All structural engineers, I would like to share some tips to check structural analysis and design

performed in any computer structural program.

1. Check geometry and section properties of each frame element in the model. In some cases, you
may have to release torsional property of any structural member, for example, slab or wall elements
so that you may have maximum bending moment in other members (beams or columns).
2. Check deformed shape of the entire frame after the completion of analysis. You should also
check magnitude of displacement of some critical elements.
3. Check shape of bending and shear force diagram. You may also need to verify bending moment
of some critical beams by making them a continuous beam and applying uniform distribution load.
After that you may verify hog and sag moment in the beams.
4.If you carry out design of beams using SAP or ETAB, you should verify your design of a few
beams with a manual calculation or use a spreadsheet to calculate ultimate bending and shear
capcity to make sure that software does right design and you can also feel confident. Verify
slenderness of slender columns carefully.
5. Always pay attention on default design parameters in design software. You have to change them
to the right ones if you know them.
6. In any calculations, make sure to satisfy force equilibrium. It's the first principle of structural
engineering.
7. Finally, do not rely on the previous structural design which has similar features. The previous
design may have different assumptions, loading and material properties or those structures could be
underdesigned previously. DO NOT copy structural details from previous projects/design without
doing any calculations until you satisfy. It's a NEGLIGENCE.
Comment:
Ky Visoth Sambath: Good practical tips. And I just come to add some more tips:8. Study the design
algorithms, assumptions, and limitations in the software. This can be catastrophic since the design
results do not conform to our expectation. Most software gets the common job done, but some
special structures other than buildings, the post-processing needs special manual check.9. Mesh
and element types need to be checked since we are using the FEM software package.10. I doubt
point number 1 "release torsional property of any structural member, for example, slab or wall
elements so that you may have maximum bending moment in other members (beams or columns)".
It's best to model the structure to work the same way as the real structure does, not the way we think
that we can obtain the maximum value somewhere while manipulating the real geometry which can
result in disturbing other structural elements

Sunthara Tr: Ky Visoth Sambath, Answer to your query regarding my point 1 relating to release of
torsional property - if you model slabs or walls as FE you don't need to modify their property, but if
you model them as grillage members (in grid) based on my experiences with low torsional property
of slabs and walls we can get higher bending moment in orthogonal members. My comment here
may not apply well in building design but it works well in bridge grillage modeling. I just want to point
out that designers shall pay attention on stiffness of each structural element in the model as it greatly
affects analysis result.Anyway, thanks for your additional valuable comments. I agree with you, each
software has its limitation and we should also check software disclaimer before using it.
Moni Chen Ky Visoth Sambath, your point 8 & 9, commercial package cannot be checked for
algorithms, assumptions, but we can test its limitations.Point 1, mentioned by Sunthara Tr, may be
applied for structural system and modeling on how the structural elements transferring loads. For
example, girders and beams can be modeled as 'girders and secondary beams' or 'girders and
beams'. The behavior of the structural elements functions differently.