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STAAD. Pro Standard Training
STAAD. Pro 2007
TRN011200-1/0002
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Copyright Information
STAAD.Pro Standard Training Oct-08
Copyright © 2008 Bentley Systems Incorporated
Trademarks
AccuDraw, Bentley, the “B” Bentley logo, MDL, MicroStation and SmartLine are registered
trademarks; PopSet and Raster Manager are trademarks; Bentley SELECT is a service markof Bentley Systems, Incorporated or Bentley Software, Inc.
Java and all Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun
Microsystems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries.
Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat, the Acrobat logo, Distiller, Exchange, and PostScript are
trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Windows, Microsoft and Visual Basic are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
AutoCAD is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc.
Other brands and product names are the trademarks of their respective owners.
Patents
United States Patent Nos. 5,8.15,415 and 5,784,068 and 6,199,125.
Copyrights
©2000-2008 Bentley Systems, Incorporated.
MicroStation ©1998 Bentley Systems, Incorporated.
IGDS file formats ©1981-1988 Intergraph Corporation.
Intergraph Raster File Formats ©1993 Intergraph Corporation.
Portions ©1992 – 1994 Summit Software Company.Portions ©1992 – 1997 Spotlight Graphics, Inc.
Portions ©1993 – 1995 Criterion Software Ltd. and its licensors.
Portions ©1992 – 1998 Sun MicroSystems, Inc.
Portions ©Unigraphics Solutions, Inc.
Icc ©1991 – 1995 by AT&T, Christopher W. Fraser, and David R. Hanson. All rightsreserved.
Portions ©1997 – 1999 HMR, Inc. All rights reserved.
Portions ©1992 – 1997 STEP Tools, Inc.
Sentry Spelling-Checker Engine ©1993 Wintertree Software Inc.
Unpublished – rights reserved under the copyright laws of the United States and other
countries. All rights reserved.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents i
Module 1: Introduction 1-1
1.1 About this STAAD.Pro Training Manual 1-2
1.2 STAAD.Pro Workflow Process 1-3
Module 2: Model Generation 2-1
2.1 Pre Processor: Model Generation 2-2
2.2 The Start Page 2-3
2.3 Starting a New Project 2-7
2.4 Elements of the STAAD.Pro Screen 2-12
2.5 Job Setup 2-15
2.6 STAAD.Pro Structural Elements 2-16
2.7 Working with Grids 2-19
2.8 Entering Structure Geometry 2-27
2.9 Modeling Exercise 1 2-46
2.10 Editing Structure Geometry 2-482.11 Viewing Structure Geometry 2-82
2.12 Modeling Exercise 2 2-99
Module 3: Property Assignment 3-1
3.1 Steel Design Model Geometry 3-2
3.2 Working with Groups 3-4
3.3 Assigning Member Properties 3-11
3.4 Member Beta Angle 3-32
3.5 Assigning Member Specifications 3-453.6 Assigning Supports 3-60
3.7 Assigning Loads 3-69
3.8 The Material Page 3-85
Oct-08 i Table of Contents
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Table of Contents
Module 4: Analyzing the Model 4-1
4.1 Preparing for the Analysis 4-2
4.2 Performing the Analysis 4-10
4.3 How Does STAAD.Pro Generate Results? 4-11
4.4 Viewing the Output File 4-13
Module 5: The Post Processor 5-1
5.1 Introduction to the Post Processor 5-2
5.2 Coordinate Systems for Reporting Results 5-3
5.3 Sign Conventions for Reporting Member End Forces 5-6
5.4 How to Determine if Results are Available 5-9
5.5 Activating the Post Processor 5-12
5.6 Displaying the Displacement Diagram 5-14
5.7 Displacement and Reactions Tables 5-19
5.8 Beam Analysis Results 5-28
5.9 Verifying the Results 5-44
5.10 Viewing Results with Member Query 5-48
5.11 Using Structural Tool Tips to View Results 5-53
5.12 Labeling the Structure Diagram 5-55
5.13 Individual Control of Labels 5-62
5.14 Animation 5-65
5.15 Plotting Output from STAAD.Pro 5-69
5.16 Simple Query 5-72
Module 6: Steel Design 6-1
6.1 Introduction to STAAD.Pro Steel Design 6-2
6.2 How to Specify Steel Design Parameters 6-4
6.3 How to Use the Check Code Command 6-18
6.4 Checking Steel Design Results 6-25
6.5 Optimizing Steel Designs 6-30
6.6 Statically Indeterminate Structures 6-34
6.7 Finalizing the Design 6-39
6.8 Additional Comments Regarding Design Commands 6-51
Table of Contents ii Oct-08
Copyright © 2008 Bentley Systems Incorporated
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Table of Contents
Module 7: Finite Element Modeling 7-1
7.1 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis 7-2
7.2 How to Create Finite Elements 7-12
7.3 How to Create Plates with Nodes Off-Grid 7-18
7.4 Mesh Generation 7-20
7.4.1 Using Structure Wizard to Generate a Mesh 7-21
7.4.2 Creating a Mesh From a “Super-Element” 7-26
7.4.3 How to Use the Mesh Generation Cursor 7-29
7.4.4 Using the Editor to Create a Mesh 7-37
Module 8: Concrete Design 8-1
8.1 Concrete Design Example Problem 8-2
8.2 Defining Model Geometry 8-4
8.3 Defining Element Properties 8-6
8.4 Adding the Supports 8-11
8.5 Defining Beam – Slab Monolithic Action 8-13
8.6 Defining the Slab 8-16
8.7 Tools for Viewing Plates 8-20
8.8 Plate Orientation and Local Coordinate System 8-21
8.9 Defining Plate Properties 8-27
8.10 Plate Element Specifications 8-29
8.11 Assigning the Loads 8-32
8.12 P – Delta Analysis 8-37
8.13 Providing Analysis Instructions 8-438.14 Running the Analysis 8-45
8.15 Viewing the Results 8-46
8.16 Reinforced Concrete Design 8-49
8.17 Understanding Concrete Design Results 8-59
8.18 Additional Concrete Modeling Examples 8-65
Oct-08 iii Table of Contents
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents iv Oct-08
Copyright © 2008 Bentley Systems Incorporated
Module 9: Exercise Problems 9-1
9.1 Exercise Problem One 9-2
9.2 Exercise Problem Two 9-4
9.3 Exercise Problem Three 9-6
9.4 Exercise Problem Four 9-11
9.5 Exercise Problem Five 9-17
9.6 Exercise Problem Six 9-23
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1-1
Introduction
The following topics are included in this module.
1.1 About this STAAD.Pro Training Manual ........................................ 2
1.2 STAAD.Pro Workflow Process ......................................................... 3
Module 1
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1.1 About thi s STAAD.Pro Training Manual
In the portion of this manual that covers the training instructions,
the following conventions are used:
Bold text in a box indicates actions that you are requested to
perform.
Italic text indicates the names of commands, menus, dialog
boxes, edit box ti tles, etc. , and suggestions or actions that are
optional, but not essential.
Underlined text indicates titles of books or reference
documents.
Text in the form of Tools | Orphan Nodes | Highlight
indicates a string of sequential mouse clicks to be chosen from
a menu.
Shaded text indicates information that provides useful
commentary, but is not essential to the flow of the training.
Brackets { } indicate metric units or alternate instructions that
are to be used if working in metric. However, all screenshots
shown in this manual are based on English units.
This STAAD.Pro Training Manual is intended to be used in
conjunction with a Bentley Institute STAAD.Pro Training course.
Depending on the specific course and presentation format,
different Modules may be combined to create the overall course
content.
It is assumed that the reader has access to a working copy of
STAAD.Pro to mirror some of the training steps and to complete
the exercises and tutorials.
In this manual, the first instance of a command is the most
completely documented. Subsequent references to that command
may not be as thorough since some general familiarity is assumed.
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Module 1 1-3
1.2 STAAD.Pro Workf low Process
The process of modeling and designing in STAAD.Pro can be
summarized into the following general workflow process, which issuggested inherently by the on-screen organization of the tabs
within the program:
1. Basic Geometry: Define the basic geometry of the structure
using beams, columns, plates and/or solid elements.
2. Section Properties: Define the sizes of members by width,
depth, cross sectional shape, etc.
3. Materials Constants: Specify material such as timber, steel,
concrete, or aluminum to define Poisson’s Ratio, Coefficient
of Thermal Expansion, density, etc.
4. Member Specifications: Define member orientations, member
offsets, member releases where moment transfer is to be
limited or eliminated, and conditions that only allow a partial
transfer of certain types of forces such as tension-only.
5. Supports: Define support locations and boundary conditions
including moment fixity, support stiffness, and support
angle.
6. Loads: Assign loads such as self-weight, dead, live, wind and
seismic, and define load combinations.
7. Analysis Instructions: Indicate the type of analysis to be
performed (regular analysis, P-delta, Buckling, Pushover,etc.) and define associated options.
8. Post Processing Commands: Extract analysis results, review
deflected shapes, prepare shear and moment diagrams,
generate tables to present results, etc.
9. Design Commands: Specify (for steel, concrete, timber, etc.)
Modules
3 and 11
Modules
4 and 12
Modules
5 and 13
Modules
6,8,10,14
Modules
2 and 7
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2-1
Model Generation
The following topics are included in this module.
2.1 Pre-Processor: Model Generation ...................................................... 2
2.2 The Start Page .................................................................................... 3
2.3 Starting a New Project ...................................................................... 7
2.4 Elements of the STAAD.Pro Screen ............................................. 12
2.5 Job Setup ........................................................................................... 15
2.6 STAAD.Pro Structural Elements ..................................................... 16
2.7 Working with Grids ......................................................................... 19
2.8 Entering Structure Geometry ........................................................... 27
2.9 Modeling Exercise 1 ........................................................................ 46
2.10 Editing Structure Geometry ........................................................... 48
2.11 Viewing Structure Geometry ......................................................... 82
2.12 Modeling Exercise 2 ...................................................................... 99
Module
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2.1 Pre-Processor: Model Generation
All structural analysis software generally consists of three parts:
• Pre Processor: Generates the model, assembles and
organizes all data needed for the analysis.
• Analysis Engine: Calculates displacements, member forces,
reactions, stresses, etc.
• Post Processor: Displays the results.
In STAAD.Pro, these features are integrated into a unified graphic
user interface (GUI) or working environment; you do not need to
leave one module to access another.
In this module, we will focus on the model generation aspect of
STAAD.Pro using the Pre Processor’s graphical environment to
define the geometry of our structure.
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2.2 The Start Page
Start STAAD.Pro(double-click the STAAD.Pro icon on the
desktop or navigate through the Start menu in the lower-left cornerof the desktop).
The STAAD.Pro Start Page is displayed.
Figure 2. 1
The Start Page is divided into five sections that can be used to
achieve the following:
Project Tasks:
• Start a New Project using the STAAD.Pro wizard.
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• Open an existing file using the traditional Windows browse
dialog enhanced with a model preview window.
• Open an existing file from ProjectWise, Bentley’s engineering
project team collaboration system.
• Set the program behavior with the Configuration options.
• Setup the automatic Backup configuration requirements.
• Access the License Management Tool to view and set
configuration variables for the Bentley SELECT license, such
as the server name and site activation key.
Recent Files:
• Access the last 6 models opened.
• See a preview of each model in the list by hovering the cursor
over the model name.
• Data bubbles are populated with the file path and project
information entered in a specific Job Info dialog.
Help Topics:
• Quick access to the online Help document.
• Locate technical support centers and find contact details.
• Find the latest information on the program online from the
Product News link.
•
Access the growing STAAD.Pro online knowledge base.
• Determine What’s New in the latest release of STAAD.Pro.
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License Configuration:
• Indicates which SELECT licenses are being used by the
current session of STAAD.Pro using the following color
coding scheme:
If the license is available it is marked with a green circle:
Figure 2. 2
Licenses that have not been selected are marked with a grey
circle:
Figure 2. 3
If the selected license cannot be obtained or is not available
from the server, it will be shown with a red circle:
Figure 2. 4
STAAD News:
• Displays the most current information about STAAD and
Bentley, such as program updates, seminars, and training
courses, using an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) reader.
• Each news items is identified with a title that acts as a link to
a website containing more information on that particular item.
Automatic Backup:
• Click Backup Manager… in the Project Tasks area of the
Start Page.
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• STAAD.Pro has the ability to perform automatic saves at a
user-specified frequency to protect against loss of data.
• Backup Manager also provides tools to view, compare, open,
and restore backup saves from earlier times.
• Even with powerful backup and restore features, good practice
would dictate executing manual saves after significant
modeling steps by using File | Save from the Menu Bar.
• Under normal conditions this is a user preference item.
• In order to ensure uniformity, this training session is
accompanied by a dataset of standardized STAAD.Pro training
files.
• To avoid frequent messages during training, disable the Auto
Save option by removing the check from the Enable Auto Save
checkbox, and then click OK .
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2.3 Starting a New Pro ject
Click New Project in the Project Tasks box on the STAAD.Pro
Start Page. The New dialog provides input for:
• Structure type – See structure type descriptions below.
• File Name
• File Location
• Length Units
• Force Units
Four structure types are available:
Space:
• Acceptable for any configuration of model geometry and
loading.
• Permits three-dimensional structures.
• Permits loading in any direction.
• Permits deformations in all three global axes.
• Coordinate system follows right-hand rule.
• Best practice is to orient Y axis up (so gravity pulls in
negative Y-direction), see “Notes about Coordinate System
Orientation” below.
Plane:
• Acceptable only for two-dimensional models in the XY-
plane with no loading or deformations perpendicular to
this plane.
• All loads and deformations are in the plane of the
structure.
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Floor:
• Acceptable for two-dimensional models in the XZ-plane
with loading and deformations perpendicular to this plane.
• All loads and deformations are parallel to the global Y-
axis.
Truss:
• Permits loading in any direction, but members only
provide axial resistance. Members cannot resist bending
or shear loads.
• Permits three-dimensional structures.
• Permits deformations in all three global directions.
• Coordinate system follows right-hand rule.
Structure types Plane, Floor and Truss all conserve system
resources by taking advantage of declared conditions to reduce
the complexity of the stiffness matrix. With today’s
computers, this is no longer necessary, but the program still
provides these options for the convenience of long-time users
who have become accustomed to using them.
• Select Space as the structure type.
Notes about Coordinate System Orientat ion:
• The location of components of a STAAD.Pro model is
defined with reference to the origin point of the global
coordinate system.
• This coordinate system is a bit different than that used in
CAD programs such as MicroStation.
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• In STAAD.Pro, the Y axis points in the vertical direction,
and a plan view is represented by the XZ plane.
• STAAD.Pro provides a Set Z Up option for CAD users, but
you should be aware that many options of the program will
not work with Set Z Up; the wind load generator is one
example.
• STAAD.Pro also provides tools for re-orienting the
coordinate axis when importing or exporting to a CAD
program.
• It is probably a better idea to reorient the coordinate
system when importing or exporting and to use
STAAD.Pro’s default global coordinate system, rather
than using Set Z Up, while working within STAAD.Pro.
• Enter My Dataset 2_1 in the File Name field.
• The Location field provides a default path. To change the
Location click the button, and point to the location where
you wish to save the file.
Notes about the unit system:
• Two base unit systems are available: English and Metric.
• Base unit selection controls the units used to display
results in tables and reports.
• Base unit selection also dictates what type of default
values the program will use when material constants areassigned based on material types (Modulus of Elasticity,
Density, etc.).
• A default base unit setting was chosen at the time of
installation.
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• The default base unit setting can be changed after
installation by following the steps in the commentary
below.
Click File | Configure from the Start Page, or click
Configuration… in the Project Tasks section of the Start
Page.
Select the Base Unit tab in the Configure Program dialog.
Choose the desired unit system from the Select Base Unit
drop-down combo box, and then click Accept .
• The base unit system for a new project is based on the
default base unit setting at the time the new project file is
created, but can be modified on a model by model basis by
selecting the desired units using the radio buttons in the
Length Units and Force Units categories on the New
dialog.
• Select Foot {Meter} for Length Units and KiloPound
{KiloNewton} for Force Units.
•
Click the Next button.
A second dialog appears offering quick access to a variety of
common “next steps”, including:
• Add Beam Sets the program up with the Snap Node/Beam
dialog and a snap grid to begin constructing a
structure made of beams and columns.
•
Add Plate Sets the program up with the Snap Node/Plate dialog to construct a structure made of plates.
• Add Solid Sets the program up with the Snap Node/Solid
dialog to construct a structure made of solids.
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• Open
Structure
Wizard
• Open
STAAD
Editor
Opens a library of ready-made structure
templates which can be extracted and modified
parametr ically to generate the model geometry
or some of its parts.
Allows you to build your model using the
STAAD syntax commands in the STAAD editor
(non-graphical interface).
• Edit Job
Information
Automatically opens the Job Information dialog
where you can enter information relative to the
job, such as cl ient name, job number , comments,
etc.
•
Select the Edit Job Information option and click Finish .
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2.4 Elements of the STAAD.Pro Screen
The elements of the STAAD.Pro Graphical User Interface (GUI)
screen are identified in the figure below.
Figure 2. 5
Menu Bar
• Near the top of the screen.
• Gives access to all of the STAAD.Pro menu functions.
• Many of the same functions are also available from the
Toolbar and from the Page Control.
Tool Bar
• Near the top of the screen.
• Gives access to the most frequently used commands.
Status Bar
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• Tool Bar is dockable – layout can be reconfigured.
• Customized tool bars can be created.
• Hover the mouse over any icon for Tool Tip Help.
Main Window
• Large central area of screen where the model and graphical
results are displayed.
• Background color can be set to either white or black using
the File | Configure menu on the Start Page.
Status Bar
• Displayed at the bottom of the screen.
• Presents helpful information regarding the status of the
program.
• Displays cursor position, current input units, current
program operat ing mode, hints for using the program, etc.
Page Control
• A set of tabs to the left of the Main Window.
• Page Control can also be closed from within the Mode
menu to free the screen area for other uses.
• Each tab allows you to perform specific tasks.
• Organization of the Pages, from top to bottom, represents
the logical sequence of operations in STAAD.Pro.
• Generally progress through the pages from top to bottom
and enter all the data that are relevant to your project.
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• Page names may or may not appear on Page tabs
depending on screen resolution and size of STAAD.Pro
window, but the icons on the Page Control tabs always
appear.
• Each page has some sub-pages.
• The Pages that display depend on the current Mode of
operation, which can be set from the Mode menu in the
Menu bar.
Data Area
•
Generally appears on the right side of the screen.
• Displays dialogs, tables, lists, etc.
• Context-sensitive to the type of operation being
performed.
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2.5 Job Setup
• Setup is the top page in the Page Control area when in
Modeling mode.
• When the Job sub-page is selected, the Job Info dialog is
displayed in the Data Area.
• Provides facility for defining job name, client’s name, job
number, engineer’s and checker’s initials and dates,
comments, etc.
• Information entered in the Job Info dialog will be printedin the output reports and shown in the Recent Files section
of the Start Page.
• The use of this dialog is optional.
• To see how this information appears on output reports, and
on the Start Page, enter the following sample information
now:
• Job: Job
• Client : Client
• Job No.: Job No.
• Rev: Rev
• Part : Part
• Ref : Ref
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2.6 STAAD.Pro Structural Elements
STAAD.Pro provides five types of elements to use in modeling
structures:
Beams:
• Linear structural members.
• The terms “member” and “beam” are synonymous.
• Use of the term “beam” should not be taken to imply that the
member cannot take an axial load.
• Selected in STAAD.Pro by either the Beams Cursor or the
Geometry Cursor.
Nodes:
• Points of connectivity between structural entities.
•
The terms “joint” and “node” are synonymous.
• Selected in STAAD.Pro by either the Nodes Cursor or the
Geometry Cursor.
Plates:
• Finite element commonly used to model “surface structures”
such as walls, slabs, plates or shells.
• May be either 3-noded (triangular) or 4-noded (quadrilateral).
• Selected in STAAD.Pro by either the Plates Cursor or the
Geometry Cursor.
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Solids:
• Finite element enables the solution of structural problems
involving three dimensional stresses.
• Solids are useful for solving problems such as stress
distribution in concrete dams, soil and rock strata, etc.
• Solid elements consist of 8 nodes.
• Solids most commonly take the form of cubes, but, by
collapsing various nodes together, an 8-noded solid element
can be degenerated into forms with 5 to 7 nodes.
• Selected in STAAD.Pro by either the Solids Cursor or the
Geometry Cursor.
Surfaces:
• Useful in the rapid modeling of walls, slabs and planar
surfaces.
• Similar to plate elements in terms of structural behavior, but
faster and easier to model.
• The entire wall or slab can be modeled with just a few
"Surface" entities.
• When the program goes through the analysis phase, it will
automatically subdivide the surface into elements.
• Selected in STAAD.Pro by either the Surface Cursor or the
Geometry Cursor.
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Guideline for selection of Plate elements or Solid elements:
If the ratio of the width of the shortest side to the thickness is less
than 10, use solid elements.
>10t
t t
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2.7 Working wit h Grids
• Grids assist with model construction by providing dimensional
control and snap points.
• Multiple grid systems can be created and saved in one model.
• Only one grid system can be displayed at a time.
• Three types of grids can be defined: Linear, Radial and
Irregular.
Types of grid systems:
• Linear
• Two-dimensional system of regularly spaced linear (but
not necessarily orthogonal) construction lines creating a
plane of snap points .
• Plane is defined as being coincident with the global XY,
XZ, or YZ planes, or at an angle skewed with respect tothe global planes.
• Location of the origin can be defined with respect to the
global X, Y, and Z coordinate system.
• Radial
• Two-dimensional system of regularly spaced radial and
circumferential construction lines creating a plane of snap points .
• Plane is defined as being coincident with the global XY,
XZ, or YZ planes, or at an angle skewed with respect to
the global planes.
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• Location of the origin can be defined with respect to the
global X, Y, and Z coordinate system.
• Well-suited for drawing circular models using piece-wise
linear techniques.
• The following diagram shows an example of a radial grid
system defined in the XY plane:
Figure 2. 7
• Irregular
• Two-dimensional system of regularly or irregularly spaced
linear (but not necessarily orthogonal) construction lines
creating a plane of snap points.
•
Plane is defined as being coincident with the global XY,XZ, or YZ planes, or at an angle skewed with respect to
the global planes, or at an arbitrary plane.
An arbitrary plane can be specified by checking the Use
Arbitrary Plane box and entering the two points that
define the normal vectors of the X and Y directions of the
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plane. (The other point to es tablish the X and Y normal ly
is the origin.)
The following diagram shows an example of defining an
arbitrary plane by defining the X and Y normal vectors.
Figure 2. 8
Spacing of the gridlines can vary in both directions.
Spacing between successive gridlines is specified in the
Relative gridline distances group box as shown below.
Figure 2. 9
Useful in creating openings in shear walls using the
surface element.
To set up grids:
• Ensure that the model named MY Dataset 2_1.std is open.
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• Click the Geometry page tab in the Page Control area .
• Click the Beam sub-page tab.
This is the place we would have come if we had chosen the
Add Beam option in the Where do you want to go? dialog when
first starting the model.
• A default grid appears in the Main Window.
• The Snap Node/Beam dialog appears in the Data Area. Grid
layout is controlled by this dialog.
• Close the Snap Node/Beam dialog, and note that it can be
reopened by clicking Geometry | Snap Grid/Node | Beam , or
by cl icking on the Snap Node/Beam toolbar button .
• Click Create… in the Snap Node/Beam dialog.
• Note that the list at the top of this secondary dialog is
currently set to Linear , but also offers the Radial , and
Irregular grid type options. Keep it set to Linear for this
example.
• Type Training Grid in the Name field.
• Click the X-Y radio button in the Plane category.
Options are available to coordinate the new grid with any of
the global axis planes.
• Click the X-X radio button in the Angle of Plane
° category
and enter a value of 45 in the field.
• This rotates the grid plane 45° about the X axis.
Note that you will not see any changes taking effect on the
grid system currently displayed on the screen, the active grid
system, because we are editing a different grid system.
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• Enter (10, 10, 0) {(3, 3, 0)} in the grid origin fields.
Note that the Grid Origin can also be changed from the default
location of (0, 0, 0) by using the icon to select an existing
node in the model to represent the new origin.
• Set the number of Construction Lines to 12 in both the X and
Y directions by clicking the up arrow in the column labeled
Right .
• Set the Spacing field to 1 {0.25) ft {m} in both the X and Y
directions.
•
Keep the Skew° set to 0 in both the X and Y directions.
A note about skewed grid lines: use caution to set the correct
Spacing value when using skewed grids. The Spacing value is
not measured perpendicular to the grid lines it applies to.
• Click OK .
• Training Grid (Linear) now appears in the list of available grid
systems in the Snap Node/Beam dialog, but Default Grid(Linear) is still the active grid system.
• Click the checkbox in front of Training Grid (Linear) to
make it the active grid system.
Default Grid (Linear) is automatically deselected, and the
Main Window now displays the new grid.
•
The Active Grid Labels Setup category in the Snap Node/Beam dialog controls how the labels will appear for the currently
selected grid system whenever it is the active grid.
Since these settings are specific to individual grid systems,
they can be set differently for each grid system in the model.
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• The End(s) lists offer different options for labeling the ends of
the gridlines.
Keep them set to Start .
• Click the up arrow in the Freq. column corresponding to the
Y grid lines to increase the number to 2 .
This reduces the labeling frequency of the Y grids to every
other grid line.
• Click the X and the Z buttons in the row corresponding to the
Y grid lines. (Y should already be selected.)
This displays X, Y, and Z coordinate labels at all Y grid lines.
• The labels are currently showing coordinate values in the
global coordinate system with respect to the global origin
located at (0, 0, 0).
• Click the Local Coordinate checkbox, and note the
difference.
•
This alters the display so that coordinates are reported in terms
of a coordinate system that is local to the current grid.
The origin of the local coordinate system is located at the
origin of the grid system (global coordinate (10, 10, 0) {(3, 3,
0)} ), and with X and Y vectors lying in the plane of the grid.
Looking at the Y grid line labels, the X coordinate now reads 0
instead of 10 {3}.
The X-axis labels now read in whole numbers instead of
fractional values in decimal format.
• Click the Local Coordinate checkbox again to deselect.
• Click the Rel.Coords checkbox, and note the difference.
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• Coordinates are now shown as relative offsets from the local
origin of the grid system (global coordinate (10, 10, 0) {(3, 3,
0)}) measured in the global X, Y, and Z directions.
Looking at the Y grid line labels, the X coordinate reads 0
instead of 10 {3}.
The X grid line labels read in fractional values in decimal
format, but they start at 0 instead of 10 {3}.
• Click the Rel. Coords checkbox again to deselect.
• Click the X and the Z buttons in the row corresponding to the
Y grids lines, to deselect both.
Now only the Y coordinate labels should be displayed at every
other Y grid line.
• Click the down arrow in the Freq. column corresponding to
the Y grid lines to decrease the number to 1 .
This sets the labeling frequency back to labeling every Y grid
line.
• Click the Axis Ids checkbox, and note how it displays an axis
pref ix on each gr id label.
This can be helpful to establish orientation, especially in
radically rotated grid systems.
• Click the Axis Ids checkbox again to deselect.
•
Click Font… and note the options that are available to change
the font and color of the labels.
• Click Cancel to close the Font dialog and return to the Snap
Node/Beam dialog.
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• Click the Delete button in the Snap Node/Beam dialog to
delete Training Grid (Linear).
• Click the Default Grid (Linear) checkbox to make it the
active grid system.
Training Grid (Linear) is automatically deselected.
• Click File | Close to return to the Start Page.
• Click No when asked if you want to save the file.
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2.8 Entering Structu re Geometry
Drawing beams:
• On the Start Page, click Open Project… and point to the
location of the dataset installation.
• Select Dataset 2_2.std and click Open .
• Click on the Geometry page tab in the Page Control area.
The Beam sub-page tab will be active by default.
• Click Geometry | Snap Grid/Node | Beam .
• The default grid appears in the Main Window. If working in
metric, Metric Grid (Linear) should be the active grid.
• Follow the steps outlined below to construct this simple portal
frame:
Figure 2. 10
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• The Snap Node/Beam button in the Snap Node/Beam dialog
should be automatically activated, so that the “hot spot”
follows the cursor and snaps to grid intersections. (If not click
the Snap Node/Beam button.)
• Notice the text prompt in the Status Bar at the bottom of the
screen that says, “Add nodes/beams to line intersections using
cursor. Hold CTRL key down to reset.”
• Notice that the cursor only snaps to gr id intersections.
• Click at the origin (0, 0, 0) to create the first node.
•
The “hot spot” appears and a line will start “rubber-banding”from the origin.
• Move up the grid and click again at (0, 8, 0) {(0, 2.5, 0)} to
draw the first member.
The starting end of a member is also referred to as End A or
Node A; the other end is called End B or Node B.
•
Now the “hot spot” appears at the end of the firs t member,indicating that it is the starting point for the next member.
• Move to (7, 8, 0) {(2, 2.5, 0)} and click again.
• Move to (7, 0, 0) {(2, 0, 0)} and click one more time.
The coordinates of the current cursor position are always
provided in the Status Bar at the lower right corner of the
screen.
• Click the Snap Node/Beam button to stop drawing beams.
Note that the gr id could have been set up with 7 lines {8 lines}
to the right of the origin, and 8 lines {10 lines} above the
origin. This would eliminate having to constantly check
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cursor location by counting grid lines or looking at the
coordinate readout.
Another good way to set the grid for this example would have
been to set the gr id to 1 line to the right of the or igin in the
posi tive X direct ion, and 1 line above the or igin in the positive
Y direction, then set the spacing to 7 feet {2 meters} in the X
direction and 8 feet {2.5 meters} in the Y direction.
Use the grid to its best advantage.
• Grids can be adjusted on the fly.
• Nodes that have al ready been placed will NOT move with the
grid. They maintain their coordinates once they have been
placed.
• To demonstrate this, make sure Default Grid (Linear) {Metric
Grid (Linear)} is still the active grid system, and then click the
Edit… button.
• Edit the Spacing of the X grid lines to 1.5 {0.35} and press the
tab key.
• Note that the gr id changed in the Main Window, but the
existing nodes did not move with the grid.
• Edit the Spacing of the X grid lines back to 1 {0.25} , and then
click OK .
• A copy of this model is already saved in this state in the
dataset, and is named Dataset 2_3.std.
• Click File | Close to return to the Start Page.
• Click No when asked if you want to save the changes.
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How to move the “Hot Spot”:
• Open the file named Dataset 2_3.std .
•
Click on theGeometry
page tab in the Page Control area.
• Click on the Beam sub-page tab.
• Click Geometry | Snap/Grid Node | Beam to open the Snap
Node/Beam dialog.
• Ensure that Default Grid (Linear) {Metric Grid (Linear)} is
activated (has a check in the checkbox).
The Snap Node/Beam button in the Snap Node/Beam dialog
should be automatically activated, so that the “hot spot”
follows the cursor and snaps to grid intersections. (If not,
click the Snap Node/Beam button.)
• Click at (7, 0, 0) {(2, 0, 0)} and note that the cursor is “rubber-
banding” from that location.
This is where the cursor was when the last node of the portalframe was placed.
• Press and hold the Control (Ctrl) key.
• Move the cursor around and notice that the line is no longer
“rubber-banding” from the previous click location. The last
node will no longer be considered the starting point of the next
member.
• While holding the Control (Ctrl) key, click on the node at (7,
8, 0) {(2, 2.5, 0)} .
• Release the Control (Ctrl) key, and note that the cursor is now
“rubber-banding” from the node at (7, 8, 0) {(2, 2.5, 0)}.
• Click on the node at (0, 0, 0) to draw the first diagonal.
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The Status Bar in the lower left corner of the screen displays
some instructions for the currently active command or program
mode. Remember to check this area any time you are in doubt
about what response the program expects from you. Right
now, it provides a hint regarding use of the Control (Ctrl) key
to move the “hot spot.”
• Press and hold the Control (Ctrl) key.
• While holding the Control (Ctrl) key, click on the node at
(0, 8, 0) {(0, 2.5, 0)} .
• Release the Control (Ctrl) key, and click on the node at
(7, 0, 0) {(2, 0, 0)} to add the second diagonal.
• Click the Snap Node/Beam button once more to stop drawing
beams.
• Keep this model open for use in the next section.
How to “Undo” an operation:
•
Ensure that Dataset 2_3.std is still the active model.
• Assume that the diagonal members were just added in error.
• They could be deleted by methods that will be illustrated in a
later section.
• Or, the Undo command could be used in this case.
• Click the Undo icon twice, or click Edit | Undo Add
Beam twice.
• The diagonals are deleted.
• For demonstration purposes, click the Redo icon twice.
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• The diagonals are restored.
• Click the pulldown arrow to the right of the Undo icon .
This function provides the ability to Undo multiple commandsat one time. The Redo icon also has this feature.
• A list of modeling steps is presented with the most recent step
on top. Double click the second Add Beam item in the list to
undo the most recent two steps.
• The diagonal members are deleted.
STAAD.Pro will purge the Undo cache if changes are made inthe command file editor and the Save command is issued.
Nothing that was done before the command fi le was changed
and saved will be available to Undo.
There is an Undo feature in the command file editor, but once
changes are saved and the editor is closed, that cache i s purged
as well.
The Undo command from the Main Window cannot undochanges made in the command file editor.
• Click the pulldown arrow to the right of the Redo icon .
• Double click the second Add Beam item in the list to restore
the diagonal members.
• A copy of this model is already saved in this state in the
dataset, and is named Dataset 2_4.std.
• Click File | Close to return to the Start Page.
• Click No when asked if you want to save the changes.
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Using the “Add Beams” Tool:
• Reopen the file named Dataset 2_3.std .
• This returns us to a version of the portal frame model that does
not already have the cross braces.
• The model automatically opens to the Job sub-page of the
Setup page in the Page Control area .
• Note that no gr id is currently disp layed.
• The Add Beams tool provides another way to add
members to a model.
• It will automatically snap to existing nodes in the structure and
allow a beam to be added between two existing nodes, without
the use of a grid.
• Only adds one beam at a time.
• Does not use the last node as the beginning for the next beam.
• Click the Add Beams tool on the Geometry toolbar.
• Note that the black tr iangle in the lower right corner of th is
icon indicates that there are additional tools available
“beneath” the visible icon.
• To display the other tools associated with this icon, click and
hold the left mouse button while pointing to one of these
icons.
The Add Beams tool is also accessible from the Menu Bar by
clicking Geometry | Add Beam | Add Beam from Point to
Point.
• The mouse cursor changes to the Add Beams cursor.
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• Click at the lower left node in the portal frame, and note that
a line starts “rubber-banding” between that node and the
cursor location.
•
Click at theupper right node
. A single member has now been created between those two nodes. Note no “rubber-
banding”.
• Draw the other diagonal in a similar manner.
• Note that these members were drawn without the use of gr ids.
• The Add Beam tool can also be used to add a beam where there
is no node.
• Click near the middle of the horizontal member .
• Click Yes in response to the prompt asking if you want to add
a node.
The Insert Nodes into Beam dialog offers many ways to
specify the location of new nodes to be added.
•
Enter 0.5 in the Proportion field, and click the Add New
Point button. A value of 3.5000 {1.0000} appears in the
Insert ion Points box.
• Click OK . A new node is created at the specified location,
and the text prompt in the lower left corner of the screen
indicates “Click on node at start of beam”.
• Click on the node that was just created . A line starts
“rubber-banding” between that node and the cursor location.
• Click near the middle of the vertical member on the right .
• Click Yes to the prompt about adding a new node.
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• This time, click the Add Mid Point button, and then click
OK .
Note that this is a faster method of adding a node at the mid-
point than the method used on the horizontal member.
• Click on this new node to finish adding the new member.
• An even faster method would be to use the Add Beam between
Mid-Points tool . This is one of the additional tools
available “beneath” the Add Beams icon.
• Click and hold the left mouse button while pointing to the
Add Beams tool.
• When the sub-toolbar pops up, keep the left mouse button
depressed and point the cursor to the Add Beam between Mid-
Points tool , and then release the mouse button.
• The Add Beam between Mid-Points tool now remains the
visible icon.
•
Click the Add Beam between Mid-Points tool. The message
in the Status Bar says “Select First Beam”.
• Click on the vertical member on the left . The message in the
Status Bar now says “Select Second Beam”, and the line starts
“rubber-banding” from the mid-point of the vertical member.
• Click on the left-hand member of the top horizontal beam.
• Another diagonal member is created as shown below:
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Figure 2. 11
• Click the Add Beam between Mid-Points toolbar button
again to turn the tool off.
An alternate method to turn the tool off would be to click
Geometry | Add Beam | Add Beam between Mid-Points from
the Menu Bar.
• A copy of this model is already saved in this state in the
dataset, and is named Dataset 2_5.std.
• Click File | Close to return to the Start Page.
• Click No when asked if you want to save the changes.
Creating geometry using the spreadsheet:
• On the Start Page, click Open Project… and point to the
location of the dataset installation.
• Select Dataset 2_2.std and click Open .
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• Click the Geometry page tab in the Page Control area .
• Click the Beam sub-page tab.
Grids will intentionally be left off to illustrate that this method
of entering geometry is completely independent of grid
systems.
• Node 1 has al ready been entered. In the Nodes spreadsheet in
the Data Area, input the following coordinate values, using the
tab or arrow keys to move between cells:
Node (X, Y, Z)
1 (0, 0, 0)2 (0, 8, 0) {(0, 2.5, 0)}
3 (7, 8, 0) {(2, 2.5,0)}
4 (7, 0, 0) {(2, 0, 0)}
• The nodes appear in the Main Window as their coordinates are
entered in the spreadsheet.
• In the Beams spreadsheet, input the following node numbers,
using the tab key to move between cells:
Beam Node A Node B
1 1 2
2 2 3
3 3 4
4 1 3
5 2 4
•
The beams appear in the Main Window as their end nodes are
entered in the spreadsheet.
• Note that this portal frame has been created complete ly
independently of any grid systems.
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• It is not necessary to save this model. The dataset already
contains a file in this state named Dataset 2_4.std.
• Click File | Close to return to the Start Page.
• Click No when asked if you want to save the changes.
How to use the Structure Wizard:
• Structure Wizard is a powerful and useful utility for creating
structures from a built-in library of standard prototype
structures.
• For a demonstration of some of its capabilities, Structure
Wizard will be used to build a model of the structure shown in
the figure below:
Figure 2. 12
• The general procedure will be to create the structure geometry
in three steps:
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• Get the basic truss unit from Structure Wizard .
• Add a column.
• Use the Mirror command to create the left side.
This will be demonstrated in a later section.
Creating the Truss:
• Click New Project… from the Project Tasks section of the
Start Page.
• Click Space type structure in the New dialog.
• Enter STRUCTURE WIZARD for the File Name.
STAAD.Pro will automatically append the .std extension.
• Select Foot {meter} for Length Units and KiloPound
{KiloNewton} for Force Units.
• Click the Next button.
• Click the Open Structure Wizard checkbox in the Where do
you want to go? dialog, and then click the Finish button.
The Structure Wizard can also be accessed from within
STAAD.Pro at any time by using the Geometry | Run
Structure Wizard command.
• The STAAD.Pro graphic environment now appears, and the
Structure Wizard window opens.
Note the radio button options to toggle between Prototype
Models and Saved User Models.
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STAAD.Pro provides the ability to save user models in a
parametr ic format that al lows them to be recalled and modified
quickly.
•
SelectPrototype Models
.
• Click File | Select Units in the Structure Wizard’s Menu Bar .
The Select Units dialog opens and allows a choice of unit
systems to use in the definition of the prototype structure.
This does not necessarily have to be set to the same units as
the main STAAD.Pro model.
This makes it possible to create a prototype in one unit system
and then merge it into a model with a different unit system.
• Ensure that the units are set to Feet {Meters} , and click OK .
• Click the Model Type list in the upper left corner and note the
buil t- in categories of structure prototype models that are
already available.
• Select Truss Models in the Model Type list.
Structure Wizard displays six types of truss prototype models
on the left side of the window.
• Double-click the North Light truss icon to create the right
half of the truss structure.
Another option to select the North Light prototype is to drag
and drop the North Light structure type icon over to the right
side of the Structure Wizard window, where the coordinateaxes tripod is displayed.
• The Select Parameters dialog contains fields for entering
parametr ic dimensions for the structure. Note that the units
are in feet {meters}, as expected.
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• Enter values as shown in the figure below:
Figure 2. 133
In this example, the Width is set to 0, because only a planar
model is desired, not multiple units in the third direction.
{For metric units, set the Length dimension to 7.5 meters and
the Height to 3 meters}.
• Click the button with 3 dots in it just to the right of the
No. of bays along length field. A dialog is displayed showingthe current breakdown of bay lengths. By default, the program
sets the bay lengths equal. This dialog permits the individual
bay lengths to be revised manual ly , but it enforces the
constraint that the sum of the bay lengths must remain the
same as the overall length of the truss.
For this example, leave the bay lengths set to their default
values.
• Click OK or Cancel to dismiss this dialog.
• Click the Apply button in the Select Parameters dialog. The
structure now appears on the right side of the Structure Wizard
window.
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• The local origin for the structure is indicated by a colored
coordinate axis tripod. Note the location of the origin and the
orientation of the local coordinate axes. It will be useful to
know where the local origin is when importing the structure
into the STAAD.Pro model. The coordinate axis tripod showsthat the origin is located at the lower left corner of the truss.
• The structure can be viewed from various angles by dragging it
with the mouse. It helps to grab the structure near the top of
the view, and think of it as being encapsulated in a transparent
sphere.
• Press and hold the Control (Ctrl) key, and note how it locks
the structure so that it only rotates about one of the twoorthogonal axes in the plane of the screen.
• Press and hold the Shift key, and note how it locks the
structure so that it only rotates about one of the three local
axes indicated by the tripod. The axis of rotation is controlled
by where the st ructure is grabbed with respect to the three
reference circles shown on the screen.
•
After rotating the structure in either the Shift key or Control(Ctrl) key modes, just click the mouse anywhere in the right
side of the Structure Wizard window to return to “clear
sphere” rotation mode.
• Now, pull down Structure Wizard’s File menu and select
Merge Model with STAAD.Pro Model .
If you do not see the Merge Model with STAAD.Pro Model
command, check to be sure that you have pulled down
Structure Wizard’s File menu, not the File menu in
STAAD.Pro’s Main Window.
• Click Yes in the next dialog to confirm the intent to transfer
the prototype structure into the STAAD.Pro project.
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• Some discussion about units…
• The purpose of the Paste Prototype Model dialog is to
adjust the position of the prototype model when it is
placed in the STAAD.Pro model. Therefore, the units
provided in the Paste Prototype Model dialog are
controlled by the Set Current Display Unit… setting in the
STAAD.Pro main menu. (Tools | Set Current Display
Unit…)
• By contrast, the purpose of the Select Parameters dialog is
to create the geometry of the prototype within the
Structure Wizard . Therefore, the units provided in the
Select Parameters dialog are controlled by the Select Units
setting in the Structure Wizard main menu. (File | Select
Unit ).
• For this reason, it is possible that the units that come up in
the Paste Prototype Model dialog could be different than
the units that come up in the Select Parameters dialog.
• By default, a prototype model will be placed into a
STAAD.Pro model so that the origin of the prototype model
coincides with the origin of the STAAD.Pro model.
• The Paste Prototype Model dialog currently provides two
methods to shift the insertion point of the prototype model to a
location other than (0, 0, 0) in the STAAD.Pro model:
• By distance between following two nodes and specifying
two reference nodes, or
• By the following X, Y, and Z values and entering the
desired coordinate location.
If the prototype model were being merged into a STAAD.Pro
model that already contained some elements, a third option to
locate the prototype model would be available. This option
uses a Reference Pt button to allow the prototype model to be
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inserted at any existing point on the STAAD.Pro model. This
option will be demonstrated in a later section.
• The truss is to be supported by 15-foot {5-meter} columns. If
the coordinate location of the bottom of the columns is to be atY = 0, then the truss should be inserted 15 feet {5 meters} in
the positive Y direction from the origin of the global
coordinate system.
• Select By the following X, Y, and Z values in the Paste
Prototype Model dialog, and enter a value of 15 ft { 5 meters}
in the Y field.
• Click OK .
The structure is transferred into the STAAD.Pro model. The
Structure Wizard is dismissed, and the STAAD.Pro Main
Window is now visible.
• Click the Geometry | Beam page in the Page Control.
• In the Nodes table in the Data Area, note that the Y coordinate
for nodes 1 through 5 is 15 ft. {5 m}, indicating that the truss
was indeed inserted 15 feet {5 meters} above the STAAD.Pro
origin.
Adding the column:
• The next step in creating this model is to add the column at the
shallow end of the truss. But first, the node at the base of the
column must be created.
• In the Nodes table of the Data Area, input the coordinates (25,
0, 0) {7.5, 0, 0} on the line for node 11.
• The newly created node 11 appears in the diagram in the Main
Window.
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• Click Geometry | Add Beam | Add Beam from Point to
Point .
The cursor changes to the Add Beams cursor.
•
Click the node on the shallow end of the truss and clickagain at the new node .
• Click the Add Beams icon to turn the Add Beams tool
off.
This tool remains active until it is turned off.
• The remaining steps for completing this model will be
demonstrated in a later section.
• A copy of this model is already saved in this state in the
dataset, and is named Dataset 2_STRUCTURE WIZARD.std.
• Click File | Close to return to the Start Page.
• Click No when asked if you want to save.
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2.9 Modeling Exercise 1
Create this model by applying the modeling techniques that have
been presented up to this point. Some abbreviated notes are provided below for general guidance if necessary.
Tips:
•
New Project… from the Start Page, Project Tasks category.
• Space , My Exercise 1 , Foot {Meters} , KiloPound
{KiloNewton} , Add Beam .
• Geometry Page, Beam Sub-page, Snap Node/Beam dialog,
Edit… , adjust grid to suit.
Figure 2. 14
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• Note the order of the node numbers in the figure .
• Press and hold Control (Ctrl) to move the “hot spot”.
• Snap Node/Beam to stop adding members.
• Close button to dismiss the Snap Node/Beam dialog.
• File | Close , Yes to save.
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2.10 Editing Structu re Geometry
How to use the cursors in the STAAD.Pro Selection toolbar:
• In the Project Tasks section of the Start Page, click Open
Project… and open the model called Dataset 2_5.std .
• The Selection toolbar is normally docked vertically on the left
side of your screen.
• Hover the cursor over any of the toolbar buttons and a tooltip
help label pops up with the function of the toolbar button.
• Twelve different cursors are available for selecting the various
types of STAAD.Pro entities.
• Each cursor selects specific types of objects for editing or
manipulation.
• Having specific cursors can be very convenient when assigning
properties where various types of enti ties are crowded
together.
Cursor Selects
Nodes Cursor Nodes only
Beams Cursor Members only
Plates Cursor Plate elements only
Surface Cursor Surface entities only
Solids Cursor Solid elements only
Geometry Cursor All types of entities
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Select Text Text labels only
Load Edit Cursor Loads only
Support Edi t Cursor Supports only
Member Release Edit Cursor Member releases only
Filtered Selection CursorMultiple types of geometric
entities with specific attributes
Select JointsConnections defined in the RAM
Connection module
Cursor Facts:
• The Nodes Cursor selects the nearest node when you click
anywhere in the drawing area.
• The Beams Cursor selects/deselects individual members by
clicking on them. Multiple members are selected by pressing
Control (Ctrl) and clicking.
• The Geometry Cursor selects all entities in a certain area, no
matter what type of entities they are.
• The Select Text Cursor is disabled or “grayed out” if there are
no text objects in the model.
• The Filtered Selection Cursor helps quickly identify the
location of entities with certain attributes. (This cursor type
will be easier to demonstrate once the model has properties
assigned to the members.)
• The Select Joints cursor is disabled or “grayed out” unless you
are in the RAM Connection module and at least one connection
has been defined.
• In addition to using the toolbars, you can also choose cursors
from the Select menu on the Menu Bar.
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• Another related toolbar, the Labels toolbar, contains more
cursors that are used to turn individual labels on and off. It is
explained in more detail in the Module 5 – The Post Processor.
• Click Select | Selection Mode , and note that three options areavailable: Drag Box, Drag Line , and Region . This works
hand-in-hand with the cursor choice.
• The cursor choice controls WHAT items will be selected. The
Selection Mode controls HOW those items will be selected.
Drag Box:
•
Creates a rectangular selection box.
• When the Beams Cursor is used in the Drag Box mode, the
rule is that a member will be selected if the box includes the
mid-point of the member. This holds true regardless of which
direction the box is placed (left to right, right to left, top to
bottom, or bottom to top) .
Drag Line:
• Creates a selection line.
• When the Beams Cursor is used in the Drag Line mode, any
beam crossed by the Drag Line will be selected.
Region:
• Creates a selection polygon of any shape.
• The polygon is always closed, and left-clicking with the mouse
inserts additional vertices.
• Can be used to create very irregular shapes to selectively
include and exclude various items.
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• Double-click to stop creating more vertices and execute the
selection.
• Similar to Drag Box, a member will be selected if the region
includes the mid-point of the member.
Additional options for member selection:
• Click Select | By List | Beams… from the Menu Bar .
• The Select Beams dialog will open with a list box listing all
the beams in the model.
• One option is to select from the list of all beams in the
model by clicking individual beam numbers in the list.
Control (Ctrl) + click will select multiple beams. Shift +
click will select a contiguous group of beam numbers.
• Another option is to type the desired beam numbers in the
Enter list field, separated by spaces.
• To demonstrate the use of the “To” command to select arange of members, enter 1 To 3 in the Enter list field.
• Click the Select Listed Entities button followed by the
Close button.
• Click Select | By All | All Beams from the Menu Bar to
quickly select all beams in a model.
•
Click Select | Entity at Node | Beams from the Menu Bar toselect all beams that connect to a particular node to be chosen
from a list.
• Click Select | By Inverse | Inverse Beam Selection from the
Menu Bar to invert the current selection status of all beams in
the model. Selected beams become deselected and vice versa.
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• Click Select | Beams Parallel To | (X or Y or Z) from the
Menu Bar to select all beams that are parallel to the selected
axis.
•
And others.
How to delete members graphically:
• Ensure that the cursor type is the Beams Cursor .
Check the Selection toolbar in the upper left corner of the
screen or pull down the Select menu to see which cursor is
active.
• Hold Control (Ctrl) and click on the two highlighted
members in the view below.
Figure 2. 155
• Press the Delete key on the keyboard, or click the Delete iconon the Menu Bar, or click Edit | Delete .
• Click OK to confirm.
• Sometimes deleting members leaves nodes without structural
element attachment, known as Orphan Nodes.
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• If Orphan Nodes are created when members are deleted
graphically, STAAD.Pro will prompt for a decision as to
whether to delete these nodes or not.
Using the spreadsheets to delete or modify geometry:
• It is also possible to delete beams (one at a time or many at
once) from the Beams spreadsheet.
This method may be useful if the beams to be deleted are in
sequential numerical order, making them easy to select from a
list.
•
Click the Geometry page tab in the Page Control area .
• Click on the Beam sub-page tab.
• Notice the Nodes and Beams tables in the Data Area that
resemble spreadsheets.
If the table names are not visible, make their windows wider.
•
These tables are actually compatible with Microsoft Excel
worksheets. They can be copied and pasted into Microsoft
Excel. The structure geometry can also be created in a
spreadsheet and then copied and pasted into STAAD.Pro.
When pasting from Excel, select the first row in the
STAAD.Pro table, right mouse click, and choose Paste. Use
the column mapping table to map the data into the appropriate
columns.
• Table data can also be copied and pasted from RAM Advanse
into STAAD.Pro.
• These tables are completely interactive with the graphics
display.
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• Ensure that the Beams Cursor is active, and click on any
member .
• The corresponding member in the table is highlighted.
• Select the Nodes Cursor and fence around any node .
• The line in the Nodes table corresponding to that node
becomes highlighted.
• Click any row in the Beams or Nodes tables and the
corresponding beam or node is highlighted in the graphic
display.
• Change one of the coordinates in the Nodes table and watch
the display change, then change it back to its original value .
• Delete any line from the Beams spreadsheet and note the
effect in the graphic display.
• Click Undo to get the beam back.
If Orphan Nodes are created when members are deleted fromthe spreadsheet, STAAD.Pro does not automatically prompt
for a decision as to whether to delete them or not.
However, they can be automatically detected with Tools |
Orphan Nodes | Highlight , or they can be automatically
deleted with Tools | Orphan Nodes | Delete .
• A copy of this model is already saved in the dataset, and is
named Dataset 2_6.std.
• Click File | Close to return to the Start Page.
• Click No when asked if you want to save.
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Using the STAAD.Pro Editor to modify structure geometry:
• Click Open Project… in the Project Tasks section of the Start
Page.
• Open Dataset 2_6.std .
• As you create your structure using the graphic interface,
STAAD.Pro converts your actions into a command language
and stores them in a command file, a simple text file in ASCII
format.
• STAAD.Pro appends the command file with the extension .std .
• Experienced STAAD.Pro users often find that if they just want
to make a quick change to a value, it is easier to edit the value
in the command file, rather than modifying it with the graphic
interface.
Early releases of STAAD did not include a graphical user
interface (GUI). All program input had to be performed by
writing statements in a command file.
The STAAD.Pro Examples manual contains twenty-nine
example problems and fourteen verification problems created
using the input file as the primary input method. You can
study these examples if you wish to learn how to write or
interpret STAAD.Pro command files.
You can also issue a command using the graphic interface, and
then open the command file to see what the equivalent
command language is.
• Open the editor by clicking Edit | Edit Input Command File
or by clicking the icon on the File toolbar.
• Any standard text editor can actually be used to create or edit
the STAAD.Pro input file.
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• The STAAD.Pro command file editor offers the advantage of
syntax checking.
• In the STAAD.Pro editor, STAAD.Pro keywords, numeric
data, comments, etc., are displayed in distinct colors: • Red = Commands
• Black = User-defined text labels and names
• Blue = Numerical values
• Green = Remarks and comments
•
The command language syntax resembles ordinary English.From the Jo int Coordinates statement, you can see that the
node definitions consist of node numbers followed by the XYZ
coordinates. Node data fields are separated (delimited) by
semicolons (;).
• Find the coordinates of node number 3, and edit the Y
coordinate from 8 to 12 {from 2.5 to 4}.
•
Click File | Save and then File | Exit in the STAAD Editor’smenu bar (not the STAAD.Pro menu bar).
• Click the Geometry tab.
• Note that node number 3 in the graphic display has moved.
The node table in the Data Area now shows a value of 12 {4}
for the Y coordinate of node number 3.
•
Go back into the editor and change the Y coordinate for node 3 back to 8 {2.5}.
• Click File | Save and then File | Exit in the STAAD Editor’s
menu bar.
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• Remember to never make changes in the command file and in
the graphics input mode simultaneously.
• Always be sure to save and close the command file before
going back to working on the model in the graphic interface.
• Click File | Close to return to the Start Page.
• Click No when asked if you want to save.
How to merge members:
• Open Dataset 2_7.std .
• Click View | Structure Diagrams… from the Menu Bar.
• Click the Labels tab.
• Click the checkboxes to view Beam Numbers and Node
Points , and then click OK .
• Notice that the top horizontal beam is segmented into three
individual members of various lengths, with two intermediate
nodes.
This was caused by the diagonal members that were modeled
and then subsequently deleted.
• Since there is no longer a reason to maintain those particular
intermediate nodes, they can be removed, and the individual
members can be merged into one.
• Ensure that the Beams Cursor is active, and select the three
horizontal members .
• Click Geometry | Merge Selected Members .
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• The Merge Selected Beams dialog opens, and the three member
numbers are listed.
• In the Beam No. to Keep list, choose 10 .
If materials and properties had already been assigned, this
dialog also provides the ability to specify which to keep as
multiple members are merged into one.
• Click Merge and Close .
• The top horizontal member has been consolidated into one
member with number 10.
How to split a beam into two or more members:
• Ensure that Dataset 2_7.std is still open.
• Assume that the top horizontal member needs to be segmented
into three, equal-length segments.
• Select the top horizontal member .
• Click Geometry | Split Beam .
• The Insert Nodes into Beam dialog displays the member
number and length. It contains three options for specifying
where to insert new nodes along the beam: Add New Point ,
Add Mid Point , Add n Points .
Add New Point:
• Distance from the starting node to the new node can be
entered in the Distance field, or
• A ratio can be entered in the Proportion field, where the
value represents distance from the starting end of the
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member to the new node divided by the total length,
expressed as a decimal value.
For example, to add a node ¼ the distance from the
starting end to the ending end, type 0.25 in the Proportion
field.
Add Mid Point:
• Creates an insertion point at the midpoint of the member.
Add n Points:
• Enter the number of nodes to insert into a beam in the “n
=” field. The program divides the beam into n+1 equal
segments, separated by n nodes.
• Enter a value of 2 in the n = field.
• Click Add n Points .
• Click OK .
Geometry | Insert Node… and Geometry | Split Beam are
identical commands provided for convenience.
The Insert Node command is also accessible through the menu
that pops up from a right-click of the mouse in the Main
Window.
Note that the Insert Node command will not appear in the pop-
up menu unless at least one member has been selected.
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How to create a connection between two intersecting members:
• Ensure that Dataset 2_7.std is still open.
•
The two diagonal members form a cross-brace, but there iscurrently no connection between them. The cross braces are
independent members, and cannot transfer any load to each
other.
• Assume that the intent is for the bracing members to be
connected and to transfer load at their intersection.
• This condition can be achieved easily in STAAD.Pro by
splitting and connecting these members at their intersection.
• To highlight the two diagonal members, ensure that the Beams
Cursor is active.
• Click on one of the cross-braces , hold down the Control
(Ctrl) key, and then click on the other cross-brace .
• Click Geometry | Intersect Selected Members | Intersect .
The Enter Tolerance field in the Intersect Members dialog is
an option through which to tell the program to find the point of
closest approach between 2 lines even when they do not
intersect each other. It is useful in a case when a mathematical
precision rela ted error in the respective node coordinates
causes the 2 lines to be in different planes.
For lines which truly intersect each other, the tolerance can be
set to zero, and the intersect members command will function properly.
• Leave the Tolerance set to 0 and click OK .
• Click OK to acknowledge the message box indicating that two
new beams have been created.
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• Both diagonal members have been split into two, and a new
node now exists at the intersection point.
• In the Intersect Selected Members sub-menu, there is another
option called Highlight .
• The Highlight function also requests a tolerance value like the
Intersect function.
• The Highlight function then graphically highlights all
intersecting members in the structure that satisfy the tolerance.
This is a useful tool in models with many crossing but
unattached members. The highlighted conditions can be
graphically examined and selectively split or left as-is.
• A copy of this model is already saved in this state in the
dataset, and is named Dataset 2_8.std.
• Click File | Close to return to the Start Page.
• Click No when asked if you want to save.
How to renumber beams and nodes:
• Open Dataset 2_8.std .
• Click on the Geometry page tab in the Page Control area.
• Click on the Beam sub-page tab.
• Click on the Symbols and Labels icon in the Structure
toolbar.
• Click Beam Numbers on the Labels tab, Beams category, and
then click OK .
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• Looking at the Beams spreadsheet and Nodes spreadsheet, note
that the member numbers and node numbers are not in
consecutive numerical order due to editing.
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