinethatsaysG1:_BOTCandleavethe
dialogopen.
ThebottomchordishighlightedintheMainWindowandtheAssignment
MethodautomaticallychangestoAssignToSelectedBeams.
9. ClicktheAssignbutton,andclickYesinthepopupmessageboxtoconfirm.
ThelabelC12X30appearsneareachbottomchordsegment.
Warning: Ifpropertiesgetmistakenlyassigned,itcanbeverydifficulttodetect.
Takethetimeto:
Checkthatonlytheintendedmembershavebeenselected.
CheckthattheAssignmentMethodoptionisproperlyset.
10. ClickonHSST7X4X0.188inthesectionlistinthePropertiesdialog.
11. ClickthelinethatsaysG2:_TOPCintheSelectGroupsdialogtoselectthetop
chordmembers,andclickthelinethatsaysG1:_BOTCtodeselectthebottom
chordmembers.Again,leavethisdialogopen.
ThetopchordishighlightedintheMainWindow,andtheAssignmentMethod
defaultstoAssignToSelectedBeams.
12. ClicktheAssignbutton,andthenclickYesinthepopupmessageboxto
confirm.
ThelabelHSST7X4X0.188appearsneareachtopchordsegment.
13. ClickonL30308inthesectionlistinthePropertiesdialog.
14. ClickthelinethatsaysG4:_WEBintheSelectGroupsdialogtoselecttheweb
members,andclickthelinethatsaysG2:_TOPCtodeselectthetopchord
members.
ThewebmembersarehighlightedintheMainWindow,andtheAssignment
MethoddefaultstoAssignToSelectedBeams.
15. ClicktheClosebuttontodismisstheSelectGroupsdialog.
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Property Assignment
Member Property
16. ClicktheAssignbutton,andthenclickYesinthepopupmessageboxto
confirm.
ThelabelL30308appearsneareachwebmember.
Thiscompletestheprocessofassigningpropertiestoallmembersinthemodel.
Thisisarelativelysimplemodel,anditisfairlyeasytoseethatallmembershave
receivedapropertyspecificationbylookingatthelabels.Butinamorecomplicated
model,itmaynotbesoeasytoobservethatallmembershavebeenassigneda
section.Forthisreason,STAAD.Proprovidesatooltoconfirmthateverymemberin
thestructurehasbeenassignedmemberproperties.
Exercise:Searchingformemberswithmissingproperties
1. Continuetoworkinthecurrentmodel,oropenthedatasetfilenamed
Properties4.std.
2. ClicktheGeneraltab,thenpressthekeyboardhotkeyShift+X.
Thistogglesoffthedisplayofsectionlabelsandrevertstoviewingthesection
referencenumbers.Itisonesimplethingthatcanbedonetohelpidentify
memberswithmissingproperties.
Touseasearchtooltopositivelyidentifyanyentitieswithmissingproperties,
performthefollowingsteps:
3. ClickintheMainWindowtoensurethatnomembersarecurrentlyselected.
4. ClickSelect>ByMissingAttributes>MissingPropertyintheMenuBar.
Inthismodel,thepopupdialogshouldindicatethattherearenoentitieswith
missingpropertiesfound.
5. ClickOK.
Ifanymemberinthestructuredidnothaveasectionpropertyassignedtoit,this
commandwouldhavehighlightedthosemembersintheMainWindow.
Exercise:ExploringtheremainingfunctionsinthePropertiesdialog
1. Continuetoworkinthecurrentmodel,oropenthedatasetfilenamed
Properties4.stdandclicktheGeneraltab.
2. ClickanySectionlistedinthePropertiesdialogbox,andthenclicktheEdit
button.Thisreopensthedialogboxusedtodefinethesection,andpermits
changestobemadetothatparticularProperty.
3. ClickClosetodismissthedialog.
TheDeletebuttonwilloffertheoptiontodeletethecurrentlyselected
Property.
Property Assignment
129
Member Property
4. ClicktheValuesbuttontoviewthesectionpropertiesforeachSectionthatis
currentlylistedinthePropertiesdialog.
5. ClosetheSectionPropertiesdialog.
6. ClicktheDefinebutton.
ThePropertydialogprovidesinputformstodefinevarioustypesofsections,
including:
Circle
Rectangle
Tee
Trapezoidal
GeneralUsedtodefinesectionpropertiesofanirregularshaped
section.Thefollowingprismaticpropertiesarerequiredfor
analysis:AX=Crosssectionalarea,IX=Torsionalconstant,IY=
Momentofinertiaaboutyaxis,IZ=Momentofinertiaaboutz
axis.
TaperedIUsedtodefineIsectionswhosedimensionsvaryfrom
oneendofthemembertotheother.
TaperedTubeUsedtodefinetubesectionswhosedimensions
varyfromoneendofthemembertotheother.
AssignProfileUsedtoimplicitlyassignasteelsectionproperty
toamemberbyselectingaprofilecategory.
Note: TheMaterialcheckboxandassociatedlistcanbeusedtoassignamaterialto
aPropertyifdesired.
7. ClickClosetodismissthePropertydialog.
8. ClicktheMaterialsbutton.
TheMaterialsdialogliststhecurrentlydefinedmaterialsandtheirvaluesfor
modulusofelasticityE,Poissonsratio,density,andalpha(coefficientofthermal
expansionandcontraction).Materialsaredefinedinanotherareaofthe
program.Thevaluescannotbeeditedinthistable,butthedialogprovides
accesstothetableforconvenientviewing.
9. ClosetheMaterialswindow.
10. ClicktheThicknessbutton.
ThePlateElement/SurfacePropertydialogisusedtoassignthicknesstoplatesor
surfaces.
11. ClosethePlateElement/SurfacePropertydialog.
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Property Assignment
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12. ClicktheUserTablebutton.
Thisbuttonprovidesaccesstouserdefinedsectionpropertiestables,ifany
exist.Sincenoneexistinthismodel,awarningboxpopsuptoindicatethatno
usertableswerefound,andofferstheoptiontocreateone.
13. ClickYestothewarningbox.
14. ClicktheNewTablebuttonontheCreateUserProvidedTabledialog.
TheSelectSectionTypelistisusedtodefinethesectiontype:wideflange,
channel,angle,etc,andtoindicatewhetherthenewtablewillbecreatedasan
ExternaltableoranInternaltable.
Externaltable:thetabledatawillbesavedinaseparatefilethatisexternalto
thecurrentSTAADInputfile.Thiscanbeaconvenientwaytomakethetable
dataaccessibletoothersortomakeitavailableforreuseonanotherproject.
Internaltable:thetabledatawillbesavedwithinthecurrentSTAADInputfile.
Thiscanbeaconvenientwaytokeepthetabledataaccessibletothecurrent
modelwithouthavingtomanageanexternalfile.
KeeptheExternalTablecheckboxdeselectedforthisexercise.
Note: Anexampleofanapplicationforusertablesispremanufacturedbuilding
designwheresteelsectionsofIshapesareused,buttheyarefabricatedout
ofplatestooptimizeadesign,andthereforearenotstandardsectionslisted
inthesteeltables.
Hint: Section5.19oftheTechnicalReferencemanualprovidesinstructionsfor
specifyingausersteeltable.Asampleprojectillustratingtheapplicationof
usertablesisprovidedinExampleProblem17oftheSTAAD.ProExamples
manual.
15. EnsurethattheSelectSectionTypedropdownlistboxissettoWIDEFLANGE.
Thislistboxprovidesaccesstoavarietyofsectiontypeoptions.
16. ClickOK.
TheCreateUserProvidedTabledialognowindicatesthatTable1isselected.
17. ClicktheAddNewPropertybuttontoviewtheinputformforWideFlange
sections.
Forthepurposeofthisexercise,wewillnotactuallydefineanysectionsinthis
UserProvidedTable.Buttheprocessofdefiningsectionsisasfollows:
ProvideameaningfulSectionname.
Entervaluesintherequireddatafields.
Property Assignment
131
Member Property
TheOKbuttonaddsthesectiontothetable,andclosesthe
currentdialogsothenewlydefinedsectioncanbeseeninthe
TableDatalistintheCreateUserProvidedTabledialog.
18. ClickCancelintheWideFlangewindow,andthenclickCloseintheCreateUser
ProvidedTabledialogtoreturntotheMainWindow.
ModifySectionDatabase
TocompletethediscussiononPropertiesandSections,itisimportanttoknowthat
STAAD.Proofferstheabilitytoeditthesectiondatabasesthatareincludedwiththe
program.Wewillnotmakeanyeditstothedatabasesatthistime,butnotethat
Tools>ModifySectionDatabaseopenstheSectionDatabaseManager,which
allowsaccesstothesectiondatabasetables,andprovidestoolstomodifythemif
necessary.
Twoexamplesofpotentialreasonstomodifyatable:
1. ThesteeltablesprovidedwithSTAAD.Proarebasedonthemostcurrenttables
available.Someoldersteelsectionsmaynotbelisted,sotheSectionDatabase
Managerisawaytointroduceanoldersectioninordertoanalyzeanexisting
structure.
2. Someofthesectionsinthetablemaybeundesirableforvariousreasonssuchas
limitedavailability.EditingasteeltablewiththeSectionDatabaseManagerisa
waytodeletesectionsthatareundesirable.
Note: ThefilecontainingtheAmericansteeltableisnamedAISCSections.mdb,and
itistypicallylocatedinthe\SPro2007\STAAD\Sections\directory.
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Hint: Beforemakinganyeditstoastandardsectiontable,considersavingabackup
copyofthattable.
Warning: Ifastandardsectiontableisedited,andiftheSTAAD.Promodelislater
senttoanotherSTAAD.Prouser,themodifiedsectiondatabasefilewill
alsoneedtobeprovidedtorunthemodelcorrectly.
file.
Property Assignment
133
Member Property
Modifyingmember/plateorientation
Thismodulebeganbyestablishingtheexistenceanddefaultorientationofthelocal
coordinatesystemformembersandplates.Inthatsection,wealsomentionedthat
thereweretoolsavailabletoconvenientlyreorientmembersandplates.Thisisthe
lasttopictodiscussonthePropertysubtaboftheGeneraltab,andwillbe
demonstratedbywayofaseriesofexercises.
Exercise:Observingsectionorientation
2. ClicktheGeometrytab.TheBeamsubtabwillbeactivebydefault.
3. StretchtheBeamstablewideenoughtoviewthecolumnlabeledBeta,
representingBetaAngle,andnotethattheBetaAngleiszeroforeverymember
inthismodel.
Thisrepresentsthedefaultcondition;thewaybeamsautomaticallyoccurwhen
theyarefirstmodeledandnoBetaAnglemodificationshavebeenmade.
Note: ThisisreferredtoastheBeta=0condition.
4. ClickbackintheMainWindowtoputthefocusontheStructureDiagram,and
thenusethehotkeyShift+OtoturnonMemberOrientation.
RecallthatSTAAD.ProusesaspecificsetofrulestoarriveatthedefaultorBeta=
0orientationofallmembers,andthatthecoloredcoordinateaxistriadsare
currentlyshowingtheresultofapplyingthoserules.Asapointofinterest,the
bottomchordmemberspointinoppositedirectionsinthismodel,becausethe
modelwasgeneratedbymirroringonehalfofthestructureaboutavertical
plane.
5. ClickView>3DRendering.
Theorientationsoftheindividualsteelsectionsarenowvisibleintherendered
view.Thekeytotheseorientationsisidentifiedinthefollowingfigure(Figure
1.6afromtheTechnicalReferencemanual).Thefigureillustratesthe
relationshipsbetweendifferenttypesofsteelsectionsandthelocalcoordinate
systeminSTAAD.Pro.
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Property Assignment
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Thenoteatthebottomofthefiguresays,Thelocalxaxisoftheabovesections
isgoingintothepaper.Recallthatthelocalxaxisisalinedefinedbythetwo
endsofthemember,andthatthepositivedirectionofthelocalxaxisisdefined
byalinegoingfromthestartingend(nodeA)totheendingend(nodeB)ofthe
member.
Twoitemsworthnotingintherenderedview:
Property Assignment
135
Member Property
Thebottomchordsectionorientationschangeatmidspan,
relatingbacktotheuseoftheMirrorcommand.
Theanglesectionsofthewebmemberstakeonanorientation
thatisbasedontheprincipalaxesratherthanthegeometricaxes.
Bothoftheseitemswillbeaddressedinthefollowingexercises.
6. ClosetheRenderedView,butkeepthecurrentmodelopenforuseinthenext
section.
RedefineIncidence
Exercise:Modifyingsectionorientationbyredefiningmemberincidences
1. UsingtheBeamsCursor,selectthefourbottomchordmemberstotheleftof
midspan.
2. ClickTools>RedefineIncidence.
Thistoolprovidesanoptiontosimplyswitchtheorderofthestartingandending
nodesforselectedmembers.Theotheroptionsprovidewaystorevisethe
incidenceofselectedmemberssothatthestartingnodeisclosertotheorigin
thantheendingnode,orfartherfromtheoriginthantheendingnode.
3. Keeptheradiobuttonsettothedefaultoptiontosimplyswitchtheincidence,
andthenclickOK.
Theselectedbottomchordmemberswillberedrawnsothatthebluelocalxaxis
pointstotherightandtheflangetipsofthechannelpointinthepositiveglobalZ
directiontomatchtheotherbottomchordmembers.
BetaAngle
TheBetaAngledescribesamembersorientationaboutitslongitudinalaxiswith
respecttoadefault,orBetaEqualsZero,condition.
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Property Assignment
Member Property
ThesignconventionforBetaAnglescanbevisualizedbyusingarighthandrule.
Whenthethumboftherighthandispointedinthepositivelocalxdirectionofa
member,thenaturalcurloftherightfingersindicatesthedirectionofrotationthat
willoccurasaresultofapositiveBetaAngle.
Note: Inthepreviousexample,anotheroptiontoreorientthebottomchord
memberswouldbetoapplya180degreeBetaAngletothefourbottom
chordmemberstotheleftofmidspan.WhilethisWOULDhavetheeffectof
coordinatingtheorientationofthechannelflangetips,itwouldNOTalter
thefactthathalfofthebottomchordmembershavealocalxaxisthatpoints
totheleftandhalfhavealocalxaxisthatpointstotheright.Inaddition,this
optionwouldcreateasituationwherehalfofthebottomchordmembers
hadalocalyaxisthatpointsup,whiletheotherhalfofthememberswould
havealocalyaxisthatpointsdown.Thiscouldcreatesomeconfusionwhen
interpretingtheresults,sothismethodwouldnotbeadvisableforthis
particularsituation.
ThefollowingexercisedemonstratestheapplicationofaBetaAngle.Assumethat
thegoalistorotatemembernumber1circledinthefigurebelowsuchthatits
flangetipspointdownward.
Byobservingthecurrentorientationofmembernumber1,wecanseethata
positive90degreerotationwillachievethedesiredorientation.
Hint: FiguresareprovidedinSection1.5.3oftheTechnicalReferencemanualto
quicklydeterminethebetaangletoapplyforcommonlyencounteredcases.
Exercise:ModifyingsectionorientationbyapplyinganexplicitBetaAngle
1. ClicktheGeneraltab.ThePropertysubtabwillbeactivebydefault.
2. InthePropertiesdialog,clicktheBetaAngletab.
3. ClicktheCreateBetaAnglebutton.
TherearethreeoptionsforspecifyingaBetaAngle.First,wewillusethedefault
method,whichistoexplicitlydefinearotationangle.
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Member Property
4. Enteravalueof90intheAngleinDegreesfieldandclickOK.
Beta90appearsontheBetaAngletab.IfmoreBetaAnglespecificationsare
created,theywillappearinthislistandbeavailableforassignmenttothe
membersofthemodel.
5. ClicktheBeta90itemtohighlightit.
6. EnsurethattheAssignmentMethodissettoUseCursortoAssign.
7. ClicktheAssignbutton.
Thecursortemporarilychangestothespecialgraphicthatindicatesthat
STAAD.ProisintheBetaAngleassignmentmode.
8. Clickonmembernumber1toapplytheBeta90assignment.
ThemembershouldimmediatelyshowalabeltoindicatethatBeta90hasbeen
applied.
Hint: Itsometimeshelpstorollthewheelofthemouseforwardandbackwardto
forcethescreentoredrawbychangingthescale.
9. ClicktheAssigningbuttontotoggletheassignmentmodebackoff.
Wehavealreadyidentifiedthefactthatthesingleanglesectionusedinthewebsof
thetrusswillrequiresomeattention.Steelanglesectionshavegeometricand
principalaxes,andbydefault,STAAD.Procoordinatestheprincipalaxesofasteel
anglesectionwiththelocalaxesofthemember.Inthecurrentmodel,thisresultsin
steelanglememberorientationsthatdonotplaceeitheranglelegintheplaneof
thetruss,andmaynotbeconducivetomakingconnections.Theanglebetweenthe
geometricandtheprincipalaxesofeverysteelanglesectioniscalled(alpha),and
itisapropertythatisavailableinthesteelanglesectiondatabase.STAAD.Pro
providesaconvenienttoolthatcanquicklylookupthatcharacteristicangle,and
useittocalculateaBetaAnglethatwillbringoneoftheanglelegsintoaconvenient
alignmentinamodel.Thistoolisdemonstratedinthefollowingexercise.
Exercise:ModifyingsectionorientationbyapplyinganimplicitBetaAngle
1. EnsurethatthefocusisstillontheBetaAngletabinthePropertiesdialoginthe
currentmodel.
2. ClicktheCreateBetaAnglebutton.
IntheBetaAngledialogbox,theoptionsnamedAngleandRAngleare
specificallyforuseonanglesections.Theirfunctionsaredescribedand
illustratedbelow.
TheAngleoptionrotatesasection(90)degrees.
TheRAngleoptionrotatesasection(180)degrees.
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3. ClicktheradiobuttonassociatedwiththeoptionnamedAngle,andthenclick
OK.
BetaAngleappearsontheBetaAngletab.
4. ClicktheBetaAngleitemtohighlightit.
5. Selectthewebmembersbyanyconvenientmethod.
6. EnsurethattheAssignmentMethodissettoAssigntoSelectedBeams,andthen
clicktheAssignbuttonandconfirmbyclickingYes.
ThisassignmentinstructsSTAAD.Protodothefollowingforeachselected
member:
Lookupthecharacteristicangle.
CalculateBeta=90.(Always45degreesforequallegangles.)
PopulatetheBetaAngletabwithanitemcorrespondingtothe
calculatedvalueofBeta.
AssignthecalculatedvalueofBetatotheappropriatemember.
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Member Property
NotethatallwebmembersnowshowalabeltoindicatethatBeta45hasbeen
applied,andtheBeta45itemnowappearsinthelistontheBetaAngletab.
Thismakesthatspecificationavailabletoquicklyassigntoothermembersinthe
modelifnecessary.
Someitemstonote:
Inthisexercise,allofthewebmemberswereassignedthesame
steelanglesectionsize.Sotheyallhadthesamecharacteristic
angle,andallreceivedthesameBetaangleof45degrees.
Ifthisspecificationhadbeenassignedtounequalleganglesofa
varietyofsizes,thenthelistwouldhavedisplayedallofthe
uniqueBetaAnglesthatwerecalculatedandassigned.
Whilethistoolisconvenientforquicklycalculatingthe
appropriateBetaAngleforavarietyofanglesections,theresultis
savedintheSTAADInputFileintheformofnumericalvalues.
ThesenumericalvaluesareNOTautomaticallyupdatedinthe
eventthatanyoftheanglesectionsizeschangeduringthedesign
process.ToensurethatBetaAnglesarecoordinated,repeatthe
stepsaboveaftersectionsizesaremodified.
7. Whilethetrusswebmembersarestillselected,clickView>3DRendering.
Rotateandzoominontherenderedviewofthesteelanglememberstoseethat
theyhavebeenrotatedintoanorientationthatplacesonelegintheplaneofthe
truss.
8. Closetherenderedview.
currentfile.
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Member Property
SomefinalnotesonBetaAngle:
RememberthattheBetaAngleofanymembercanalwaysbeconfirmedby
viewingtheBetacolumnintheBeamstable.TheBeamstableisaccessiblefrom
theGeometrytab,Beamsubtab.
TheBetaAnglecanalsobereviewedandrevisedthroughtheMemberQuery
function.MemberQuerycanbelaunchedbydoubleclickingonanymemberof
interest.
AnalternatemethodofassigningaBetaAngleisaccessiblefromtheMenuBarin
theformofCommands>GeometricConstants>BetaAngle.
PlateOrientation
Thefinalexerciseinthissectionwilldemonstratehowtomodifytheorientationof
plates.
Exercise:Modifyingplateorientation
2. PressthehotkeyShift+TtoviewPlateOrientation.
Note: Someoftheplatesareorientedsothattheirlocalzaxespointupward,and
somepointdownward.(RecallthatSTAAD.Proidentifiesthepositivelocalz
faceasthetopofaplate.)Sincethiscouldleadtoconfusionwhen
interpretingoutputresults,itwouldbedesirabletocoordinatetheplatesso
thattheyareallorientedthesameway.Alsonotethatplatenumber31is
currentlyorientedsuchthatitslocalzaxispointsdownward.
3. PressthehotkeyShift+TagaintotoggleoffPlateOrientation.
4. PressthehotkeyShift+PtodisplayPlateNumbers,andpressShift+Nto
displayNodeNumbers.
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Member Property
5. UsingthePlatesCursor,doubleclickplatenumber31shownhighlightedinthe
figurebelowtolaunchthePlateQueryfunction.
ThePlateQuerydataindicatesthatthemeshhasbeencreatedintheY=0plane.
Thenodesarelistedintheorder1413233.Theplateanditsnodesare
shownforreferenceinthefigurebelow.
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6. ClosetheQuerydialogbox.
7. ClickCommands>GeometricConstants>PlateReferencePoint.
8. EnteranypositivevalueintheYcoordinateinputfield.
9. SettheLocalZAxistopointTowardstheReferencePoint.
10. SettheAssigncategoryToView,andclickOK.
11. PressthehotkeyShift+TtoviewPlateOrientationagain.Notethatallplates
(includingplatenumber31)arenoworientedsuchthattheirlocalzaxespoint
upward(inthepositiveglobalYdirection).
12. PressthehotkeyShift+TagaintotoggleoffPlateOrientation.
13. Comparethenodenumbersforplatenumber31ontheStructureDiagramwith
thoseshowninthefigureabove.Theyremaininthesamerelativelocationsafter
thePlateReferencePointcommandisissued.
Note: ThePlateReferencePointcommanddoesnotmoveanynodes.
14. Again,usethePlatesCursortorecallthePlateQueryfunctionbydoubleclicking
platenumber31.Observethatthenodesarenowlistedintheorder333241
1,theoppositeordercomparedtowhatwasobservedabove.
Note: WhenSTAAD.Proreorientsaplate,itsimplyreordersthenodesusedto
definethatplate.
15. ClosetheQuerydialogbox.
currentfile.
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143
Specifications
Specifications
Nowthatwehavedefinedmembercrosssectionsandmemberorientation,weare
readytomovetothenextiteminthePageControl.
OpenthedatasetfilenamedProperties6.std,andmovetotheGeneraltab,Spec
subtab.
TheSpecificationsdialogappearsintheDataArea.Itisusedtodefineandassign
SpecificationsforNodes,Beams,andPlates,eachofwhichhassomeeffectonthe
behavioroftheentitiestowhichitisassigned.
NodeSpecifications
TheNodebuttonontheSpecificationsdialogisusedtoassignaMaster/Slave
specificationtonodes.ThegeneralpurposeforaMaster/Slavespecificationisto
defineaconstraintofsomesortthatrequiresslavednodestotranslateand/or
rotatethesameamountassomemasternode.
Note: ForeachMaster/Slavespecification,aMasterNodeisidentifiedinthe
dropdownlist.
ThebehaviorofeachMaster/Slavespecificationiscontrolledbythecheckboxesin
theSlavedDirectionscategoryasfollows:
Rigid:Slavednodestranslateandrotatethesameamountasthemasterinallsix
degreesoffreedom.(NotethatthisisNOTtheintentwhendefiningwhat
structuralengineerstypicallyrefertoasarigiddiaphragminabuilding.)
XY:SlavednodestranslatethesameamountasthemasterintheglobalXandY
directions,androtatethesameamountasthemasterabouttheZaxis.
YZ:SlavednodestranslatethesameamountasthemasterintheglobalYandZ
directions,androtatethesameamountasthemasterabouttheXaxis.
ZX:SlavednodestranslatethesameamountasthemasterintheglobalZandX
directions,androtatethesameamountasthemasterabouttheYaxis.(Note
thatthisIStheintentwhendefiningwhatstructuralengineerstypicallyreferto
asarigiddiaphragminabuilding.)
Anyothercombinationofthesixavailabledegreesoffreedomcanbeslavedtoa
masternodebyusingtheindividualcheckboxesattherightsideoftheSlaved
Directionscategory.
NoNodeSpecificationswillbeassignedtothecurrentmodel.
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BeamSpecifications
TheBeambuttonontheSpecificationsdialogisusedtodefinememberconditions
suchas:
Releasedorpartiallyreleaseddegreesoffreedomateitherendofamember
Memberoffsets
Reducedsectionpropertiesduetocrackinginconcretemembers.
Trussmember,cablemember,tensiononlymemberorcompressiononly
member
Inactivemember
Fireproofingandimperfections
Releases
Therearesixdegreesoffreedominastructuralconnectionorsupport:
Threetranslationaldegreesoffreedom(x,yandz)
Threerotationaldegreesoffreedom(x,y,andz)
Memberreleasesarespecifiedwithrespecttothememberslocalaxissystem.
FXcorrespondstoforcealongthelocalxaxis(axialforce)
FYcorrespondstoshearforcealongthelocalyaxis
FZcorrespondstoshearforcealongthelocalzaxis
MXcorrespondstomomentaboutthelocalxaxis(torsion)
MYcorrespondstomomentaboutthelocalyaxis(theweakaxisofawideflange
beam)
MZcorrespondstomomentaboutthelocalzaxis(thestrongaxisofawide
flangebeam)
Property Assignment
145
Specifications
Bydefault,allsixdegreesoffreedomarefixed,soinitiallyallconnectionsare
consideredtobemomentresistingconnections.Ifoneormoreofthoseforcesor
momentscannotbetransferredbyaconnection,theforceormomentcanbe
releasedattheappropriateendofthememberinthemodel.Anyofthesixdegrees
offreedomateitherendofabeamcanbefullyorpartiallyreleasedusingthe
Releasetab.
ThefirststepinsettingareleaseistoselecteitherPartialMomentReleaseor
ReleaseintheReleaseTypecategory.BasedonthesettingintheReleaseType
category,theoptionsbecomeactiveineitherthePartialMomentReleasecategory
ortheReleasecategory,andtheoptionsintheothercategoryaregrayedout.
Tospecifyafullrelease,settheReleaseTypecategorytoRelease,andtoggle
thecheckboxeslabeledFX,FY,FZ,MX,MYandMZintheReleasecategory.
Tospecifyaspringrelease,settheReleaseTypecategorytoRelease,toggle
theappropriatecheckboxeslabeledKFX,KFY,KFZ,KMX,KMYandKMZin
theReleasecategory,andenterthespringconstant(s)fortheselected
degree(s)offreedom.
TospecifyaPartialMomentRelease,settheReleaseTypecategorytoPartial
MomentRelease.Thenspecifythefractionofthefullmomentcapacityof
theconnectionthatistobereleasedfortheindicatedrotationdegreesof
freedom.Thevalueshouldbeenteredasadecimalvaluebetween0.0and
1.0intheMPX,MPY,and/orMPZfields.
Tospecifyapartialreleaseforallthe3momentdegreesoffreedom,MX,
MY,andMZ,usetheMPoptionandasinglefactorisappliedtoall3.
Note: APartialMomentReleasespecifiesthepercentagetobereleased,notthe
percentagetoberesisted.Forexample,avalueofzeromeansnorelease,i.e.
fullmomentrestraint.Avalueof1.0meansafullrelease,i.e.nomoment
restraint.
Hint: AnotetothisextenthasbeenplacedontheReleasetabasareminder.
Note: Atanyendofamember,foranyparticulardegreeoffreedom,STAAD.Pro
onlyallowsoneofthefollowing:fullrelease,partialrelease,orspring
release.Itisnotpermittedtoapplymorethanonesimultaneouslyforagiven
degreeoffreedomatagivenmemberend.
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Specifications
Offsets
OffsetconditionsattheendsofmembersarespecifiedontheOffsettabinthe
MemberSpecificationdialog.Inthemathematicalmodel,assumptionsaremade
thatdonotnecessarilyreflecttheactualconditionsonthephysicalstructure.Oneof
theseassumptionsrelatestotheactualSTARTandENDlocationsofmembers.
Beamsandcolumns,modeledaslines,areassumedtomeetatapointinspace
definedbytheintersectionoftheircenterlines.Bycomparison,inthephysical
structure,abeammightbeattachedtoacolumnattheoutersurfaceofthecolumn
flange.Inthefigurebelow,abeamisshownframingintoacolumn.Ifbotharewide
flangemembers,thebeamstopsatthecolumnflange.Thismaycreatearigidzone
attheconnectionwhereverylittlerelativedeflectionwilloccurbetweenthebeam
andthecolumnwithinthiszone.
Thereforeinthephysicalstructure,thebeammaybehavemorenearlyasthoughit
connectstothecolumnfaceasopposedtothecolumncenterline.However,inthe
mathematicalmodelthelengthofthebeamistreatedasthoughitspanstothe
centerlineofthecolumn.
Ifthesizeoftherigidzoneissignificantwithrespecttothespanlengthofthebeam,
thenyoumaywanttoincorporatetheseeffectsintothemathematicalmodel.The
MemberOffsetspecificationprovidesaconvenientwaytoaccountfortheseeffects
bydeclaringthatthebeamStartand/orEndfacesareacertaindistanceawayfrom
thecolumncenterline.
ThelengthofaMemberOffset(andthereforethesizeoftherigidzone)canbe
assignedbasedonengineeringjudgment.
Memberoffsetsmaybemodeledinanydirectionrelativetoeitherthelocalorthe
Property Assignment
147
Specifications
Anotherexampleofanoffsetconnectionisasituationwherethecenterlinesofthe
connectedmembersdonotintersectatacommonworkingpointasshowninthe
figurebelow.
Thememberoffsetdimensionsshowninthefigureabovecouldberepresentedin
theinputfilebythefollowingcommands:
MEMBEROFFSET
1START7.00.00.0
1END6.00.00.0
2END6.09.00.0
AnotherexamplethatcouldbemodeledusingaMemberOffsetspecificationisa
beamsupportingaslabasshowninthefigurebelow.
Thisarrangementmightbemodeledasplatesandbeamsthatconnectatthesame
nodes,butwithMemberOffsetsappliedtothebeamtoaccuratelymodelthetrue
geometry.
Hint: AdditionalinformationontheMemberOffsetspecificationmaybefoundin
Section5.25oftheSTAAD.ProTechnicalReferencemanualandinExample7
intheSTAAD.ProExamplesmanual.
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PropertyReductionFactors
PropertyReductionFactorsprovideamethodtospecifyreducedeffectivesection
properties.Theyareintendedtorepresentthelossofstiffnessduetocrackingin
concretesections.TheapproachfollowsrecommendationsinACI318,which
suggeststheuseofreductionfactorsdependentuponthenatureofstressesto
whichamemberissubjected.
Cable,Truss,TensionOnlyandCompressionOnly
TheCablespecificationisusedtodeclarethatamemberhasnoabilitytoresist
shear,bending,ortorsionalforces.Thisspecificationrequirestheusertoinput
eitheranInitialTENSIONoranunstressedLENGTH.
Warning: TheCablespecificationdoesnotimplytensiononly.Ifmembersaretobe
consideredtensiononly,theymustbeexplicitlydefinedassuch.
TheTrussspecificationalsohastheeffectofdeclaringthatamemberhasnoability
toresistshear,bending,ortorsionalforces,butitdoesnotprovidetheabilityto
incorporateaninitialtensionasintheCablespecification.
TheTensiononlyorCompressiononlyspecificationcanbeusedtocreatetension
onlyandcompressiononlymembers,respectively.ACompressiononlyspecification
hastheeffectofmakingamemberinactiveunderconditionswhereitwouldtendto
experiencetensileforces.ATensiononlyspecificationmakesamemberinactive
underconditionswhereitwouldtendtoexperiencecompressiveforces.
Note: TheTensiononlyorCompressiononlyspecificationscanbeusedto
overcomecoderestrictionsrelatedtoKL/rslendernesslimits.
Inactive
TheInactivespecificationprovidesawaytoinactivateselectedmembers.One
potentialapplicationisformodelingstagesofconstructionofastructure.Thefull
structureisfirstdefined,andthenmembersmaybeselectivelyinactivatedto
accountfortheirabsenceatparticularstagesofconstruction.
Hint: Example4intheApplicationExamplesmanualillustratestheuseofthis
specification.
FireProofing
TheFireProofingspecificationprovidesamethodtoautomaticallyconsiderthe
weightoffireproofingmaterialappliedtostructuralsteel.Twotypesoffireproofing
configurationsarecurrentlysupportedBlockFireProofingandContourFire
Proofing.IfaFireProofingspecificationisassigned,theweightofthefireproofing
materialisautomaticallyincludedaspartoftheselfweightwhentheselfweight
loadisassigned.
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Specifications
Note: Wewillintroducetheselfweightcommandinanupcomingsection.
Imperfection
TheImperfectionspecificationprovidesamethodtoapplyacamberordriftvalueto
amembertobeconsideredforsecondaryeffects.Itisusedtocomputean
additionalloadingontheselectedimperfectmembersthatareincompression,and
itworksinconjunctionwithaspecifictypeofanalysisavailableinSTAAD.Procalled
anImperfectionAnalysis.Memberimperfectionspecificationsonlyhaveaneffecton
membersthatareincompression.
PlateSpecifications
ThePlatebuttonontheSpecificationsdialogisusedtodefineplateconditionssuch
as:
Release:Releasescanbeappliedtooneormoreofthe6degreesoffreedomat
anynode.
IgnoreInplaneRotation:Ignoreinplanerotationisusedtospecifythatthe
programistoignoreinplanestiffnessassociatedwiththeMzdegreeof
freedomatthenodesofplates.
RigidInplaneRotation:Rigidinplanerotationisusedtospecifythatallnodesina
platehaveaninfiniterotationalstiffnessabouttheMzdegreeoffreedom.
Note: ThisspecificationisnotavailablethroughtheGUI.Itisonlyaccessibleby
manuallyenteringthecommandintotheinputfile.
PlaneStress:PlaneStressisusedtospecifythataplateisonlycapableof
resistinginplaneloadssuchasaxialloadandinplaneshear,butisincapableof
resistingoutofplaneshearsormomentsthatcreateoutofplanebending.
Warning: UsingthePlaneStressspecificationonastructurelikeafloorslabcan
leadtolossofloadssuchasselfweight,because,forPlaneStress
elements,theoutofplaneshearactionandthebendingdegreesof
freedomareswitchedoff.
IgnoreStiffness:IgnoreStiffnessisusedtospecifythatthestiffnessofaplate
elementistobecompletelyignoredintheassemblyofthestiffnessmatrix.This
specificationallowsplateelementstobemodeledforthepurposeofapplying
loadstoastructurewithoutallowingthoseelementstocontributeresistancein
anyway.
NoPlateSpecificationswillbeassignedtothecurrentmodel.
TodemonstratetheprocessofassigningMemberSpecificationsinthenextexercise,
assumethatthegoalsareto:
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Specifications
Specifyafullmomentreleaseofallthreebendingdegreesoffreedomattheleft
endofthebottomchordofthetruss,whereitjoinsthecolumn(leftendofbeam
number22),and
Specifyalltrusswebmembersasbeingincapableofresistingshear,bending,or
torsionalforces.
Exercise:AssigningMemberSpecifications
1. EnsurethatthedatasetfilenamedProperties6.stdiscurrentlyopen,andthat
theGeneraltab,Specsubtabisactive.
2. Determinethatthenodeattachedtothecolumnisthestartingnodeofbeam
22.Refertothesuggestionsbelowforfourwaystodothis:
HovertheBeamsCursorovermember22andobservegreenfor
startingnodeatleft(atcolumn)andblueforendingnodeatright
endofbeam,or
ClickView>StructureDiagrams>Labels,selectBeamEndsinthe
Beamscategory,andclickApply,or
RightclickintheMainWindow,clickLabelsinthepopupmenu,
selectBeamOrientationintheBeamscategory,andclickApply,
or
Clickonmembernumber22withtheBeamsCursortoselectit.
ClicktheGeometrytab.Thelineformembernumber22is
highlightedintheBeamsspreadsheet.NotethatNodeA(the
startingnode)isindicatedasnode15andNodeB(theending
node)isnode14.ComparetheXcoordinatesofnodes14and15
intheNodesspreadsheettoseethatmembernumber22starts
ontheleftandendsontheright.
3. OnewaytoaccesstheReleasetabwouldbetoopentheMemberSpecification
dialogbyclickingtheBeambuttonintheSpecificationsdialog.However,to
illustrateanalternatemethod,doubleclickmembernumber22withtheBeams
CursortoactivatetheMemberQueryfunction.
4. ClickChangeReleasesAtStart.
TheMemberSpecificationdialogopenstotheReleasetab,andtheLocationis
automaticallysettoStart.
5. MakesurethattheReleaseradiobuttonisselectedundertheReleaseType
category.
6. ClicktheMX,MYandMZcheckboxesundertheReleasecategory,andthenclick
theAssignbutton.
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Specifications
TheReleasescategoryoftheMemberQuerydialognowindicatesMX,MYand
MZnexttotheStartlabel.
7. ClickClosetodismisstheMemberQuerydialog.
Hint: IfyouchangedtotheGeometrytabtocheckthebeamandnodenumbers,
returntotheSpectabbyclickingontheGeneraltabinthePageControl,
thenclickontheSpecsubtab.
8. ClickintheMainWindowtodeselectallmembers.Asmallcirclenowappearsat
theleftendofmembernumber22.Thissymbolisavisualcuetoindicatethat
thereisareleaseofsometypedefinedthere.
Toviewthereleasegraphic,youcanclicktheMagnifyingGlassicon and
thenpressandholdtheleftmousebuttontoseeanenlargedviewofanareaon
theMainWindow.ClicktheMagnifyingGlassiconagaintoturnitoff.
9. ClickSelect>ByGroupName.
10. Clickthe_WEBgrouptoselectallwebmembers,andthenclicktheClose
button.
11. ClicktheBeambuttonontheSpecificationsdialog.
12. ClicktheTrusstab.
Note: NotethattheAssignbuttonisactive,becausethewebswerealready
selected.
13. ClicktheAssignbutton.
Thetrussspecificationisassignedtoallwebmembers,andMEMBERTRUSSnow
appearsintheSpecificationdialog.Thismakesthetrussspecificationavailableto
assigntoanyothermembersinthemodelifnecessary.
ToggleSpecificationandHighlightAssignedGeometry
TheToggleSpecificationcheckboxappearsintheSpecificationsdialog.Itsoperation
canbedescribedasfollows:
WhentheToggleSpecificationcheckboxisactivated,theAssignmentMethod
worksasatoggletoalternatelyapplyandremovetheassignmentoftheselected
specificationbyrepeatedlyclickingonanentity.
WhenToggleSpecificationisdeselected,aspecificationcanbeassignedby
clickingonanentity,butclickingonthesameentityagainhasnoeffect.
Hint: ItisrecommendedtogenerallyworkwiththeToggleSpecificationoption
turnedoff,andtoonlyturnitonwhenthefunctionisrequired.Thishelpsto
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avoidmakingunintendedspecificationchangesifamemberisclickedfor
someotherpurposewhiletheToggleSpecificationoptionisstillactive.
TheHighlightAssignedGeometryoptionprovidesaconvenientwaytovisuallyverify
whichmembershavebeenassignedaparticularSpecification.WhentheHighlight
AssignedGeometrycheckboxisactivated,allmembersthathavereceivedthe
currentlyselectedSpecificationwillbehighlightedgraphicallyonthescreen.
file.
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153
Supports
Supports
OpenthedatasetfilenamedProperties7.std,andmovetotheGeneraltab,
Supportssubtab.
TheSupportsdialogisusedtodefinesupportorboundaryconditionsforastructure.
ClicktheCreatebuttontoopentheCreateSupportsdialogandviewtheavailable
typesofsupports.
Note: Ontheindividualsupporttabs,thecheckboxeslabeledFX,FY,andFZstand
forforceandcorrespondtorestraintsagainsttranslationintherespective
directions.ThecheckboxeslabeledMX,MY,andMZstandformomentand
correspondtorestraintsagainstrotationabouttherespectiveaxes.
FixedandPinned
Atafixedsupport,alldegreesoffreedomarerestrainedtopreventanytranslation
oranyrotation.
Atapinnedsupport,thethreetranslationaldegreesoffreedomarerestrained,but
thethreerotationaldegreesoffreedomareunrestrained.
OntheFixedandPinnedtabsoftheCreateSupportdialog,thecontrolsforthesix
degreesoffreedomaregrayedout,makingthemunavailabletoedit.
FixedBut
AFixedButsupportprovidescheckboxestoindividuallycontrolthefixityorrelease
ofthethreetranslationalandthreerotationaldegreesoffreedom.TheFixedBut
supportalsoprovidestheabilitytoassignaspringconstanttoanyofthesixdegrees
offreedominlieuoffullfixityorfullrelease.
Note: Ifadegreeoffreedomisfullyreleasedbytogglingthecheckboxon,the
associatedDefineSpringfieldbecomesinactive,orgrayedout.
Anycombinationoffullyorpartiallyreleasedtranslationaland/orrotationaldegrees
offreedomispermitted.
EnforcedandEnforcedBut
AnEnforcedoranEnforcedButsupportperformthesamebasicfunctionsasthe
FixedandFixedButsupports.TheyaredifferentfromFixedandFixedButinthe
followingways:
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Property Assignment
Supports
First,theFixedandFixedButsupportscannothandleSupportDisplacement
loadingifplatesand/orsolidsarepresentinthemodel.TheEnforcedand
EnforcedButsupportswereintroducedtohandletheseconditions.
Second,theFixedandFixedButsupportsrestraincertaindegreesoffreedom
whentheglobalstiffnessmatrixisassembled.Bycontrast,theEnforcedand
EnforcedButsupportsactuallymaintainalldegreesoffreedomasactiveinthe
globalstiffnessmatrix,buttheyassignspringswithextremelyhighstiffnessto
thesupportsthataresupposedtoberestrainedincertaindirections.
Ifamodeldoesnotincludeanysupportdisplacementloadsforplatesorsolids,a
FixedorFixedButsupportoffersfastercalculationspeedthanEnforcedorEnforced
Butsupports,becausetheprogramneedstoincludeonlythosedegreesoffreedom
thatareunrestrained(restraineddegreesoffreedomareknowntohavezero
displacement,andhenceneednotbeconsidered).Thus,thestiffnessmatrixwillbe
smallerwithFixedorFixedButsupportsascomparedtoEnforcedorEnforcedBut
supports.Ifthemodelislarge,usingFixedorFixedButsupportswherepossiblemay
resultinasignificantreductioninanalysistimeascomparedtousingEnforcedor
EnforcedButsupports.
MultilinearSprings
MultilinearSpringsprovidetheabilitytomodelsituationswherethesupportspring
constantvaries,dependingonthemagnitudeofthedeflection.Asanexample,
consideracantileverbeamthatcandeflectonlyalimiteddistancebeforeit
encountersanobstruction,suchasanotherstructure.
AsloadisappliedtotheendofthecantileverinthenegativeYdirection,itdeflects
downward.Foradeflectionbetween0and,themagnitudeofthedisplacementis
equaltotheappliedforcedividedbysomespringstiffnessconstantK1,whereK1
representstheamountofforcerequiredtodisplacethespringagivenunitof
length.Oncethedeflectionreaches,additionaldisplacementsaredictatedby
somenewspringconstantK2,whereK2representsthehigherstiffnessofthe
supportingmaterial.Inotherwords,oncethedisplacementreaches,ittakesa
muchlargerforcetoachieveanadditionalunitofdeflectionofthebeam.
AnotherexampleofasituationthatcanbemodeledeffectivelywiththeMultilinear
Springoptionisapile,wheretheresistancevariesinamannerthatisnotlinearwith
displacement.
Property Assignment
155
Supports
Implementingmultilinearspringsupportsisafourstepprocess:
1. AFIXEDBUTsupportiscreatedtodefinetheinitialstiffnessvalueandthe
direction(s)inwhichthespring(s)is/areactive.
2. TheFIXEDBUTsupportisassignedtotheappropriatenodes.
3. TheMultilinearSpringiscreatedbydefiningvaluesofdisplacementversus
springconstantontheMultilinearSpringtaboftheCreateSupportdialog.(Upto
10valuesofvs.Kcanbeentered.)
4. TheMultilinearSpringisassignedtotheappropriatenodes.
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Property Assignment
Supports
Foundations
AFoundationtypeofsupportisavailabletomodeltheeffectofsoilactingasalinear
elasticspring.Adiscretespreadfootingoramatfoundationcanbemodeledusing
thissupportspecification.FoundationsupportsincorporatetheModulusof
SubgradeReaction,aquantitythatspecifiestheamountofforcerequiredto
displaceaunitareaofsoilbyaunitdistance.
Note: ModulusofSubgradeReactionhasunitsof(Force/Area)/Displacement,e.g.
kip/ft2/ft{kN/m2/m}.
Inamodel,thespringconstantforthesoilataparticularnodecanbedetermined
bymultiplyingthesubgrademodulusbytheareaofaspreadfootingorbythe
influenceareaofthenodeinamatfoundation.
Forirregularlyshapedorlargematfoundationswithmanynodes,computingthe
influenceareabyhandforeachnodecanbecomequitetediousandtime
consuming,asshowninthefigurebelow.
STAAD.ProofferstwoMatfoundationoptionsthatcancalculateallofthetributary
areasandderivethespringconstantsforeachnodeautomatically.Theseare
referredtoasPLATEMATandELASTICMAT,andtheydifferinthealgorithmusedto
determinetheinfluenceareas.
Hint: Refertosection5.27.3oftheTechnicalReferencemanualforadditional
information.
WhenMatfoundationsareused,thereisanoptiontohavethembehaveas
compressiononlysprings,sotheywillnotresistanyupliftforcesiftheytendto
develop.Also,thereisanoptiontoincludeintheoutputfiletheareathathasbeen
usedinthecalculationofthespringstiffnessofeachjointusedwhendefiningaMat
foundation.
Hint: Formoreinformation,seeexamples23and27intheSTAAD.ProExamples
Manual.
Property Assignment
157
Supports
Inclined
TheInclinedSupportresistsdisplacementsalonguserdefineddirectionsthatarenot
constrainedtobeparalleltotheglobalaxes.Inclinedsupportsaredefinedby
establishingareferencepoint,andorientingthesupportaxesatajointasfollows:
TheYandZaxesoftheinclinedsupportaxissystemhavethesameorientationas
thelocalYandZaxesofanimaginarymemberwhoseBetaAngleiszeroandwhose
incidencesaredefinedfromtheinclinedsupportjointtothereferencepoint.
OneexampleofanapplicationofanInclinedSupportwouldbethecoolingtower
shownbelow.Whenthecoolingtowerexperiencesexpansionandcontractiondue
totemperatureloads,theforceatthesupportsisdirectedradiallyand
circumferentially,ratherthanalongaparticularglobalaxisdirection.Theinclined
supportcouldbeusedforthissituationbyspecifyingareferencepointatthecenter
ofthecoolingtower.
AnotherexampleofanapplicationofanInclinedSupportwouldbethesupportat
thebaseoftheslopinglegoftheframeshownbelow.
158
Property Assignment
Supports
AnInclinedsupportatthislocationmightbeusefulforatleasttworeasons:
First,itwouldresolvethereactionsatthebaseoftheslopinglegintomeaningful
componentsactingparallelandperpendiculartotheslopingleg.
Second,itwouldmakeitpossibletodefineuniquesupportconditionssuchasa
rollerthatwouldresisttranslationparalleltotheslopinglegbutwouldpermit
translationinthedirectionperpendiculartotheslopingleg.
Inallotherrespects,theinclinedsupportisthesameasanyothersupport.
Tension/CompressionOnlySprings
TheTensiononlyandCompressiononlyspringspecificationsaretechnicallynot
supports,butareactuallymodifierstoanexistingspringtypesupport.Therefore,
creatingasupportthatbehavesasatensiononlyorcompressiononlysupportisa
twostepprocess,beginningwiththeassignmentofaspringsupportfollowedbythe
assignmentoftheappropriatetensiononlyorcompressiononlymodifier.
Asthenamesuggests,theassignmentofthismodifierpermitsonlyonetypeof
reactionforcetodevelop,eithertensionorcompression,intheselecteddirection(s).
TheassignmentofTension/CompressionOnlySpringstriggersaniterativesolution
if,afteranyofthecyclesofanalysis,thedirectionoftheforceinthespringisinthe
wrongdirection.Ifthisisdetected,thenthesupportisremovedfromthat
directionandanewanalysisisperformed.
Themethodofassigningsupportstoastructureisverysimilartothemethodused
toassignmemberpropertiesandspecifications.Theprocesswillbedemonstratedin
thefollowingexercise.
Exercise:AssignSupports
1. ThedatasetfilenamedProperties7.stdshouldcurrentlybeopen.TheSupport
subtaboftheGeneraltabshouldbeactive,andtheCreateSupportdialog
shouldstillbeopen.
Forthisexample,wewillassumethatthebaseofthecolumnontheleftsideof
themodelistoreceiveaFixedsupport,andthebaseofthecolumnontheright
istoreceiveaPinnedsupport.
2. ClickontheFixedtab,andclicktheAddbutton.
TheFixedsupportnowappearsasSupport2inthelistofsupportsatthetop
oftheSupportsdialog.
3. ClicktheCreatebutton.
4. ClickonthePinnedtab,andclicktheAddbutton.
Property Assignment
159
Supports
ThePinnedsupportnowappearsasSupport3inthelistofsupportsatthetop
oftheSupportsdialog.
5. ClicktheSupport2(S2)(theFixedSupport)intheSupportsdialog.
6. ClicktheUseCursortoAssignradiobuttonundertheAssignmentMethod
category.
7. ClicktheAssignbutton,andthenclickonthebottomoftheleftcolumn.
Thefixedsupportsymbol
appearsatthebottomoftheleftcolumn.
8. ClicktheSupport3(S3)(thePinnedSupport)intheSupportsdialog.
9. Clickthebottomoftherightcolumninthemodel.
Thepinnedsupportsymbol
appearsatthebottomoftherightcolumn.
10. ClicktheAssigningbuttontoturnofftheassignmode.
Hint: Itisgoodpracticetoturnoffassignmodeslikethisassoonaspossibleto
avoidassigningpropertiestothemodelunintentionally.
Note: InadditiontotheFixedandPinnedsupports,thereisanotheritemcalledNo
supportintheSupportsdialog.Thisoptionisusedtoremoveasupportthat
hasalreadybeenassigned.UnliketheToggleSpecificationoptiondiscussed
earlier,ortheToggleLoadoptioncomingupinthenextsection,thereisno
ToggleSupportoption.Toremoveasupportfromthemodel,theNosupport
optionisassignedtoaparticularnodebyanyoftheavailableAssignment
Methods.
currentfile.
160
Property Assignment
Loads and Load Definitions
LoadsandLoadDefinitions
OpenthedatasetfilenamedProperties8.std,andmovetotheGeneraltab,Load&
Definitionsubtab.
TheLoad&Definitiondialogisusedtodefine,assign,andcombineloads.
ClicktheNewbuttontoopenadialognamedCreateNewDefinitions/Load
Cases/LoadItems.Notethefourtabsacrossthetopofthedialog:Definitions,Load
Case,LoadItems,andLoadEnvelopes.
Definitions
TheDefinitionstabcontainstheoptionsusedtogeneratetheDEFINEblockofdata
intheinputfile.IfanyCodespecifiedloadcasessuchaswind,seismic,andsnoware
usedinamodel,theDEFINEblockisusedtostorethevaluesforallofthe
parametersrequiredtodefinetheloadaccordingtothespecifiedCode.Itisalso
usedtogeneratemovingloadcases,timehistoryloadcases,andpushoverloads.
Hint: Thecommandsyntaxforthesecasesisexplainedinsection5.31ofthe
STAAD.ProTechnicalReferencemanual.
LoadCases
TheLoadCasetabcontainsthedialogusedtoinitiateanewloadcase(primaryload,
movingload,orloadcombination)andassignitacasenumber.
WhencreatingaPrimaryLoadCase,theLoadingTypelistcanbeusedtoassociate
theloadcasewithoneoftheBuildingCodedefinitionsofDead,Live,Wind,andso
forth.Thisassociationisonlyrequiredintwosituations:
IfloadcombinationswillbegeneratedautomaticallyusingSTAAD.ProsAuto
LoadCombinationGenerator,and/or
IfSTAAD.ProsLiveLoadReductionfeaturewillbeused.
LiveLoadReduction
WhentheLoadingTypeissettoLive,anoptionbecomesavailabletospecifythat
theLiveLoadistobeconsideredreducible.STAAD.Prohastheabilityto
automaticallyaccountforliveloadreduction,withsomelimitations.Somethingsto
rememberaboutliveloadreductioninSTAAD.Pro:
OnlytherulesforliveloadreductiononFloorshavebeenimplemented,notthe
rulesforRoofs.
Property Assignment
161
OnlytherulesforliveloadreductiononBeamshavebeenimplemented,notthe
rulesforColumns.
Somecodespreventliveloadreductionforbuildingsdesignatedashavingpublic
assemblyoccupancies.InSTAAD.Pro,thereisnodirectmethodforspecifyingthe
occupancytype,soitcannotautomaticallyaccountforthisprovision.Itisthe
usersresponsibilitytodecidewhenitisorisnotappropriatetousetheliveload
reductionfeaturebasedonthiscodeprovision.
Somecodesplacelimitsontheamountofreductionthatmaybeappliedto
structuresofcertainotherusegroupssuchasgarages.Again,inSTAAD.Pro,
thereisnodirectmethodforspecifyingtheoccupancytype,soitcannot
automaticallyaccountforthisprovision.Theusermustdecidewhenitisorisnot
appropriatetousetheliveloadreductionfeaturebasedonthiscodeprovision.
LiveLoadReductionisonlyappliedtotwospecifictypesofloadsthatare
availableinSTAAD.Pro,namelytheFLOORLOADandONEWAYLOADtypes.In
otherwords,LiveLoadReductionwillnotbeappliedtosomeoftheother
availableloadtypesthatwewilldiscussnext,suchasnodalloadsforexample.
LoadCombinations
WhencreatingLoadCombinations,STAAD.ProofferstheoptiontoeitherDefine
Combinationsmanually,orcreatethemusingtheAutoLoadCombination
Generator.
TheAutoLoadCombinationGeneratorappliesuserconfigurablerulestogenerate
combinationsofloadsbasedontheirLoadingType.Thisisaverypowerfulfunction,
anditiscoveredthoroughlyinanothermodule.
ThemanualmethodofcreatingcombinationsiscalledDefineCombinations.It
providesavarietyofmethodstofactorandcombinetheresultsofselectedload
cases:
Normal:Multipliestheresultsofselectedloadcasesbythespecifiedfactorand
sumsthefactoredresultsalgebraically.
SRSS:CombinestheresultsofselectedloadcasesbycalculatingtheSquareRoot
oftheSumofSquaresoftheresultsfromtheselectedloadcases.
Note: STAAD.Proalsoprovidestheabilitytocombineloadsinamixedalgebraic
andSRSScombination.Themixedcombinationcouldbecreatedbyselecting
theSRSScombinationtype,andthenactivatinganddeactivatingthe
checkboxlabeledSRSSComponentasnecessary.WhentheSRSS
Componentcheckboxisactivated,theselectedloadcasesareaddedtothe
loadcombinationintheSquareRootoftheSumofSquaresmethod.When
theSRSSComponentcheckboxisdeactivated,theselectedloadcasesare
addedtotheloadcombinationinthebasicalgebraicformat.
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Property Assignment
AbsoluteValue:Combinestheresultsofselectedloadcasesbycalculatingthe
absolutevaluesoftheresultsofindividualloadcases,multiplyingthembya
factor,andthensummingthemalgebraically.
Theseoptionsmakeitpossibletocreateloadcombinationssuchas:
or
or
|LC1|+|LC2|+|LC3|+|LC4|
Hint: Moreinformationoncombiningloadcaseanalysisresultsisprovidedin
Section5.35oftheTechnicalReferencemanual.
Warning: TheLoadCombinationmethodsmentionedhereprovidecombinationsof
theresultsfromtheindividuallyanalyzedconstituentloadcases.These
shouldbethoughtofasresultscombinations,sincetheydonotactually
instructSTAAD.Protoanalyzetheconstituentloadcasesconcurrently.As
such,theyshouldonlybeusedwhenthetheoriesofsuperpositionand
linearelasticityarevalid.Forallothersituations,STAAD.Prooffers
anotheroptioncalledREPEATLOAD,whichservesasaninstructionto
analyzeloadcasesconcurrently.
LoadItems
TheLoadItemstabcontainsthedialogsusedtoaddloaddatatoLoadCases.Some
examplesofLoadItemsareNodalLoads,MemberLoads,andPlateLoads.The
processofcreatingandassigningLoadItemswillbedemonstratedinsome
upcomingexercises.
LoadEnvelopes
TheLoadEnvelopetabcanbeusedtocreateLoadEnvelopes,whicharegroupsof
LoadCasesand/orLoadCombinationscreatedforconvenience.TheuseofLoad
Envelopesisoptional,butanexampleoftheirusemightbeasfollows:
AnEnvelopenumber1mightcontainalloftheLoadCombinationsthatare
appropriatefortheLRFDdesignofsteelmembers,and
AnEnvelopenumber2mightcontainalloftheLoadCombinationsthatare
appropriateforthedesignofconcretemembers,and
AnEnvelopenumber3mightcontainalloftheLoadCasesthatareappropriate
forevaluatingtheseismicdriftofthestructure.
Property Assignment
163
WhenLoadEnvelopesarecreated,theybecomeafastandconvenientwaytoselect
aparticularsetofloadstoworkwithinthePostProcessingmode.
Beforeyoubegintheexercises,pleaseclosetheCreateNewDefinitions/Load
Cases/LoadItemsdialog.
ThefollowingseriesofexerciseswillillustratetheprocessofcreatingLoadCases,
populatingtheLoadCaseswithLoadItems,assigningtheLoadItemstothemodel,
andcreatingaLoadCombination.
Forthefirstexercise,wewillcreatethreeprimaryloadcasestorepresentadead
loadcase,aliveloadcase,andawindloadcase.
Exercise:CreatingLoadCases
1. ThedatasetfilenamedProperties8.stdshouldcurrentlybeopen.TheLoad&
DefinitionsubtaboftheGeneraltabshouldbeactive.
2. IntheLoad&Definitiondialog,clickontheLoadCasesDetailslineasshown
below:
3. ClicktheAddbutton.
TheAddNew:LoadCasesdialogwillappear,andthePrimaryitemwillbe
selectedbydefault.
4. LeavetheNumberfieldsetto1.
5. SelectDeadfromtheLoadingTypelist.
Note: SettingtheLoadingTypeisoptionalthroughoutthisexercise,because
neitherLiveLoadReductionnortheautomaticloadcombinationgenerator
willbeused.
6. EnterDeadLoadintheTitlefield.
TheDeadLoadcasenowappearsintheLoadCasesDetailscategoryoftheLoad
&Definitiondialogasshownbelow:
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Property Assignment
ItalsonowappearsinthelistattherightendoftheViewtoolbaratthetopof
thescreenasshownbelow.Untilnow,thisfieldhasbeenempty.
IntheAddNew:LoadCasesdialog,notethattheNumberfieldhasautomatically
incrementedto2.
8. SelectLivefromtheLoadingTypelist,andensurethattheReducibleper
UBC/IBCcheckboxisdeselected.
9. EnterLiveLoadintheTitlefield.
11. IntheAddNew:LoadCasesdialog,selectWindfromtheLoadingTypelist.
12. EnterWindLoadintheTitlefield.
14. ClicktheClosebuttontodismisstheAddNew:LoadCasesdialog.
ThiscompletestheprocessofcreatingthethreeprimaryLoadCases.
Forthenextexercise,wewillassignthefollowingloadstothemodel:
DeadLoad:Theselfweightofthestructureonly.
LiveLoad:Auniformlydistributedloadof2kip/ft{30kN/m}inthedownward
directionalongthefulllengthofthebottomchordofthetruss.
WindLoad:Nodalloadsof1.2kips{5kN}intheXdirectionappliedtoeachofthe
topchordnodesonthelefthalfofthetruss.
Property Assignment
165
Exercise:PopulatingtheLoadCaseswithLoadItemsandassigningthemtothe
model
1. IntheLoad&Definitiondialog,clickontheDeadLoadcaseinthelistofLoad
CasesDetailsasshownbelow:
TheAddNew:LoadItemsdialogcontainsalloftheavailableloadtypesthatcan
bedefined.
Currently,theSelfweightLoaditemisselected.ThedefaultDirectionparameter
isYandthedefaultFactoris1.Theseparametersindicateanunfactoredload
actinginthenegativeglobalY(downward)direction.
3. ClicktheAddbutton,andthenclosetheAddNew:LoadItemsdialog.
ThereferencetotheselfweightloadwillappearundertheDeadLoadcaseas
shownbelow:
ThesmallgraphicinfrontoftheSELFWEIGHTY1expressionincludesaquestion
mark.ThisisanindicationthatSTAAD.Proisexpectingthisloadtobeassignedto
specificmembers.
4. ClickontheexpressionSELFWEIGHTY1.
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Property Assignment
5. ClicktheAssignToViewoptionintheAssignmentMethodcategoryoftheLoad
&Definitiondialog,andthenclicktheAssignbutton.
6. ClickYesinthepopupdialogconfirmingtheassignment.
ThesmallgraphicinfrontoftheSELFWEIGHTY1expressionnolongerincludes
aquestionmark.Thisindicatesthattheloadhasbeenappliedtoatleastone
member.
7. ClickthecursoranywhereintheMainWindowtodeselectallofthemembers.
8. ClickontheLiveLoadcaseinthelistofLoadCasesDetailsasshownbelow:
10. ClicktheMemberLoaditemintheAddNew:LoadItemsdialog,andthenselect
theUniformForceoption.
Adiagramisprovidedwithinthedialogtographicallydescribethemeaningsof
theparametersavailabletodefineaUniformForce.
TheW1parameteristheloadintensity.
Theparametersd1andd2allowtheloadtobeappliedtoaspecifiedportionof
thebeamlength(d1andd2arebothdistancesmeasuredfromthestartingend
ofthemember).
Note: Ifparametersd1andd2areleftattheirdefaultvalueofzero,theloadwillbe
appliedalongthefulllengthofthemember.
Theparameterd3canbeusedtospecifyaloadthatisoffsetfromtheshear
center.
TheDirectioncategoryisusedtospecifythedirectionoftheload.
X,Y,Zindicatedirectionsrelativetothelocalcoordinatesystemaxes.
GX,GY,GZindicatedirectionsrelativetotheglobalaxes.
Property Assignment
167
PX,PY,PZindicatethataloadactsinaparticularglobalaxisdirection,butthe
magnitudeoftheloadistobebasedontheprojectedlengthofthemember
ratherthantheactuallengthmeasuredalongaslope.
Note: Whenloadsareindicatedtobealongtheprojectedlengthofthemember,
theparametersd1,d2andd3arestillmeasuredalongthelengthofthe
member,notalongtheprojectedlength.
Hint: AdditionalinformationisavailableinSection5.32.2oftheSTAAD.Pro
TechnicalReferencemanual.
11. Enter2kip/ft{30kN/m}intheW1field.Thevalueisnegativebecausetheload
shouldactdownward,thatis,inthenegativeglobalYdirection.
12. Leavetheparametersd1,d2andd3settotheirdefaultvaluesof0sotheload
willactattheshearcenteralongtheentirelengthofthebeam.
13. ClicktheGYradiobuttonintheDirectioncategory.
14. ClicktheAddbuttonfollowedbytheClosebutton.
ThereferencetotheuniformloadappearsundertheLiveLoadcaseasshown
below:
Again,thegraphicwiththequestionmarkindicatesthatSTAAD.Proisexpecting
thisloadtobeassignedtospecificmembers.
15. ClickontheexpressionUNIGY2{UNIGY30}intheLoad&Definitiondialog.
17. Click_BOTC,andthenclickClose.
18. ClicktheAssigntoSelectedBeamsoptionintheAssignmentMethodcategoryof
theLoad&Definitiondialog,andthenclicktheAssignbutton.
19. ClickYesinthepopupdialogconfirmingtheassignment.
168
Property Assignment
20. ClicktheLoadsicon ontheStructuretoolbartoviewtheuniformly

distributedloadonthebottomchord.
21. ClickthecursoranywhereintheMainWindowtodeselectallofthemembers.
22. ClickontheWindLoadcaseinthelistofLoadCasesDetailsasshownbelow:
24. ClicktheNodalLoaditemintheAddNew:LoadItemsdialog.TheNodeoption
willbeselectedbydefault.
25. Enter1.2kips{5kN}intheFxfield,thenclickAddfollowedbytheClosebutton.
ThereferencetothenodalloadwillappearundertheWindLoadcaseasshown
below:
26. ClickontheexpressionFX1.2kip{FX5kN}intheLoad&Definitiondialog.
27. ClickUseCursortoAssignintheAssignmentMethod.
28. ClicktheAssignbutton.ThetextinthebuttonchangestoAssigningasbefore,
andthecursorgraphicchangestothespecialassignnodalloadscursor.
Property Assignment
169
29. Clickoneachofthesixnodescircledinthefigurebelow:
30. ClicktheAssigningbuttontotoggletheAssignmodeoffwhenfinished.
SomefinalnotesonpopulatingtheLoadCaseswithLoadItemsandassigningthem
tothemodel:
ThisexercisedemonstratedtheuseofexplicitlydefinedandassignedNodal
loadstorepresentwindloadonthemodel.BeawarethatSTAAD.Proalsohas
theabilitytocalculatecodespecifiedwindpressures,determineinfluenceareas,
andresolvepressuresintoNodalloads.Thismethodofgeneratingwindloadson
astructurewouldbeusefulinasituationwherethereareinfluenceareassuch
asglasspanelsreceivingwindpressureandtransferringittothebuildingframe.
(SeeExample15intheSTAAD.ProExamplesmanual.)
TheLoad&DefinitiondialoghasaToggleLoadcheckboxlocatedjustabovethe
AssignmentMethodarea.ItsfunctionisanalogoustotheToggleSpecification
checkboxdescribedpreviously.
TheEditbuttonprovidestheabilitytoedittheparametersusedtodefine
whicheverLoadItemiscurrentlyselectedintheLoad&Definitiondialog.Within
theEditdialogthereisacolumnheadedwiththechecksymbol.Itprovidesa
checkboxforeverynodeinthemodelthathasbeenassignedtheselectedload.
Allofthesecheckboxesarecheckedbydefault.Removingthecheckfromoneof
thesecheckboxeswillremovetheselectedloadfromthecorrespondingnode.
Thereisanothercolumnheadedwiththelightbulbsymbol.Italsoprovidesa
checkboxforeverynodeinthemodelthathasbeenassignedtheselectedload.
Allofthesecheckboxesareuncheckedbydefault.Placingacheckinanyofthe
lightbulbcheckboxeswillhighlightthecorrespondingnodeintheMain
Window.Thishelpstoestablishwhichnodeiswhichwithouthavingtorelateto
nodenumbers.
170
Property Assignment
TheDeletebuttoncanbeusedtodeleteaselectedLoadItem.
WhentheLoad&DefinitionsubtaboftheGeneraltabisactive,STAAD.Pro
displaysthegraphiciconsrepresentingtheLoadItemsassignedtothemodel.
Navigatingtoanyothersubtabwillremovethedisplayoftheloadicons.There
maybesometimeswheremodelingworkneedstobedonefromadifferenttab,
butitwouldbehelpfultobeabletoconcurrentlyviewtheloadicons.The
followingexercisedemonstrateshowthiscanbedone.
Exercise:ViewingloadiconsontabsotherthantheLoad&Definitionsubtab
Hint: LoadiconsshouldbevisibleonthescreenbecausetheLoad&Definitionsub
taboftheGeneraltabiscurrentlyactive.
1. ClicktheSupportsubtab,andnotethattheloadiconsdisappear.
2. RightclickthemouseinsidetheMainWindowandselecttheLabelscommand
fromthepopupmenu.
3. ClicktheLoadsandResultstabintheDiagramsdialog.
4. ClickOKtoacknowledgethewarningboxthatForceresultsarenotavailable.
5. ClicktheLoadscheckbox,andensurethattheShowLoadArrowcheckboxisalso
selectedintheLoadscategory,andthenclickApply.
6. Theloadarrowsforeachofthenodalloadsshouldnowbedisplayed.Now,to
seetheloadvalues:
7. ClicktheLabelstaboftheDiagramsdialog.
8. ClicktheLoadValuescheckboxintheLoadingDisplayOptionscategory,and
thenclickOK.
Theloadvaluesaredisplayedonthestructure.
ThefinalexercisedemonstratesthecreationofaLoadCombinationthatcombines
theanalysisresultsforthedead,liveandwindloads.
Exercise:CreatingaLoadCombination
1. ClicktheLoad&Definitionsubtab.
2. ClicktheLoadCasesDetailsitemintheLoad&Definitiondialogasshownbelow:
Property Assignment
171
4. IntheAddNew:LoadCasesdialog,clicktheDefineCombinationsitem.
TheLoadNumberisautomaticallyincrementedto4,andtheNormaltypeof
combinationisselectedbydefault.
5. EnterLC1+LC2+LC3intheNamefield.
TheDefaultfactoriscurrentlysetto1,whichwillbeacceptableforthepurposes
ofthisexercise.
AllthreeoftheexistingloadcasesarecurrentlylistedintheAvailableLoadCases
box.
6. Clickthedoublerightarrowbutton.
AllthreeloadcasesaremovedfromtheAvailableLoadCasesboxtotheLoad
CombinationDefinitionbox,withfactorsof1.
7. ToapplydifferentfactorsfordifferentLoadCases,eitheraddtheLoadCasesone
atatimeandeditthevalueintheDefaultfactorfieldeachtime,oraddallLoad
CaseswithasinglefactorandtheneditthefactorsindividuallyintheLoad
CombinationDefinitionbox.
8. ClicktheAddbutton,andthenclickClosetodismisstheCreateNewDefinitions
dialog.
TheloadcombinationnowappearsintheLoad&Definitiondialogwiththe
referencenumber4.IthasabluegraphicwiththeletterCforcombination
todifferentiateitfromtheloadcases,whichhaveagraphicwiththeletterLin
aboxintheLoadCaseDetailslist.
9. Keepthecurrentfileopenforuseinthenextsection.
172
Property Assignment
Materials
Materials
TheMaterialsdialogisusedtodefineandassignmaterialstoentitiesinamodel.
LetsreviewtheMaterialsubtab.Ifthemodelisnotcurrentlyactive,openthe
datasetfilenamedProperties9.std.ToaccesstheMaterialsubtab,clickthe
Generaltab,Materialsubtab.
TheIsotropictaboftheMaterialdialogliststhefourmaterialsthatareavailableby
default:steel,stainlesssteel,aluminum,andconcrete.STAAD.Proalsoallows
custommaterialstobedefinedtorepresentplastic,fiberglass,etcIsotropic
materialsconsistoffourmaterialproperties:ModulusofElasticity,PoissonsRatio,
Density,andCoefficientofThermalExpansionandContraction.
Note: YieldstrengthisNOToneofthefourmaterialpropertiesassociatedwitha
Materialspecification.Materialstrengthsarespecifiedinadifferentlocation
oftheprogramhavingtodowithdesign.
Hint: Formodelsthatwillincorporatecustommaterials,itmaybemoreefficient
tocreatethematerialspriortoassigningProperties.Thisway,thecustom
materialsareavailabletoincorporateintothemodelwhensection
propertiesareassigned.
TheOrthotropictabcanbeusedtocreatecustommaterialsforplatesthathavea
differentModulusofElasticityandCoefficientofThermalExpansionandContraction
indifferentdirections.
Theprocessofusingthistabtoassignmaterialstoentitiesinamodelisanalogous
totheassignmentmethodswehavealreadyreviewed.Inthisparticularmodelthere
isnoneedtoassignmaterialsfromthistab,becauseweassociatedthesteel
materialwithallofourmemberswhenwedefinedPropertiesonthePropertysub
tab.
file.
Property Assignment
173
Module Review
ModuleReview
Questions
1. STAAD.ProoffersavarietyofbuiltinsectiontablesfromwhichtoselectBeta
Anglesandyieldstrengths.
True/False
2. Amemberslocalcoordinateaxissystemhasnodefinedorientationuntila
sectionisassignedtothatmember.
True/False
3. Specificationscanbeassignedtonodes,members,orplatestoaltertheway
theybehave.
True/False
4. STAAD.ProoffersavarietyofSupportsthatperformvariousfunctions,butthey
arealllimitedtoprovidingreactionswithrespecttothethreeglobalaxis
directions.
True/False
5. STAAD.Prohasawaytoautomaticallyaccountfortheweightofthemembersin
amodel.
True/False
6. Theyieldstrengthisoneoftherequiredvalueswhendefiningacustommaterial.
True/False
174
Property Assignment
Module Review
Answers
1. STAAD.ProoffersavarietyofbuiltinsectiontablesfromwhichtoselectBeta
Anglesandyieldstrengths.
False
ItistruethatSTAAD.Prooffersavarietyofbuiltinsectiontables.However,
neitherBetaAnglesnoryieldstrengthsarefoundinthesectiontables.
2. Amemberslocalcoordinateaxissystemhasnodefinedorientationuntila
sectionisassignedtothatmember.
False
Amemberslocalcoordinateaxissystemtakesonadefaultorientationassoon
asthememberisaddedtoamodel.Thatdefaultorientationisdescribedby
rulespresentedinthismodule,anditisindependentofthesectionthat
eventuallygetsassignedtothemember.
3. Specificationscanbeassignedtonodes,members,orplatestoaltertheway
theybehave.
True
Master/Slave,PropertyReductionFactors,andReleasesareallexamplesof
SpecificationsthatareavailableinSTAAD.Pro.
4. STAAD.ProoffersavarietyofSupportsthatperformvariousfunctions,butthey
arealllimitedtoprovidingreactionswithrespecttothethreeglobalaxis
directions.
False
ItistruethatavarietyofSupportsareavailable,andtheydogenerallyprovide
reactionswithrespecttothethreeglobalaxisdirections.However,theInclined
Supporttypeallowstheusertospecifyanarbitraryorientationforsupports.This
makesitpossibletospecifysupportconditions,forexample,inradialand
circumferentialdirectionsforacircularstructure,orparalleltoand
perpendiculartoaplaneinaslopingstructure.
5. STAAD.Prohasawaytoautomaticallyaccountfortheweightofthemembersin
amodel.
True
TheLoadItemcalledSelfweightcanbeaddedtoanyLoadCaseandselectively
assignedtoanymembersforwhichtheselfweightistobeautomatically
considered.
Property Assignment
175
Module Summary
6. Theyieldstrengthisoneoftherequiredvalueswhendefiningacustommaterial.
False
ThefourvaluesthatarerequiredtodefineanyMaterialinSTAAD.Proare:
ModulusofElasticity,PoissonsRatio,Density,andCoefficientofThermal
ExpansionandContraction.Yieldstrengthnotconsideredinastiffnessanalysis,
soitdoesntcomeintoplayuntilcodecheckinganddesignparametersare
assigned.
ModuleSummary
Youarenowableto:
Describememberlocalcoordinatesystemandplatelocalcoordinatesystem
CreateGroupsandusethemtoperformfunctionsonmultipleentitiesatone
time
DefineandassignProperties,BetaAngles,Specifications,Supports,and
Materials
CreateprimaryLoadCases,populatethemwithsimpleLoadItems,andassign
themtothemodel
CreateUserTables,addorremovesectionsfromthemodel,andcreatecustom
materials
176
Property Assignment
AnalyzingtheModel
ModuleOverview
STAAD.Procanperformvarioustypesofanalysesonastructureandoffersoptions
forobtainingaprintoutofmodelinformationandtheresultsofananalysis.This
moduledemonstrateshowtoperformananalysisinSTAAD.Proandobtainprinted
outputresults.
ModulePrerequisites
AbilitytocreatestructuregeometryusingSTAAD.Pro
Abilitytoassignmemberandmaterialproperties,supports,andloadsin
STAAD.Pro
ModuleObjectives
Aftercompletionofthismodule,youwillbeableto:
Addanalysiscommandsattheappropriatelocationintheinputfile
Addcommandsforprintingmodelinformationandanalysisresultsinanoutput
file
Performananalysis
Viewtheoutputfile
AnalyzingtheModel
177
Questions
1. Isafirstorderlinearelasticanalysistheonlytypeofanalysisthatcanbe
performedinSTAAD.Pro?
2. CananalysisresultsbeeasilyviewedinSTAAD.Pro?
178
AnalyzingtheModel
Answers
1. Isafirstorderlinearelasticanalysistheonlytypeofanalysisthatcanbe
performedinSTAAD.Pro?
No.
STAAD.Prohastheabilitytoperformnumerousothertypesofanalyses,
includingaPDeltaAnalysisandaDirectAnalysisinaccordancewithAISC36005.
2. CananalysisresultsbeeasilyviewedinSTAAD.Pro?
Yes.
STAAD.Proofferstwomethodsforquicklyandeasilyviewinganalysisresults.
TheOutputFile,whichisdiscussedinthismodule,offerstheabilitytoprinta
widearrayofanalysisresultsdirectlytoatextfileinauserfriendlytabular
format.ThePostProcessor,whichisdiscussedinanothermodule,allows
graphicaldisplayofresultsandcreationofcustomizedoutputreports.
AnalyzingtheModel
179
Preparing for the Analysis
PreparingfortheAnalysis
Thismodulebeginsatthepointwhereallofthestepsneededtocreateandloada
completemodelhavebeenperformed.Thenextstepistoperformtheanalysisto
obtaintheforces,moments,displacements,supportreactions,andsoforth.
STAAD.Prooffersseveralanalysismethodsasshownbelow:
180
PerformAnalysisinstructsSTAADtoperformalinearelastic(stiffness)analysis
PDeltaAnalysisperformsasecondorderelasticanalysisthatconsidersthe
effectsoftheappliedloadsactingonthedisplacedstructure(Peffect).This
typeofanalysisisgenerallypreferredbymostbuildingcodes.Thisisaniterative
analysisprocess.Thisanalysistypealsohasoptionstospecifythenumberof
iterationstobeperformedortoplaceaconvergencetoleranceonthe
displacementsfromsuccessiveiterations.Thereisalsoanoptiontoincludethe
P(smalldelta)effect,whichconsiderstheeffectofappliedloadsactingonthe
deformedshapeofindividualmembers.Finally,thisanalysisincludesanoption
toincludetheGeometricStiffness(Kg)matrix,whichmodifiesthemember
stiffnessesbasedontheappliedloads.
CableAnalysisperformsanonlinearcableanalysisonastructurethatcontains
nonlinearcablemembers
DirectAnalysisperformsaDirectAnalysisinaccordancewithAppendix7of
AISC36005.Thismethodaccountsforthesecondordereffectsresultingfrom
deformationinthestructureduetoappliedloading,imperfections,andreduced
bendingstiffnessofmembersduetothepresenceofaxialloads.Thisanalysisis
similartoaPDeltaAnalysiswiththeUseGeometricStiffness(Kg)andSmall
Deltaoptionsselected.However,thisanalysiscalculatesmodificationstothe
stiffnessmatrixusingthebfactorsdescribedinAISC36005.
GenerateFloorSpectrumusedtorequestthecalculationoffloorand/orjoint
responsespectrafromtimehistoryresults.Thisisparticularlyusefulinthe
analysisoffloorsystemssupportingvibratingequipment.Thisfeaturerequiresa
licensefortheAdvancedAnalysisEngine.
ImperfectionAnalysisconsidersthesecondaryeffectsofloadsactingon
membersthathaveaninitialcurvature(camber)oraninitialdrift(outof
plumbness).Thisanalysisisusedonstructuresthathavememberswithan
Imperfectionspecificationappliedtothem.
BucklingAnalysisidentifiesthefactorbywhichtheloadsintheselectedload
caseshouldbeincreased(ordecreasediflessthan1)suchthatEulerbuckling
firstoccursinanymemberofthestructure
AnalyzingtheModel
PushoverAnalysisperformsastatic,nonlinearprocedureinaccordancewith
FEMA356.Inthismethod,alateralpushloadisappliedtothestructureand
increasedprogressivelyaccordingtoapredefinedloadingpatternuntileitherthe
loadingorthestructuredisplacementreachesaprescribedlevel.Thismethod
considersthenonlinearbehaviorofthestructure,allowingplastichingesto
forminthestructureuntilacollapsemechanismiscreated.Thistechniqueis
typicallyappliedfortheseismicrehabilitationofstructures.
Mostoftheanalysistypesalsocontainthefollowingprintoptions:
NoPrintnoneofthePrintOptionswillbeincludedintheoutputfile.
LoadDataincludesaninterpretationofalltheloaddataintheoutputfile.
StaticsCheckincludesareportintheoutputfilethatwillprovide,foreachload
case:
Thetotalloadactingonthestructure.
TheforcesintheX,Y,andZdirections.
ThemomentsabouttheX,YandZaxesactingattheorigin.
Asupportreactionsummary.
Themaximumdisplacementsinthemodel.
ThemaximumtranslationintheX,YandZdirections.
ThemaximumrotationsabouttheX,YandZaxes.
InaconciseformtheStaticsCheckprovidesanequilibriumcheckanda
maximumdisplacementsummary.
TheStaticsCheckoutputcanbeusedtocomparethetotalloadingtothetotal
reactions.Thesetwoquantitiesshouldbeequalinmagnitudeandoppositein
senseforalinearelasticanalysis.Iftheyarenot,itisanindicationthatsomeof
theappliedloadisnotbeingconsidered,anditmayindicatethatthereisa
problemwiththemodel.
Note: DonotconfusetheStaticsCheckoptionwiththeStaticsLoadoption
directlybelowit.
StaticsLoadincludesanequilibriumcheckateveryjointinthestructure,
insteadoftheconcisecheckforonlysupportreactionsversusappliedloading.
ModeShapesincludesareportoffrequenciesandmodeswhenadynamic
analysisisperformed.
BothequivalenttoselectingLoadDataandStaticsCheck.
AllequivalenttoselectingLoadDataandStaticsLoad.
AnalyzingtheModel
181
ThismoduledemonstrateshowtoinstructSTAAD.Protoperformaspecifictypeof
analysis,andtoprovidecertaintypesofoutput.
Exercise:IssuinganAnalysisCommand
1. OpenthedatasetfilenamedAnalysis1.std.
ThegeneralworkflowprocesscontinuestomovefromtoptobottominthePage
Controlarea.
2. ClicktheAnalysis/PrinttabinthePageControlarea.
ThreesubtabsaredisplayedinthePageControlarea:PrePrint,Analysisand
PostPrint.TheAnalysissubtabisactivebydefaultandtheAnalysis/Print
Commandsdialogisopen.
TheAnalysis/PrintCommandsdialogallowsspecificationofthetypeofanalysis
tobeperformedaswellasprovidingoptionsforprintinganalysisrelated
informationintoanoutputfile.
Thereisatabonthisdialogforeachoftheanalysistypesdescribed.Inaddition,
thereisatabthatisusedtoinsertaChangecommandintotheinputfile.The
Changecommandisusedtoresetthestiffnessmatrix,andistypicallyrequiredin
modelsthatincludemultipleanalysisinstructions.
Alinearelasticanalysiswillbeperformedonthismodel.
3. ClickthePerformAnalysistabintheAnalysis/PrintCommandsdialog.
4. SelecttheStaticsCheckradiobutton.ClickAdd,thenClose.
Thisinstructstheprogramtoperformananalysisandtoincludeintheoutput
filetheinformationlistedaboveinthedescriptionoftheStaticsCheckoption.
182
AnalyzingtheModel
UnderstandingtheSTAAD.Proinputfile
TheAnalysisWholeStructuredialog(hereafterreferredtoastheAnalysisdialog)in
theDataAreadisplaysanoutlineofcommandsthatareincludedintheinputfilefor
themodel.TheorderofcommandsintheSTAAD.Proinputfileisveryimportant.
NotethePERFORMANALYSISPRINTSTATICSCHECKcommandthatwasjustadded
appearsatthebottomofthecommandlist.Also,clicktheDefineCommands
buttonandnotethecheckboxlabeledAfterCurrentinthelowerlefthandcornerof
theAnalysis/PrintCommandsdialog.Thischeckboxinfluencesthelocationwherea
newcommandisinsertedintotheSTAAD.Proinputfile.
ItreferstothecurrentlyselectedlineintheCommandTreeshownintheAnalysis
dialog.Ifleftunchecked,anewcommandwillalwaysbeaddedtotheendofthe
STAAD.Proinputfile.Asanexample,aPerformAnalysiscommandmustprecedea
CheckCodecommandintheinputfile.Inthefollowingexercise,wewillassumethat
aCheckCodecommandwasinadvertentlyplacedintheinputfilewithouta
precedingPerformAnalysiscommand.
IfSTAAD.Proaddsnewcommandstotheendoftheinputfilebydefault,howcan
youinsertaPerformAnalysiscommandabovethelinecontainingtheCheckCode
command?ThisiswheretheAfterCurrentcheckboxisuseful.
Exercise:AddingcommandstothemiddleoftheSTAAD.Proinputfile
1. IntheAnalysisdialogintheDataArea,doubleclickthelinethatstartswith
LOAD2.
Thatfolderexpandstorevealitscontents.
2. DoubleclickthelinethatsaysMEMBERLOADtoexpandthatitemaswell.
3. ClickonthelinethatsaysUNIGY2{UNIGY30}.Itbecomeshighlightedto
indicatethatitisnowthecurrentline.
Supposethatwewishtoinsertanewanalysiscommandimmediatelyafterthis
locationintheinputfile.
4. ClicktheDefineCommandsbuttonatthebottomoftheAnalysisdialog.
5. OnthePerformAnalysistab,clicktheBothradiobutton.
6. Thistime,clicktheAfterCurrentcheckboxtoactivateit,andthenclickAdd,
followedbyClose.
Thenewcommand,PERFORMANALYSISPRINTBOTH,isinsertedafterthe
currentlyselectedlineintheinputfile.
AnalyzingtheModel
183
Note: ThiscommandwasonlyaddedtodemonstratethefunctionoftheAfter
Currentoption.Itshouldnotbeleftintheinputfile.
7. RightclickthePERFORMANALYSISPRINTBOTHlineintheAnalysisdialog.
8. ClickDeleteCommandinthepopupmenu,andthenconfirmbyclickingYes.
Notethatthecommanddisappearsfromtheinputfile.
9. LeavethecommandthatsaysPERFORMANALYSISPRINTSTATICSCHECK.
Exercise:Addingadditionalprintcommandstotheinputfile
STAAD.Proprovidesnumerousoptionsforincludinginformationaboutthemodel
andtheresultsoftheanalysisintheoutputfile.
1. ClickthePrePrintsubtabinthePageControl,andthenclicktheDefine
CommandsbuttonatthebottomofthePreAnalysisPrintdialogintheData
Area.
TheAnalysis/PrintCommandsdialogopens.NotetheAnalysis/PrintCommands
dialoghasdifferentoptionswhenitisaccessedfromthePreAnalysisPrintdialog
thanwhenitisaccessedfromtheAnalysisdialog.
Thisdialogisusedtoincludeintheoutputfilecertainitemsrelatedtotheinput
data,suchasjointcoordinates,memberproperties,andmaterialproperties.
2. ClicktheMaterialPropertiestab,clicktheAddbutton,andthenclickClose.
ThisplacesacommandintheinputfilerequestingSTAAD.Protoprintthe
materialpropertiesofmembersintheoutputfile.
NotethatthecommandappearsinthePreAnalysisPrintdialog,andthatithasa
questionmarkgraphicinfrontofthecommand.Thisindicatesthatthe
commandhasnotyetbeenassignedtoanymembers.
3. ClickthePRINTMATERIALPROPERTIEScommandinthePreAnalysisPrint
dialog.
4. ClicktheAssignToViewradiobuttonintheAssignmentMethodcategory,and
thenclicktheAssignbutton.
5. ClickYesinthepopupdialogtoconfirmtheassignment.
AllmembersintheMainWindowbecomehighlighted,indicatingthatthe
commandwasappliedtoeverymemberinthemodel.
184
AnalyzingtheModel
NotethatevenifnoPreAnalysisPrintcommandswereissued,STAAD.Prowill
stillechotheinputdataintheoutputfile.
However,thePreAnalysisPrintcommandsdisplayinformationinamoreuser
friendly,tabularformat.
6. Now,clickthePostPrintsubtabinthePageControl,andthenclicktheDefine
CommandsbuttonatthebottomofthePostAnalysisPrintdialogintheData
Area.
AnotherAnalysis/PrintCommandsdialogopenswithalargenumberofpost
analysisprintingoptionsavailable.
Someoftheavailableoptionstoplaceintheoutputfileincludeanalysisresults,
jointdisplacements,supportreactions,memberforces,membersectionforces
(all6forcesat1/8thintervalsalongthememberlength),memberstresses,etc.
7. ClicktheAnalysisResultstab,andthenclickAddfollowedbyClose.
ThePRINTANALYSISRESULTScommandnowappearsintheinputfileinthePost
AnalysisPrintdialog.
AnalyzingtheModel
185
AboutthePrintAnalysisResultscommand
ThePrintAnalysisResultscommanddoesnotneedtobeassignedtoanyspecific
member.Itautomaticallyisassignedtoeverynodeandmemberinthestructure.By
addingthiscommand,alljointdisplacements,supportreactions,andmemberend
forcesareincludedintheoutputfile.
Itisalwayspossibletocomebacklater,addmoreanalysis/printcommands,andre
runtheanalysis.Inaddition,thereareothermethodsofobtaininganalysisresults
besidestheoutputfile.
Forexample,thePostProcessor,whichiscoveredindetailinanothermodule,offers
avarietyofwaystoviewresultsgraphically.Itisalsousedtocreatecustomized
reportsthatcanincludeinformationinbothtabularandgraphicalformat.
ThecommandsinthePostAnalysisPrintdialognowinclude:
PERFORMANALYSISPRINTSTATICSCHECK
PRINTMATERIALPROPERTIES
PRINTANALYSISRESULTS
FINISH
NotethatwhenthecommandlistisviewedfromthePostAnalysisPrintdialog,most
ofthecommandsaregrayedout,andonlythePRINTANALYSISRESULTScommandis
inboldtextwithagreencheckmark.
Theotheritemsaregrayedouttoindicatethattheycannotbemodifiedfromthe
currentlocationinthePageControl.Editstothoseitemsrequiremovingtoa
differenttabinthePageControlfirst.
Forexample,ifitisnecessarytomodifytheeditlistofmembersforthePRINT
MATERIALPROPERTIEScommand,itrequiresclickingonthePrePrintsubtabfirst.
ThenthePRINTMATERIALPROPERTIEScommandwouldbeinboldtext,indicating
thatitisaccessibletomodify.
186
AnalyzingtheModel
Performing the Analysis
PerformingtheAnalysis
Nowthatpreparationsarecomplete,itistimetoperformtheanalysis.
Exercise:PerformingtheAnalysis
1. Continueworkinginthesamefile,oropenthedatasetfilenamedAnalysis2.std.
2. ClickAnalyze>RunAnalysis.ClickSaveifaconfirmationdialogappears.
AdialoglabeledSTAADAnalysisandDesigndisplaysaseriesofmessagesasthe
analysisproceeds.
Whiletheanalysisisinprogress,abuttonlabeledAbortisprovidedinthelower
rightcorner.Itcanbeusedtostoptheprocessingandaborttherun.
Inthecaseofthisexamplemodel,theprocessingtimeissoshortthatitmaybe
difficulttoseetheAbortbuttonbeforeitchangestotheDonebutton.
Whentheanalysisiscomplete,STAAD.Prodisplaysthemessage:EndSTAAD.Pro
Runandreportsthetotalprocessingtime.
Threeoptionsarenowavailableinthelowerleftcornerofthedialog:
ViewOutputFile
GotoPostProcessingMode
StayinModelingMode
3. ClicktheViewOutputFileradiobutton,andthenclickDone.
TheSTAADAnalysisandDesigndialogisdismissedandtheoutputfileopensin
theSTAADOutputViewer.
4. KeeptheSTAADOutputViewerwindowopenforreferenceinthenextsection.
AnalyzingtheModel
187
How STAAD.Pro Generates Results
HowSTAAD.ProGeneratesResults
Inalinearelasticanalysis,afundamentalequationisusedtogeneratetheresults:
[K]{u}={P}
Itstatesthatthestiffness,K,ofthestructuremultipliedbythedisplacementvector,
u,mustbeequaltotheappliedloadingvector,P,inordertosatisfytherequirement
thatthestructureisinastateofequilibrium.
Thestiffnessofastructureisacompositionoftheindividualstiffnessesofeach
memberandeachdegreeoffreedominthestructure.
Thesimplestcaseofthisconcept,asinglememberwithasingledegreeoffreedom,
canbeillustratedbyconsideringaweightsuspendedattheendofaspringof
stiffnessK.
Theweightappliesaloadtothespring,causingittodeflectadistanceasshownin
thefigureabove.Inthisparticularexample,itiseasytosolveforthedeflection.
However,evenwhenlookingatonlyasinglebeaminathreedimensionalstructure
model,theproblemimmediatelybecomesmorecomplicated.
Eachbeamhassixdegreesoffreedomateachendofthebeam;threetranslational
degreesoffreedomandthreerotationaldegreesoffreedom.Sotherearetwelve
degreesoffreedomforeachbeamelement,andeachdegreeoffreedomhasits
ownstiffness.
Therearealsocouplingeffectswhichhavetobetakenintoaccount.Forinstance,
whenoneportionofthestructurepushesonanotherportion,thesecondportion
pushesback,andwhenoneendofabeammoves,theotherendmovestoo,andso
forth.
Allofthesestiffnessesmustbeassembledintoastiffnessmatrix.Themagnitudesof
thestiffnessfactorsareknown.Thestiffnessesareafunctionofmemberproperties,
materialproperties,memberorientation,betaangles,andsoforth
Theloadvaluesarealsoknown.Theonlyunknownvaluesarethedisplacements,
andthisisthequantityforwhichSTAAD.Proisactuallysolving.
188
AnalyzingtheModel
Viewing the Output File
ViewingtheOutputFile
Duringtheanalysis,anoutputfileisproducedcontainingresults,warningsand
messagesassociatedwitherrorsifany.Theoutputfilehastheextension.ANLand
maybeviewedusingtheSTAADOutputVieweroranyothertextfileviewer.Usethe
scrollbartoscrolldownthroughthereport.
ThefirstsectiondisplaysanyjobinformationthatwasenteredintheJobInfodialog,
followedbyanechooftheinputfile.BelowthatisalistofPROBLEMSTATISTICS:
numberofjoints,membersandelements,supports,loadcases,andotherdata.
FollowingthestatisticsisinformationassociatedwiththeStaticsCheckrequested
withthePRINTSTATICSCHECKcommand.TheStaticsCheckwasrequestedinorder
toverifythatthestructureisinequilibriumforthevariousloadcases.Foreach
primaryloadcase,theStaticsCheckreportprovides:
Summaryoftotalappliedloadsforall6degreesoffreedom,withmoments
calculatedabouttheoriginofthecoordinatesystem(0,0,0).
Summaryoftotalreactionsfromthesupportsofthestructure,withmoments
calculatedabouttheoriginofthecoordinatesystem(0,0,0).
Maximumdisplacements(3translationsand3rotations)inthestructureinduced
bythisloadcase.
Tocheckequilibriumforagivenloadcase,verifythateachofthe3appliedforces
and3appliedmomentsisequalinmagnitudeandoppositeinsigntothe3reaction
forcesand3reactionmoments.
Hint: Afailuretoachieveequilibriumcouldimplythattheanalysisresults(fora
linearelasticanalysis)areerroneous.Factorssuchasinstability
conditionsorimproperlyappliedloadscancausetheequilibriumcheckto
fail.
Itisalsoimportanttoexaminethemaximumdisplacementsfortworeasons:
First,toverifythatthedisplacementsseemreasonableandnotextreme,which
couldindicateamodelingerror,aninstability,oradrasticallydisproportionate
memberstiffnesssomewhereinthemodel.
Second,tosimplyverifythatthedeformationsarewithintolerablelimits.
AnalyzingtheModel
189
Viewing the Output File
Followingthestaticscheckisthematerialpropertiesinformationformembers1
through35.
Thenextblockofdataistheanalysisresults,whichincludes:
Jointdisplacementsforeveryjoint
Supportreactionsforeverysupport
Memberendforcesforeverymember
Finally,amessageisprintedindicatingtheendoftheSTAAD.Prorun.
Theoutputreportforthisverysimplestructureisseveralpageslong.This
underscorestheneedtobejudiciouswhenchoosinganalysis/printcommands.It
canbeveryeasytoendupwithanoutputreportthatishundredsofpagesinlength,
makingitdifficulttofindthedesiredresults.
Bearinmindthattheoutputfileisjustonemethodofobtainingoutputresultsfrom
STAAD.Pro.ThePostProcessor,whichiscoveredindetailinadifferentmodule,is
specificallyforthepurposeofobservingandreportinganalysisresults.
ClosetheSTAADOutputViewerwindowbyclickingFile>Exit.Becarefultoselect
theSTAADOutputViewersFilemenu,nottheFilemenuintheSTAAD.ProMenu
Bar.
ClickFile>ClosetoreturntotheStartPage.
190
AnalyzingtheModel
Module Review
ModuleReview
Questions
1. WhichofthefollowingisNOTananalysistypeinSTAAD.Pro:
PDeltaAnalysis
DirectAnalysis
ModeShapeCalculation
BucklingAnalysis
2. InordertoincludeanequilibriumcheckateveryjointintheOutputFile,which
PrintOptionmustbeselectedwhentheanalysistypeisbeingspecified?
3. ASTAAD.Profilecanonlycontainoneanalysiscommand.
True/False
AnalyzingtheModel
191
Module Summary
Answers
1. WhichofthefollowingisNOTananalysistypeinSTAAD.Pro:
PDeltaAnalysis
DirectAnalysis
BucklingAnalysis
STAAD.Procanperformamodeshapecalculation,butthisisnotoneofthebasic
analysistypesavailableinSTAAD.Pro.
2. InordertoincludeanequilibriumcheckateveryjointintheOutputFile,which
PrintOptionmustbeselectedwhentheanalysistypeisbeingspecified?
StaticsLoad
TheStaticsLoadoptionwillprintanequilibriumcheckateveryjointofthe
structure.TheStaticsCheckoptionprovidesanequilibriumcheckforthe
structureasawhole.
3. ASTAAD.Profilecanonlycontainoneanalysiscommand.
False
SeveralanalysiscommandscanbeissuedwithinasingleSTAAD.Profile.The
CHANGEcommandmustoftenbeusedbetweenanalysiscommandsinorderto
resetthestiffnessmatrix.
ModuleSummary
Youarenowableto:
Addanalysiscommandsattheappropriatelocationintheinputfile
Addcommandsforprintingmodelinfoandanalysisresultsinanoutputfile
Performananalysis
Viewtheoutputfile
192
AnalyzingtheModel

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