SF Tutor

S-FRAME 7.
01 for Windows
Tutorial Manual
Copyright 2006 by Softek Services Ltd.
Printed in Canada
Release 7.01 Tutorial Manual Copyright 2006 by SOFTEK Services Ltd.
Richmond, Canada Phone: (604) 273-7737 Fax: (604) 273-7731 SOFTEK Services Ltd. #275 - 13500 Maycrest Way Richmond, B.C. CANADA V6V 2N8
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
This software (S-Frame), Tutorial Manual, and Verification Problems are copyright 2006 by Softek Services Ltd. (Richmond, Canada). All rights reserved. Portions of this software are copyright by Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any human or computer language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, optical, chemical, manual, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Softek Services Ltd.
DISCLAIMER
Considerable time, effort, and expense have gone into the development and documentation of S-Frame for Windows. It has been thoroughly tested. However, in using the product (including manuals), the user understands and accepts that no warranty on the accuracy or reliability of the product is expressed or implied by the developers or distributors. Users must understand the assumptions used in the product, know its limitations, and verify their own results. Softek Services Ltd. disclaims all warranties with regard to the software contained on CD or in printed form, including all warranties of merchantability and fitness; and any stated or expressed warranties are in lieu of all obligations or liabilities of Softek Services Ltd. for damages, including, but not limited to special, indirect or consequential damages arising out of or in connection with the performance of the software.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Microsoft and MS are registered trademarks, and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. AutoCAD is a registered trademark of AutoDesk Inc.
Table of contents
Introduction .................................................................................................. 1 Overview of S-Frame capabilities .................................................................. 1 Tutorial examples ......................................................................................16 Example 1a (interface fundamentals)...............................................................19 Structure model ........................................................................................19 Outline of steps .........................................................................................22 Create a new structure ...............................................................................22 Synchronize settings ..................................................................................23 Add geometry ...........................................................................................29 Add loads .................................................................................................71 Analyze ....................................................................................................76 View results ..............................................................................................77 Hide unselected objects ..............................................................................87 Retrieve a view .........................................................................................87 Lessons learned.........................................................................................88 Example 1b (staged construction) ................................................................. 101 Outline of steps ....................................................................................... 101 Create a new structure ............................................................................. 101 Synchronize settings ................................................................................ 102 Create construction stages ........................................................................ 102 Populate construction stages ..................................................................... 103 Modify construction stages ........................................................................ 105 Analyze .................................................................................................. 109 View results ............................................................................................ 110 Lessons learned....................................................................................... 112 Example 2 (physical members) ..................................................................... 115 Structure model ...................................................................................... 116 Outline of steps ....................................................................................... 116 Create a new structure ............................................................................. 117 Synchronize settings ................................................................................ 118 Create a rectangular frame ....................................................................... 118 Add supports........................................................................................... 120 Add a section .......................................................................................... 121
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Enable physical members.......................................................................... 122 Generate infill beams ............................................................................... 123 Tilt the roof............................................................................................. 125 Add an area load panel ............................................................................. 127 Add self-weight as a load case ................................................................... 132 Add wind as a load case............................................................................ 132 Add snow as a load case ........................................................................... 138 Add load combinations ............................................................................. 141 Analyze .................................................................................................. 142 Generate a notional load case.................................................................... 142 Add load combinations ............................................................................. 144 Analyze .................................................................................................. 145 Inspect calculated loads............................................................................ 145 View results ............................................................................................ 147 Lessons learned and recalled ..................................................................... 152 Example 3 (generating data) ........................................................................ 157 Structure model ...................................................................................... 157 Outline of steps ....................................................................................... 157 Create a new structure ............................................................................. 158 Synchronize settings ................................................................................ 158 Generate a truss...................................................................................... 158 Add member releases............................................................................... 159 Add columns ........................................................................................... 161 Connect columns at mid span .................................................................... 161 Add hangers from the truss ....................................................................... 163 Add wings to the truss.............................................................................. 164 Add supports........................................................................................... 166 Clone geometry in translation .................................................................... 166 Extrude members .................................................................................... 170 Subdivide a beam .................................................................................... 172 Clone members in rotation ........................................................................ 173 Lessons learned and recalled ..................................................................... 176
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Introduction
S-Frame is a structural analysis program used by civil engineers around the world. Its companion design products are: S-Steel S-Concrete
You can purchase S-Steel in addition to S-Frame, and purchase S-Concrete independently of S-Frame or in addition. S-Frame has three editions with varying capabilities: Standard Professional Enterprise
The standard edition supports linear elastic static analysis. The professional edition supports additional analysis types except nonlinear and staged construction. The enterprise edition has no restrictions. The remainder of this chapter provides an overview of: S-Frames capabilities Tutorial examples
Overview of S-Frame capabilities

The following sections outline S-Frames capabilities: Geometry Loads Analysis Results Interface
You can create 2D or 3D models in S-Frame. Some aspects of the interface change depending on the dimension of the model.
Geometry
In S-Frame, you can: Model 2D or 3D structures as a geometry of joints, elements and diaphragms. Model joints as: supports; linear springs; compression/tension only springs; gap and hook springs; nonlinear curve springs; dashpots; masters or slaves. A default joint is free to translate and rotate in all degrees of freedom (dofs). Model joints with lumped mass in any dof. Model members as: beams; trusses; cables; compression-only; 2-node axial or torsional springs; nonlinear axial or torsional spring curves.
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Model 2D finite elements as membranes, plates or shells with a thickness. A 2D element can be a triangle or quadrangle. Model diaphragms as triangular, quadrilateral or panel (polygon) objects. Model diaphragms by assigning a constraint id to a master joint and slaves, where the constraint id defines a translational mass and mass moment of inertia. In a diaphragm, the slaves preserve their distance to the master and each other within a plane, and rotate about an axis parallel to the plane (typically the gravitational axis) the same angle as the master. Assign material properties or prestress to members and 2D elements. Assign section properties, releases, rigid offsets, and rotational orientation (angle gamma) to members.
Loads
In S-Frame, you can: Assign static or dynamic loads to joints. Assign concentrated or distributed static loads to members in the global or local member axes. Local loads include axial, torsional and orthogonal. Assign global projected loads to members. Assign partial trapezoidal loads to members.
NOTE: There is no practical limit to the number of concentrated, global, projected or local loads you can assign to a member. Generate concentrated member loads based on wheel axle patterns. Assign pressure loads to 2D elements. Assign thermal and gradient loads to members and 2D elements. Assign tendon loads to members. Assign response spectrum loads to the structure. Assign loads per load case. Combine and factor results from load cases into load combinations. Assign notional eccentricities to load combinations in the axes orthogonal to the gravitational axis. Generate load cases from the notional eccentricities of load combinations.
In S-Frame, you can:
Analysis
S-Frame supports the following fundamental types of analysis: Buckling Elastic static Response spectrum analysis (RSA)
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Time history (dynamic and base motion) Vibration (natural frequencies and mode shapes) P-Delta buckling. Linear, P-Delta and nonlinear elastic static analysis. Linear unstressed, P-Delta stressed and nonlinear stressed RSA. Linear unstressed, P-Delta stressed and nonlinear stressed vibration analysis. Linear time history analysis.
S-Frame supports the following variants:
S-Frame can generate moving load cases and combinations for linear and nonlinear elastic static analysis. When you run an unstressed response spectrum analysis, S-Frame uses the dominant mode (maximum strain energy or base shear in a global axis) to determine the sign of a joints displacement after the solver combines mode results. S-Frame calculates an equivalent static load as the penultimate step, and then performs a linear elastic static analysis as the final step.
Results
S-Frame supports the following kinds of results: Eigen values and vectors for buckling, vibration and RSA analysis. Joint displacements and storey drift. Forces along a member: axial, shear, bending moment and torsion. Stresses along a member at fiber distances. 2D element forces and stresses at the vertices or the centroid. 2D element contours of forces, stresses and deflection. Wall forces in a single coordinate system. Velocities and accelerations of joints in time history analysis. Results per time step in time history analysis. Mass participation factors in vibration and RSA analysis. Individual mode shapes A combination of all modes. A combination of specific modes.
In RSA, you can view results for:
Interface
S-Frames visual interface consists of windows, bars, tools, dialogs, spreadsheets, and a viewport to display the structure graphically.
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The following sections provide an overview of S-Frames interface: Windows Bars Tools Graphical link to spreadsheet interface Data display features Appearance of selected and unselected objects Selection and pick features Organization assistant: group folders User coordinate systems Viewing assistants Editing assistants Help assistants
Windows
S-Frame divides its interface into six main windows: Geometry Loads Spreadsheet Cad Details Graphical Results Numerical Results
The first three windows govern the input of data. The last two windows provide results. The Cad Details window allows you to define dimensions (between joints) that you can view from other windows, and lets you align the cross-sections of steel members through the use of cardinal points.
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The following screen cap68ture displays all six windows simultaneously, though typically you would display only one or two concurrently.
Bars
S-Frame includes the following bars: Combo Command Data Menu Shortcuts Status Structure Title Title Menu Command
S-Frame displays the following bars at the top of the window, in descending order:
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Combo Data
The appearance of the Menu bar changes, depending on the active window. The appearance of the Data bar changes, also, depending on the active tool. The following screen cap indicates the upper left portion of these bars while the Geometry window and Selection tool are active for a new structure.
S-Frame displays the Shortcuts and Structure bars at the left side of the program window. The following screen cap displays the two bars while the Cad Details window is active.
You can click a shortcut button to activate a different window. S-Frame displays the Status bar at the bottom of the program window. The following screen cap indicates the lower left portion of the bar.
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Tools
Each graphical window includes a set of tools represented by icons in the Structure bar. Each input tool lets you define a set of data in a Data bar or the tools associated dialog. You then pick or create objects based on that data.
To activate a tool, click the associated icon. To activate a tool and its dialog, right click the icon.
Graphical link to spreadsheet interface

In S-Frame, you can enter data or review results using a graphical or spreadsheet interface. From the graphical input interface, you can right click objects and choose Properties to view or alter their input data in a spreadsheet window.
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In the following screen cap, the user has right-clicked a joint with a load of 100 in the Z-axis. S-Frame highlights the joint as a red circle.
Once the user chooses Properties from the context menu, S-Frame displays the Joint Load spreadsheet in a pop-up window.
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From the graphical results interface, you can double click a joint or 2D element centroid to view results in all axes simultaneously. [Or right click and choose Properties.]
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You can double click a member to view a combination of spreadsheet and graphical results. [Or right click and choose Properties.] You can also view envelopes that provide the maximum and minimum result for a location along the member, and the load case or combination (LC) responsible.
Data display features

S-Frame provides a number of features that toggle on or off the display of data: joint numbers, element numbers, material and section numbers, section names, member length, releases, supports, springs, lumped mass, axes, element type, loads.
Appearance of selected and unselected objects

Each object in S-Frame has a selection status: on or off; selected or unselected. When you assign data to objects graphically by picking them, S-Frame excludes unselected objects as eligible candidates.
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The following screen cap displays the unselected objects on the left, and selected objects on the right.
S-Frame displays: A joint as a circle. A member as a line segment. A 2D object as a triangle, quadrangle or polygon with a square handle at the centroid.
An empty circle or square indicates an unselected object. A dotted line segment indicates an unselected member.
Selection and pick features

S-Frame provides a number of features that assist you to select or pick objects in the graphical windows: Interactive graphical selection: clicking a joint, member, member-end, or handle at the centroid of a 2D object. Interactive graphical selection: dragging the mouse from left to right to define a rectangle of inclusion; dragging right to left to include members that lie partly but not wholly within the rectangle; holding down the Ctrl key to unselect or unpick; holding down the Shift key to draw a line of intersection. Interactive graphical selection: toggling on the Polypick option in the Status bar, and clicking inside the viewport to define the vertices of a polygon of inclusion. Icons to select or unselect all geometry.
A Selection tool, common to all graphical windows, and its associated dialog. The Select Special and Unselect Special dialogs. Commands under the Select menu in the Menu bar.
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A context menu that includes selection commands when you right click an object. The context menu is useful when selecting or unselecting individual objects while the Selection tool is inactive. Group folders (which the next section describes).
When you open a spreadsheet, depending on the window settings, S-Frame filters the objects to those that are selected in the corresponding graphical window.
Organization assistant: group folders

S-Frame supports group folders that help you organize your structure into smaller groups. When you select a folder, S-Frame selects only those objects that belong to the active folder.
An object can belong to more than one folder. You define group membership graphically by changing the selection status of objects, and then right clicking the folder to update its membership.
User coordinate systems

In the Geometry window, you can translate or rotate the axes of a user coordinate system in order to paste, translate, reflect or shear data to a different location. SFrame displays the ucs as a red tripod.
You can save a ucs and assign it to joints, so that the axes of springs, supports and loads act in a coordinate system other than the global (gcs). You can view 2D element contour results with respect to a ucs. You can clone and replicate data with respect to a ucs.
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You can translate a ucs origin graphically by clicking a joint. You can translate and rotate a ucs graphically by clicking three joints. You can translate or rotate a ucs numerically via a dialog.
Viewing assistants
S-Frame provides a number of features that assist you when viewing a 3D model: An Aerial window that includes: Icons that provide a preset view (e.g., front, top, isometric). A mini-viewport you can drag to pan your view. Indicators to rotate your view about an axis. Icons to adjust the magnification of your view.
A red tripod that indicates the axes of the current ucs.
A color-coded legend to indicate material, section, element or load type. A dialog, View Projection Type, that lets you choose perspective or stereoscopic projection while the Selection tool is active.
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Grids in the XY plane.
An ability to rotate your view by dragging the right mouse button in the viewport where S-Frame displays your structure. An ability to hide unselected objects via the happy face icon in the Status bar.
An ability to shrink the dimensions of an element to remove clutter at joints, and to discover graphically whether an element connects to a joint or crosses over it.
An ability to render elements via the Render dialog. An ability to name, save and retrieve a view that records the magnification, angle and focus of your view of the structure, and optionally the active window, tool and Data bar settings.
Editing assistants
S-Frame provides a number of assistants when editing data: Construction planes and grids that enable graphical creation of joints. These grids also enable graphical creation of member patterns. Graphical addition of single members or a chain of members by clicking pairs of joints.
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Introduction
Graphical addition of members by: Picking joints and extruding in a ucs axis, positive or negative, by a fixed length. Extruding to the first joint encountered in that direction. Extruding to the last joint, and inserting links at intermediate joints. Clicking inside an empty polygon of members. Clicking along two members. Dragging the mouse between two members.
Graphical insertion of infill beams by:
Graphical picking of objects to assign attributes, properties and loads. Default attributes when adding elements. You can define a default material, for example, in advance of adding new elements. When you add new elements, they bear the default material. Dialogs that generate truss and mesh patterns. A live legend to change the default material, section or element type. An ability to subdivide all selected elements. An ability to merge structures, materials and sections. An ability to select sections from steel databases around the world, and add to the structures local database of sections. An ability to define custom and tapered sections. An ability to enable physical members which comprise smaller analysis members. An ability to define an area load panel and span direction, whereby S-Frame distributes the area load to eligible members. An ability to right click an object in a graphical window to edit any or all of the spreadsheet data for that object. An ability to update multiple spreadsheet rows in one operation.
Help assistants
From the Help menu, you can choose the S-Frame Help command to load the online help, and search for help topics via the Contents, Index or Search functions. From the Help menu, you can choose the Run Tutorial command, which opens a dialog of tutorial video options described later in this introduction. From a dialog or pop-up spreadsheet, you can press F1 or click the Help button to access help related to the current dialog. To obtain help on a tool that has an associated dialog, right click the tool icon and then press F1.
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Introduction
Tutorial examples
Tutorial examples
The tutorial examples in the following four chapters focus primarily on the S-Frame interface: Example 1a: interface fundamentals. Example 1b: staged construction. Example 2: physical members. Example 3: generation of data.
Example 1a: interface fundamentals

Example 1a explores S-Frames interface while building a simple structure.
Example 1b: staged construction

Example 1b converts and divides the structure of Example 1a into stages, where the latter stages carry forward the displacements of the previous stage. Example 1b is very similar to the staged construction verification problem described in the online help. Example 1b requires the enterprise edition of S-Frame. See also the Stage construction tutorial video.
Example 2: physical members

Example 2 illustrates physical members and additional modeling features. See also the Physical member tutorial video.
Example 3: generation of data

Example 3 illustrates S-Frames power to generate and extrude data. See also the Editing Geometry tutorial video.
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Introduction
Tutorial examples
Online video tutorials

S-Frame includes an array of video tutorials online. From the Help menu, choose the Run Tutorial command, which opens the following dialog:
Run the Graphical User Interface tutorial video as a first step. The Stage Construction tutorial video and Example 1b of this manual use a similar structure. Both the Physical Member tutorial video and Example 2 of this manual discuss physical members, but use a different structure. The Editing Geometry tutorial video creates a more complex version of the model in Example 3 of this tutorial manual.
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Example 1a
4 joints 3 members 1 load case 2 joint loads
(interface fundamentals)
This example creates a simple structure consisting of:
The structure is similar to Stage 2 of the Staged Construction verification problem in the online help and tutorial video. Example 1a creates the superstructurea union of all joints and elements across all stagesin a variety of ways. Example 1b divides the structure into stages, and runs a Staged Construction analysis, which requires the enterprise edition of S-Frame. Example 1a employs and describes S-Frames interface fundamentals. In most cases, the features described are more useful when creating complex structures. The tutorial manual uses this simple example to cite these features because it is easier to view and understand them in a simpler structure.
Structure model
All members and loads of this structure lie in the same plane. The structure is effectively a 2D model, but the tutorial creates it in 3D mode. The following screen caps indicate the end result of Example 1a. The first screen cap indicates the dimensions, joint and member numbers from a Front view. NOTE: The Cad Details window lets you define dimensions between joints.
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Example 1a T(interface fundamentals)
Structure model
The tripod indicates the global axes. In a 3D model, the negative Z-axis is the gravitational axis. In a 2D model, the negative Y-axis is the gravitational axis. The following screen cap indicates the section names, joint loads and supports from an isometric view.
A single arrow at a support indicates a constraint in that axis. A double arrow indicates that the joint is not free to rotate about that axis. In a 2D model, S-Frame displays a roller to indicate freedom of movement in an axis, and a triangle to indicate freedom of rotation within the plane.
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Structure model
The following screen caps indicate the joint, member, material, section and joint load data in spreadsheet form. The first two screen caps indicate the joint coordinates and support conditions.
The next screen capture indicates the member data relevant to this example.
S-Frame defines a member as a pair of joints: {Start Joint = Ith joint, End Joint = Jth joint}. The next two screen caps indicate the material and section data relevant to this example.
The Table No column identifies the sections as AISC sections. NOTE: The shear area differs slightly from the verification problem. The next screen cap indicates the joint loads.
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Outline of steps
Outline of steps
In Example 1a, you will: 1. Create a new structure. 2. Synchronize settings with those of the tutorial. 3. Add geometry. NOTE: While adding geometry in a variety of different ways, you will experiment with views, grids, construction planes and selection. You will also delete geometry and undo edits. 4. Add loads. 5. Analyze. 6. View results. As an addendum to Example 1a, you will hide unselected objects and retrieve a saved view of the structure.
Create a new structure

If S-Frame is currently open, then exit the program by choosing the Exit command from the File menu. It is best to exit in order to flush temporary settings that may diverge from those of the tutorial manual. Start S-Frame from the Windows Start menu or a shortcut of your making. Depending on your Preference settings, S-Frame will either display the Open Structure dialog, or just the Menu bar. If the former, read the following section. If the latter, skip to the Menu bar heading.
Open structure
If S-Frame displays the Open Structure dialog, follow these steps: 1. Choose the New 3D button, which opens a wizard. 2. Click the Preferences button, which opens a dialog. 3. Check the following box in the Interface tab of the Preferences dialog:
4. Click OK to return to the wizard. 5. Choose the Cancel button. Continue to the next heading.
Menu bar
From the File menu, choose the New command to create a new structure.
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Synchronize settings
In the synchronization portion of Example 1a, you will: Edit in 3D mode. Toggle on all toolbars. Set input units to Imperial. Set preferences. Display geometry labels. Set options. Enable Status bar settings.
Edit in 3D mode
If you do not see a red tripod in the middle of the viewport, then from the Options menu, choose the Coordinate System command. If S-Frame displays the tripod with only the X and Y axes, then you are in 2D mode.
(2D)
(3D)
To change to 3D mode, follow these steps: 1. From the Settings menu, choose the Model Type command, which opens a dialog. 2. Select the 3D Frame radio button.
3. Choose OK. NOTE: Henceforward, do not save the structure unless the tutorial manual instructs you to save. Saving the structure disables the Undo feature, which the tutorial demonstrates.
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Toggle on all toolbars

From the View menu, choose the Tools command, which opens the View Toolbars dialog. Set your toolbar options as indicated in the screen cap:
Check all windows

Now is a good time to maximize the program window, if not already maximized. The active window should be the Geometry window. Click all of the window buttons in the Shortcuts bar to have a quick look at the interface each window provides. If, in any of those windows, a toolbar is absentother than the Status bar at the bottom of the program window when a numerical window is activethen open the View Toolbars dialog and toggle on each toolbar, as you did earlier. NOTE: The View Toolbars dialog settings apply only to the active window.
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Finally, click the Geometry button in the Shortcuts bar. The bar should appear as the following screen cap indicatesthough there may be a gap between the tool icons and the lower set of buttons:
Set input units to Imperial

From the Settings menu, choose the Units command, which opens a dialog. If your default units are currently metric, then click the Imperial button.
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Set your units to match those of the following screen cap:
Choose OK to exit the dialog.
Set preferences
Click the following icon, which resides in the Command bar, just underneath the Menu bar, to open the Preferences dialog.
Select the Interface tab. Set your options to match those of the following screen cap:
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Now select the Solver tab, and uncheck the Staged Construction box.
In Example 1b, you will toggle it on. The other options in the Solver tab are not germane to Example 1. Select the Results tab, and set the default number of stations at startup to 5.
A station represents an integration point along each member for which S-Frame provides deflection, force and stress results. Depending on the context and your options, you can also view results for points of interest, which Example 2 describes. The other options in the Results tab are not germane to Example 1. Choose OK to exit. Your preferences apply independently of the active window. Most other options apply only to the active window.
Display geometry labels

Click the following icon in the Command bar to open the Geometric Labels dialog:
You can also access this dialog by choosing the Geometric Labels command from the View menu. Set your options to match those of the screen cap:
These options apply only to the active window.
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Set options
From the Options menu, choose the Multiple command, which opens a dialog. Set your options to match those of the screen cap:
These options apply only to the active window. You can toggle some of these options individually by selecting a command from the Options menu.
Enable status bar settings

Click the following icons in the Status bar at the bottom of your screen until the icons have the same settings as the following screen caps:
These options apply only to the active window. You can toggle or refine some of these options via the Geometry Labels dialog.
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Add geometry
After synchronizing your model dimension, toolbars, preferences, labels, options and Status bar to those of the tutorial, S-Frame should display the following:
Add geometry
In the geometry portion of Example 1a, you will: Add joints and members. Subdivide a member. Reflect geometry about a plane. Translate and rotate the user coordinate system (ucs) tripod. Undo edits. Delete geometry. Alter the angle, magnification and location of your view. Name and save a view. Select and unselect individual objects by right clicking. Select and unselect multiple objects by dragging the mouse. Select and unselect multiple objects by drawing a polygon.
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Add geometry
Select objects by attribute. Create and modify a grid. Edit with a construction plane and grid. Edit with a spreadsheet. Add supports. Edit group folders. Define and assign materials and sections. Save and render geometry. Check local member axes.
Add joints and members

The cantilever support is joint #1, which you can add by following these steps: 1. Click the following icon in the Shortcuts bar to activate the Joint tool:
2. Enter 12 in the Z-coordinate cell of the Data bar.
3. Click Ok in the upper left portion of the data bar. S-Frame should display a blue dotwith the number 1 underneath itin the middle of the viewport. The dot represents the node. The number uniquely identifies the joint.
In all likelihood, the red tripodwhich represents the user coordinate system axes and originwill disappear from the viewport and the Aerial window. It resides at {0,0,0} and the newly added joint resides at {0,0,12}. If you ever want to verify the location of a joint while the Joint tool is active, simply click the joint. S-Frame displays the joint coordinates in the Data bar. Add the cantilever member by following these steps: 1. Click the following icon in the Shortcuts bar to activate the Member Definition tool:
2. Toggle on the One Joint option in the Data bar.
3. Specify a length of 12 feet.
4. Click the blue dot that represents joint #1.
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Add geometry
S-Frame extrudes in the positive ucs X-axis a member 12 feet from the clicked joint. It may be the case that S-Frame displays only part of the member. It may be the case that the member number does not appear. In the Aerial window, click the following icon to perform a Zoom Extents:
S-Frame displays the entire structure to the extents of the viewport. At this point, you should see:
S-Frame has added joint #2, and connected member #1 to a pair of joints: {1, 2}. The ucs tripod may still be absent from the viewport. Right-click joint #1 to pop up a context menu:
Choose the Zoom 1/2x command to reduce the magnification by a factor of 2, centered at the joint location. [The ucs tripod may still be absent.] Now follow these steps to add the columns: 1. In the Data bar, set Number of Links = 2 and toggle on the -Z option.
2. Click joint #2.
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Add geometry
S-Frame adds joints #3 and #4, and two columns: members #2 and #3.
Note that the joint numbers do not match those of the final model. Thats okay. You can undo the last operation by clicking the following icon, located in the Command bar, just underneath the Menu bar.
Set Links = 1 and click joint #2 again. S-Frame adds a single joint and column.
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Add geometry
You can create two columns out of member #2 by using S-Frames subdivide feature. To do that, you must unselect member #1 so that S-Frame does not subdivide it, too. Right click member #1, and choose the Unselect Single Object command. There are other ways to select and unselect single objects using the Selection tool, but this method saves you from having to switch tools.
S-Frame should display member #1 as a dotted line segment.
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Add geometry
S-Frame displays unselected joints as empty circles. Note, then, that joints #1 and #2 remain selected. That is because of an option you toggled off in the Interface tab of the Preferences dialog. Now follow these steps: 1. Click the following icon in the Command bar to open the Subdivide dialog.
You can also open this dialog via the Edit menu.
2. Enter 2 in the Members IJ Links cell.
3. Choose OK. S-Frame should display the following:
The joint numbers still do not match, but thats okay. Click the Undo icon twice: once to undo the subdivision; once to undo the original column.
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Add geometry
Set the Member Length cell in the Data bar to 6 feet. Click joint #2 to add the first of two columns.
The next step is to reflect member #2 about a plane, located at joint #3. Before you perform this step, bring the ucs tripod into view. Follow these steps: 1. Click the following icon to activate the UCS tool:
2. Click joint # 3. S-Frame should display the following:
The next step is to reflect member #2 about the ucs XY plane. Note that joint #1 is also selected. It may appear as though it lies in the XY plane, but in fact it resides 6 feet above the ucs origin in the Z-axis. So you must unselect the joint, first. Right click joint #1, and choose the Unselect Single Object command as you did earlier with member #1. Follow these steps to add the second column: 1. Click the following icon in the Command bar to open the Edit Move dialog.
You can also open this dialog via the Edit menu.
2. Select the Reflect radio button in the Options frame.
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3. Select the About XY Plane radio button in the Reflection Plane frame. 4. Check the Make a Copy box.
The stick model is complete.
Experiment with view factors

You can alter three fundamental factors that determine your view of the structure: Angle of focus Magnification Location of viewer
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Angle of focus
You can alter the angle at which you view the structure by dynamically dragging the right mouse button: Drag the mouse horizontally with the right button depressed to rotate your view about the ucs Z-axis. Drag the mouse vertically with the right button depressed to rotate your view about the ucs X-axis. Drag the mouse vertically with the Shift key and the right button depressed to rotate your view about the ucs Y-axis.
The Aerial window also has rotation indicators you can drag horizontally to rotate your view about any of the three ucs axes.
The Aerial window also includes cube icons that represent preset angular views. Click the first of these icons, which displays a top view:
You should see only the cantilever. Click the fourth of these icons, which displays a front view:
You should see the entire structure.
Now click the seventh cube, which displays S-Frames standard view: South West Isometric:
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Magnification
You learned earlier how to zoom out by right clicking an object and choosing the Zoom 1/2x command. You also learned how to display the entire structure to the extents of the viewport with a single click. Now try increasing magnification so that the viewport displays only a portion of the structure. From the View menu, choose the Zoom In command. Draw a rectangle that includes only the tripod.
Location of viewer
At this point, joint #3 and parts of the two columns connected to the joint remain inside the viewport. Look, however, at the Aerial window:
The Aerial window draws the structure in miniature, and draws a rectangle within the window to indicate what part of the structure S-Frame displays within the main viewport. Place the cursor inside this rectangle, and drag the mouse to pan dynamically. In effect, you are altering your location horizontally or vertically with respect to the structure. You can also use the scroll bars beside the main viewport to pan, but the Aerial window is typically a more effective approach. The View Projection Type dialog, available while the Selection tool is active, provides additional options such as perspective and stereoscopic projection. The online help describes these options.
Return to standard view

If you are not too dizzy from the rotations and translations, click the South West Isometric cube in the Aerial window.
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Create a construction plane

The structure in this example is really a 2D model, and S-Frame provides special features for editing within a plane or thin volume. The construction plane, as SFrame refers to it, is always the current ucs XY plane. Since the structure lies within the global XZ plane, alter the ucs so that its XY plane aligns with the global XZ plane. Right click the UCS tool icon to open a dialog. NOTE: Most tools in the input windows have an associated dialog which you can activate by right clicking the tools icon. In the X-rot cell, enter a value of 90 degrees.
Choose OK to alter the orientation of the ucs axes.
Once the ucs XY axes are aligned with the global XZ, you can save the ucs for retrieval later, if and when you select the gcs (global coordinate system) or another ucs of your creation.
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Follow these steps: 1. From the Edit menu, choose the Save Coordinate System command, which opens a dialog. 2. Type a name in the UCS Name cell: XY = XZ.
3. Choose OK. To edit within a plane, follow these steps: 1. Click the following icon in the Command bar to open the Edit Construction Plane dialog.
You can also open the dialog via the Edit menu.
2. Select the 2 Dimensions radio button in the Option frame.
3. Choose OK. S-Frame imposes a Top view (relative to the ucs XY plane), and hides the Aerial windows rotation and view options. S-Frame also hides any objects that do not lie within the construction plane.
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Perform a Zoom Extents. S-Frame should display the following:
Create a grid
You can create a grid without having to edit in a construction plane, but the two features work well together. Follow these steps: 1. Click the following icon in the Command bar, underneath the Menu bar, to select all geometry:
2. Click the following icon, in the Combo bar, just underneath the Command bar.
S-Frame opens the Grid Definitions dialog.

3. You may see several grids already defined. When you create a new structure, SFrame automatically references a grid file, defgrid7.dgd, which predefines several grids. 4. Right click the base folder None and choose the New Grid Set command. SFrame creates a new, empty grid with a prefix: Grid.
5. Type 12x6 ft as the grid name, and select the adjacent yellow folder to confirm. 6. Right click the same yellow folder, and choose the Auto Generate Grid Set command.
S-Frame creates a grid line for every pair of joints whose connecting line is parallel to the ucs X or Y axis.
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In this example, S-Frame creates a Y grid line that intersects the midpoint where the two columns meet, but S-Frame does not create an intersecting X grid line, since there is no other joint in the structure whose ucs Y coordinate = 0. Thats okay. You can modify the grid by adding an extra X grid line.
7. In Row 3 of the Y Grid Spaces spreadsheet, type 1 in the Num Grids cell. This spreadsheet defines the Y spacing of the X grid lines. 8. Select Row 4 to confirm. 9. In the color swatch, click the turquoise square so that the grid does not predominate over the display of members. The following screen cap illustrates the result:
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At this point, you could save the grid for future use in other structures, but for now, click OK. S-Frame should display the following:
The stick model is complete, but the purpose of Example 1a is not to create a structure the fastest way possible, but to explore S-Frames interface capabilities.
Delete geometry
From the Edit menu, choose the Delete command. Now all that remains within the viewport is the grid and the ucs tripod.
Edit with a grid

Follow these steps: 1. Click the Joint tool icon. 2. Point the cursor at the upper left corner of the grid. S-Frame transforms the grid intersection (grid point) into a red dot.
3. Click the grid point to add joint #1. 4. Click the upper right corner of the grid to add joint #2. 5. Click the middle right grid point (tripod origin) to add joint #3. 6. Click the bottom right grid point to add joint #4.
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S-Frame should display the following:
Choose the Undo icon 3 times to remove joints #42. Each time you Undo, S-Frame executes a Zoom Extents. Once you have completed the removal of the 3 joints, click the following icon in the Aerial window.
This icon displays the grid to the extents of the viewport. S-Frame should display the following:
Drag the mouse about the Y grid line that intersects the tripod origin, in order to add back the three joints. S-Frame draws a red rectangle as you drag. The joint numbers are in reverse order, compared to the final model, but thats okay for now.
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Follow these steps to add members: 1. Click the following icon to activate the Member Definition tool:
2. Toggle on the Two Joints option in the Data bar. 3. Click joint #1 and move the cursor toward joint #4. [The cursor shape changes to a cross. S-Frame draws a black band to follow the cursor.] 4. Click joint #4 to add member #1.
Currently, the Continue from last joint combo box in the Data bar indicates a value of No. Change that value to Yes. Now follow these steps: 1. Click joint #4. 2. Point the cursor at joint #3 (tripod origin). 3. Click joint #3 to add member #2. [Note that the cursor shape and black band persist.] 4. Click joint #2 to add member #3. 5. Right click to eliminate the cross cursor and black band. NOTE: Whenever you find yourself in a mouse editing mode you wish to escape, right click or press Esc. Click the Undo icon twice to remove the columns. At this point, joints #2 and 3 remain, unattached to members.
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Follow these steps to add the columns in a different way: 1. From the 2D patterns combo box in the Data bar, select Verticals. 2. Drag the mouse about joints #24, excluding joint #1, to add the columns. S-Frame should display the following.
Now the column member numbers do not match those of the final model, but thats okay for now. Open again the Edit Construction Plane dialog. Choose the 3 Dimensions radio button and then OK. Perform a Zoom Extents.
Return to the gcs by selecting the Global Coordinate System from the combo box in the Combo bar:
At this point, the grid and the structure no longer intersect. If you Zoom Extents, the grid may not appear. If you Zoom Grid Extents, the structure may not appear. To see the structure and the grid in their entirety, click the following icon in the Aerial window until you can see both:
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At this point, the contents of the viewport, though technically accurate, appear confusing to the human eye. Follow these steps to establish a more intuitive perspective: 1. Click the Grid combo box in the Combo bar, and select None.
2. Click the South West Isometric cube in the Aerial window, as you did earlier. S-Frame should display the following:
Edit with a spreadsheet

To correct the joint and member numbers, switch the coordinates of joint #4 with those of #2, and alter member #1 so that its end joint is #2 instead of #4.
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To make these changes, follow these steps: 1. Click the Spreadsheet button in the Shortcuts bar, which activates the Spreadsheet window. 2. Check the View Groups box. 3. Select the Joints tab. 4. Select rows 24 in the Z-Coord column. 5. In the cells next to the check mark icon, set the following values: {12, Step = 2, Increment = -12}.
6. Click the check mark icon. S-Frame should update the values as follows:
S-Frame inserts the starting value of 12 in Row 2, skips row 3 because you set Step = 2, and then inserts a value of (12 + 1*-12 = 0) in Row 4, effectively reversing the locations of joints #2 and #4 as planned.
NOTE: In some structures where numbering is important, or the geometry does not lend itself to graphical editing, the use of spreadsheet editing is essential. 7. Select the Members tab. 8. In row 1, set the End Joint = 2 instead of 4.
9. Click the Geometry button in the Shortcuts bar.
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The joint and member numbering should match the final model.
Experiment with dynamic zooming

When the viewport has focus, you can spin the middle wheel of your mouse to change the zoom magnification. Spin the wheel toward you to reduce the magnification. Eventually, the ucs tripod will come into view.
Focus
If the Aerial window has focus, you may have to click an empty area in the viewport to give it focus.
Experiment with multiple selection

So far, you have selected and unselected individual objects by right-clicking them and choosing a selection command from the pop-up context menu. The Selection tool offers graphical ways of selecting or unselecting multiple objects. Click the following icon in the Shortcuts bar to activate the Selection tool:
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Perform a zoom extents. Hold down the Ctrl key and, dragging the mouse from left to right, draw a box that contains the entire structure. S-Frame unseslects all objects that lie entirely within the boundaries of the rectangle defined.
Drag the mouse from right to left, drawing a small box that contains joint #2 and parts of members #1 and #2. S-Frame selects all objects that lie within or partly within the rectangle defined.
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Drag the mouse, holding down the Shift and Ctrl keys, to draw a line through members #1 and #2. S-Frame unselects any object that the line intersects.
You can also select and pick items by drawing a polygon. Follow these steps: 1. Toggle on the polypick option by clicking the following icon in the Status bar:
2. Click well below and to the right of joint #4. 3. Click well above and to the right of joint #2. [A red rubber band follows.] 4. Click well below and to the left of joint #1. 5. Click the first vertex (step 2) again to complete the polygon, which in this case is a triangle. [Sometimes, you have to click the vertex twice.] S-Frame selects all objects that lie entirely within the polygon.
Now toggle off the polypick option in the Status bar.
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Basic rules of graphical selection

The basic rules of graphical selection are: The Shift key draws a line of intersection when dragging the mouse. The Ctrl key unselects objects when you draw a line, rectangle or polygon. Dragging the mouse from right to left includes objects that lie partially within the rectangle defined. Clicking an empty portion of the viewport, when the polypick option is turned on, instructs S-Frame to expect a polygon: a polypick. [If you accidentally click an empty area, right click to abandon polypick mode.] Clicking an object, while the Selection tool is active, toggles its selection status.
General rule of editing and selection

A general rule of editing and selection to remember, which is crucial to your understanding of S-Frame, is that you cannot assign attributes or loads to unselected objects within the graphical input windows.
Picking objects
Use the same selection techniques as above when assigning attributes or loads to objects. For example, if you wish to assign a section to selected members, pick those members as if you were graphically selecting them. When assigning attributes or loads, define a default set of data in the associated tools dialog or Data bar, and then assign that default to selected objects by picking them. The concept will become clearer as you add supports and loads in the following phases of Example 1a.
Add supports
To prove the general rule of selection, follow these steps: 1. Click the following icon in the Shortcuts bar to activate the Support tool.
2. Click the following icon in the Command bar to unselect all geometry:
3. Click joint #1.
Nothing happens.
4. Click the following icon in the Command bar to select all.
5. Click joint #1 to add the support.
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S-Frame should display a rake symbol at joint #1, indicating a full support:
The support at joint #4 in the final model is free to move in the X-axis, and free to rotate about the Y-axis. In the Data bar, change the default support conditions by toggling off the Tx and Ry buttons.
Click joint #4 to assign those support conditions. Reduce your magnification by spinning the mouse wheel toward you, so that the tripod appears in the viewport. S-Frame should display the following:
If you click joint #4 again, the support disappears. Clicking a support joint removes the support. Click joint #4 again to re-assign the support.
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Name and save a view

You can name and save the current view of the structure and its display options and optionally include the grid, ucs, active window, active tool, Data bar settings, and construction planeand retrieve that view later. Follow these steps: 1. From the View menu, choose the Views command, which opens a dialog. 2. Type in Supports as a View Name. 3. Check the When displaying . . . box. 4. Choose the Add View button. 5. Choose the Display View button.
6. Choose OK. At the end of this example, when the Graphical Results window is active, you will retrieve this view.
Edit group folders

Earlier, you learned ways to select single objects or multiple objects using the mouse. Though mouse selection is useful, it can become tiresome when you have to repeat it many times, especially when the structure is complex. S-Frame provides a folder feature that helps organize your structure into groups. You can use this feature to select a group of objects with one click.
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S-Frame automatically creates two folders for every new structure: My Structure Area Load Members
The first folder contains all objects in the structure. You cannot edit this folders membership explicitly. When you add an object, S-Frame adds it to the folder. When you delete an object, S-Frame removes it from the folder. The second folders purpose becomes clear in Example 2. NOTE: In a structure of 3 members, the folder feature is not necessary. Recall, however, the purpose of Example 1a, which is to explore S-Frames interface fundamentals in the simplest way possible.
Add folders
Create three new folders: Cantilever Columns Joints
Follow these steps: 1. In the Structure bar, right click the My Structure folder, which pops up a context menu:
2. Choose the New Group command. 3. Type in Cantilever as the group name. 4. Repeat steps 12. 5. Type in Columns as the group name. 6. Repeat steps 1-2.
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7. Type in Joints as the group name. 8. Select the adjacent yellow folder.
Note that each new folder, unless copied from another, is empty. You can select joints with the mouse, and update the group membership, but imagine how difficult it would be to select only the joints of a large structure using the mouse alone. Instead, select the joints by object type. Follow these steps: 1. Right click the Selection tool, which opens its associated dialog. 2. Select the Joints tab. 3. Check the All joints box.
4. Choose OK.
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Now that the joints are selected, you can update the Joints group. Follow these steps: 1. Right click the Joints folder, which pops up a context menu:
2. Choose the Update OPEN Group command. To verify membership, select the Cantilever folderwhich is currently emptyand then select the Joints folder. S-Frame should select the joints and no other objects. The next step is to update the Columns folder. Currently, the Joints folder is active. The logical course of action is to activate the Columns folder and then alter selection. Suppose, however, that you forget to activate the Columns folder. Ensure that the Joints folder remains the active folder. Select only the columns, this time by using a different dialog: Select Special.
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Follow these steps: 1. From the Select menu, choose the Special command, which opens a dialog. 2. Uncheck the Keep Previous Selection box, as you do not want the joints selected. 3. In the By geometry frame, check the Verticals box.
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Note that the Select Special dialog, though far less powerful than the Selection tool dialog, has one advantage: you can access Select Special regardless of which tool is active. To update the Columns folder, while the Joints folder remains active, follow these steps: 1. Right click the Columns folder. 2. Choose the Update Selected Group command. To verify membership, select the Joints folder and then the Columns folder. The Update Selected Group command is a savior when you want to update membership in the next group on your list, and you make the selection changes prior to activating the next group. To update the Cantilever folder, use graphical selection to select member #1. Leave the member-end joints unselected before updating the folder.
Add a material
Whenever you add a new structure, S-Frame references a database of materials, DefMat7.dmp, which contains four materials: two variations of steel, and two variations of concrete. Material #1 is Def Steel (UK). In a new structure, the default material is material #1. Thus, when you earlier added members, you assignedwithout knowing it material #1 to each member. For this example, create a fifth material. Follow these steps: 1. Right click the following icon to activate the Material Properties tool and its associated dialog:
2. Select the first material: Def Steel (UK).
S-Frame displays the materials properties in a set of fields.

3. Change the Youngs Modulus to match the final model: 29000 ksi. 4. Change the Shear Modulus to match the final model: 11500 ksi.
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5. In the Material Name cell, type: Steel.
6. Choose the Add button.
S-Frame automatically makes the new material the default material for new elements.
NOTE: Do not choose the Save button, as that would add the tutorial material to DefMat7.dmp, and each new structure would display that material as material #5. 7. Choose the Close button. The display of material numbers interferes with the member numbers. Toggle off the member numbers feature by clicking the following button in the Status bar at the bottom of the program window:
At the same time, turn off joint numbers and supports by clicking their associated icons in the Status bar:
Recall that you toggled on these options originally from the Geometry Labels dialog.
Assign a material
If you had known in advance how S-Frame assigns materials, you could have defined the material prior to adding members, and made it the default. Then you would not have to assign the material explicitly, which is what you must do now.
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Select all geometry. Pick all three members, either by clicking them or dragging the mouse. S-Frame should display the following:
Note also the appearance of a legend:
Recall that you toggled on the Legend option in the Multiple Options dialog at the beginning of the tutorial. You might wonder why S-Frame displays material numbers, when you toggled off that option in the Geometry Labels dialog. Each tool displays a default minimum set of data regardless of your viewing options. In the case of the Material Properties tool, it displays by default the material numbers of elements. You can, however, hide the numbers by choosing that option in the Data bar or the tool dialog.
Toggle it back on so that the numbers re-appear. Recall earlier when using the Support tool that if you click a selected support joint, S-Frame removes the support. If you click again, S-Frame adds the currently defined support, which may not be the same as the original. Predict what might happen if you were to click a member with material #5. If you thought that S-Frame would assign material #1, you are wrong. S-Frame assigns the currently defined material regardless of what material the element currently bears. The same idea applies to sections.
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Add sections
When you add a new structure, S-Frame does not add a default local database of sections, unlike materials. Instead, S-Frame provides steel databases from various countries. You can select a database, then a type, then a section, and add it to the structures local database of sections. Follow these steps to add the models two AISC steel sections: 1. Right click the following icon to activate the Section Properties tool and its associated dialog:
2. Choose the Dbase button, which opens a secondary dialog. 3. Select AISC from the Steel Table list box. 4. Choose the I-beam icon.
5. In the Section Name combo box, type W36x150. 6. Choose the Find button.
7. Choose the Add to button. 8. In the Section Name combo box, type W4x13.
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9. Repeat steps 67.
10. Choose OK to return to the Section Properties tool dialog. 11. Select the W4x13 section to make section #2 the default.
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12. Click the green square next to the black in the color swatch.
13. Choose the Close button.
Assign sections
At this point, every member has the W36x150 section. Recall from the structure model that the columns have a W4x13 section. Click each column, or drag a rectangle about those columns. Drag the legend underneath the cantilever beam. S-Frame should display the following:
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Right click the black rectangle in the Legend, which pops-up a list of colors.
Choose red.
Save geometry
Click the following icon in the Command bar to save the structure:
If this is the first time you have saved the structure, then S-Frame displays the Save Structure As dialog. Store the structure in a directory of your own making. Name it whatever you like, but include Example 1a somewhere in the name. S-Frame adds a .TEL extension.
Render geometry
From the View menu, choose the Render command, which opens a dialog.
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Follow these steps to render the sections: 1. Check the Render model box, which unhides other controls within the dialog.
2. Choose OK. 3. Click the Hide Section Numbers button in the Data bar. 4. Drag the Legend away from the members.
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5. Open the Render dialog again, and experiment with the various options. Experiment also with rotating your angular view of the structure. Remember to drag the mouse with the right button depressed. 6. Once you have finished experimenting with the rendering feature, turn it off by clicking the following icon in the Status bar:
becomes
7. Click the Hide Section Numbers button in the Data bar to display section numbers. 8. Click the Front view cube in the Aerial window:
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Click the Selection tool icon to remove the section numbers from view.
Check member axes

Each member has its own set of axes {x, y, z} which are independent of the global axes. The element axes affect the direction of local loads and the interpretation of results. This example includes only joint loads, but the interpretation of results is still important. The Ith joint of a member is its local origin. The line segment IJ defines the members x-axis: its neutral axis. The y and z-axes are orthogonal, conforming to the right-hand rule.
Check neutral x-axis

If you reverse a members x-axis, then you also reverse its y-axis. Check the members x-axis directions by toggling on the following icon in the Status bar:
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In Example 2, you will learn how to reverse a members x-axis.
Check orthogonal y and z-axes

At this point, you arent sure where each members orthogonal axes are pointing, though the rendering earlier provided a hint. In this example, you have not specified a specific orientation. Thus, S-Frame provides a default orientation. The online help describes the algorithm. You can, of course, inspect the orientation yourself. Follow these steps: 1. Click the following icon, which activates the Member Axis Orientation tool:
2. In the Data bar, toggle on all of the local member axes:
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A front view makes clear the direction of the x and z-axes, but the y-axes are obscured. Using the right-hand rule, you can deduce that the y-axis of each member is pointing into the screen, but to be sure, choose the South West Isometric view. Reduce magnification to include the tripod.
There are two ways you can adjust the orientation of members. One is to assign explicitly an angle of rotationan angle gammato selected members.
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Follow these steps: 1. Toggle off the y-axis display button in the Data bar. 2. Enter an angle of 90 degrees in the Data bar. 3. Click the cantilever beam to assign the angle. S-Frame displays the x-axis and z-axis for all members, and displays the angle gamma for members whose angle is not equal to zero. For the latter members, SFrame displays a z' axis: the z-axis of the member as if it had a 0 angle gamma. Toggle on the Scale Local Axis button in the Data bar, and Zoom in on the cantilevers element axis tripod.
S-Frame displays the z' axis with a dotted arrow-head. Activate the Selection tool. Note that the display axes persist. Activate again the Member Orientation tool. Click Undo so that the cantilever reverts to an angle of 0 degrees. Activate the Selection tool again. Click the following icon to remove the display of local element axes:
Save your structure.
Add loads
In the loads portion of Example 1a, you will: 1. Activate the Loads window. 2. Add a load case. 3. Add joint loads. 4. View joints loads in a spreadsheet. 5. Display loads persistently.
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Activate the Loads window

Choose the Loads button in the Shortcuts bar. The following screen cap indicates the location of the Loads button before and after you click it.
From the Options menu, toggle on the Zoom Extents command. Adopt a Front view. Drag the Load Types legend so that it does not obscure the structure. Adjust your Geometry Label, Multiple Option and Status bar settings so that S-Frame displays the following:
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Add a load case

Follow these steps: 1. From the Edit menu, choose the New Load Case command, which opens a dialog. 2. Enter Joint loads in the Load Case Description cell.
3. Choose OK to add the load case.
Add joint loads

Follow these steps: 1. Click the following icon to activate the Joint Load tool.
2. Select Z-Force from the Direction combo box in the Data bar. 3. Enter a value of -100 kips in the Magnitude cell. 4. Click joint #2 to assign the load. 5. Enter a value of -25 kips in the Magnitude cell. 6. Click joint #3 to assign the load. 7. Click the following icon in the Status bar to shrink the display size of members, which allows you to view the load at joint #3 independently of the column above.
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Save your structure, which saves the current load case.
View joint loads in a spreadsheet

Right click joint #3, which pops up a context menu. Choose the Properties command.
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S-Frame pops up a floating spreadsheet of Joint Loads, and highlights the record that matches joint #3.
In most every context, you can change data in a pop-up spreadsheet as well as review the data. You can right click a joint, while the Joint tool in the Geometry window is active, and modify its coordinates or support conditions. You can right click a member, while the Member tool is active, and modify its attributes and properties. There is one caveat, when you switch from Geometry to a spreadsheet view: you cannot undo the edits made prior to opening the spreadsheet, short of reloading the structure. Note also that the Loads window does not support Undo/Redo. Choose OK to close the pop-up spreadsheet.
Display loads persistently

Currently, S-Frame displays joint loads acting in the Z-axis because the Joint Load tool is active, and the Direction combo box indicates Z-force. You may, however, want to see loads of a particular kind or direction regardless of which Loads or Graphical Results tool is active. Click the following icon in the Command bar to open the View Load Model dialog:
You can also open this dialog via the View menu.
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Analyze
You can filter the load type or axis of direction. Later, when you run an analysis, and view results, you can open this dialogas it applies to graphical resultsand turn on Joint Loads acting in or about the Z-axis.
Choose Cancel to exit the dialog.
Analyze
Click the footprint icon in the Command bar to open the Analysis Type dialog:
You can also open this dialog via the Run menu. Select the first radio button in the Analysis type options frame: Linear Static.
The Solution trail detail combo box provides options of increasing detail, should you encounter problems during analysis. Choose OK to execute the analysis. If S-Frame prompts you first to save the structure, choose OK again.
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View results
S-Frame should display the following dialog shortly thereafter:
Press any key to activate the Graphical Results window.
View results
In the results portion of Example 1a, you will: 1. Set result units to Imperial in the Graphical Results window. 2. View result types in the Numerical Results window. 3. Alter diagram settings in the Graphical Results window. 4. View deflection. 5. View support reactions. 6. View member forces. 7. View a single member diagram. 8. View results in spreadsheet format.
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Set result units to Imperial

From the Settings menu, choose the Units command, which opens the Units dialog. Choose the Imperial button to set your units to match those of the screen cap.
Choose OK to exit the dialog. Save your structure.
View numerical result types

Click the Numerical Results button in the Shortcuts bar. Each tab represents a result type. Note that only the Numerical Results window displays Wall Forces and Storey Drift, while only the Graphical Results window displays member deflection. Return to the Graphical Results window by clicking the Graphical Results button in the Shortcuts bar. Initially, the Selection tool is active. Toggle on Options:Zoom Extents and adopt a Front view.
Alter diagram settings

Follow these steps to define your diagram options: 1. Choose the following icon in the Command bar, which opens the Diagrams dialog:
You can also open this dialog via the Settings menu.
2. Alter the settings to match the following screen cap.
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3. Click the lower button (bar) in the Force Diagram Style frame.
4. Choose OK.
View deflection
Click the following icon to activate the Deflection tool:
Adjust your view options so that S-Frame displays the following:
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HINT: To eliminate the tripod, toggle off the Coordinate System command in the Options menu. Double click joint #2, or right click and choose Properties, to view complete displacement results for that joint.
Choose OK to close the dialog.

Follow these steps to display numerical Z-deflection at each joint: 1. Toggle off the display of supports and joint numbers in the Status bar. 2. Choose the Joints folder. 3. Toggle on the Dz button in the Data bar. S-Frame should display the following:
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Open again the Diagrams dialog. Note the effect of having toggled on the Dz button in the Data bar. If your settings differ from the screen cap, then make your settings the same.
Choose OK to close the dialog.
View support reactions

Follow these steps to view support reactions: 1. Click the following icon to activate the Reactions tool:
2. Toggle on the Fz button in the Data bar. 3. Move the legend inside the boundaries of the structure.
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View member forces

Click the following icon to activate the Axial Force tool:
Click the Columns folder. Toggle on the following buttons in the Data bar:
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S-Frame should display the following forces for the columns.
If youd rather not tilt your head to view the numbers, then toggle off the Rotate text button in the Data bar.
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Follow these steps to view bending moment for the cantilever: 1. Select the Cantilever folder. 2. Click the following icon to activate the Bending Moment tool:
3. Toggle on the y Moment and ABS(Max) buttons in the Data bar. 4. Re-open the Diagrams dialog, and choose the following force diagram style:
5. Choose OK. 6. Drag the Legend next and to the right of the columns. S-Frame should display the following:
S-Frame displays an absolute maximum of 309.6702. The Legend indicates that the sign of the value is negative.
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If your country has a different convention for displaying bending moment, then reopen the Diagrams dialog and check the Invert Moment Diagrams box. The diagram would then appear as follows:
For the purposes of the tutorial, toggle off the Invert Moment Diagrams option.
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View a single member diagram

Double click the cantilever, which opens a dialog. [Or right click the cantilever and choose Properties.] Click the up arrow on the scroll bar until Row 1 appears.
You can move the mouse along the member, and watch as S-Frame highlights a different row in the spreadsheet. Each row represents an integration point along the member. If you increase the number of Stations, S-Frame provides more granular results on the fly. If you double click a member while the Deflection tool is active, a similar dialog appears: one that displays deflection results along the member. In Example 1, the number of Stations governs the number of integration points entirely. In a more complex structure, however, such as Example 2, you may see additional integration points called points of interest. Example 2 discusses these additional results along the member. Choose the Close button to exit the dialog.
View member results in spreadsheet format

Click the My Structure folder. Choose the Numerical Results button in the Shortcuts bar. Check the View Groups box.
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Hide unselected objects
Review the results in spreadsheet format. Select in particular the Member Forces spreadsheet. Uncheck the Points of Interest box.
Change the number of stations from 5 to None, and click the check mark icon. Note that S-Frame adopts a scientific sign convention when Stations = None, rather than an engineering sign convention. The online help describes the differences.
Set the number of stations back to 5, and return to the Graphical Results window. Activate the Selection tool.
Hide unselected objects

In such a simple structure as Example 1a, there is very little clutter, but in a more complex structure, even unselected objects can obscure data. Click the following icon in the Status bar to hide unselected objects:
Click each folder. Notice that objects disappear when they are not members of the selected folder.
Retrieve a view
Earlier, you created a view named Supports. From the Combo bar, select that view from the list box:
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S-Frame activates the Geometry window and the Support toolwith joint and member numbers displayed. The default support conditions are those you defined when you saved the view:
As an experiment, follow these steps: 1. Change the support conditions. 2. Reselect the view. Note that the default support conditions revert to those captured above. When you saved the view, you asked S-Frame to save not only the angular view, magnification and location of viewer, but also the active window, active tool and Data bar settings. Views are very useful in complex 3D structures, where you may need to see a particular part of the structure from a particular angle with particular kinds of data displayed to achieve your objectives.
Lessons learned
In Example 1a, you learned lessons regarding: Preferences and options Tools Selection and picking Views User coordinate systems Grids and planes Default data Building a stick model Undo and delete Joint properties Member properties Legends Spreadsheets Group folders Element axes Files Loads Analysis Results
The following sections summarize those lessons learned, and provide additional tips to remember.
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Preferences
In Example 1a, you learned that: The Model Type dialog determines whether S-Frame edits in 2D mode or 3D. The View Toolbars dialog determines, per window, which bars to display. The Units dialogone for input, one for resultsdetermines the structures units of measurement. The Preferences dialog contains settings that can affect the entire program, not just the active window. The Geometry Labels and Multiple Options dialogs contain settings that affect only the active window. The Status bar includes buttons that control individual options within the Geometry Labels and Multiple Options dialogs. [The Status bar also includes buttons that govern options unique to the Status bar.]
An extra tip to remember: to name your project, company and yourself for the purpose of printouts and reports. Open the Project Description dialog from the Settings menu, or enable the startup wizard in the Preferences dialog prior to creating new structures.
Tools
In Example 1a, you learned that: Each graphical window contains a list of tool icons inside the Shortcuts bar. Clicking a tool icon activates the tool. Each tool has its own Data bar of options and defaults. Right clicking an input tool activates an associated dialog.
Selection and picking

In Example 1a, you learned the following rules of selection and picking: Right click an object, while any tool is active, and choose one of four commands from a context menu to select/unselect the objector to select/unselect objects connected to it. Click an object, while the Selection tool is active, to toggle its selection status. Drag the mouse, from left to right, to select any object that lies entirely within the rectangle defined, or to pick any selected object. Drag the mouse, from right to left, to select any object that lies within or partly within the rectangle defined, or to pick any selected object. Drag the mouse while depressing the Shift key, to select any object intersecting the line defined, or to pick any selected object. Hold down the Ctrl key while dragging the mouse to unselect or unpick. in the Status bar, and click points inside the Toggle on the Polypick option viewport to define the vertices of a polygon, in order to select or pick objects within the polygon.
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Right click the Selection tool icon, which opens a dialog, to make complex selections by object type or attribute. Open the Select Special dialog, while any tool is active, to make less complex selections by object type or attribute. Click the Click the icon to select all. icon to unselect all.
You learned the general rule of selection and picking: you cannot pick objects (assign data to them) unless they are selected.
Views
In Example 1a, you learned how to alter or save your view of the structure: Drag the right mouse button horizontally to rotate your view about the ucs Zaxis. Drag the right mouse button vertically to rotate your view about the ucs X-axis. Drag the right mouse vertically, and hold down the Shift key, to rotate your view about the ucs Y-axis. Drag a rotation indicator in the Aerial window to rotate about any axis. Click one of eight cube icons in the Aerial window to execute a predefined angular view (e.g., Front, Top, South West Isometric). Right click inside the viewport, and choose Zoom 2x or Zoom 1/2x to change magnification, centered at the click location. icon in the Aerial window to view the entire structure to the extents Click the of the viewport. Click the viewport. icon in the Aerial window to view the grid to the extents of the
Pan your view by dragging the rectangle in the Aerial windows mini-viewportor use the scroll bars next to the main viewport. While the Selection tool is active, choose the Projection type command from the View menu to open a dialog with perspective and stereoscopic options. From the View menu, select the Views command to save a named view of the structure, so you can retrieve that view later. A view can include a grid, a ucs, a construction plane, the active window and tool, Data bar settings and display options. Toggle on the icon in the Status bar to hide unselected objects.
User coordinate systems

In Example 1a, you learned: How to translate a ucs origin graphically by clicking a joint while the UCS tool is active. How to rotate the axes of a ucs by entering an angle of rotation. How to reflect geometry about the XY plane using Edit Move.
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In a true 3D model, it is easy to rotate the axes of a ucs tripod graphically, using the three point method: 1. Click a joint to define the ucs origin. 2. Click a second joint to define the ucs X-axis: first joint to second joint. 3. Click a third joint to define the ucs XY plane, from which S-frame derives the ucs Y-axis and Z-axis using the right-hand rule. A ucs determines a frame of reference for move operations, copy/paste operations and clone operations.
Grids and planes

In Example 1a, you learned: How to add a new grid: open the Grid Definitions dialog, right click the None folder, choose the New Grid Set command, and type in a name. How to update a grid based on existing joint locations: select the grid folder, then right click and choose the Auto Generate Grid Set command. How to modify a grid using the dialogs spreadsheets. How to edit a structure using a construction plane. Choose the 2D icon in the Command bar. How to add joints by clicking grid points or by dragging the mouse. How to add member patterns between grid points and joints.
You learned the general rule of grids: that S-Frame always displays them within the current ucs XY plane. Example 1a did not cover the use of radial grids, which are useful for curved substructures, nor did the example describe how to move grid lines and attached geometry. The online help discusses these features. An additional tip to remember, when editing bona fide 3D structures, is to move the construction plane vertically along the ucs Z-axis, to the next or previous storey, by clicking one of the following icons in the Combo bar:
Default data
In Example 1a, you learned that when you add an element in the Geometry window, S-Frame assigns to the element a default set of data, which you can define in related tools or in the Combo bar.
Building a stick model

In Example 1a, you added joints by: Entering coordinates in the Data bar. Clicking grid points. Drawing a rectangle about grid points while editing within a construction plane. Extruding members, such that S-Frame adds a joint at the extruded end.
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In Example 1a, you learned how to add members by: Extruding from a joint a defined length and direction. Subdividing a member. Drawing a rectangle about grid points to define a pattern of members. Reflecting geometry about the XY plane, using Edit Move. Clicking pairs of joints. [The Link option determines the number of members added.] Clicking a sequence of joints.
Example 1a did not cover the Extrude to First and Extrude to Last options. Example 3 covers the latter option.
Undo and delete

In Example 1a, you learned: How to undo a geometry edit: click the icon in the Command bar. How to delete selected geometry: from the Edit menu, choose Delete. That you cannot undo a geometry edit when you access another window. To delete members while the Member Definition tool is active, unpick them by holding down the Ctrl key and dragging the mouse. To delete unattached joints graphically while the Joint tool is active, unpick them. To delete joints attached to elements, delete first the elements, or select both the joints and elements, and then choose Edit:Delete. To delete objects by clicking them, while their respective geometry tool is active, toggle on the delete option in the Interface tab of the Preferences dialog.
Some additional tips to remember:
Be sure to turn off this feature once you have completed your deletions.
To redo an edit undone, click the icon in the Command bar.
Joint attributes
In Example 1a, you learned how: To define default support conditions. To assign supports to joints: click or drag. To remove supports: click or Ctrl+drag.
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The Geometry window includes additional joint tools that Example 1a did not cover: Constraint Type: couples slave joints in XY-tran and Z-rot to a master joint; assigns XY-tran and Z-rot mass to the master; effects a diaphragm in a plane parallel to the XY plane. Ground Spring: provides a fixed stiffness to a joint dof. Joint Displacement Directions: provides an alternate coordinate system (jcs) that affects supports, springs, loads and results. Lumped Mass: assigns a mass to any joint dof. Nonlinear Spring; assigns gap, hook, compression/tension only, or spring curves to joints. Also assigns dashpots (damping) for time history analysis. Slave: couples slave joints to a master in any dof. Once you have defined a constraint type, you can assign it to multiple floors with one drag of the mouse. A radial ucs is particularly useful when assigning a jcs to joints in a curved substructure. A lumped mass acting in the gravitational axis contributes to self-weight. A diaphragms nodal center of mass does not contribute to self-weight. All lumped masses affect analysis types that use a mass matrix, such as RSA, time history and vibration analysis. The solver distributes mass from elements to their vertices during any analysis that requires self-weight or a mass matrix.
Some tips to remember:
Member attributes
In Example 1a, you learned how to define and assign material and section properties. You also learned one of two methods to orient a member in space about its neutral axis: assigning an angle gamma.
Rules to remember regarding materials and sections

Remember the following rules: S-Frame provides a default set of materials (defmat7.dmp) for every new structure. S-Frame provides steel databases from various countries. You can add any number of sections from these global databases to your structures local database. Each material and section is a record unto itself: a set of properties with a name and number. When you assign a material id to elements, and change the properties of that material, the elements automatically inherit those changes.
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When you assign a section id to members, they automatically inherit changes to the section. S-Frame orders local materials and sections sequentially. You cannot renumber a material or section, whereas you can renumber a joint or element. When you add an element graphically, it takes on the default material id, which you define in the Combo bar or the Material Properties tool. When you add a member graphically, it takes on the default section id, which you define in the Combo bar or the Section Properties tool. You can change the material id of selected elements by picking them in the Material Properties tool. You can change the section id of selected members by picking them in the Section Properties tool. You can define and save tapered or custom sections via the Section Property tool. You can save materials or sections to a file, which you can add to other structures via a Merge function. You must assign a thermal coefficient of expansion to a material if an element having that material bears a thermal load. The default set of materials does not define a value for that material property. Some steel databases do not define a torsional constant for some types of sections. A 3D structure requires a torsional constant.
Additional member attributes

The Geometry window includes additional member tools that Example 1a does not cover: Generate Infill Beams: inserts beams within a polygon at fixed or variable spacing. [Example 2 employs this tool.] Member Release: releases member-ends in My and Mz (bending) and Mx (torsion). [Example 3 employs this tool.] Member Type: defines a member as one of the following: beam; truss; cable; compression-only; axial or torsional spring; nonlinear axial or torsional spring; inactive. Assigns also a prestress. Rigid Offsets: locates a member-end as an offset from the member-end joint. Do not define a member as a cable, compression-only or nonlinear 2-node spring unless you have the Enterprise edition of S-Frame, which is required to run a nonlinear analysis. A 2-node spring provides no mass, and accepts no loads. A linear or P-Delta analysis converts nonlinear members to a fixed stiffness, which in some cases is 0. Check the online help for details.
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You cannot view orthogonal deflection for a cable, truss or compression-only member unless you subdivide the member. To assign a release in Fx (axial), use the Spreadsheet window. To assign a release in shear, use slaving. The online help describes the procedure.
Legends
Some tips to remember: Click an item in a floating Legend to make that item the default. [For example, click a section to make it the default.] Right click an item in a floating Legend to change its color.
Spreadsheets
In Example 1a, you learned: How to modify data in a spreadsheet. How to use a spreadsheets Step-Increment feature to update rows of data for a particular column. How to activate a pop-up spreadsheet from a graphical input window by rightclicking the viewport and choosing Properties. If you right click the appropriate object type, S-Frame highlights the corresponding row in the spreadsheet. That in most contexts, you can edit data in a pop-up spreadsheet. That activating a spreadsheet from a graphical window prevents you from undoing edits since your last save.
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Some additional tips to remember: To insert a new row, set focus to the last row, and press Enter. To insert many geometry rows, open the Geometry Initialize spreadsheet and alter its totals.
To toggle between geometry and loads within the Spreadsheet window, click the following icon in the Shortcuts bar:
The Loads Initialize spreadsheet includes a row for each load case defined. The following screen cap includes some of the spreadsheet columns:
File integrity
The Spreadsheet window provides minimal integrity checking. It allows you to enter data that the graphical windows would not allow. S-Frame may catch spreadsheet errors when you save or open a structure, depending on your Preferences. Otherwise, the solver may catch them. When the solver catches an error, it tends to report the error in its own terms. Typically, the solver reports to the user what is the symptom of a problem, rather than the root cause. You can explicitly ask S-Frame to audit your file integrity by choosing the Integrity Checks command from the File menu while the Geometry window is active. Typically, it is safer to edit data from the graphical windows. There are, however, modeling exceptions where the only way you can achieve a modeling effect is by way of the Spreadsheet window.
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Group folders
In Example 1a, you learned that: You can create folders in the Structure bar by right clicking the My Structure folder, and then choosing the New Group command from the context menu. You can update the membership of a folder by selecting and unselecting objects, right clicking the folder, and then choosing an update command. You can click a folder to select all and only those objects that belong to it.
An extra tip to remember: you can copy or move the contents of one group to another. Right click the folder and choose the appropriate command from the context menu. Example 2 demonstrates this feature.
Element axes and orientation

In Example 1a, you learned that: Each member has a neutral x-axis, defined as the line segment connecting the members start joint (I) to its end joint (J). Each member has axes orthogonal to the neutral axis, conforming to the righthand rule. The Member Axis Orientation tool determines a members orientation in space as an angle of rotation (gamma) about its neutral axis. You can display any combination of member axes while other tools are active. Select the axes in the Member Axis Orientation tool, and click the Local Axis icon in the Status bar. You can display the angle gamma on members with a non-zero gamma if you ask S-Frame to display the x and z-axes, only. The axes affect the direction of local loads and the interpretation of results.
An extra tip to remember: if several members have an orthogonal axis that aligns to a common point in space (a line parallel to each members neutral axis that intersects that point in space), whereby each member has a different angle gamma, then you can orient these members in one step instead of many. Right click within the viewportwhile the Member Axis Orientation tool is activeand choose the Rotate Member Axis command from the context menu, which opens a dialog. Read the online help for details. NOTE: In a 2D model, each member has only one orthogonal axis: the y-axis. You cannot edit the angle gamma. If you were to import a 2D structure as a 3D model, you would see the angle gamma as -90.
Files
In Example 1a, you learned: How to create a new structure by choosing the New command from the File menu. How to save a structure by clicking the icon.
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That you can use a wizard to create a new structure by setting an option in the Interface tab of the Preferences dialog. That S-Frame saves a structure input file with a .TEL extension. You can create a new structure, while one is already loaded, by clicking the icon in the Command bar: You can export or import a structure as a DXF (AutoCAD) file. You can import a structure as an MDB (MS Access) file. You can export a structure, both input and results, to an ASCII file or an MDB file. You can build a report as a Word document. The Export to Document video tutorial describes this process.
Loads
In Example 1a, you learned: How to activate the Loads window by choosing the Loads button in the Shortcuts bar. How to create a load case via the Edit menu. How to apply static joint loads using the Joint Load tool. If you click a joint that is already loaded in the current direction, then S-Frame removes the load. [Similar to supports.] You can assign fixed displacements to supports as a support settlement load.
Example 2 covers member loads and load combinations. The RSA and THA tutorial video covers seismic and dynamic loads.
Analysis
In Example 1a, you learned how to execute a linear static analysis: 1. Click the footprint icon to open the Analysis Type dialog. 2. Select the Linear Static radio button. 3. Choose OK.
Additional tips
Static analysis is but one of five basic types that S-Frame supports: Buckling RSA (response spectrum analysis) Static Time history Vibration
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Some types have variants (e.g., P-Delta, nonlinear, stressed, moving loads). Linear elastic static analysis is available to all editions of S-Frame. Nonlinear analysis is available only to the Enterprise edition. All other analysis types or variants are available to the Pro and Enterprise editions. Some load types are applicable only to a particular kind of analysis. Both the time history and RSA analysis types have Loads tools devoted specifically to those analysis types. Each load case bears one of five types, as the following screen cap of the Load Type column in the Loads Initialize spreadsheet indicates:
You can perform a buckling, static or vibration analysis on a Static load type. You can perform a linear static or nonlinear static analysis with moving loads on a Moving load type. S-Frame generates load cases based on wheel axle patterns. You can perform an RSA analysis on a Seismic load type. You can perform a time history analysis on a Dynamic or Base Motion load type. A base motion load type assigns an accelerogram to supports, whereas a dynamic load type assigns a force over time to individual joints that are free to translate in a particular axis. If an analysis fails or provides strange results, escalate the solution trail detail. In the Analysis Type dialog, select an item from the Selection trail detail combo box that is further down the list. Investigate if necessary the .TRL file which records the solver steps. The trail file has the same prefix as the .TEL input file, and resides in the same directory. Review also the Troubleshooting help topics related to analysis.
Results
In Example 1a, you learned that: S-Frame displays graphical results in the Graphical Results window. S-Frame displays graphical results for selected objects. Double clicking a joint, or right clicking it and choosing Properties, while the Deflection tool is active, provides displacements in all dofs. Double clicking a member, or right clicking it and choosing Properties, while the Deflection tool is active or a member force tool is active, provides single member diagrams or envelopes. The Diagrams dialog contains a variety of settings that affect the display of graphical results. The Data bar also governs some of these settings. The Data bar lets you display the maximum or minimum resultsigned or absolutefor each selected member.
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The Data bar lets you determine which axis of result to display, either numerically or graphically. The Numerical Results window provides results in spreadsheet format. The number of stations affects the granularity of results in the Numerical Results window. The Numerical Results window uses a scientific sign convention to display member-end results when the number of stations = none. When the View groups box is checked, the Numerical Results window initially inherits the selection status of objects in the Graphical Results window, and filters rows accordingly. When the View groups box is unchecked, the Numerical Results window ignores the selection status of objects in the Graphical Results window. You can view all rows or a range of rows per spreadsheet. When you double click a member to view single member diagrams or envelopes, you can also view diagrams for a range of members. Select the Multiple Members tab. The Results tab of the Preferences dialog contains options that profoundly affect the presentation of results for joints and 2D elements.
Some additional tips:
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(staged construction)
Example 1b uses the structure created in Example 1a as a starting point. Follow this example only if you have the enterprise edition of S-Frame. Otherwise, proceed to the next chapter: Example 2.
Outline of steps
In Example 1a, you will: 1. Create a new structure from Example 1a. 2. Synchronize settings with those of the tutorial. 3. Create construction stages. 4. Populate construction stages. 5. Modify construction stages. 6. Analyze. 7. View results.

If S-Frame is currently open, exit the program by choosing the Exit command from the File menu. It is best to exit in order to flush temporary settings that may diverge from those of the tutorial manual. Start S-Frame from the Windows Start menu or a shortcut of your making.
Open Example 1a
Follow these steps: 1. Click the File menu header. 2. If the Example 1a structure appears on the list of structures, choose it. 3. Else: a) Select the Example 1a structure from the Open Structure dialog. b) Choose the Open File button.
Save as
Follow these steps: 1. From the File menu, choose the Save As command. 2. Save the structure under another name. Include staged construction and Example 1b somewhere within the name.
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Example 1b (staged construction)
Follow these steps: 1. Click the following icon in the Command bar to open the Preferences dialog.
2. Select the Solver tab. 3. Check the following box:
4. Choose OK. S-Frame displays an additional tab in the Shortcuts bar:
You should inherit from Example 1b a 3D model with Imperial units. Turn off the display of joint numbers, member numbers and supports via the Status bar. Turn off also the Shrink elements option in the Status bar.
Create construction stages

Follow these steps: 1. Select the Construction Stages tab. 2. Right click the Construction Sequence folder, which opens a context menu:
3. Choose the New Stage command. 4. Type in Cantilever.
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5. Repeat steps 23. 6. Type in Three members. 7. Repeat steps 23. 8. Type in Two members.

Follow these steps: 1. Select the Construction Sequence folder.
Note that S-Frame selects all objects in the superstructure.

2. Select the Cantilever stage folder.
Note that S-Frame unselects all objects. All stages are initially empty.
3. Right click the Cantilever stage folder, which opens a context menu.
4. Choose the Copy From Model Organizer command, which opens a dialog.
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5. Select the Cantilever group folder, and choose OK.
Note that S-Frame selects the cantilever member, which now belongs to the Cantilever stage. Note also that the member-end joints are unselected, because the Cantilever group folder does not include them. By convention, the solver fully constrains a joint in a stage when the joint is attached to a member that belongs to the stage, but the joint does not belong. In this case, the solver would fix those member-end joints, which is not what you want. Step 11 corrects this oversight.
6. Select the Three members stage folder. 7. Select all geometry. 8. Right click the Three members stage folder, which opens a context menu.
9. Choose the Update Stage command. 10. Select the Cantilever stage folder. 11. Select the cantilevers member-end joints. Right click the stage folder and choose the Update Stage command. 12. Select the Three Members stage folder, to confirm that it includes all joints and members of the superstructure. 13. Select the Two members stage folder.
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14. Select all joints and members except the lower column and its lower joint.
15. Right click the Two members stage folder, which opens a context menu. 16. Choose the Update Stage command. 17. Select the Cantilever stage folder, and then the Two Members stage folder, to confirm which objects belong to the Two Members stage.

Follow these steps: 1. Select the Cantilever stage folder. 2. Right click the folder, which opens a context menu.
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3. Choose the Construction Stage Status and Preloads command, which opens a dialog:
4. Select Cantilever from the Construction Sequence. 5. Select Joint Loads (load case 1) from the list box. 6. Select the Load Cases radio button from the Stage Load Analysis Options frame. 7. Choose the Update button.
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8. Choose the Update Stage Preload Description with this description button.
9. Select the Three members stage. 10. Repeat steps 58. 11. Select the Two members stage. 12. Repeat steps 58. Select each stage again to verify the data. Each stage should declare Load Case 1 as a preload, and request that S-Frame analyze all load cases. Keep the dialog open until instructed to close.
Stage 1
When S-Frame analyzes Stage 1, the solver views the columns as inactive, and removes the following two joints: The joint at the base of the lower column. The joint that connects the two columns.
Stage 2
When S-Frame reaches Stage 2, the solver carries forward the displacements and load vector from the Stage 1 preload case. S-Frame resolves the difference in load vectors between the preload case of Stage 1 and the preload case of Stage 2which in this example, happens to have the same load case numberand applies that difference to the modified stiffness matrix that Stage 2 defines.
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Stage 2 modifies the stiffness matrix as follows: Adds 8 dofs to 2 joints. Distributes the stiffnesses of two new columns to adjacent joints.
None of these changes are relevant unless there is also a change in the load vector, which there is. Stage 2 introduces a new joint load, assigned to the joint connecting the two columns. In Stage 1, the solver ignores this load, as it is assigned to a joint that does not belong to Stage 1.
Changing the load vector

You can indirectly change a load vector by adding or removing objects from a stage, where those objects are loaded.
Changing the stiffness matrix

You can change the stiffness matrix by adding or removing objects, but you can also change the matrix in other ways: Assign a different material to an element. Assign a different section to a member. Change explicitly the support or spring conditions of a joint. Change the slaving/constraint conditions of a joint. Change the prestress or type of a member. Change the release conditions of a member.
Note that when you remove an object from a stage, you are allowed to add it back again in a subsequent stage. The online help describes the permutations and restrictions in more detail.
Stage 3
Stage 3 removes the lower column and its support. The loads remain the same. Thus, you might think that the results would not change, because the load vector has not changed. Fortunately, that is not the case. When you remove a support, the solver must redistribute the load it carried in order to achieve support reaction equilibrium. Thus, although the joint loads remain the same, the load vector does indeed change. Choose the Close button to exit the dialog.
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Analyze
Analyze
Click the footprint icon in the Command bar to open the Analysis Type dialog. Uncheck the Exclude Preload for all stages box.
Note that Linear Static is the only option available to staged construction analysis.
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View results
Choose OK to analyze. If prompted to save, choose OK again.
Press any key to activate the Graphical Results window.
View results
Follow these steps: 1. Select 1 - Joint Loads from the Combo box in the Combo bar. 2. Choose a Front view. 3. Click the Deflection tool icon. 4. Select each stage in the Structure bar to view how the deflection changes between stages. You can view forces and reactions, also.
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View results
The following screen cap indicates Fz support reactions in Stage 2: Three members.
The following screen cap indicates axial force in Stage 2: Three members. Click the joint load icon in the Status bar to see the joint loads graphically.
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Lessons learned
The following screen cap indicates Z-deflection in Stage 3: Two members.
Verification problem
The online help analyzes a verification problem nearly identical to the structure in this example. The verification problem compares S-Frames results to hand-calcs, and also compares the Stage 2 results to an identical structure without staged construction. Some of the results differ by a factor of 4.
Lessons learned
In Example 1b, you learned: How to enable staged construction via the Solver tab in the Preferences dialog. How to create stages in a manner similar to group folders. How to modify membership in a stage by selecting the stage folder, changing the selection of objects, right clicking the stage, and choosing the Update Stage command. How to modify a stages analysis data by right clicking the stage and choosing the Construction Stage Status and Preloads command. That each stage is initially empty, unless copied from another. That by convention, the solver fully constrains a joint that is attached to a member that belongs to a stage, where the joint does not belong. That a change in stiffness has no effect on preload unless the load vector changes between stages. That you can indirectly change the load vector by removing or adding loaded joints or elements. That you can assign different materials or sections between stages.
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Lessons learned
That you can assign different joint and member attributes between stages (e.g., springs, supports, constraint ids, slaves, releases, prestress, member type). That you can remove joints or members from a stage, and add them back in a later stage if you so wish. That removing a support changes the load vector.
Additional tips
Some additional tips to remember: If you change a material or section or load, all stages inherit that change. If you change data in a stage, be sure to update the stage to save your changes. You can exclude all preloads via the Analysis Type dialog, effectively performing a sensitivity analysis to changes in the model. You can effectively change the load vector between stages without changing the stiffness matrix. In Stage N, choose load case X as preload. In Stage N+1, choose load case Y as preload, where Y adds a dead load peculiar to Stage N+1 or greater, or Y removes a dead load peculiar to Stage N or less.
NOTE: If you take this approach, you should ignore results for one or other preload case depending on the stage. In the example above, you would ignore case X results for stages > N, and ignore case Y results for stages < N+1. You can limit the analysis scope of each stage to preload only, load cases only (and preload) or load combinations only (and preload). Assigning a weaker material to an element, all else being equal, has no effect on the preload results for that stage. The solver detects no change in loading, and thus returns no change in displacement. When the solver analyzes the remaining load cases, however, it will detect a change in loading, and apply it to the revised stiffness matrix. For high-rise structures built in stages, there is a modeling trick to capture the fact that higher stories are built at a slight offset from the plans, due to the lateral displacement of stages. See the online help for details. S-Frame uses linear elastic static analysis for staged construction.
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Renaming folders
(physical members)
Example 2 covers the following features in S-Frame: Rectangular frame generation Physical members and infill beams Translating geometry Selecting planes of geometry Area loads, panels and span directions Self-weight and member loads Reversing a members x-axis Load combinations and notional loads Deletion of load cases Points of interest (results)
This example is artificial. The intent is to describe the features above, not to create a genuine structure.
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Example 2 (physical members)
Structure model
Structure model
The following screen cap represents the stick model. Recall that the Dimensions tool in the Cad Details window lets you define dimensions persistently.
The structure uses steel as a material, and a T-section from the CISC database: WWT275X360.5. The units are metric. The loads include self-weight, wind, and snowas well as an eccentricity of dead loads in Z converted to X and Y (notional loads).
Outline of steps
In Example 2, you will: 1. Create a new structure. 2. Synchronize settings with those of the tutorial.
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3. Create a rectangular frame. 4. Add supports. 5. Add a section. 6. Enable physical members. 7. Generate infill beams. 8. Tilt the roof. 9. Add an area load panel and span direction. 10. Add self-weight as a load case. 11. Add wind as a load case: a) Add an area load. b) Verify S-Frames area load conversion. c) Delete the verification load case. 12. Add snow as a load case: a) Reverse the x-axis of inner roof members. b) Assign global projected loads of varying magnitude part way along the roof members. 13. Add load combinations with notional (X, Y) factors. 14. Analyze. 15. Generate a notional load case from a load combination. 16. Add and modify a load combination. 17. Analyze. 18. Inspect calculated loads: a) Self-weight. b) Load combination loads. 19. View results: a) Review results in the Numerical Results window. Examine the effects of stations and points of interest with respect to integration points along the member. b) Review single member diagrams in the Graphical Results window. Examine the effects of stations and points of interest with respect to integration points along the member. c) Review single member envelopes in the Graphical Results window.

Follow the same steps indicated in Example 1a.
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Follow these steps: 1. Switch to 3D mode if the tripod displays only the X and Y axes. 2. Toggle on the ucs tripod if none appears. 3. Toggle off joint and member numbers. 4. Toggle off support symbols. 5. Toggle on the Shrink elements option. 6. Use the same Preferences as in Example 1a. 7. Use S-Frames default metric units for input (Geometry window) and results (Graphical Results window).
Create a rectangular frame

In Example 2, this artificial structure has a rectangular frame with equal spaced bays and stories. The structure has but one material and section. Thus, the structure is a perfect candidate for the Edit Regular Framework dialog. Follow these steps: 1. After setting your result units to metric in the Graphical Results window, activate the Geometry window. 2. From the Edit menu, choose the Regular Framework command, which opens a dialog.
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Create a rectangular frame
3. Define its settings according to the following screen cap.
4. Choose OK to exit the dialog. S-Frame should generate a 3 storey, 1 bay frame:
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Add supports
Add supports
In the Structure bar, select the Level 1 Beams folder. Pause a moment, and overtype the name with Supports. Then select the folder icon to confirm.
Activate the Support tool. Define a fully fixed support in the Data bar:
Assign those support conditions to the foundation joints.
Click the Support icon in the Status bar so that S-Frame displays supports while other Geometry tools are active.
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Add a section
Add a section
To add the T-section WWT275X360.5 from the CISC database, follow these steps: 1. Right click the Section Properties tool, which opens a familiar dialog. 2. Choose the Dbase button, which opens a secondary dialog. 3. Select the CISC database from the Steel Table combo box. 4. Choose the T icon. 5. Choose the Add to button.
6. Choose OK to close the secondary dialog and return to the primary. 7. Choose the Close button to exit the primary dialog. You do not need to assign section #1 to the existing members, as they already bear section #1. You do not need to assign section #1 to additional members, as each new member bears the section default, which in the case of this example, remains section #1. NOTE: Each new structure automatically inherits four materials. At this phase, each member in the structure bears material #1Def Steel (UK)which suits the purposes of this example.
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Enable physical members
Enable physical members

Example 2 enables a feature which S-Frame describes as physical members. A physical member has intermediate joints long the member which are not attached to the physical member. From your perspective as a user, there is a single member. Selection, attributes, loads and results apply to the one member. The solver detects these intermediate joints, and subdivides the member into analysis members, which connect to the intermediate joints. The solver distributes the attributes and loads appropriately to the smaller members. This feature simplifies the interface without sacrificing analysis accuracy. To enable physical members, follow these steps: 1. Click the following icon in the Command bar to open the Preferences dialog.
2. Select the Interface tab. 3. Check the Model using physical members box.
4. Choose OK to close the dialog. This option instructs the solver to convert a physical member with intermediate joints to a sequence of analysis members. After an analysis, the physical member remains intact.
Adding new members

There is an additional physical member option that affects the addition of new members. Toggle on the following icon in the Status bar:
You can enable this option only if the Preferences option for physical members is checked. The Status bar option instructs S-Frame not to connect the ends of new members that fall within the span of an existing member. The next task, Generate infill beams, illustrates the idea.
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Generate infill beams

Follow these steps: 1. Click the following icon to activate the Generate Infill Beams tool:
2. Select all geometry. 3. Display joint numbers. 4. Toggle on the Y direction option in the Data bar:
5. Choose Equal spacing as your Spacing Option and set Number of Beams = 2.
6. Click inside the first floor, near joint #6. S-Frame should insert 2 beams, parallel to the ucs Y-axis:
Note that joints 1720 lie along the X-beams but are not connected to them. The solver will connect them for the purposes of analysis, because of the Physical member option you set in the Preferences dialog. S-Frame will present results for the physical member.
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If you had not set the Physical members option in the Status bar, S-Frame would have connected the infill members to the X-beams, resulting in six X-beams instead of two.
Second floor
Follow these steps: 1. Toggle on the Any option in the Data bar. 2. Click joint #7 and then #11 to define a diagonal direction.
S-Frame updates the Joint I and Joint J cells in the Data bar with the numbers of the joints you clicked.
3. Now click inside the second floor near joint #7. S-Frame should add two diagonal members on the second floor, as the following screen cap indicates.
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Tilt the roof
Roof
Define the following settings in the Data bar:
Click inside the roof near joint #8. S-Frame should display the following:
Tilt the roof

Tilt the roof by raising joints #12, 25, 27, 29 and 16 a vertical distance of 0.5 meters. Follow these steps: 1. Unselect the entire structure.
Hint: click the white mouse cursor icon in the Combo bar.
2. Activate the Selection tool.
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Tilt the roof
3. Select joints #12, 25, 27, 29 and 16 and the member that connects joint #12 to joint #16.
Hint: try the polypick method. Turn off the option in the Status bar once you have selected these objects.
4. Click the following icon in the Command bar to open the Edit Move dialog:
5. Enter .5 meters in the Delta Z cell.
6. Choose OK to translate the selected geometry.
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Add an area load panel

Before adding an area load to the XZ face, you need: 1. To add and edit a group folder. 2. To add an area load panel. 3. To define a span direction for that panel. When you assign an area load to a panel, the span direction tool helps S-Frame decide how to distribute the load to participating members. A special folder, Area Load Members, determines whether a member is allowed to participate. This folder belongs to every structure. Only those members that belong to this folder are allowed to participate in an area load decomposition.
Edit folders
Follow these steps: 1. Add a new group folder named XZ face.
Hint: right click the My Structure folder and choose the New Group command from the context menu.
2. Unselect all geometry.
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3. Toggle on the Two members method of selection in the Data bar:
4. Click a column in the XZ face, and then a beam.
S-Frame selects the XZ face.
5. Right click the XZ face folder, and choose the Update OPEN Group command from the context menu.
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6. Right click the folder again, and choose the Copy Group command from the context menu:
7. In the dialog, select Area Load Members.
8. Choose OK. S-Frame automatically selects the Area Load Members folder to confirm its membership.
Edit panel
Follow these steps: 1. Click the following icon to activate the Panel tool:
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2. Click the Area Load Only item in the Legend.
Hint: if the Legend is absent, toggle on the
icon in the Status bar.
3. Click these joints in order#1 , #9, #12 , #4, and #1 againto define the vertices of the panel. S-Frame should display the following:
S-Frame displays a square handle at the centroid of the panel. When selecting or picking panels, click or include the handle.
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Edit span direction

Follow these steps: 1. Click the following icon to activate the Span Direction tool:
2. Toggle on the Two Way option in the Data bar.
3. Select Members+Panel as your Container Option. 4. Toggle off the Hide buttons.
5. Click the centroid of the panel to assign the span direction. 6. Turn off the display of joint numbers. 7. Hide the unselected geometry.
Hint: click the happy face icon in the Status bar.

The tributary areas indicate the varying size and proportion of the area load that the solvers preprocessor will assign to each member. If you had selected Members Only as your Container Option, S-Frame would not have assigned loads to the foundation columns, as they are not edges of a closed polygon. Save your structure.
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Example 2 (physical members) Add self-weight as a load case
Add self-weight as a load case

Follow these steps to create a self-weight load case: 1. Choose the Loads button in the Shortcuts bar to activate the Loads window. 2. Select all geometry. 3. From the Edit menu, choose New Load Case, which opens a dialog. 4. Enter Self-weight in the Load Case Description cell. 5. Enter -1 in the Z cell of the Gravitational Factors frame.
6. Choose OK to add the load case.
Add wind as a load case

In this phase of the example, you will: 1. Create a load case. 2. Assign an area load to the panel. 3. Make a copy of the load case. 4. Verify the area load decomposition. 5. Delete the verification load case.
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Create a load case

Create a second load case named Wind - XZ face. Leave the gravitational factors as 0 values.
Assign an area load to the panel

Follow these steps to add an area load to the XZ face: 1. Click the following icon to activate the Area Load tool:
2. Define in the Data bar a magnitude of 8 in the local z direction:
S-Frame will convert the Local z panel load to local y member loads. The members y-axis aligns with the panels negative z-axis. A positive area load acting in the local z acts in the negative z-axis, just like a pressure load acting on a 2D element.
3. Toggle on the Hide buttons.
4. Click the Ok check mark icon in the Data bar. 5. Click the panel handle.
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Save the structure.
Make a copy of the load case

Follow these steps: 1. From the Edit menu, choose the Save Load Case As command, which opens a dialog. 2. Enter Area Load Verification in the Load Description cell.
3. Choose OK. S-Frame activates the new load case.
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Verify the area load conversion

Follow these steps: 1. From the Edit menu, choose the Convert Area Loads to Member Loads command. 2. Click the following icon to activate the Local Loads tool:
3. Select y-Local from the Load Orientation combo box in the Data bar.
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The numbers are blurry along the intermediate joints of the physical members. Right click an empty area in the viewport, and choose the Properties command to see the load values more clearly.
Choose OK to return to the Loads window.
Delete the verification load case

Follow these steps: 1. From the Edit menu, choose Load Status, which opens a dialog.
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Add snow as a load case
2. Choose the Delete button, which opens a dialog.
3. Choose the Yes button to confirm. 4. Choose OK to exit the Edit Load Status dialog. S-Frame activates load case 2.

Assign a snow load to the roof members such that: The load spans the inner four fifths of each member. The load increases from -4 near the top of the roof to -5 near the bottom of the roof.
Although the load acts in a global direction, the start and end magnitudes are not the same, which means that the direction of the members x-axis is important. Toggle on the following icon to display the local x-axis of members:
Note that the inner members are misaligned.
Reverse the x-axis of inner roof members

Follow these steps: 1. Activate the Geometry window. 2. Toggle off the Hide option and the Shrink element option in the Status bar. 3. Toggle on the Member number option in the Status bar. 4. Unselect the entire structure. 5. Activate the Selection tool.
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6. Hold down the Shift key, and drag a line through the inner roof members to select them. Draw the line near the raised roof joints.
7. Click the following icon in the Command bar to open the Edit Move dialog.
8. Select the Reverse Local Axis radio button in the Options frame.
9. Choose OK. Note that the member numbers shift from the higher portion of the members to the lower. Save the structure, and return to the Loads window.
Assign global projected loads

Follow these steps to assign global projected loads to the roof members: 1. Create a new load case named Snow loads. 2. Activate the Selection tool. 3. Toggle off the Two Members option in the Data bar.
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4. Select the roof members as indicated in the following screen cap.
5. Click the following icon to activate the Global Projected Load tool.
6. Define the following settings in the Data bar:
S-Frame applies a load of this direction per the projected length of the member: projected onto the global XY plane. On a vertical member, a projected load in Z has no effect, as the members projected length = 0.
7. Pick the roof members.
Hint: if you drag the mouse, its okay to include other members, because they are unselected.
8. Zoom in on the roof members to see the loads more clearly. S-Frame should display the following:
Save your structure.
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Add load combinations

From the Edit menu, choose the Load Combinations command, which opens a dialog containing a spreadsheet.
You can widen a column by dragging its borders. In the first row, enter the following: Description = SW*1.2. Active Status = Yes. Notional X and Y factors = 0. Load Case = Self-weight. Factor = 1.2. Description = SW+Snow. Active Status = Yes. Notional X and Y factors = .03. [Explained later in this example.] Load Case = Self-weight. Factor = 1.0. Load Case = Snow load. Factor = 1.0. Description = SW+Wind. Active Status = Yes. Notional X and Y factors = 0. Load Case = Self-weight. Factor = 1.0. Load Case = Wind - XZ face. Factor = 1.0.
Press Enter to add a second row. In that row, enter the following:
Press Enter to add a third row. In that row, enter the following:
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The following screen caps indicate the values.
Choose OK to exit the dialog. Save the structure. Later in this example, you will: 1. Generate a notional load case from load combination #2. 2. Add an additional combination that references the notional load case. 3. Remove the notional load factors from load combination #2.
Analyze
Click the footprint icon in the Command bar, which opens the Analysis Type dialog. Perform a linear static analysis on all load cases and combinations. Press any key when the analysis completes.
Generate a notional load case

Notional loads account for eccentricities in loads acting in the gravitational axis. You can convert Z-loads into a small percentage X or Y load using notional factors in load combinations. You can also generate a notional load case from a combination that has notional factors. Follow these steps to generate a notional load case: 1. Toggle off the display of joint loads in the Status bar. 2. Activate the Loads window. 3. From the Edit menu, choose the Generate Notional Loads command, which opens a dialog. 4. Select combo #2 from the list box.
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Generate a notional load case
5. Enter Notional in the Load Case Name cell.
6. Choose OK to generate the load case. 7. Turn off the Local axis option in the Status bar. 8. Activate the Joint Load tool. 9. Select X-Force from the Direction combo box in the Data bar.
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S-Frame has generated a load at each joint equal to 0.03 times the Z-load that the solvers preprocessor distributes to the joint from self-weight and snow loads. Each load is positive. If you change the Joint Load tools direction to the Y-axis, you will see the same values in that direction. Had you wanted to isolate the X and Y loads, you could have created two load combinations, one with an X notional factor, and another with a Y factor, and then generated two load cases. You do not have to generate a notional load case. You can keep the notional factors of a load combination intact. Generating a notional load case gives you more flexibility over the model, as you can modify its loads and add the load case to several load combinations.

Follow these steps: 1. Open the Edit Load Combinations dialog. 2. Remove the notional load factors from combination #2.
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Analyze
3. Shift focus to the last row, and press Enter to add a new row. 4. Enter a combination with the following values:
5. Choose OK to edit the dialog. Save your structure.
Analyze
Rerun the analysis now that you have added a load case and combination.
Inspect calculated loads

In the following two sections, you will inspect the self-weight and load combination loads that S-Frame calculates.
Inspect self-weight loads

Once S-Frame activates the Graphical Results window, review the loads of load case 1: self-weight. Follow these steps: 1. Select the following icon in the Command bar to activate load cases vs. combinations.
2. Select load case 1 from the combo box in the Combo bar.
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Inspect calculated loads
3. Turn on the display of member loads.
Hint: click the member load icon in the Status bar. If that action fails, open the View Loads dialog and filter the Z-axis.
S-Frame displays the calculated global Z loads, based on each members density and cross-sectional area.
Inspect load combination loads

Inspect the loads in load combination 4. Follow these steps: 1. Select the following icon in the Command bar to activate load combinations vs. cases.
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View results
2. Select load combination 4 from the combo box in the Combo bar. 3. Turn on the display of joint and member loads. Note that S-Frame displays the factored combination of loads. Its a mess if you view all of the loads at once. The use of folders, axis filters and views can reduce the clutter. Turn off the display of joint and member loads.
View results
In the following three tasks, you will: 1. Review numerical results along a member. 2. Review single member diagrams. 3. Review single member envelopes.
View numerical results

Follow these steps to review points of interest along member #5: 1. Select member # 5 and no other member.
2. Activate the Numerical Results window. 3. Check the View Groups box. 4. Select the Member Forces spreadsheet. 5. From the Edit menu, choose the Spreadsheet Components command, which opens a dialog.
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View results
6. Check the boxes as in the screen cap below. Axial force and torsion are not germane to S-Frames algorithm for defining points of interest.
7. Check the Points of Interest Only box. 8. Choose OK. S-Frame should display the following:
S-Frame includes the first and last rows as member-ends. The inner rows qualify for the following reasons: Row 2: the beginning of a partial snow load. Row 3: location of maximum signed y-deflection (which youll see later in this example). Row 4: location of Mz = 0. Row 5: location of minimum signed z-deflection. Row 6: the end location of a partial snow load. Row 7: location of My = 0 (extrapolated within a tolerance).
If you uncheck the Points of Interest Only box, S-Frame displays 5 integration points equally spaced.
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View results
View single member deflection points of interest

Follow these steps: 1. From the Edit menu, choose the Envelope Components command, which opens a dialog. 2. Click the right-hand icon in the Force Envelope Style frame.
3. Choose OK. 4. Activate the Graphical Results window. 5. Activate the Deflection tool. 6. Double-click member #5 to view a single member diagram. [Or right click and choose the Properties command.] 7. Select load combination 4 and z Deflection.
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View results
Move the mouse along the diagram until you reach the Min=-0.2165 location, which S-Frame highlights as Row 7 in the mini-spreadsheet. A minimum or maximum signed deflection, in either orthogonal axis, per analysis member, represents a point of interest. Select y Deflection:
Row 3, located at 0.8157 meters, identifies a maximum signed y-deflection, which is a point of interest. In a single member diagram, the station locations differ from those of the Numerical Results window, which are evenly spaced. In the case of member #5, S-Frame: 1. Calculates the distance between the beginning and end locations of the partial snow load. 2. Divides that distance by the number of stations minus one: 5 - 1 = 4. 3. Rounds down the ratio to the nearest integer. 4. Adds the resulting number of stations equally between the load span. The general algorithm scans also for joints along the physical member. Member #5 has no joints along it, but member #12 has several. Before exiting the dialog, check the Envelopes and For all LCs boxes, and select z Deflection. Scroll up to include Row 1. S-Frame highlights in yellow the signed
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View results
maximum and minimum deflections in the z-axis columns of the spreadsheet. The dialog also displays in gray a range of values for each integration point.
S-Frame identifies the LC responsible for each maximum and minimum deflection. If you had earlier chosen the other envelope style in the Numerical Results window, the diagram would appear as follows:
Click the Close button to exit the dialog. Then follow these steps: 1. Activate the Selection tool. 2. Unselect member #5.
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Lessons learned and recalled
3. Select member #12.
4. Activate the Numerical Spreadsheet window. 5. Click the P icon to choose load cases. 6. Select load case 1. 7. Select the Member Forces tab. 8. Uncheck the Points of Interest Only box. 9. Increase the number of stations to 100. [Increasing the stations increases the location accuracy of the points of interest.] Click the check mark icon. 10. Check the Points of Interest Only box.
Some of the station locations appear to be duplicated: 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5. S-Frame calculates a point of interest just before and after an intermediate joint. Recall that you added infill beams on the roof at these locations. Two other points of interest, at 0.9830 and 4.0145, identify a y-Moment of zero (within a tolerance).

The following sections identify lessons learned and recalled in Example 2: Geometry Loads Results
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Geometry
In Example 2, you learned: How to use the Edit Regular Framework dialog to create a frame with equally spaced storeys and bays. How to rename a group folder. How to copy the contents of one group folder into another by right clicking the source folder and choosing Copy Group from the context menu. How to enable physical members for the solver via the Preferences dialog. How to enable physical members via the Status bar when adding new elements. How to use the Generate Infill Beams tool by defining a direction and number of beams, or variable spacing, and then clicking inside an empty polygon. S-Frame adds the infill beams but keeps intact the original beams, due to the Status bars Physical member option. How to define an infill direction by clicking two joints. How to translate geometry via the Edit Move dialog. How to select a plane by clicking two members while the Selection tool is active and the Two Members option is enabled in the Data bar. How to add an area load panel by activating the Panel tool, choosing a panel type, clicking joints as vertices of a polygon, and clicking the first joint again to complete the panel. How to select or pick a panel by including its handle at the centroid. How to use the Span Direction tool, which aids S-Frame in its area load decomposition. That only those members that belong to the Area Load Members folder are eligible to participate in an area load decomposition. How to define the units of a structure via the Units dialog. How to define and assign supports. How to retrieve a section from a steel database.
In Example 2, you recalled:
Additional tips
Some additional tips to remember: Regarding the Generate Infill Beams tool: when S-Frame projects two floors onto the screen such that a portion of their projections overlap, and you click inside the overlap area, S-Frame finds the nearest joint to the click location (nearest in projected screen distance), and searches for polygons containing the click location having the same Z-value as the joint. You can verify S-Frames distribution of data from the physical member to its analysis members by: a) Saving a copy of your structure. b) Clicking the Edit menu header while the Geometry window is active.
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c) Clicking Mesh Generator. d) Choosing the Convert Physical Model to Analytical Model command.
Loads
In Example 2, you learned: How to add self-weight to a load case by assigning a gravity factor of -1 in the gravitational axis (Z for 3D models, Y for 2D models). How to assign an area load to a panel, via the Area Load tool, by defining a direction and magnitude, and picking the selected panels centroid handle. A positive local z load acts in the panels negative z-direction. How to verify an area load decomposition by saving a copy of the load case, and choosing the Convert Area Loads to Member Loads command from the Edit menu. How to view local orthogonal loads as part of an area load verification. How to view load values more clearly by right clicking the viewport, choosing the Properties command, and viewing a spreadsheet of load values. How to delete a load case via the Edit Load Status dialog. How to reverse a members x-axis using the Edit Move dialog. How to assign global projected, partial trapezoidal loads. How to add load combinations. How to widen a spreadsheet column by dragging its borders. How to generate a load case from a load combination that includes notional load factors in X or Y. Open the Create Notional Load Case dialog from the Loads window after analyzing a structure. S-Frame generates a load case with positive joint loads in X and Y as notional factors of the Z-component loads in a load combination. How to modify a load combination. How to add a load case. How to select objects by drawing a line through them: hold down the Shift key and drag the mouse. How to add a row to a spreadsheet by setting focus to the last row, and pressing Enter.
Results
In Example 2, you learned: How to toggle between load cases and combinations in the Graphical Results window: click the P or + icon in the Command bar. How S-Frame converts a self-weight load case into global Z udls. How S-Frame displays load combination loads.
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How S-Frame determines a point of interest. A point along the member qualifies if: It is an intermediate joint of a physical member. S-Frame displays two points of interest: one just before and after the joint. The locations appear in the spreadsheets with identical values. [Geometric points of interest.] It is the start or end point of a partial member load. [Loading points of interest.] It locates a concentrated load. S-Frame displays two points of interest: one just before and after the load location. The locations appear in the spreadsheets with identical values. [Loading points of interest.] There is 0 shear or bending moment in either axis. More precisely, S-Frame extrapolates a location when signs change, and then calculates the force at that location. If the number of stations is high, the force should approximate zero closely. [Result points of interest.] There is a maximum or minimum signed deflection for the analysis member containing the point. S-Frame scans the stations within the analysis member. [Result points of interest.]
How single member diagrams use the number of stations in an algorithm to determine whether to insert additional integration points between geometric and loading points of interest. How to view single member envelopes. S-Frame returns the maximum and minimum deflection or force, the location along the member, and the LC responsible for the result. How to increase S-Frames accuracy when locating a result point of interest by increasing the number of stations. How to use the Spreadsheet Components dialog to hide spreadsheet columns. How to use the Envelope Components dialog in the Numerical Results window to determine the envelope style of single member envelopes.
In Example 2, you recalled how to view single member diagrams. Double click the member, or right click and choose the Properties command, when the Deflection tool is active or when a member force tool is active. The next example examines various methods of generating and extruding data.
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Example 3
Generation of a truss.
(generating data)
Example 3 covers the following features in S-Frame: Assignment of member releases. Extrusion of members. Connecting two members by clicking along the member. Cloning geometry in translation. Cloning geometry in rotation.
Structure model
The following screen cap indicates the stick frame of the model.
Example 3 builds a simplified version of the model created in the Edit Geometry tutorial video.
Outline of steps
In Example 3, you will: 1. Create a new structure. 2. Synchronize settings. 3. Generate a truss. 4. Add releases to inner members of the truss. 5. Add columns supporting the truss. 6. Connect columns at mid span. 7. Add hangers from the truss.
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Example 3 (generating data)
8. Add wings to the truss. 9. Add supports. 10. Clone the geometry in translation. 11. Extrude members that connect the cloned copies. 12. Subdivide a beam. 13. Clone geometry in rotation.

Follow the same steps indicated in Example 1a.
Follow these steps: 1. Switch to 3D mode if the tripod displays only the X and Y axes. 2. Toggle on the ucs tripod if none appears. 3. Toggle off joint and member numbers. 4. Toggle off support symbols. 5. Toggle on the Shrink elements option. 7. Toggle on the Options:Zoom Extents command. 8. Use the same Preferences as in Example 2. 9. Toggle off Physical members in the Status bar. 10. Use S-Frames default metric units.
Generate a truss
Follow these steps: 1. From the Edit menu, choose the Truss Generator heading and then the Pitched Roof Trusses command, which opens a dialog. 2. Select the Pratt Truss radio button. 3. Enter a span of 15 meters, and a depth of 2.5 meters. 4. Select the XZ Plane radio button in the Generation Plane frame.
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Add member releases
5. Select the 4 Bays radio button in the Number of Bays frame.
6. Choose OK to generate the truss. 7. Perform a Zoom Extents. S-Frame should display the following:
Add member releases

When you defined the truss, you could have defined it as pinned. To make it a pinned truss after the fact, follow these steps: 1. Click the following icon in the Shortcuts bar to activate the Member Release tool:
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Add member releases
2. Toggle on the My and Mz buttons in the Data bar:
3. From the Options menu, toggle on the Releases command. 4. Hold down the Shift key, and drag a line through the inner members of the truss. S-Frame should display the releases as double arrow heads in the members y and z axes:
Now toggle off the Options:Releases command. S-Frame should display pin symbols instead of arrow-heads.
To display the pin symbols while other Geometry tools are active, toggle on the Releases icon in the Status bar:
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Add columns
Add columns
Follow these steps to add supporting columns underneath the trusss end joints: 1. Activate the Member Definition tool. 2. Toggle on the One Joint option in the Data bar. 3. Toggle on the -Z direction button. 4. Specify a Member Length of 6 meters. 5. Click both end joints of the truss. 6. Choose a Front view. S-Frame should display the following:
Toggle off the Shrink elements icon
in the Status bar.
Connect columns at mid span

Follow these steps to add a member between the columns at mid span: 1. Toggle on the Two Joints option in the Data bar. 2. Click approximately half-way along the left column.
S-Frame opens a dialog.
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Connect columns at mid span
3. Select the At mid point radio button:
4. Choose OK to continue. 5. Click approximately half-way along the right column, which opens the same dialog. 6. Select the At mid point radio button, and choose OK to add the new member. S-Frame should display the following:
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Add hangers from the truss
Add hangers from the truss

Follow these steps to add hangers between the trusss lower chord and the span connecting the two columns: 1. Toggle on the Physical member option in the Status bar. [If it is dimmed, then check the option in the Preferences dialog first.]
2. Click approximately one quarter along the length of the span beam, from left to right, which opens a familiar dialog. 3. Select the At quarter point radio button.
4. Choose OK to continue. 5. Click the joint immediately above the span to add the hanger.
Because you toggled on Physical members, the span length remains as it was prior to adding the first hanger.
6. Click approximately three quarters along the length of the original span beam, which opens a familiar dialog.
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Add wings to the truss
7. Select the At three quarter point radio button, and choose OK. 8. Select the joint immediately above to add the second hanger. S-Frame should display the following:
Toggle off the Release icon in the Status bar.

To extend the structure with a trapezoid of members at the left and right edges of the structure, follow these steps: 1. Toggle on the One Joint option in the Data bar. 2. Define a member length of 4 meters and a -X direction in the Data bar. 3. Click the mid joint of the left column. 4. Change the direction to +X. 5. Click the mid joint of the right column.
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6. Perform a Zoom Extents.
7. Define a member length of 1.6666 meters and a +Z direction. 8. Click the tip joints of the cantilevers.
9. Toggle on the Two joints option in the Data bar. 10. Add the two outstanding members by clicking pairs of joints to complete the quadrangles of members.
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Add supports
Add supports
Activate the Support tool. Define the following constraints in the Data bar:
Click the foundation joints. Choose a South West Isometric view. S-Frame should display the following:
Save the structure in a directory of your own making.
Clone geometry in translation

Press Ctrl+C to copy the structure to clipboard. S-Frame copies not just the stick model, but also the attributes assigned to the joints and members. S-Frame displays the copied geometry in a dark red color.
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Follow these steps to generate four identical sets of geometry through the Y-axis: 1. Right click the following icon to activate the Clone tool and its dialog.
2. Check the Generate Folders box. 3. Enter E-W Frame in the Folder base name field. 4. Select the Translation radio button in the Generation method frame. 5. Select the Repeat at variable spacing radio button in the Spacing Option frame. 6. Select the Y - Direction radio button in the Specify Variable Spacing Between Copies frame. 7. Enter a variable spacing of 2@5,2@5.5 in the Y cell.
8. Choose OK to generate the 4 copies. 9. Perform a Zoom Extents. 10. Toggle on the display of supports and releases.
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11. Activate the Selection tool. 12. Select the plane of the last copy generated.
Hint: choose the Two Member method in the Data bar. Click two members in the plane that are not parallel.
S-Frame should display the following.
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If you slowly drag the right mouse button horizontally in the viewport, rotating your view about the ucs Z-axis, you might see all of the copies without overlap.
Note that the copy inherits the support conditions and releases of the original. Had you assigned different materials and sections, the copy would have inherited those assignments, also. Toggle off the display of supports and releases.
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Extrude members
Extrude members
Follow these steps to extrude members in the Y axis: 1. Unselect some of the joints of the original geometry as the following screen cap illustrates. [Keep the copy selected.]
2. Activate the Member Definition tool. 3. Toggle on the One Joint option in the Data bar. 4. Toggle on the Extrude to Last option. 5. Toggle on the +Y direction. 6. Toggle off the ucs tripod.
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Extrude members
7. Toggle on the Polypick option in the Status bar. 8. Define a polygon as the screen cap indicates.
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Subdivide a beam
The extrusions above are physical members.
Subdivide a beam
Follow these steps: 1. Choose the South West Isometric view. 2. Unselect all geometry. 3. Toggle on the ucs tripod. 4. Toggle off the Polypick option in the Status bar. 5. Select only the beam as indicated in the screen capture.
Hint: right click the beam and choose the Select Single Object command from the context menu.
6. Toggle off the Physical members option in the Status bar.
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Clone members in rotation
7. Click the following icon in the Command bar to open the Subdivide dialog.
8. Enter 2 in the Members IJ Links cell:
9. Choose OK to subdivide the selected member. S-Frame should display the following:

Follow these steps to clone members about the Z axis, and to extrude members between copies: 1. Activate the Selection tool, and toggle off the Two Members option. 2. Toggle on the display of joint and member numbers.
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3. Select only the joints and members as the screen cap indicates:
4. Activate the UCS tool. 5. Toggle off the Three Point Method button in the Data bar. 6. Toggle off the display of joint and member numbers. 7. Click the peak joint of the truss to move the tripod origin to that location.
8. Press Ctrl+C to copy the selected geometry to the clipboard. 9. Right click the Clone tool to activate its dialog.
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10. Define your Clone settings as the screen cap indicates:
11. Choose OK to clone the selected geometry. 12. Perform a Zoom Extents. 13. Unselect all and press Ctrl+C to clear the clipboard. 14. Select all.
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In Example 3, you learned: How to generate a truss by choosing Truss Generator from the Edit menu, and then Pitched Roof Trusses to open a dialog. How to assign releases using the Member Release tool. How to toggle the display of releases using the Options menu (pin symbol vs. axis arrow heads) and the Status bar (display or hide when other tools are active). How to insert a member by clicking along another member, and to connect the new member to a location along another member, or to connect to a joint. How to copy the selected geometry into the clipboard by pressing Ctrl+C. How to use the Clone tool to generate copies of the clipboard at variable spacings through a ucs axis. How to use the Extrude to Last option while the Member Definition tool is active. How to use the Clone tool to generate copies of the clipboard in rotation about a ucs axis, and to extrude members between copies, How to add a member, via the Member Definition tool, by clicking a single joint or clicking pairs of joints. How to enable Physical member editing via the Status bar. How to define and add supports via the Support tool.
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How to select a plane using the Two Member method while the Selection tool is active. How to rotate your view of the structure by dragging the right mouse button. How to select or pick objects using the Shift key (line intersection) or by clicking vertices of a polygon (polypick method). How to subdivide a member by choosing the Edit Subdivide icon. How to translate the ucs tripod graphically by clicking a joint while the UCS tool is active.
Additional tips
Some additional tips to remember: To release a member-end in Fx, use the Spreadsheet window. Do not release both ends of a member in Fx or Mx. Use slaves to model shear releases. The online help describes the procedure. While the Clone tool is active, click a joint to paste the contents of the clipboard. S-Frame pastes the clipboard as if the clicked joint were the ucs origin.
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S-FRAME 7.

Release 7.01 Tutorial Manual Copyright 2006 by SOFTEK Services Ltd.

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Overview of S-Frame capabilities

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Overview of S-Frame capabilities

In S-Frame, you can:

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Overview of S-Frame capabilities

S-Frame supports the following variants:

In RSA, you can view results for:

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Overview of S-Frame capabilities

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Overview of S-Frame capabilities

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Overview of S-Frame capabilities

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Overview of S-Frame capabilities

Graphical link to spreadsheet interface

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Overview of S-Frame capabilities

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Overview of S-Frame capabilities

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Overview of S-Frame capabilities

Data display features

Appearance of selected and unselected objects

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Overview of S-Frame capabilities

Selection and pick features

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Overview of S-Frame capabilities

Organization assistant: group folders

User coordinate systems

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Overview of S-Frame capabilities

A red tripod that indicates the axes of the current ucs.

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Overview of S-Frame capabilities

Grids in the XY plane.

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Overview of S-Frame capabilities

Graphical insertion of infill beams by:

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Example 1a: interface fundamentals

Example 1b: staged construction

Example 2: physical members

Example 3: generation of data

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Online video tutorials

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This example creates a simple structure consisting of:

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Example 1a T(interface fundamentals)

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Example 1a T(interface fundamentals)

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Example 1a T(interface fundamentals)

Create a new structure

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