Staad.pro2007 full course

Using STAAD Pro 2007 Courseware
(With American Design Codes)
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III
Courseware Purpose & Objectives
This courseware provides an overall look over STAAD Pro 2007. It demonstrates the steps to be
followed to produce the structural analysis & design of two types of buildings; concrete and steel.
Also the courseware concentrate over the different results generated from the program, and how to
read them, view them, and finally generate the necessary reports from them.
At the completion of this course, the trainee will be able to:
Understand STAAD Pro way of doing the job
Creating the geometry using different methods
Use more advanced technique in creating geometry
Defining the Cross-Sections of Beams, Columns, Plates
Defining the Constants, Specifications, and Supports
Defining the Load Systems
Analyzing your Model using the appropriate Analysis method
Reviewing the Analysis Results
Performing Concrete Design
Performing Steel Design
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IV
Table of Contents
Module 1 Introduction to STAAD Pro
History of STAAD Software……………………………………………………………………….… 1-3
Method of Analysis…………………………………………………………………………………... 1-5
Four steps to reach your goal…………….………………………………………………….………. 1-6
Starting STAAD Pro…………………………………………………………………………………. 1-8
The Opening Screen …………………………………………………………………………………. 1-8
Creating New File……………………………………………………………………………………. 1-9
Opening an Existing File……………………………………………………………………………... 1-12
STAAD Pro Screen ………………………………………………………………………………….. 1-13
Closing a file…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1-14
Existing STAAD Pro…………………………………………………………………………………. 1-15
Saving & Saving As……………………………………………………………………………….…. 1-15
Notes …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1-16
Module Review………………………………………………………………………………………. 1-17
Module Review Answers…………………………………………………………………………….. 1-18
Module 2 Geometry
Understanding STAAD Pro Way………………………………………………………………….…. 2-3
What are Nodes, Beams, and Plates…………………………………………………………….……. 2-4
How things are done in the Input file?……………………………………………………………….. 2-7
Exercise 1…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2-9
Geometry Creation Methods…………………………………………………………………………. 2-11
Method 1: Using Structure Wizard…………………………………………………………….…….. 2-12
Exercise 2…………………………………………………………………………….………………. 2-17
Exercise 3…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2-23
Exercise 4…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2-28
Things you can do in Structure Wizard………………………………………………………………. 2-30
Exercise 5…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2-33
Method 2: Drafting the Geometry using Snap/Grid………………………………………………….. 2-34
Exercise 6…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2-46
Viewing………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2-50
Selecting……………………………………………………………………………………………… 2-51
Using Selecting While Viewing 3D Geometry………………………………………………………. 2-54
Exercise 7…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2-56
Method 3: Using Copy/Cut with Paste………………………………………………………………. 2-57
Exercise 8…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2-58
Method 4: Using Spreadsheet (Excel) Copy and Paste………………………………………………. 2-59
Exercise 9…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2-61
Method 5: Using DXF importing file function………………………………………………………. 2-63
Exercise 10…………………………………………………………………………………………… 2-66
Workshop 1-A………………………………………………………………………………………... 2-67
Workshop 1-B………………………………………………………………………………………... 2-70
Notes………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2-72
Module Review………………………………………………………………………………………. 2-73
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V
Module 3 Useful Function to Complete the Geometry
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………... 3-3
Translational Repeat………………………………………………………………………………….. 3-4
Exercise 11……………………………………………………………………………….…………... 3-5
Circular Repeat……………………………………………………………………………………….. 3-6
Exercise 12…………………………………………………………………………………………… 3-7
Mirror………………………………………………………………………………………….……... 3-8
Exercise 13…………………………………………………………………………………………… 3-9
Rotate……………………………………………………………………………….………………... 3-10
Exercise 14…………………………………………………………………………………………… 3-11
Move………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3-12
Insert Node………………………………………………………………………………………….... 3-13
Add Beam Between Mid-Points……………………………………………………………………… 3-14
Add Beam by Perpendicular Intersection……………………………………………………….……. 3-14
Exercise 15…………………………………………………………………………………………… 3-15
Connect Beams along an Axis…………………………………………………………………….….. 3-17
Intersect Selected Members…………………………………………………………………………... 3-17
Exercise 16……………………………………………………………………………….…………... 3-19
Cut Section…………………………………………………………………………………………… 3-22
Renumber…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3-24
Exercise 17…………………………………………………………………………………………… 3-25
Delete………………………………………………………………………………………….……… 3-27
Undo/Redo…………………………………………………………………………………………… 3-28
Zooming/Panning……………………………………………………………………………….……. 3-28
Dimensioning………………………………………………………………………………………… 3-30
Pointing to Nodes, Beams, and Plates………………………………………………………………... 3-31
Global and Local Coordinate System………………………………………………………………… 3-33
Notes………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3-36
Module Review………………………………………………………………………………………. 3-37
Module 4 Properties
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………… 4-3
Property Types………………………………………………………………………………………... 4-3
Type 1: Prismatic……………………………………………………………………………………... 4-4
Viewing Cross-Section………………………………………………………………………………... 4-7
Exercise 18……………………………………………………………………………………………. 4-8
Type 2: Built-In Steel Table…………………………………………………………………………... 4-9
Exercise 19……………………………………………………………………………………………. 4-13
Type 3: Thickness…………………………………………………………………………………….. 4-14
General Notes About Property Assigning…………………………………………………………….. 4-15
Workshop 2-A………………………………………………………………………………………… 4-20
Workshop 2-B………………………………………………………………………………………… 4-21
Module Review……………………………………………………………………………………….. 4-23
Module Review Answers……………………………………………………………………………... 4-24
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Module 5 Constants, Supports, and Specifications
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………… 5-3
Material Constants……………………………………………………………………………….…… 5-3
Exercise 20……………………………………………………………………………………………. 5-6
Geometry Constant…………………………………………………………………………………… 5-7
Exercise 21……………………………………………………………………………………………. 5-10
Supports………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5-11
How to Assign Supports……………………………………………………………………………… 5-12
Editing Supports……………………………………………………………………………………… 5-13
Exercise 22……………………………………………………………………………………………. 5-13
Specifications…………………………………………………………………………………………. 5-14
Exercise 23……………………………………………………………………………………………. 5-19
Notes ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5-20
Workshop 3-A………………………………………………………………………………………... 5-21
Workshop 3-B………………………………………………………………………………………… 5-22
Module Review……………………………………………………………………………………….. 5-23
Module Review Answers……………………………………………………………………………... 5-24
Module 6 Loading
Introduction…….…………………………………………………………………………………….. 6-3
How to Create Primary Load…………………………………………………………………………. 6-4
Individual Loads: Introduction……………………………………………………………………….. 6-6
Individual Loads: Selfweight………………………………………………………………………… 6-7
Individual Loads: Members Loads…………………………………………………………………… 6-8
Exercise 24…………………………………………………………………………………………… 6-14
Individual Loads: Area Load…………………………………………………………………………. 6-17
Individual Loads: Floor Load………………………………………………………………………… 6-18
Individual Loads: Plate Loads………………………………………………………………………... 6-20
Individual Loads: Node Load………………………………………………………………………… 6-25
Exercise 25…………………………………………………………………………………………… 6-26
Individual Loads: Viewing & Editing………………………………………………………………... 6-27
How to Create Manual Combinations………………………………...……………………………… 6-29
How to Create Automatic Combinations…………………………………………………………….. 6-30
Exercise 26…………………………………………………………………………………………… 6-32
Workshop 4-A………………………………………………………………………………………... 6-33
Workshop 4-B………………………………………………………………………………………... 6-34
Module Review………………………………………………………………………………………. 6-37
Module 7 Analysis
Introduction…….…………………………………………………………………………………….. 7-3
Perform Analysis Command…………………………………………………………………………. 7-3
P-Delta Analysis Command………………………………………………………………………….. 7-6
The Execution Command…………………………………………………………………………….. 7-9
Workshop 5A & 5B…………………………………………………………………………………... 7-13
Notes………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7-14
Module Review………………………………………………………………………………………. 7-15
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Module 8 Post Processing
Introduction…….……………………………………………………………………………………... 8-3
First Step……………………………………………………………………………………………… 8-3
Node Displacement……………………………………………………………………………….…... 8-5
Node Reactions…………………………………………………………………………………….…. 8-10
Beam Forces………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8-12
Beam Stresses………………………………………………………………………………………… 8-16
Beam Unity Check – for steel members only ………………………………………………………... 8-19
Beam Graphs…………………………………………………………………………………………. 8-20
Plate Contour…………………………………………………………………………………………. 8-21
Plate Results Along Line……………………………………………………………………………... 8-24
Animation……………………………………………………………………………………………... 8-27
Reports………………………………………………………………………………………………... 8-28
Other Ways: Double-Clicking a Beam……………………………………………………………….. 8-37
Other Ways: Double-Clicking a Plate………………………………………………………………… 8-40
Notes ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8-43
Workshop 6-A & 6-B…………………………………………………………………………………. 8-44
Module Review………………………………………………………………………………………. 8-45
Module 9 Concrete Design
Introduction…......……………………………………………………………………………………. 9-3
Modes of Concrete Design…………………………………………………………………………… 9-4
Step 1: Job Info………………………………………………………………….…………………… 9-4
Step 2: Creating Envelopes………………………………………………………………….……….. 9-5
Step 3: Creating Members……………………………………………………………………………. 9-6
Step 4: Creating Slabs………………………………………………………………………………... 9-8
Step 5: Creating Briefs……………………………………………………………………………….. 9-9
Step 6: Creating Groups……………………………………………………………………………… 9-17
Step 7: Design Modes………………………………………………………………………………... 9-18
Step 8: Reading Results: Beam Main Layout………………………………………………………... 9-21
Step 9: Reading Results: Beam Main Rft…………………………………………………………….. 9-22
Step 10: Reading Results: Beam Shear Layout………………………………………………………. 9-24
Step 11: Reading Results: Beam Shear Rft…………………………………………………………... 9-25
Step 12: Reading Results: Beam Drawing…………………………………………………………… 9-26
Step 13: Reading Results: Column Main Layout…………………………………………………….. 9-28
Step 14: Reading Results: Column Shear Layout……………………………………………………. 9-29
Step 15: Reading Results: Column Results…………………………………………………………... 9-30
Step 16: Reading Results: Column Drawing…………………………………………………………. 9-31
Step 17: Reading Results: Generating Design Reports………………………………………………. 9-32
Workshop 7A………………………………………………………………………………………… 9-36
Module Review………………………………………………………………………………………. 9-39
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VIII
Module 10 Steel Design
Introduction….....……………………………………………………………………………………... 10-3
Step 1: Load Envelope Setup…………………………………………………………………………. 10-4
Step 2: Member Setup………………………………………………………………………………... 10-5
Step 3: Change the Restraints………………………………………………………………………… 10-6
Step 4: Creating Briefs………………………………………………………………………………... 10-9
Step 5: Creating Design Groups……………………………………………………………………… 10-14
Steel Design Commands in STAAD Pro……………………………………………………………... 10-15
Workshop 7-B………………………………………………………………………………………… 10-18
Module Review………………………………………………………………………………………. 10-21
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IX
Preface
STAAD Pro is a tool for structural engineers.
This courseware is meant for the new users of STAAD Pro 2007,
whom didn’t work before on STAAD Pro, but possess reasonable
experience of Windows OS.
This courseware is NOT a replacement of the manuals of STAAD
Pro; on the contrary, we encourage all the readers to read the
manuals thoroughly. We consider this courseware as the first step
for the beginners, which after finishing it, and with the help of
STAAD Pro manuals along with the Help system the user will be
able to master all of the other features of STAAD Pro.
This courseware’s main objective is to go with the novice user step-
by-step starting from creation of the geometry up until performing
concrete and steel design.
The user should have enough experience in the manual structural
analysis and design methods , as neither STAAD Pro nor this
courseware will teach any manual structural methods.
This courseware can be used as instructor-led courseware, or teach-
your-self courseware:
• As for the first option the estimated time would be 3 days, 8
hours a day.
• As for the second option, the reader can take it up to his/her
convenience.
There are 26 exercises to be solved, each after certain topic
discussed. The main reason of these exercises is to let the user
practically go through the procedure, rather than just reading about
it.
Also, there are 14 workshops; 7 for concrete, and 7 for steel. It is
preferable to go through all of them, so the reader will be exposed to
all the functions of STAAD Pro.
This courseware will cover the basic and intermediate levels of
knowledge in STAAD Pro.
This courseware is covering STAAD Pro 2007, and it is designed
for the people who use the American Codes for both Concrete
Design, and Steel Design using Metric units.
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1-1
Module 1:
Introduction to STAAD Pro
This module contains:
History of STAAD Software
Method of Analysis
Three steps to reach your goal
Filing System of STAAD Pro
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Using STAAD Pro
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Module 1: Introduction to STAAD Pro
1-3
History of STAAD Software
STAAD stands for STructural Analysis And Design. It is one of the
first software applications in the world made for the purpose of
helping the structural engineers to automate their work, to eliminate
the tedious and lengthy procedures of the manual methods. Its
history is as follows:
STAAD-III for DOS STAAD first versions were built for DOS Operating System, and it
was non-graphical software. The user should first undergo a lengthy
reading to understand the syntax of STAAD language of commands
in order to create the input file, then will send this file to the analysis
and design engine to execute it. Text output will be produced
accordingly.
With time, STAAD progress to create it’s own graphical
environment, this was a major change for the STAAD users, as they
were able to build their input file without the need to understand the
syntax of STAAD language of commands but still the interface was
not user friendly.
STAAD-III for
Windows
Research Engineers, Inc. (REI) worked in two parallel lines to
provide STAAD for Windows:
• They made not-really-Windows application which works under
Windows environment. The new software looked like STAAD-
III for DOS, so all of what you have to do is to switch to
Windows and start working, no need for any new experiences.
• The second track was REI & QSE merged. QSE has a very real-
Windows interface, but lacks the power of STAAD engines in
both analysis and design areas, plus the superiority of STAAD
multi-coded design engines, which supports almost all of the
famous codes in the world. REI and QSE joined forces to
produce STAAD Pro, which was a milestone in both STAAD
history and structural analysis and design software industry.
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Using STAAD Pro
1-4
STAAD Pro STAAD Pro was born giant. It was mixture of the expertise of two
long experienced companies.
STAAD Pro introduced a really good-looking interface which
actually utilized all the exceptional features of Windows
95/98/2000/ME/XP (Each STAAD Pro was working respectively
under the Windows available at the time of releasing the software to
the markets). This new interface empower the user of STAAD Pro to
accomplish the most complicated structural problems in short time,
without scarifying the accuracy and the comprehensive nature of the
results.
STAAD Pro with its new features surpassed its predecessors, and
compotators with its data sharing capabilities with other major
software like AutoCAD, and MS Excel.
The results generation was yet a new feature that you can depend on
STAAD Pro to do for you, now, STAAD Pro can generate
handsome reports of the inputs and the outputs with the usage of
graphical results embedded within, which can be considered as final
document presented to the client.
The concrete and steel design were among the things that undergone
a face-lift, specially the concrete design, as REI created a new
module specially to tackle this issue. This new module is easy, and
straightforward procedure making the concrete design and results
generation a matter of seconds ahead of the user.
STAAD Pro with
Bentley Systems,
Inc.
In late 2005, and early 2006, Bentley Systems, Inc., bought
Research Engineers, Inc., and hence STAAD Pro became one of
Bentley products.
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1-5
Method of Analysis
One of the most famous analysis methods to analyze continuous
beams is “Moment Distribution Method”, which is based on the
concept of transferring the loads on the beams to the supports at their
ends.
Each support will take a portion of the load according to its K; K is
the stiffness factor, which equals EI/L. As you can see E, and L is
constant per span, the only variable here is I; moment of inertia. I
depends on the cross section of the member. So, if you want to use
this analysis method, you have to assume a cross section for the
spans of the continuous beam.
If you want to use this method to analyze a simple frame, it will
work, but it will not be simple, and if you want to make the frame a
little bit more complicated (simple 3D frame) this method falls short
to accomplish the same mission.
Hence, a new more sophisticated method emerged, which depends
fully on matrices, this method called “Stiffness Matrix Method”, the
main formula of this method is:
[P] = [K]x[∆]
The 3 matrices are as follows:
• [P] is the force matrix, which includes the forces acting on the
whole structure, and the reactions at the supports. This matrix is
partially known, as the acting forces on the structures are already
known from the different codes, like Dead Load, Live Load,
Wind Load, etc., but the reactions are unknown.
• [K] is the stiffness factor matrix. K=EI/L, and all of these data
either known or assumed. So this matrix is fully known.
• [∆] is the displacement matrix. The displacements of supports are
either all zeros (fixed support) or partially zeros (other supports),
but the displacements of other nodes are unknown. So this matrix
is partially known.
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With these three matrices presented as discussed above, the method
will solve the system with ordinary matrix methods to get the
unknowns. If we solve for the unknowns, the reactions will be
known, hence shear and moment diagrams can be generated, and the
displacement of the different nodes will be known, so the
displacement and deflection shapes can be generated.
This method was very hard to be calculated by hand as it needs more
time than other methods, so, it was on the shelves, up until the
emergence of computers. The different programming languages
revive the possibility to utilize this method, as the program will do
all the tedious and lengthy procedures to solve for this system of
matrices, therefore, structural software adopted it as the method of
analysis. STAAD was one of the first to do that.
Four steps to reach your goal
There are four steps to reach to your goal:
• Prepare your input file.
• Send your input file to the analysis/design engine.
• Read the results and verify them.
• Send the analysis result to either the concrete or steel design
engines for designing. Then read and verify the design result.
Prepare Input file Creating input file takes place in the Modeling Mode. It is your first
step in working in STAAD Pro. What is input file? Input file is the
place you will describe your case at; what do you have? And what
do you want? We can cut the input file into two parts:
• In the first part you will describe your structure. This includes the
geometry, the cross sections, the material and geometric
constants, the support conditions, and finally the loading system.
• The second part may contain the analysis command, and printing
commands.
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Send your input file
to the analysis and
design engine
Just like any programming language compiler, STAAD Pro analysis
and design engine, will start reading the input file from left to right,
and from top to bottom. The engine will mainly check for two
things:
• Making sure that the user used the syntax of STAAD Pro
commands, or else the engine will produce an error message.
• Making sure that all the data needed to form a stable structure
exists in the input file, or else, the engine will produce an error
message.
If these two things are correct, STAAD will take the values
mentioned in the input file (without verification) and produce the
output files.
As a rule of thumb, generating the output files doesn’t mean that
results are correct! The concept of GIGO (Garbage In Garbage Out)
applies. Based on this concept, don’t take the results generated by
STAAD Pro as final, but verify each piece of the output data, to
make sure that your input data was correct.
Read results, and
verify them
Reading output takes place in Post Processing Mode. It includes:
• Seeing the results as tables and/or as graphical output.
• Changing the scale of each graphical output to visualize the
correct shapes, and showing values, or hiding them.
After reading and verifying your results you may decide to go back
to your Modeling Mode to alter your input file, for either to correct
the input file, or to change some values to examine different results.
The input file always has extension of STD.
Send the analysis
results to be
designed
Some people like to stop after the analysis, but if you want to
proceed, simply ask STAAD Pro to take your analysis results to be
designed as concrete or design structures (depending on the initial
inputs of your input files.
Old method in STAAD Pro was to include both analysis and design
data in the input file. But recently the two design engines became
separate modules.
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Using STAAD Pro
1-8
Starting STAAD Pro
There are two possible ways to start STAAD Pro:
• Go to Start/All Programs/STAAD.Pro 2007/STAAD.Pro.
• Double-click the shortcut on the Windows Desktop.
The Opening Screen
Either way you will see the following screen (this screen will pop-up
each and every time you close a file.
Under Project Tasks you can:
• Create New file
• Open an existing file
• Configure STAAD Pro for the next input file
• Configure the Backup Manager.
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Creating new file
To create a new file use one of the following methods:
• Under Project Tasks, click New Project
• From menus select File/New, or click the New Structure button
in the File toolbar. The following dialog box will be displayed.
STAAD Pro can deal with single file at a time, so, if you attempt to
create a new file, while another file is opened, STAAD Pro will
close it right away. The parts of this dialog box are:
File Name Specify the name of the new file (no need to type .STD, STAAD
will do that for you); file names in STAAD Pro can take long file
names.
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Location Specify where you will save this file in your local hard drives, or
any network hard drive, and then specify the folder name (sub-
directory) (example F:SPRO2007 STAADExamp), To change
these settings, simply click the three dots button, and the following
dialog will appear:
Type of Structure STAAD Pro provides 4 different structure types.
• Space: Three-dimensional framed structure with loads applied in
any plane (The most general).
• Plane: Two-dimensional structure framed in the X-Y plane with
loads in the same plane.
• Floor: Two, or three-dimensional structure having no horizontal
(global X or Z) movement of the structure (FX, FZ & MY, are
restrained at every joint).
• Truss: Any structure consists of truss members only, which can
have only axial member forces and no bending in the members.
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1-11
Length, and Force
Units
When you install the software at your hard drive, the installation
software will ask you to specify what is your default unit system,
English (ft, inch, kips) or Metric (m, mm, KN). For this courseware
we chose Metric, hence the default Length and Force Units are
Meter, and Kilo Newton respectively.
This will be to-start-with units, and not the only units you can use
while you are creating the input file. As a user you have the ability
to change the units at any point to whatever desired units (STAAD
internally will make the necessary conversion).
When you are done click Next in order to proceed. The following
dialog box will be displayed:
The only purpose of this dialog box is to ask the user what is the
first step to be done in creating the input file? We will choose the
last option: Edit Job Info, as all of the other options will be
discussed whilst we are in the Geometry part of the input file.
To finish creating a file in STAAD Pro, click Finish.
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Using STAAD Pro
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Open an existing file
To open an existing file, use one of the following methods:
• Under Project Tasks, click Open Project.
• If you recently opened the desired file you will see it under
Recent Files.
• From menus, select File/Open, or click Open Structure button
from the File toolbar.
Either way you will see the following dialog box:
Select the desired Drive/Folder, and then click the name of the file
and click Open.
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1-13
STAAD Pro Screen
Notes on Page
Control & Data
Area
Page Control is another way (after menus, and toolbars) to execute
commands in STAAD Pro.
Page Controls are:
• The tabs that appear at the left of the main window.
• Each Page Control has its own sub-pages.
• Each Page Control has its own function, which will help the user
to accomplish one of the tasks required.
Title Bar Menu Bar Toolbar
Page
Control STAAD Pro
Main Window Status Bar
Data Area
STAAD Pro
Modes
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The sequence of the Page Control is meant to be like this. If you
follow the pages and sub-pages in this sequence, you will fulfill the
task of creating a complete input file, without missing any essential
detail. This method helps doing your job, fast and accurate.
Page Control is meaningless without the linked Data Area (the part
at the right of the main window). Data Area will give two things:
• It will show the relevant data of your structure related to the
current Page Control (e.g. If you are in the Geometry Page
Control, Data Area will show Node Coordinates and Beams
Incidences)
• It will show relevant buttons (which represents commands) to
add/edit commands related to the current Page Control.
In this courseware will concentrate more on toolbars, and Page
Control & Data Area in issuing STAAD Pro commands, and utilities.
Closing a file
You can close file in STAAD Pro without existing STAAD Pro.
Select File/Close, or click Close Structure button from File toolbar.
Note When you are closing a file without saving it, STAAD Pro will give
you warning: this file will be closed without saving the changes, so,
you will have the choice either:
• Saving the file now (Yes).
• Close without saving the file (No).
• Canceling the operation of closing the file (Cancel).
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1-15
Exiting STAAD Pro
To exit STAAD Pro select File/Exit and STAAD Pro will close the
current file, and exit the software. The only difference between
closing a file and exiting STAAD Pro is the closing of the software,
and the rest is the same.
Saving and Saving As
To save the current file, you can select File/Save, or click the Save
button in the File toolbar
To save the current file under a new name, simply select File/Save
As, the below dialog box will be displayed.
First select the desired drive, and folder. Then, type in the file name,
leave the file type to be STAAD Space File (*.std), click Save.
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1-16
Notes:
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1-17
Module Review
1. The new generation of STAAD is:
a. STAAD-III for DOS
b. STAAD-III for Windows
c. STAAD Pro for DOS
d. STAAD Pro
2. You are NOT obliged to input member cross section if you want to deal with the Stiffness
Matrix Method:
a. True
b. False
3. Page Control and ___________________ are linked together.
4. Default Units are specified in the Installation process:
a. True
b. False
5. STAAD can deal with:
a. 2 files at a time.
b. 4 files at a time.
c. 1 file at a time.
d. All of the above.
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Using STAAD Pro
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Module Review Answers
1. d
2. b
3. Data Area
4. a
5. c
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2-1
Module 2:
Geometry
Understanding STAAD Pro way
What are Nodes, Beams, and Plates?
How things are done in the input file?
Using Structure Wizard to create Geometry
Using Drafting to create Geometry
Using Copy/Cut with Paste to create Geometry
Using Spreadsheet to create Geometry
Using DXF importing to create Geometry
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Using STAAD Pro
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Module 2: Geometry
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Understanding STAAD Pro way
In order to build up a good input file we have to understand STAAD
Pro way. This procedure will enable us to:
• Organize our thoughts.
• Put each step in its right position, not before, and not after.
• Make sure that all of the STAAD Pro commands are present in
the input file (none of them is overlooked).
• Provide us with speedy and guaranteed way to create the input
file.
• Avoid error messages.
Steel Design Concrete Design
View and Verify Results
Create New File
Run Analysis
Specify Analysis Type
Input Loading System
Input Specs, Constant, Supports
Input Properties
Input Plates
Input Beams
Input Nodes
Input Geometry
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Using STAAD Pro
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If this path was followed sincerely, the creation time of your input
file will be cut by 50%, that's why this will be our procedure through
out this courseware.
As you can see from the above flow chart, the second step after
creation of a new file is to input the Geometry of your structure.
Geometry is the subject of this module, so; what exactly STAAD
Pro means by Geometry?
Geometry is the “skeleton of your structure”, or, in other words
Geometry is “the members (beams and columns), and the plates
(slabs, walls, and raft foundations)”. Through the information you
will provide in this part of the input file, STAAD Pro will
understand the following:
• In which plane (X-Y, Y-Z, X-Z, or any other custom planes) each
member and plate is defined?
• What is the dimension of each member, and plate?
• What is angle of each member in the space?
• How members are connected to each other, and how they are
connected to the plates?
What are Nodes, Beams, and Plates?
Node Node in STAAD Pro means; Stiffed joint with 6 reactions.
It is located at each end of Beam, and each corner of Plate. Nodes
considered the essence of the Geometry of any structure in STAAD
Pro. Each Node will hold the following information:
• Node Number.
• Node Coordinate in XYZ space.
Beam Beam in STAAD Pro means; any member in the structure.
It can be beam, column, bracing member, or truss member.
Beams are actually defined based on the Nodes at their ends. Each
Beam will hold the following information:
• Beam Number.
• The Node numbers at its ends.
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Module 2: Geometry
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Example Node # 1 Coordinate is 0,0,0
Node # 2 Coordinate is 0,2,0
Beam # 1 Between Node 1 and 2
Note Z coordinate in all coordinates is 0; hence this structure lies in the
X-Y plane. See the figure below.
Plate Plate in STAAD means; a thin shell with multi-nodded shape
starting from 3 nodes, and more.
It can be anything of slab, wall, or raft foundation. Each Plate will
hold the following information:
• Plate Number.
• Node Numbers at each corner of it.
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Example Node # 3 Coordinate is 0,2,0
Plate # 9 Between Nodes 3, 4, 8, 7
Note Y-coordinate is the above four Nodes is constant (namely; 2), and X,
and Z is variable, hence the plate is located in the X-Z plane. See the
figure below.
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Module 2: Geometry
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How things are done in the Input file?
STAAD Pro will create the contents of the input file concerning
geometry, and hence it will number all the Nodes, Beams, and
Plates. But how they are created?
STAAD has it’s own syntax of creating the input file, goes like this:
JOINT COORDINATES
1 0 0 0; 2 0 2 0; 3 2 2 0; 4 2 0 0; 5 0 0 2; 6 0 2 2; 7 2 2 2
8 2 0 2;
MEMBER INCIDENCES
1 1 2; 2 2 3; 3 3 4; 4 2 6; 5 3 7; 6 5 6; 7 6 7; 8 7 8
ELEMENT INCIDENCES
9 3 4 8 7;
Did you understand what each number means in the three sections?
Explanation In the Joint Coordinate section the following applies:
• The first number is the Node Number.
• The three other digits are the coordinates of the Node.
• Semi-colon is used to separate each Node data from the other.
• If one line in the editor is not enough, you can use the next line
without semi-colon.
In the Member Incidences section the following applies:
• The first number is the Beam Number.
• The other two digits represent the Node numbers at its ends.
• Semi-colon is used to separate each Beam data from the other.
without semi-colon.
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Using STAAD Pro
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In the Element Incidences section the following applies:
• The first number is the Plate Number.
• The other four digits represent the node numbers at its corners
(this example contains a 4-noded plate, hence we used four digits,
but this number can be reduced to 3, or increased to more than 4)
• Semi-colon is used to separate each Plate data from the other.
without semi-colon.
Clarification We have to clarify some naming convention problems, which may
confuse the reader of this courseware. STAAD Pro uses the
following terms in the graphical part of Modeling Mode:
• Node
• Beam
• Plate
On the other hand, STAAD Pro uses the following naming
convention for the same in the text editor:
• Node becomes Joint.
• Beam becomes Member
• Plate becomes Element
This confusion is a result of joining QSE and STAAD-III for
Windows; accordingly the first set of naming is used by QSE,
whereas the second set is used by STAAD-III for Windows. After
the emergence of the two software packages, each software package
kept its own naming convention. Within our discussion we will use
the first naming convention (namely; Node, Beam, and Plate).
Another naming convention, which may create confusion, is when
STAAD Pro calls Beam for both beams and columns. That is correct
almost in all of the places of the software except in the concrete
design module, when the software distinguish beams from columns.
So, if we want to select a column in STAAD Pro, and you read in
this courseware click on the Beams Cursor, don’t get confused!
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Module 2: Geometry
2-9
Practicing Geometry Creation
Exercise 1
1. Using the Structure in the below figure, do the following:
a. Number all Nodes starting from Node 1.
b. Number all Beams.
c. Number all Plates.
d. Write on the figure the coordinate of each node (check the XYZ
icon at the lower left corner of the figure).
e. Write the three sections of Joint Coordinates, Member Incidences,
and Element Incidences.
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Using STAAD Pro
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Solution of Exercise 1
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Module 2: Geometry
2-11
Geometry Creation Methods
STAAD Pro comes with intelligent, accurate, speedy, error-free, and
graphical methods to accomplish the creation of Geometry. These
are:
• Using Structure Wizard.
• Drafting the geometry using the Snap/Grid.
• Using Copy/Cut, with Paste.
• Using Spreadsheet (namely; Excel) Copy and Paste.
• Using DXF importing file function.
Each one of these 5 methods (by itself) can help the user reduce the
time of creating the geometry needed. Alternatively, user can’t
accomplish the whole process of creating geometry with any of these
methods alone; instead, user will need more functions to make
necessary modification on the geometry to render the final shape.
These functions will be the subject of Module 3.
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Using STAAD Pro
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Method 1: Using Structure Wizard
Structure Wizard is a library of pre-defined structural shapes allows
the user to create a full structure by answering simple questions
about the dimensions of members in each axis. From the menus
select Geometry/Run Structure Wizard; the following window
will appear:
There is a general method to utilize Structure Wizard effectively for
all types of the structure:
From the left part, select the Model Type, there are 7 of them:
• Truss Models • Frame Models
• Surface/Plate Models • Solid Models
• Composite Models • Import CAD Models
• VBA-Macro Models
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Module 2: Geometry
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In the lower screen beneath the Model Type, STAAD Pro will show
the available structures in this type, as an example, in the Frame
Models, the following structures are available:
• Bay Frame. • Grid Frame
• Floor Grid • Continuous Beam
• Cylindrical Frame • Reverse Cylindrical Frame.
• Circular Frame
Double-click on the desired structure.
The Select Parameters dialog box will appear. This dialog box will
show different type of parameters for each structure (we will discuss
each case by itself). Fill in the data, and click Apply.
Select Edit/Add Paste Model in STAAD Pro from menus, or click
Transfer Model icon from the toolbar
The confirmation message will be shown, to confirm that the user
wants really to transfer the model created in Structure Wizard to
STAAD Pro window.
Click Yes, now STAAD Pro will ask the user to specify the pasting
point in the XYZ space, There are two ways to do that:
• Either by specifying an absolute point in the XYZ space (default
method).
• Or, if you have already a strcuture, specify the distance between
two existing nodes, so the coming structure from the srcuture
wizard will be pasted away from 0,0,0 by this distance. Check the
bleow dialog box:
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Using STAAD Pro
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Click OK, the model created in the Structure Wizard will be pasted
in STAAD Pro window as required.
This is a general method, which is applicable to all types of the
structures embedded in the library. Now we will discuss each type
by it self.
Frame Models / Bay
Frame
Bay Frame is any 3D structure frame consists of beams and
columns.
After you start Structure Wizard, select from the model pop-up list
Frame Models, the following structures will be shown.
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Module 2: Geometry
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Double click on the Bay Frame icon to setup the dimensions. The
following dialog box will be displayed.
Now specify the following inputs:
• The Length (Length is in X direction).
• The Height (Height is in Y direction).
• The Width (Width is in Z direction).
• Number of bays along length.
• Number of bays along height.
• Number of bays along width.
• Click Apply.
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Note All the numbers should be positive.
If you don’t want one of the dimensions, simply set it to be zero, the
structure will become two-dimensional.
You should input the total dimension in each side; that is the total
Length, total Height, and the total Width.
Bay means span.
If you have a Length of 12 m, and Number of Bays of 2, by default
each Bay will be 6 m long.
If the spans are not equally spaced, click the button with the three
dots (to the right of Number of bays field) to set the distances of
each span. Check the dialog box below.
Note Always consider the lengths from left-to-right, from bottom-to-top,
and from behind-to-front.
Make sure that the sum of the spans equals the dimension, as
STAAD Pro will produce an error message warning you to correct
this error, check the figure below. Click OK to accept the numbers.
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Module 2: Geometry
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Using Structure Wizard to Create Bay Frame
Exercise 2
1. Start STAAD Pro.
2. Create a new file using the following data:
a. Space
b. Units: Meter, and KiloNewton
c. Click Edit Job Info
3. Using Structure Wizard, try to create the structure shown below:
4. Keep the file open; you will need it in the next exercise.
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Using STAAD Pro
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Frame Models /
Grid Frame
Grid Frame is just like Bay Frame with one exception, it creates
ground beams in the X-Z plane of the structure.
Check the illustration below to compare between Bay Frame and
Grid Frame.
Frame Models /
Floor Grid
Floor Grid is two-dimensional structure is the X-Z plane only.
The purpose is to create a mesh of beams in the X and Z direction.
Double-click on the Floor Grid icon, the following dialog box will
be shown. Note that the Height (Y-Axis) is grayed out:
Frame Models /
Continuous Beam
Continuous Beam is one-dimensional structure in the X direction on.
Double-click Continuous Beam icon, the following dialog box will
be shown. Note that Height (Y Axis) and Width (Z Axis) are grayed
out; hence they are not available for editing.
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Module 2: Geometry
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Truss Models / All
types
From the Model pop-up list, select Truss Models
The following structures will be shown.
If you double-click on any of the icons you will get the same dialog
box for all six shapes, as shown in the dialog box below.
As you can see from the dialog box, you can change the following
parameters:
• Total Length (in X direction).
• Total Height (in Y direction).
• Total Width (in Z direction), for 3D trusses only, if you want 2D
truss set it to zero.
• Number of bays in along length. This parameter will decide the
shape of the truss.
• Number of bays along width, set it to zero if you want 2D truss.
The missing parameter is to control the number of bays in the
Height (Y direction). This is not available because there are no spans
in the Y direction.
The rest of the procedure is the same as in the Frame Models.
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Reference Point In previous sections we discussed how to create geometry in
Structure Wizard and paste it in STAAD Pro window but only if
there is no structure. It is time to show how we can paste a geometry
coming from Structure Wizard to an existing structure in the
STAAD Pro window. Do the following:
• Create geometry in Structure Wizard.
• Select Edit/Add Paste Model in STAAD Pro, or click Transfer
Model button from toolbar.
• Confirm the transforming by clicking Yes. The dialog box shown
below will be displayed.
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Module 2: Geometry
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You can input the XYZ coordinate right away, or (preferably) click
on the Reference Pt (Pt means Point) button.
The following screen will appear, asking you to specify the Node to
handle created geometry from. Select one of the Nodes, and click
OK.
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The shape of the pointer will change to this shape.
Click on the desired node at the structure in STAAD Pro window.
STAAD Pro will return back to the old dialog box with the filtered
coordinate of the needed point, as the dialog box shown below.
Click OK to accept the results. Accordingly STAAD Pro will
display a message to inform the user that Duplicate nodes ignored,
as shown below. This message means, those two nodes (one from
the original structure and one from the created geometry) coincided
in the same coordinate; hence, STAAD will ignore what is coming
from the created geometry. Click OK.
Finally the geometry is pasted in the right place.
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Module 2: Geometry
2-23
Using Structure Wizard to Create Truss & Using
Reference Point
Exercise 3
1. Continue with the previous file.
2. Select Geometry/Run Structure Wizard.
3. Select Truss Models.
4. Double-click on Howe Roof icon.
5. Set the following parameters:
a. Length = 9 m, cut to 4 bays as follows: 2+2.5+2.5+2.
b. Height = 3 m.
c. Width = 16 m, cut to 3 bays as follows: 5+6+5.
6. Select Edit/Paste Model in STAAD Pro, or click Transfer Model icon
from toolbar.
7. Confirm by clicking Yes.
8. Click Reference Pt. Make sure that the Reference point is on the far
lower left. Click OK to accept it.
9. Click on the far upper left node of the frame. Confirm by clicking OK.
Accept all the other messages.
10. The final structure should look like the structure in the next page.
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Using STAAD Pro
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The Final Structure
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Module 2: Geometry
2-25
Surface/Plate
Models / Quad Plate
To create 3-noded, and 4-noded plates in any of three planes XY,
XZ, and YZ. From Model pop-up list select Surface/Plate Models.
Double-click on the Quad Plate icon; the following dialog box will
be displayed:
From the Element Type (upper right portion of the dialog box)
specify if you want Triangle shape (3-noded) or Quadrilateral
shape (4-noded).
You have 4 corners to specify A, B, C, and D, which they will be the
corner of the desired plate. The XYZ here doesn’t mean the real
XYZ of the space, but rather XYZ of the Structure Wizard. The use
of the XYZ is a very good way to tell Structure Wizard in which
plane you will create your plate. As an example for the last note,
check the following 4 corners:
A = 0,0,0
B = 6,0,0
C = 6,0,6
D = 0,0,6
The result will be shown as the shape below:
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Using STAAD Pro
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As you can see the Y coordinate is always 0, hence the plate is in the
X-Z plane, this is a good geometry for slab.
As another example, check the following points:
A = 0,0,0
B = 0,4,0
C = 0,4,5
D = 0,0,5
The result will be shown as the shape below:
Here X coordinate is 0; therefore the plane is Y-Z, a good setup for a
wall.
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Module 2: Geometry
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While giving the coordinates of the 3 or 4 nodes, you must be
consistent, either rotate Clock Wise (CW), or Counter Clock Wise
(CCW).
STAAD Pro will automatically calculate the length of each side.
In the Bias and Division parts, specify the number of divisions each
side of the plate will be divided to. By default Bias = 1, means the
divisions are equally spaced. Dividing a plate means we will get
more than one plate (one plate here means one entity). Example
would be if you have a plate 6 X 6 m plate divided by 6 divisions
from each side, therefore the total number of smaller plates will be
36 plates each is 1 m X 1 m.
Click Apply. Then paste the plate on the structure existed in
STAAD Pro window using Reference Point as we learned in the
previous section.
Note When you paste two 1X1 m plates on a 2 m beam, the plate will cut
the beam into two beams each one is 1 m length, by creating a node
in the middle of the beam. See the illustration below.
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Using STAAD Pro
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Using Structure Wizard to Plates
Exercise 4
1. Continue working in the file of last exercise.
2. Create a Quadrilateral plate with the following information:
a. A = 0,0,0
b. B = 2,0,0
c. C = 2,0,5
d. D = 0,0,5
e. AB Division = 2
f. BC Division = 5
g. CD Division = 2
h. DA Division = 5
i. Bias is always = 1
3. Paste it in a point to look like figure in the next page. (Hint the point on
the structure should be 0,3,0)
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Module 2: Geometry
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The Final Structure
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Things you can do in Structure Wizard
While you are in the Structure Wizard, several viewing functions are
available to help you visualize your model-to-be-transferred. Some
of these functions are available also in the STAAD Pro window,
maybe with some additions. These functions are available after you
create a model and before you transfer it. They are:
From the toolbars click on Toggle Axes View, or select View/View
Axes. This function can be switched ON, or OFF, and its purpose is
to show, or hide the XYZ icon (X=red, Y=green, Z=blue)
representing the 3 Axes in Structure Wizard.
From the toolbars click on Toggle Perspective View, or select
View/Perspective. There are two possible views in Structure
Wizard, either Isometric, or Perspective (default), if this toggle is
ON, it will show Perspective. Check the illustration below
From the toolbars click on Toggle View Mode or select
View/Wireframe View. This is very useful in the Surface/Plate
Models. You can select between Wireframe view and Solid Fill
view. Check the two images below:
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Module 2: Geometry
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From the toolbars click Toggle Node Markers, or select
View/View Nodes. This toggle is to display the node markers or not.
See the illustration below:
From the toolbars, click XY View (Elevation), or select View/
Elevation (XY) View. This will show 2D view, to see XY plane of
the structure. See the illustration below (this is a structure of X=6m,
Y=15m, Z=12m and shown as Perspective, and will be shown in all
illustration below):
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From the toolbars, click YZ View (Side), or select View/Side (YZ)
View. This view will show 2D view, to see only the YZ plane of the
structure. Check the illustration below:
From the toolbars, click XZ View (Top), or select View/Top (XZ)
View. This view will show 2D view, to see only the XZ plane of the
structure. Check the illustration below
From the toolbars, click Isometric View, or select View/Isometric
View. This view will show 3D view. Check the following
illustration:
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Module 2: Geometry
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Using Structure Wizard Viewing Commands
Exercise 5
1. Continue working in the file of last exercise.
2. Start Structure Wizard and create any Frame you want.
3. Using the four toggles you learned, try to use them and see the effect of
each one of them.
4. Using the four viewing points, try to use them and see the effect of each
one of them.
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Using STAAD Pro
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Method 2: Drafting the Geometry using Snap/Grid
Using the Snap/Grid utility provided by STAAD Pro, the user is
capable of drafting the structure needed.
Before doing any thing we have to understand what are the steps to
prepare STAAD Pro window to allow the user start drafting. These
steps are:
Initiate the Snap/Grid. There are two ways to do that:
• Select from the menus Geometry/Snap Grid Node then Beam,
Plate, or Solid.
• From the Geometry toolbar select Snap Node/Beam.
Either way a dialog box will appear in the Data Area, like below:
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Module 2: Geometry
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To start with, you have to create a new Snap Node/Beam or Plate,
by clicking the Create button. You will see the following dialog
box:
You have three type of Snap Node/Beam or Plate to choose from:
• Linear
• Radial
• Irregular
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Linear Input a name (so to use it later on)
Decide in which plane you want to work, XY plane, XZ, or YZ.
Specify Angle of Plane (Leave it 0 for now).
Specify Origin (preferable to leave it at current 0,0,0).
Specify the Construction Lines, take care of the following points:
• If you want the Origin to be 0,0,0 make sure that the Left value
for X, and Y is always 0, this will make sure that the lower left
corner of the Grid is always 0,0,0.
• In the part labeled Right (for both X, and Y), input the number of
Grid segments in that axis.
• Under Spacing, there are two fields to be filled, m, and Skew. In
the m part, input the length of segments of the Grid. As an
example to the above two points: assume you input in the part
labeled Right in X direction 10, and in the m part you input 2,
the total length is 10X2=20 m.
Note Note the following in the STAAD Pro window:
• A moving black bold cross (let’s call it Controlling Point)
following the steps of the cursor.
• The coordinates of that cross appear in the right portion of the
status bar like below.
• The circle, which appears at the lower left corner of the Grid, it
represents the origin.
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Module 2: Geometry
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To understand the Angle of Plane, check the following illustration
In the above example, The Construction Plane is XY Plane, and the
angle is around Y-Y axis and equals to 20.
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Radial You will see something similar to the following dialog box:
Input a name (so to use it later on)
Specify Angle of Plane (Leave it 0 for now).
Specify Origin (preferable to leave it at current 0,0,0).
Specify the Construction Lines, using the following data:
• Specify the Start Angle
• Specify the Sweep Angle
• Specify Radius 1
• Specify Radius 2
• Specify number of Bays in both direction
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Module 2: Geometry
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To understand these parameters, see the following illustration:
Note The small circle at the lower left represents the origin 0,0,0
This is the XY plane view
Radius 1 = 10 measured from the origin to the first point of the grid.
Radius 2 = 50 measured from the origin to the last point of the grid.
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Using STAAD Pro
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Irregular You will see something similar to the following dialog box:
Input a name (so to use it later on)
Specify Origin (preferable to leave it at current 0,0,0)
Specify Angle of Plane.
Or else you can Use Arbitrary Plane, which will aske you to
specify the Direction of X, and the Direction of Y, through inputing
coordinates for X, and Y. Example: If you input for X 1,1,0, this
means the if you draw a line out of 0,0,0 towards the point 1,1,0 this
will be the new X axis direction.
Also, specify the Relative gridline distances, which represents the
spacing of the grid line in both X, and Y.
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Module 2: Geometry
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After you define the Snap Node/Beam, or Plate you can do all or
any of the following:
Select the desired Snap Node/Beam, or Plate, and click Edit to
change the settings.
Select the desired Snap Node/Beam, or Plate, and click Delete to
delete the Snap Node Beam, or Plate.
Select the desired Snap Node/Beam, or Plate, and click Copy to
create another copy under a new name.
Select the desired Snap Node/Beam, or Plate, and click Rename to
rename it.
To import previously saved Snap Node/Beam from another STAAD
Pro file. The following dialog box will appear:
Select STAAD Pro Grid (.grd), which means the file should hold
grd extension. Click OK. The following dialog box will appear:
Select the desired file, and click Open, to import the needed Grid.
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Also you can import a DXF coming from AutoCAD. Click DXF,
and click OK, you will see the following dialog box:
Click the small buttom at the right which contains three dots, and
select the desired DXF file, you will see the following dialog box:
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Module 2: Geometry
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You can control the following:
• Layers to show layers or not.
• Objects
• Zooming and Panning
Once you are done, click Import to accomlish the mission.
If you complete all the conrolling procedures discussed above you
will have something like the following:
You can select to display the desired Snap/Grid, and you can do the
following:
Click the button at the lower part of the dialog box labeled Snap
Node/Beam or, Plate, and start specifying Nodes.
Check on the checkbox Snap to exisitng nodes too, to make sure
that you can also snap not only to grid lines but also to nodes not on
the grid lines.
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Adding Beams Make sure that Snap Node/Beam is on.
To start drafting Beams, go to the start Node coordinate and click, a
Node will be inserted there. Go to the next Node, and click, a second
new Node will be added and accordingly a new Beam will be
created. Keep on doing this until you are done, then click Close in
dialog box.
Note Once you start clicking Nodes, the Controlling Point will strict you
to start your next Beam from the last Node reached. In order to avoid
this, hold Ctrl key at the keyboard, and click on the Node
Coordinate desired other than the last Node and you can start your
next Beam from that Node.
Adding Plates Make sure that Snap Node/Plate is on.
Go to the start desired coordinate and click, a Node will be added
there, repeat this process for four points, a new Plate will be added.
When you are done click Close.
Note This way will always draw 4-Noded Plates.
Once you finish the first plate, the Controlling Point will strict you
to start your next Plate from the last Node reached. To avoid this,
hold Ctrl key at the keyboard, and click on the coordinate desired
other than the last Node and you can start your next Plate from that
Node.
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Module 2: Geometry
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Fill Plates To view your plates better, make sure to do the following:
• In the STAAD Pro window, right-click anywhere, shortcut menu
will appear, select from it Structure Diagrams. The following
dialog box will appear:
• Under View, click Fill Plates/Solids/Surfaces ON, click Sort
Geometry ON, click Sort Nodes ON.
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Using STAAD Pro
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Using Snap/Grid
Exercise 6
1. Start a New Space Frame file.
2. Select the Geometry tab at the Page Control.
3. Make sure that you are using the X-Y Plane.
4. In the Construction Lines part, input the following data:
a. For X, Left=0, Right=3, m=4.
b. For Y, Left=0, Right=2, m=3.
5. Make sure that Snap Node/Beam is ON.
6. Click the following coordinates (use coordinates displayed in the status
bar to help you):
a. 0,0,0
b. 0,3,0
c. 12,3,0
d. 12,0,0
e. Hold Ctrl key and click 4,3,0
f. 4,0,0
g. Hold Ctrl key and click 8,3,0
h. 8,0,0
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7. By now your model should look like the following image:
8. Change the Plane to X-Z plane.
9. Change the Origin to 0,3,0; the Grid should be elevated to top of the
frame.
10. In the Construction Lines part, keep X values as is. Change the Z
values to be Left=0, Right=1, m=4.
11. Click the following coordinates:
a. 0,3,0
b. 0,3,4
c. 12,3,4
d. 12,3,0
e. Ctrl + 4,3,0
f. 4,3,4
g. Ctrl + 8,3,0
h. 8,3,4
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Using STAAD Pro
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12. Your model should look like that:
13. Using the same methods discussed in this exercise try to create
additional members to make the structure look like this:
14. Close Snap Node/Beam.
15. Using the Geometry toolbar, click Snap Node/Plate/Quad to draft
Plates instead of Beams.
16. Change the Plane to X-Z plane.
17. Change the Origin to 0,3,0.
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18. In the Construction Lines part:
a. X values are Left=0, Right=3, m=4.
b. Z values are Left=0, Right=1, m=4.
19. Click the following coordinates in the same sequence (plates should
be drafted either CW, or CCW, you can’t use the zigzag method).
a. 0,3,0
b. 0,3,4
c. 4,3,4
d. 4,3,0
e. 8,3,0
f. 8,3,4
g. 4,3,4
h. Ctrl + 8,3,0
i. 12,3,0
j. 12,3,4
k. 8,3,4
20. Three green plates are drafted now as shown below, Click Close.
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Using STAAD Pro
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Before we go on with the rest of the methods to create geometry, we
have to discuss two important functions, which will help us accomplish
the rest of the methods swiftly. These two functions are: Viewing your
geometry and Selecting Nodes, Beams, and Plates.
Viewing
In previous part of this courseware we went through the four
viewing functions in Structure Wizard, these four and three more are
available in STAAD Pro.
• View from +Z (It is Elevation in Structure Wizard). You can
consider it the Front view.
• View from –Z, is the Back view.
• View from –X, is the Left view.
• View from +X, (It is Side in Structure Wizard). You can consider
it the Right view.
• View from +Y, (It is Top in Structure Wizard).
• View from –Y, is the Bottom view.
• Isometric, is the isometric view.
We have 6-rotation function, which capable of rotating the geometry
around a specific axis, these are:
• Rotate Up & Rotate Down (Rotating around X in both
directions).
• Rotate Left & Rotate Right (Rotating around Y in both
directions).
• Spin Left & Spin Right (Rotating around Z in both directions).
Note You can use the arrows in your keyboard also. Use:
• Right arrow and Left arrow to rotate around Y-axis.
• Up arrow, and Down arrow to rotate around X-axis.
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Selecting
You need to select either a Node, Beam, or Plate in order to perform
a command on them. As a first step of selecting any thing in STAAD
Pro choose the right cursor.
• To select a Node choose the Nodes Cursor
• To select a Beam choose a Beams Cursor
• To select a Plate choose a Plates Cursor
After you choose the right cursor, you have four ways; they are:
Single Selection • Click on the desired Node, Beam, or Plate, it will be highlighted
by turning into red. Check the figure below:
• From the Data Area, click on the number of the Node, Beam, or
Plate, it will be highlighted. Check the figure below:
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Multiple Selection • Select the first Node, Beam, or Plate, then hold down the Ctrl
key at the keyboard, and click other Nodes, Beams, and Plates.
Check the figure below.
• From the Data Area, click on the number of the Node, Beam, or
Plate, it will be highlighted. Then hold the Ctrl key at the
keyboard, and click on other numbers; it will be highlighted as
well. Check the figure below.
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Module 2: Geometry
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• Make a Window around the needed Nodes; Beams, or Plates, by
clicking in an empty place of the STAAD Pro window, and
holding down the left button, moving to the other corner and
releasing the button, what ever inside the Window will be
selected automatically. Check the figure below:
Note As for Beams, the Mid Point of the Beam is the important part that
should be included in the Window. Check the illustration.
Ctrl+A To select all Nodes, Beams, or Plates, first select the proper cursor,
and the press Ctrl+A, every thing will be selected accordingly.
Unselect To unselect any selected Nodes, Beams, or Plates, simply click on
an empty space.
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Using STAAD Pro
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Using Selecting while viewing 3D Geometry
Using both Viewing commands and Selecting methods leads to
effectively select multiple Nodes, Beams, or Plates, in 3D Geometry.
Looking at a 3D model from different viewing points will enable the
user to select Nodes, Beams, and Plates in the plane shown and any
things behind it.
Example Check below figure, which represents a 3D geometry.
Click on View From +Z icon, check the result in below figure:
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Module 2: Geometry
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Now click on one of the Beam as shown:
Click the Isometric view, to see the result:
Note To speed up the selection method of 3D geometry, use Window,
which will enable the user to select multiple Nodes, Beams, and
Plates, in the 2D View.
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Using STAAD Pro
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Viewing & Selecting
Exercise 7
1. Create a new Space Frame file
2. From Structure Wizard, create the following structure:
a. Length = 12 m # of Bays = 4
b. Height = 15 m # of Bays = 5
c. Width = 12 m # of Bays = 4
3. Change the cursor to Nodes cursor.
4. Using the View From +Z, and using Window select the upper Nodes.
5. Click anywhere to unselect.
6. Change the cursor to Beam Cursor.
7. Using the View From +Y, and using cursor and Ctrl key select all the
horizontal Beams.
8. Click anywhere to unselect.
9. Press Ctrl+A.
10. Change the cursor to Nodes cursor, then press Ctrl+A. What is the
difference?
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Method 3: Using Copy/Cut with Paste
The first two methods are meant to creating geometry from the
scratch, but this method is to create a copy of an existing geometry.
You can copy Nodes, Beams, and Plates. Of course when you are
copying Beams, and Plates STAAD Pro will copy the associated
Nodes as well.
Steps Select the desired objects to copy (Nodes, Beams, or Plates) making
sure that you are using the right cursor.
From the menus choose Edit/Copy, or press Ctrl+C (you can use
also the Edit/Cut or Ctrl+X, but this will be considered as moving).
From the menus choose Edit/Paste, or press Ctrl+V (if the selected
objects are Nodes, it will show Paste Nodes, and if Beams, it will
show Paste Beams, and so on). The following dialog box will be
displayed to enable the user to paste the selected objects in the right
place.
This dialog box is the same as the one we dealt with in pasting a
geometry coming from Structure Wizard, hence all things discussed
there is applicable here.
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Using STAAD Pro
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Creating Geometry with Copy/Cut and Paste
Exercise 8
1. Create a new Space Frame file.
2. From Structure Wizard, create the following structure:
a. Length = 6 m # of Bays = 1
b. Height = 3 m # of Bays = 1
c. Width = 4 m # of Bays = 1
3. Press Ctrl+A to select all Beams.
4. Choose Edit/Copy or press Ctrl+C to copy Beams.
5. Choose Edit/Paste Beams, or press Ctrl+V to paste Beams.
6. Type in the following coordinates X=0, Y=3, Z=0 (also you can use
Reference Pt)
7. The final shape should look like the figure below:
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Module 2: Geometry
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Method 4: Using Spreadsheet (Excel) Copy and Paste
To use this method you have to have a good knowledge of how to
use Excel, and how to write formulas. Our main purpose here is to
generate non-conventional geometries, which involve mathematical
equations. Excel will produce points, and we will copy them using
OLE to STAAD Pro to generate Nodes.
Steps Start Excel program (or any spreadsheet software).
Type in any mathematical formula and generate X, Y, Z points (as
much you increase the number of points, you may get better
geometries specially if there are curves in the structure).
Select the columns representing X, Y, Z (without any headings)
From Excel menus choose Edit/Copy.
Go to STAAD Pro.
At the Geometry Page Control, and while you are inside the Nodes
table, select the first node number by clicking on the Node number.
Choose Edit/Paste or right-click and choose Paste. The following
Select to map the first column as X, the second column as Y, and the
third column as Z, then click OK, the new Nodes will be added
accordingly.
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Add Beams The previous function will help us add Nodes only. We need to use
the Add Beams function, to link the Nodes.
From the Geometry Toolbar, click the Add Beams tool, or from
Menu select Geometry/Add Beam/Add Beam from Point to
Point.
The mouse shape will change to this shape. Click on the first Node,
a rubber band will appear waiting for the second Node, click the
second Node, and you will have a new Beam added. Repeat this
process up until you finish the whole Nodes.
Note Add Beams can help the user to make the bracing for Frames.
Add 3-Noded Plates Use Add 3-Noded Plates, to link Nodes with triangular plate.
From the Geometry Toolbar, click the Add 3-Noded Plates tool, or
from Menu select Geometry/Add Plate/Triangle.
second Node, and third Node you will have a new 3-Noded Plate.
Add 4-Noded Plates Use Add 4-Noded Plates, to link Nodes with quadratic plate.
From the Geometry toolbar, click the Add 4-Noded Plates tool, or
from Menu select Geometry/Add Plate/Quad.
second Node, third Node, and fourth Node.
Using Labels In the STAAD Pro Window, right-click a shortcut menu will appear,
select from it Labels, a large dialog box will appear, turn on Node
Numbers, Node Points, Beam Numbers, and Plate Numbers.
Note Turning on numbers may lead to make the picture of the structure
cluttered, so be careful to pick-and-choose.
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Module 2: Geometry
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Creating Geometry Using Excel Copy & Paste
Exercise 9
1. Start Excel, in a new sheet, make the following table:
X Y Z
0.00 25.00 0.00
0.50 24.75 0.00
1.00 24.00 0.00
1.50 22.75 0.00
2.00 21.00 0.00
2.50 18.75 0.00
3.00 16.00 0.00
3.50 12.75 0.00
4.00 9.00 0.00
4.50 4.75 0.00
5.00 0.00 0.00
Y formula is 25-X2
; where X is the cell address containing X values. Don’t
forget to use all the copying functions of Excel.
2. Start STAAD Pro, and create a new Space file.
3. Copy the table you made in Excel to the Node table in the STAAD file.
4. Map the first column to be X, 2nd
to be Y, and 3rd
to be Z.
5. From Labels, turn on the Node Points.
6. Using the Add Beams, add the necessary beams.
7. The resulting geometry should look like:
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The Final Structure
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Module 2: Geometry
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Method 5: Using DXF importing file function
To use this method you have to be professional CAD (or specifically
AutoCAD) user, in order to produce 2D, or 3D geometries.
Steps Start AutoCAD (or any CAD that can produce DXF file).
Draw your structure 2D or 3D.
Save As DXF file.
Start STAAD Pro.
In order to read DXF file, you have two methods:
• From the Structure Wizard.
• From File/Import.
From Structure
Wizard
Start Structure Wizard.
From the Model Type select Import CAD Models.
Double-click on the Scan DXF icon; a dialog box will appear so
you can select the DXF file name:
Select the desired file, and click Open.
Note The DXF will be scanned, but without rotating it correctly.
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From File/Import From File menu, select File/Import.
STAAD Pro asks now about the source of the file to be imported:
Select 3D DXF, and click Import. STAAD Pro will ask for the
location of the DXF file:
Select the file, and click Open. The following dialog box will
appear:
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Module 2: Geometry
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Now select one of the three choices, and click OK:
• No Change; the XYZ orientation of STAAD matches the XYZ in
AutoCAD.
• Y Up; you are telling STAAD to consider Y is up in STAAD,
and hence to convert Y in AutoCAD accordingly. (This is the
right choice in almost all of the cases)
• Z Up; you are telling STAAD to consider Z is up in STAAD, and
hence to convert Z in AutoCAD accordingly.
The following of the dialog box will appear:
Select the proper Length Unit, and the proper Force Unit, and click
OK, the structure will be transferred.
Note In AutoCAD use always Line, in drafting Beams and Columns.
STAAD will consider one Line; equal to one Beam or Column,
hence, long line covering more than one Node will be considered as
one object, accordingly cut your lines on the intersections.
Use the latest AutoCAD version with the latest STAAD versions.
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Using STAAD Pro
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Creating Geometry Using DXF importing file function
Exercise 10
1. Create any structure in AutoCAD, and save as DXF file.
2. Start STAAD Pro, and create a new Space file.
3. Select File/Import, select 3D DXF, and specify the file you created.
4. Select Y Up.
5. Select Meter, and KiloNewton, and click OK, the structure will be
imported to STAAD Pro window.
6. See how the DXF file turns to be a STD file.
7. Save and Close.
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Creating Geometry (Concrete Structure)
Workshop 1-A
1. Create a new folder in C:, and name it Concrete_Model.
2. Start STAAD Pro.
3. Create a New File using the following data:
a. File Name: Small_Building
b. Location: C:Concrete_Model
c. Type of Structure: Space
d. Length Unit: Meter, Force Unit: KiloNewton
e. Click Next, Select Edit Job Info, and click Finish.
4. In the Job Info, fill the following data:
a. Job: Small Commercial Building.
b. Client: ABC Investment Corp.
c. Job No.: 112-8101965
d. Ref: A-114
e. Under the Engineer Name, put your initials, and leave the rest
empty.
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5. Using any method you know, create the following frame:
6. Using any method you know add the plates as shown: (Note each
plate is 1 m x 1 m).
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Module 2: Geometry
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7. Copy the plates to the upper part, to get the following geometry:
8. Save and close.
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Creating Geometry (Steel Structure)
Workshop 1-B
1. Create a new folder in C:, and name it Steel_Model.
2. Start STAAD Pro.
3. Create a New File using the following data:
a. File Name: Small_Building
b. Location: C:Steel_Model
c. Type of Structure: Space
d. Length Unit: Meter, Force Unit: KiloNewton
e. Click Next, Select Edit Job Info, and click Finish.
4. In the Job Info, fill the following data:
a. Job: Small Commercial Building.
b. Client: ABC Investment Corp.
c. Job No.: 112-8101965
d. Ref: A-114
e. Under the Engineer Name, put your initials, and leave the rest
empty.
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5. Using any method you know, create the following frame:
6. Using any method you know add the Howe Roof as shown:
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Notes:
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Module Review
1. In the input file and under Joint Coordinate, one of the following statements is true:
a. 1 0 0 0
b. 1,0,0,0
c. 1;0;0;0
d. 1 0 0
2. In STAAD Pro, Nodes are the geometry and not the Beams:
a. True
b. False
3. There are _______ ways to build up a geometry in STAAD Pro
4. I can import AutoCAD DWG file to STAAD Pro
a. True
b. False
5. What is Structure Wizard:
a. Brings Excel sheet to STAAD Pro
b. Allows user to import AutoCAD DWG files
c. A library of pre-defined structural shapes
d. All of the above
6. With Labels you can switch on _________, __________, __________ features.
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1. a
2. a
3. 5
4. b
5. c
6. Node Numbers, Beam Numbers, Plate Numbers, Node Points, etc.
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3-1
Module 3:
Useful Functions to Complete the
Geometry
This Module contains
Translational Repeat
Circular Repeat
Mirror
Rotate
Move
Insert Node
Adding Beams (Connecting & Intersecting)
Cut Section
Renumber
Miscellaneous Functions
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Using STAAD Pro
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Module 3: Useful Functions to Complete the Geometry
3-3
Introduction
The five methods we discussed in Module 2 are used to create the
basic geometry. However, cannot alone fulfill the creation of some
complex requirements of structural engineer.
In this module, we will discuss essential functions, which will
enable the user to complete any unusual requirements in building up
the geometry.
User should select Node, Beam, or Plate before issuing any of the
functions to be discussed herein.
When you combine Module 2 & Module 3, you will know all the
geometry function exists in STAAD Pro.
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Using STAAD Pro
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Translational Repeat
With this function we can duplicate Nodes, Beams, Plates in the
direction of X, Y, or Z.
Select the desired Nodes, Beams, or Plates to be duplicated.
From Generate toolbar, select Translational Repeat, or from
menus select Geometry/Translational Repeat, the following dialog
box will appear:
Specify the Global Direction; you have three choices X, Y, or Z.
Specify the No. of Steps excluding the geometry you draw.
Specify the Default Step Spacing in the default length unit.
• The Step Spacing may be positive or negative value (that is if the
duplication process to take place in the negative side of X, Y, or
Z).
• You can change the individual step spacing from the table in the
dialog box.
Specify if you want to Renumber Bays, a new column will be
added, so user can specify the starting number of Beam numbers
STAAD Pro will start with, for each new frame will be added.
Specify if you want to Link Steps or not. Linking Steps is to link
the duplicate frames generated by Beams parallel to the direction of
copying. Accordingly specify if you want to make the Base (the
nodes at the bottom) to be linked or unlinked (Open).
Select if you want the copying including Geometry only, Geometry
and All (like property, loading, supports, etc.), or Geometry and
Property Only.
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3-5
Using Translational Repeat
Exercise 11
1. Start STAAD Pro, and create a new frame 4 meter in X-axis, and 3
meter in Y-axis.
2. Save this file under the name Common.std (this file will be used for the
other exercises of this module and the other modules).
3. Select all Beams.
4. Start the Translation Repeat, and specify the input data in a way to
produce the structure as shown below (leave the Spacing to be 5m):
5. Don’t save and close.
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Using STAAD Pro
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Circular Repeat
With this function, we can duplicate Nodes, Beams, and Plates in a
semi-circular, or circular fashion around one of the major axes.
Select the desired Nodes, Beams, or Plates to be duplicated. From
Generate toolbar, select Circular Repeat, or from menus select
Geometry/Circular Repeat, the following dialog box will appear:
Specify the Axis of Rotation, which will be one of the three major
axes X, Y, or Z.
Specify the Total Angle (+ve=CCW) to be covered by the duplicate
frames. Then specify the No. of Steps excluding the geometry you
draw.
To specify the point that the Axis of Rotation will go Through, you
have three ways:
• Click on the icon, and specify it on the screen.
• You remember the Node Number, type it in.
• You don’t know the Node Number but you know its coordinate,
type it in.
Specify to Link Steps, or not, and to Open Base, or not.
Select whether to copy everything, or Geometry Only.
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3-7
Using Circular Repeat
Exercise 12
1. Open Common.std.
3. Start the Circular Repeat, and specify the input data in a way to
produce the structure below (this is a top view):
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Using STAAD Pro
3-8
Mirror
With Mirror function, we can create a mirror image of the selected
Nodes, Beams, and Plates around any of the three planes.
Select the desired Nodes, Beams, or Plates to be duplicated. From
Generate toolbar, select Generate-Mirror, or from menus select
Geometry/Mirror, the following dialog box will appear:
Specify the Mirror Plane one of the following X-Y, X-Z, or Y-Z.
To specify the Plane Position, you have three ways:
• Click on the icon, and specify it on the screen.
• If you remember the Node Number, type it in.
• If you don’t know the Node Number but you know it’s X
coordinate, type it in.
Specify Generate Mode whether:
• Copy mode will generate the mirror image and keep the original
geometry.
• Move mode will generate the mirror image and erase the original
geometry.
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3-9
Using Mirror
Exercise 13
1. Open Common.std.
3. Start the Generate-Mirror, and specify the input data in a way to
produce the structure below.
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Using STAAD Pro
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Rotate
With Rotate function, we will be able to rotate Nodes, Beams, and
Plates around any axis we specify.
Select the desired Nodes, Beams, or Plates to be rotated. From
Generate toolbar, select Generate-Rotate, or from menus select
Geometry/Rotate, the following dialog box will appear:
Specify the rotation Angle in degrees.
To specify the Axis Passes Through point you have three ways to
do that:
• Click on the icon, and specify Node 1, and Node 2 on the screen.
• If you remember the Node Number, type it in.
• If you don’t know the two Nodes Number but you know their
coordinates, type it in.
Specify Generate Mode whether:
• Copy mode will generate the rotated geometry and keep the
original geometry. Specify to Link Bays or not.
• Move mode will generate the rotated geometry and erase the
original geometry.
Note Positive rotation angle will rotate Counter Clock Wise.
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3-11
Using Rotate
Exercise 14
1. Open Common.std.
3. Start the Generate-Rotate, and specify the input data in a way to
produce the structure below. (Hint: Use Rotate with angle =+40).
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Using STAAD Pro
3-12
Move
In Module 2, we found that STAAD Pro geometry is the Nodes.
Beams, and Plates are defined based on the Nodes at their ends or
corners, hence when you move Nodes, as if you are moving Beams,
or Plates, or stretching them (stretch here means the two movement;
elongating or shortning)
Select the desired Nodes (you can select Beams, or Plates, but move
will move their Nodes).
You have three ways to access the function:
• Press F2.
• Right-click and select Move.
• From the menus select Geometry/Move, then one of the options.
The following dialog box will appear:
Input the movement disctance and which direction.
Depends on your selection the output will be either moving or
stretching.
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3-13
Insert Node
Node in STAAD Pro is stiffed joint, hence there will be 6 reactions
on it. That means, if user inserted a Node, at the middle of a Beam,
the stability of the structure will not be affecetd.
Select one Beam.
You have three ways to access the function:
• Start the Insert Node function by clicking on the function from
the Geometry toolbar
• Select Geometry/Insert Node, or Geometry/Split Beam!
• Right-click and select Insert Node.
Add Mid Point If you click this button, a new Node at the middle of the Beam will
be added.
Add n Points In the field of n specify the number of Nodes to be added, then click
Add n Points.
Add New Point In the field of Distance specify the location from the start of the
Beam, and click Add New Point. STAAD Pro will produce in the
field of Proportion; the percentage of the diatnace to the whole
length of the Beam.
Alternatively, you can input the Proportion, and the Distance will
be measured.
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Using STAAD Pro
3-14
Note If you select more than one Beam and initite the function, the
following dialog box will appear:
This dialog box will give you the ability to perform this function on
multi-beams in one single command.
Add Beam between Mid-Points
To add Beams from the middle of one Beam to the middle of
another Beam.
From the Geometry toolbar, click the Add Beam between Mid-
Points (you can find it under Add Beams, click and hold and you
will see the button here)
The mouse shape will change to this shape.
Click the first Beam (click anywhere in the Beam), a new Node at
the middle will be added.
Go the second Beam, and click anywhere on the Beam.
A new Beam will be added fom the middle of the first Beam to the
middle of the seocnd Beam.
Add Beam by Perpendicular Intersection
The same as the previous function except this function will link an
existing Node in a perpendicular fashion to an existing Beam.
From the Geometry toolbar, click the Add Beam by Perpendicular
Intersection.
Click on an existing Node.
Click on any Beam.
A new Beam will be added perpendicular on the selected Beam.
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3-15
Using Tools to add Nodes and Beams
Exercise 15
1. Open Common.std.
2. Select the 4 m Beam.
3. Using Insert Node, and Move try to do the geometry below:
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Using STAAD Pro
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4. Do the following steps to produce the below geometry from the
geometry you just created:
a. Add Beams
b. Add Beam between Mid-Points
c. Add Beam by Perpendicular Intersection
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3-17
Connect Beams along an Axis
You can connect Nodes along any of the major axes with Beams.
Select the desired Nodes to be connected along X, Y, or Z.
From the menus select Geometry/Connect Beams along, then
choose one of the three axes. The Nodes will be connected with
Beams.
Intersect Selected Members
Sometimes, it happens that two Beams intersect each other without
creating a Node at the interesction point. This may happen specially
in DXF files importing. This will lead STAAD Pro to interpret that
there will be no transmitting of the forces between these two Beams,
therefore we need to make a check for such a case, and correct it.
From the menus select Geometry/Intersect Selected Members,
then you can select Intersect, or Highlight.
• Highlight will only highlight any occurance of such a problem.
• Intersect will solve the problem.
A dialog box will appear asking you to specify the tolerance.
Specify the tolerance value, click OK.
If such a problem is not present in your geometry, STAAD Pro will
produce the following message:
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3-18
If such a problem is present in your geometry, STAAD Pro will
create Nodes at intersection as needed, and produce the following
message:
Note If you don’t want to use Highlight function, select the beams you
suspect have this problem, then issue the command Intersect.
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3-19
Connecting Nodes, and Creating Intersections
Exercise 16
1. Open Common.std.
2. Select all Beams, and start Translational Repeat. The Global Direction is
Z, Default Step Spacing is 3m, and No. of Steps is 3, (Don’t Link
Steps), Click OK.
3. The shape should look like the following:
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4. Change to the Node cursor, and select the Nodes at the upper-right, like
the following:
5. From Menus select Geometry/Connect Beams Along/Z Axis. The
shape should be like the following:
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6. Select the first Node and the last Node, on the upper-left side:
7. From Menus select Geometry/Connect Beams Along/Z Axis. A single
Beam will be added connecting the first Node and the last Node.
8. Change to the Beam cursor.
9. Select the whole geometry (Ctrl+A).
10. From menus select Geometry/Intersect Selected Members /Intersect,
and accept the default tolerance value.
11. A dialog box will tell you that “2 new Beams Created”.
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Cut Section
Dealing with 3D View of a geometry with all of the Beams and
Plates shown may lead to confusion, and accordingly will slow the
production of geomerty or other functions like inputting cross-
sections. Cut Section is the suitable function to create a slice of the
geometry so user can focus on the job.
From Strcuture toolbar, select Cut Section, or from menus select
Tools/Cut Section.
You have three ways to create a slice of your geometry:
• Range By Joint
• Range By Min/Max
• Select to View
Range By Joints Specify the Plane you want to slice parallel to it. You have three
choices, X-Y, Y-Z, and X-Z.
Specify a Node number, so the slicing will take place at it.
Range By Min/Max Specify the Plane you want to slice parallel to it. You have three
choices, X-Y, Y-Z, and X-Z.
Specify the Minimum distance, and the Maximum distance, any
geometry parallel to the plane selected and with the range of the
distance will be shown.
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Select to View You have three choices in this slicing method:
• Window/Rubber Band; whereis the user to make a window
(click left button and hold to make a rectangle) whatever in it will
be shown. (Note that the Middle Point of the member is the
important part to be included inside the Window, and any Node
within the Window).
• Select Nodes, Beams, or Plates, then choose View Highlight. If
you selected Nodes, Nodes only will be shown, etc.
• Click on Select To View, and choose the part of geometry you
want to see, you can select more than one choice.
According to your choice, part of the structure will be shown.
Show All Whenever you are done working with your desired slice, simply
select the function again, and click on Show All button, the whole
structure will appear again.
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Renumber
Numbering Nodes, Beams, and Plates is the mission of STAAD Pro,
but we can interfere in it and renumber whatever we want.
Select Nodes, Beams, or Plates.
From menus, select Geometry/Renumber, choose suitable option.
Warning message will appear:
Read this message carefully, as it will remove any undoing from this
file, hence it may be something you don’t want to do.
If you click on No, nothing will happen. If you click Yes, a dialog
box will appear:
Specify Start numbering from, and whether it will in Ascending
order, or Descending order, then specify the Sort Criteria.
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Cutting Section & Renumbering
Exercise 17
1. Open Common.std.
2. Select all Beams, and start Translational Repeat. The Global Direction is
Z, Default Step Spacing is 3m, And No. of Steps is 3, Link Steps, and
Open Base.
3. Right-click and select Labels, and then click Node Numbers on.
Identify one of the Nodes at the top (let it be Node # 2)
4. Start Cut Section, at the Range By Joint, select X-Z, With Node # 2.
The shape of the Geometry should look something like this:
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5. Change the cursor to Node cursor, and select all Nodes.
6. Select Geometry/Renumber/Nodes.
7. Select to start numbering from 100, and in an Ascending order. Specify
the Sort Criteria to be Joint No.
8. The geometry should look like the following:
9. Select Cut Section again, and click Show All.
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Delete
You can delete Nodes, Members, and Plates
Deleting Nodes If you want to delete Nodes, any thing attached to them (namely;
Beams ot Plates) will be deleted:
• Select Nodes.
• Press Del Key at the keyboad.
• A warning message will appear:
• If you click Yes, the operation will be done and the Nodes will be
deleted. No, will stop the operation.
Deleting Beams and
Plates
Select the desired Beams, and Plates:
• If you select one Beam and press Delete, the Nodes at its end will
remian intact (except if your geomerty is one Beam).
• If you select more than one Beam, STAAD Pro will give you a
warning message
• Based on your answer, you can keep the Nodes, or remove them
as well.
The same thing applies for Plates, except deleting a single Plate will
lead to the warning message.
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Undo / Redo
You have unlimited number of Undos, and Redos to perform in one
session.
After you perform several functions, you want to undo one or two of
them, from the File toolbar, click Undo, or select Edit/Undo, or you
can press Ctrl+Z.
Also, you can undo group of actions, if you clicked on the pop-up
list, you can click on a certain action, accordingly STAAD Pro will
highlight anything between what we select and the point you are
standing on it right now, then double-click or press Enter.
Redo is to undo the undone
From File toolbar, click Redo, or from menus select Edit/Redo, or
press Ctrl+Y.
All Undo specifications apply to Redo.
Zooming and Panning
You can zoom and Pan using different methods in STAAD Pro. You
will find all zoom commands and Pan command in View toolbar,
and from menus in the View/Zoom or View/Pan
Zoom Window, is to draw a window (rectangular shape by
specifying two opposite corners) around the desired portion of the
geometry to be magnified, by clicking the left button of mouse and
holding until you specify the other corner of the window. Whatever
inside this window will be magnified.
Zoom Factor, is to specify a magnifying factor (greater than 1) or
shrinking factor (less than 1), the following dialog box will appear:
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Zoom In, to get you closer to the geometry, step-by-step.
Zoom Out, to get you farther from the geometry, step-by-step.
Zoom Extents (the menu option is All), after several zooms in and
out, this options allows you to see the whole geometry filling the
screen.
Zoom Dynamic, just like Zoom Window, except Zoom Dynamic
will create a window conatining the new view, and you can scroll up
and down, left and right, to view the other parts of the structure.
Zoom Previous, to get you back to last view.
Pan, a hand will appear, to allow the user to pan the geometry in all
of the sides, click the left button and drag the geometry in any
direction (it is more practical to use Pan with other zooms), to disabe
it press Esc, or click the icon again.
Display Whole Structure, just like Zoom Extents. It works with
Cut Section (discussed earlier) as Show All option.
Magnifying Glass, a glass will appear, click and hold, you will see
a bigger picture of the part, once you start moving you will magnify
other parts of your geometry.
Using IntelliMouse If you have IntelliMouse (the mouse with a wheel), you can use it to
Zoom In, and Zoom Out.
• If you move the wheel forward you are zooming in.
• If you move the wheel backward you are zooming out.
Previous Selection, STAAD Pro remembers the last selection you
made. To re-use the last selection, simply click this button, and
STAAD Pro will select it for you.
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Dimensioning
You can dimenstion your geometry to make it more meaningful for
anybody will view your model.
There are two ways to put dimension in STAAD Pro:
• Using Dimension function
• Using Node to Node Distance function
Dimension function Dimesion function will put dimension over Beams only, stating the
length of the Beam on the middle of it.
From Structure toolbar, click Dimension, or from menus select
Tools/Dimension Beams. The following dialog box will appear:
While Display mode is on, select either to:
• Dimension to View, to dimension all Beams at the current view.
• Dimension to Selected Beams, the selected Beams proir to the
initiation of this function will be dimensioned.
• Dimension to List, type in the numbers of Beams that you desire
to dimension (leave spaces between Beam numbers)
To remove the dimension from the geometry, select the Remove
mode, and click Remove.
Node to Node
Distance function
This function is manual, you will click on two Nodes and STAAD
Pro will put a dimension between these two Nodes. There is no need
for a Beam to be between the two Nodes.
From the Structure toolbar, click the Node to Node Distance, or
from menus select Tools/Display Node to Node Dimension.
In both ways, the mouse shape will change.
Click the first Node, then click the second Node, dimension will
appear on the distance you clicked. Keep doing this, until you are
done.
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To remove this type of dimension, from Structure toolbar, click
Remove Node to Node Distance, or from menus select
Tools/Remove Node Dimension. The dimension will disappear.
Pointing to Nodes, Beams, and Plates
Without issuing any command, if you point to Node, Beam, or Plate
STAAD Pro will give you the number of the Node, Beam, or Plate.
Pointing to Node Using the Node cursor, point to a Node, the cusor will provide the
Node Number:
Pointing to Beam Using the Beam cursor, point to a Beam, the cursor will provide the
Beam Number, and the Start and End Colors:
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As we mentioned before, each Beam is defined by the two Nodes at
its ends. Since STAAD Pro will number every thing in the geometry,
we will never know how STAAD Pro wrote the definition of Beam
in the input file except using the following:
• Opening the input file, and verify.
• Go the the Beam table in the Geometry Page Control.
• Using the color code.
By default the green will be the Start, and blue is the End.
This particularly important when you want to use Loading system.
To change the colors of the Start and End:
• Right-click, and select Labels, from Beams, there will be two
colors labeled Start Color, and End Color. Click the desired
color icon, and change the colors.
To permanently set the color code of the Beams, click Beam Ends
on in the same dialog box.
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Pointing to Plate Using the Plate cursor, point to a Plate, the cursor will provide the
Plate Number.
Global and Local Coordinate Systems
There is a single Global Coordinate System in STAAD Pro, which
we defined the Node coordinates using it.
The Global Coordinate System, appear at the lower left corner of
the main window.
We use GX, GY, and GZ, to differntiate them from the Local
Coordinate System X, Y, and Z.
For each Beam, there is a Local Coordinate System, as follows:
• X, is always from Start to End along the member.
• Y, in the direction of Minor principle axis.
• Z, in the direction of Major principle axis.
Beam results always produced using the Local Coordinate System,
such as Fx (Axial Load), Fy (Shear), and Mz (Bending moment).
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To view the Local Coordinate System of the Beam
• Right-click, and select Labels.
• From Beams, click Beam Orientation ON
You will see the X, and Y, and you can determine Z.
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For each Plate there is Local Coordinate System, which will be as
follows:
• X, is from first Node to the second Node.
• Y, lies in the Plane defined by the third point orthogrphical to X.
• Z, is derived from the Right-Hand-Rule (which defines the
relationship between the three axes).
To see the orientation of Plate Local Coordinates:
• Right-click, and select Labels.
• From Plates, click Plate Orientation ON
You will see the X, Y, and Z of the Plate:
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Notes:
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3-37
Module Review
1. In the Mirror function which of the following statements is true:
a. I can define a User-Defined Plane to Mirror around it.
b. I can only Mirror around X-Z Plane.
c. I can Mirror around any of the three main Planes.
d. There is only Copy mode in Mirror.
2. In the Translational Repeat:
a. The distances between steps generated should be the same.
b. I can repeat parallel to any of the three main axes.
c. I can’t link steps.
d. I can’t renumber step Beams.
3. Use ________________ command to cut a slice of your geometry.
4. If you delete Nodes, the Beams, and Plates attached to them will be intact:
a. True
b. False
5. There is one method to place dimension on your geometry:
a. True
b. False
6. Some of the Zooms options are __________,__________,__________,_________
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1. c
2. b
3. Cut Section
4. b
5. b
6. Window, In, Out, Dynamic, Previous, etc.
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4-1
Module 4:
Properties
Prismatic Property Type
Built-In Steel Table Property Type
Thickness Property Type
Miscellaneous Functions
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Module 4: Properties
4-3
Introduction
After the creation of the geometry, next step will be to Assign
Properties (Cross-Section) to each Beam, and Plate.
In our discussion we will select Beams and Plates prior to initiating
the commands. This method is easier and handier especially if you
want to assign to big number of, Beams, and Plates.
All of work in this module will be in the General Page Control.
Property Types
As we mentioned in Module 1, STAAD Pro needs the cross-section
to calculate I (moment of inertia), hence calculate K (stiffness
factor), and without K STAAD Pro cannot complete the system of
matrices mentioned before and accordingly cannot produce the
needed results. This will show the importance of this part to the
whole process.
There are two main methods to assign a property (cross-section) to
Beams, and one method to assign a property (thickness) to Plates.
For Beams, the two main methods are:
• Prismatic, for Concrete sections
• Built-In Steel Section Table and Built-In Aluminum Section
Table.
For Plates, the only available method is Thickness
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Type 1: Prismatic
Go to General Page Control
Make sure you are in the Property sub-page
Select the desired Beams (Beams or Columns)
From Data Area at the right of the screen, click Define
There will be four different cross-sections to pick from:
Circle Specify the Diameter of the cross-section:
Rectangle Specify the Depth (YD-means Depth parallel to local Y) and Width
(ZD-means Depth parallel to local Z) of the cross-section.
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Tee Specify the four types of data required.
Trapezoidal Specify the three types of data required.
For the above four cross-sections, STAAD Pro will take the values
supplied by the user and calculate all the needed information, which
they are:
• Ax, Cross –Sectional Area
• Ay, Effective Shear Area for shear forces parallel to local Y-axis
• Az, Effective Shear Area for shear forces parallel to local Z-axis
• Ix, Moment of Inertia about X-axis (Torsional Constant)
• Iy, Moment of Inertia about Y-axis
• Iz, Moment of Inertia about Z-axis
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General As an alternate method, you can give STAAD Pro all the data
needed (Ax, Ix, Iy, and Iz) with or without the cross section of the
Beam, by selecting General.
Note Also, you can reach the same command from the menus by selecting
Commands/Member Property/Prismatic.
In all of the above five dialog boxes you will find a check box called
Material, and pop-up list with selection of Concrete. You have two
ways to deal with this issue:
• Accept this check box, and hence you are accepting the data
available at STAAD Pro (to view the default material data, from
General page, Property sub-page, click on Material button, you
will get the following dialog box)
• Click this checkbox off, and hence you have to input the specific
Material constants later on.
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Viewing Cross-Section
To view cross section, right-click anywhere in STAAD window.
From the menu select Structure Diagrams. From the dialog box,
and under 3D Section, select Section Outline.
The following will be produced:
From the same place, if you select Full Section, this is what you
will get:
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From View toolbar, select 3D Rendered View, or from menus
select View/3D Rendering. Also, if you right-click at the STAAD
Pro window, you can select 3D Rendering. In all cases this is what
you will get:
Assign Prismatic Property to Beams
Exercise 18
1. Open Common.std
2. Assign for the two columns Circular shape YD=0.25 m
3. Assign for the beam Rectangular shape YD=0.35m, ZD=0.2m
4. View Section Outline, Full Section, and 3D Rendered View.
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Type 2: Built-In Steel Table
Go to General Page Control
Select the desired Steel Beams
From Data Area at the right of the screen, click Section Database
By default the American table is displayed, you can choose other
tables if you wish.
Select the type: W Shape, M Shape, S Shape, etc.
Select the size.
Select the Specification.
Section Specification There are mainly five different section categories:
• I-section (regardless of the naming convention of a specific
table).
• Angle.
• Channel
• Tube
• Pipe
For each category there will be specific specifications.
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4-10
I-Section
Specification
ST, means standard section as mentioned in the table.
T, means T-section cut from I-section.
D, means Double-Profile, specify SP, space between profiles.
CM, means Composite Section—Steel and Concrete. Specify:
• CT, Concrete Thickness
• CW, Concrete Width
• FC, Concrete Grade
• CD, Density of Concrete
TC, Top Cover Plate. Specify:
• WB, the Width of Cover Plate
• TH, the Thickness of Cover Plate
BC, means Bottom Cover Plate. Specify the same data of TC.
TB, means Top and Bottom Cover Plate. Specify the same data of
TC.
fc
CT
CW
TH
WB
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Angle Specification ST, means standard section as mentioned in the table.
RA, means an Angle with Reverse Y-Z:
LD, means Double Angle, Long Leg Back-to-Back. Specify:
• SP, the space between the two Angles.
SD, Double Angle, Short Leg Back-to-Back. Specify SP also.
Channel
Specification
ST, means standard section as mentioned in the table.
D, means Double Channel Back-to-Back. Specify SP.
FR, is a Double Channel but Front-to-Front, Specify SP.
SP
SP
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Tube Specification Either to select one of the pre-defined Tubes in the table.
Or define your own. Specify:
• TH, means the Thickness of the Tube
• WT, means the Width of the Tube
• DT, means the Depth of the Tube
Pipe Specification Either to select one of the pre-defined Pipes in the table.
Or define your own. Specify:
• OD, means the Outside Diameter of the Pipe
• ID, means the Inside Diameter of the Pipe
Note Also, you can reach the same command from the menus by
selecting Commands/Member Property/Steel Table and then
you can select the desired table.
Material checkbox is the same as in Prismatic.
WT
DT
TH
ID
OD
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4-13
Assign Built-In Steel Section to Beams
Exercise 19
1. Open Common.std.
2. Connect the diagonal Nodes by Beams to create bracing.
3. Select the two columns. From American Table, assign HP13X87
4. Select the beam. Assign W8X21
5. Select the Bracing members. Assign L40405 Double Angle Long Leg
Back-To-Back with 0.05 m space between the two legs.
6. From Strcuture Diagrams set the 3D Section to Section Outline. This
is the end result:
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Type 3: Thickness
Go to General Page Control.
Select the desired Plate
From Data Area at the right of the screen, click Thickness. The
If you fill Node 1, automatically Node 2, 3, and 4 will be filled with
the same value. That applies also for deleting the value of Node 1.
If you want to give different Thickness for different Nodes, go to
each Node, and input the desired value, this will not affect any of the
other Nodes.
Note Also, you can reach the same command from the menus by selecting
Commands/Plate Thickness.
Material checkbox is the same as in Prismatic.
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4-15
General Notes about Property Assigning
For the three types of Properties mentioned in this Module, there are
different functions to help us control the process in a better way:
Double-Click Beam After you assign Property for a Beam, double-clicking it will show
you a dialog box, select Property tab, and the following will appear:
You will see that STAAD Pro already calculated:
• Ax, Ay, and Az.
• Ix, Iy, and Iz.
If you accepted the built-in Concrete/Steel material constants while
you were assigning, you will see Elasticity, Density, Poisson, and
Alpha values.
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Double-Click Plate The same thing applies if you double-click a Plate after the
assignment of Thickness:
Referencing After you made your assignment, and in the Data Area, you will see
the following:
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4-17
Each Property assigned will be given a Ref number, starting from 1,
and it shows if you select the Material checkbox or not.
In STAAD Pro window you will see the name of the section
mentioned beside each Beam, or Plate:
Clicking on the Ref will automatcially select the Beams, or Plates.
In our example if you clicked Ref 2 Rect0.35X0.25 automatically
the columns assigned this Property will be selected, like this:
This is very usefull especially if you want to check your work; that
is all the desired Beams are assigned the right cross-section.
Note If you don’t want the selecting to take place, click off the check box
below Reference table:
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Deleting If you want to delete an assignement, do one of the following:
• Select the Ref number you want to delete, and click Delete
button.
• Select the Ref number and press Del at the keyboad.
In both way, the following dialog box will appear:
Click OK, to confirm the deletion, or Cancel to ignore.
Reference Label To change how the Reference Label is displayed on the screen,
right-click anywhere in the STAAD Pro window, and select
Labels from the Properties section,
• Reference, beside each Beam you will see R1, R2, …etc.
• Section, will show the cross section beside each Beam.
• None, unless you are in the Property sub-page, you will not
see the Properties Referencing.
Converting Units
By F2
While you are inputing Prismatic cross section, or Thickness,
STAAD Pro allows you to convert dimension from one unit to
another, by using F2 key in the edit box.
Assume your current units is in m, and the avialable dimension is
in feet. Instead of converting between the two units, do the
following:
• In the edit box, click F2, the edit box will change to:
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4-19
• Type in 1 ft, and press ENTER.
• STAAD Pro will convert it to m.
Changing Input
Units
As an alternate method you can also, change your input units, and
input the dimension using the new units.
Assume your current units is in m, and the avialable dimension is
in feet. Instead of converting between the two units, do the
following:
• From the Structure toolbar, select Input Units, or from
menues select Tools/Set Current Input Unit. The following
• Click Foot.
• From now on any dimension will be given to STAAD, will be
considerd in feet. To get it back to m, re-issue the function and
change it to m.
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4-20
Assigning Properties to Beams, and Plates (Concrete
Structure)
Workshop 2-A
1. Open Small_Building file.
2. Always select the Material checkbox to be ON.
3. Select all outer columns, and assign Circular YD=0.50m.
4. Select all inner columns, and assign Rectangular YD=0.5m, and
ZD=0.25m.
5. Select all beams, and assign Rectangular YD=0.40m, and ZD=0.20m.
6. Select the Plates, and assign Thickness=0.135m
7. This is the rendered image of the structure:
8. Save and close.
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4-21
Assigning Properties to Beams, and Plates (Steel
Structure)
Workshop 2-B
2. Using Insert Node function cut the Beam as indicated below to three
Beams with each 1m long:
3. Always select the Material checkbox to be ON.
4. Assign the following cross-section:
a. For top chord (left and right, front and back) assign W10X15
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4-22
b. For Truss Members (front and back) (see the illustration), assign
L20205
c. For Connections (see the illustration) assign S6X12
5. For all columns assign HP14X102
6. For all beams assign W16X36
7. This is the rendered image of the structure:
8. Save & Close.
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4-23
Module Review
1. You can’t assign a Prismatic cross-section to Steel Beam:
a. True
b. False
2. Instead of inputting cross section I can input Ix, Iy, Iz:
a. True but only for circular cross-section.
b. True for all sections.
c. False you have to input cross-section always.
d. Any of the above.
3. Using Structure Diagrams, and under ________________ you can view the Section Outline of
your cross-section.
4. While you are inputting Prismatic cross-section you can convert to any unit you want:
a. True
b. False
5. For each section in a Steel table you should specify:
a. Cover Plate thickness.
b. Proper Specification depends on the category belongs to.
c. Space between two Angles
6. For Plates, specify the _____________ as property.
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4-24
1. a
2. b
3. 3D Sections
4. a
5. b
6. Thickness
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5-1
Module 5:
Constants, Supports, and Specifications
Material Constants
Geometric Constant
Supports
Beam, and Plate Release
Truss Members
Member Crack Property
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Module 5: Constants, Supports, and Specifications
5-3
Introduction
There are two types of Constants in STAAD Pro:
• Material Constants.
• Geometric Constants.
Supports, is an essential part of the input file. STAAD Pro offers
several types of Supports.
You can set different Specifications for Beams, and Plates. This will
help STAAD Pro to better understand your Model and hence
produce the correct results.
Material Constants
In Module 4, we found a checkbox in all of the Property dialog
boxes to include a certain Material (Concrete, or Steel) Constants
with the cross-section.
If this checkbox was checked ON, this means the user is accepting
the default values in STAAD Pro:
If this checkbox was checked OFF, user should input the Material
Constants manually. At least two are needed:
• E, Young’s Modulus of Elasticity (always required).
• Density, if you want STAAD Pro to calculate selfweight.
You can ignore Poisson’s Ratio, and Alpha (Thermal Expansion
factor—for Thermal loading only).
There are three ways to assign Material Constants to Beams, or
Plates:
• Using menus
• Using Page Control
• Using double-click
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Using menus Select desired Beams, or Plates.
From menus select Commands/Material Constants, then select
one of the following choices:
• Density
• Elasticity
• Poisson’s Ratio
• Alpha
• Damping Ratio
• G (Shear Modulus)
Regardless of the constant you want to input, you will get almost the
same dialog box:
Note If you selected Beams, or Plates before the command, then under
Assign, select To Selection.
You can assign to all Beams, and Plates, by selecting To View.
While you are in of the following dialog boxes, you can use F2 key
to convert units (just as we learned in the Module 4):
• Density
• Elasticity
• G (Shear Modulus).
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5-5
Using Page Control From General Page Control, select Material sub-page.
At the Data Area, click Isotropic tab.
Click Create button, to create a new material constants, you will get
the following dialog box:
Type the name of this material for future usage (in this file only),
input the data you want, and click OK, a new Material will be
added.
While the new material is selected, select desired Beams, or Plates,
and click Assign.
Using
double-click
Double-click on the desired Beam, Plate, a dialog box will appear
• Select Property tab.
• Under Material Property, there will be a pop-up list.
• Select the desired Material.
• Click Assign Material.
Note If you already created an Isotropic Material, you will find it in the
list.
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Assign Material Constants
Exercise 20
1. Open Common.std.
2. Select all the structure and assign YD=0.6m, and ZD=0.2. Make sure to
check Material checkbox OFF.
3. Select the three Beams.
4. From menus assign the following values for all Beams:
a. E=21 KN/mm2
b. Density=23.534X10-9
KN/mm3
Note We used mm and not m, so you need to make a conversion, so change
the Input Units to mm.
In order to input a vlaue with exponential like 23.534X10-9
use letter E,
like 23.534E-9 (also you can use e)
5. Don’t close the file and keep it open for the next exercise.
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5-7
Geometry Constant
When you draw a 3D frame, then you are dealing with two main 2D
frames.
Accordingly when you assign a cross-section to any Beam (beam, or
column) STAAD Pro will orient the cross-section in a way that it
may not satisfy your structural case.
Example Assume the following 3D frame:
Note the orientation of the cross-section, and hence the orientation
of local Y.
This assumption works perfect for the loading to be working at
frame ABCD, and not ABEF.
Let’s assume that the loading system you have doesn’t work at
ABCD frame, but instead at ABEF.
Your requirement now will be to rotate the cross-section in a way
that the higher moment of inertia will be at ABEF.
Here when it comes Beta (β) role.
When β = 90o
this means you will rotate the cross-section by 90o
.
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It will work with Concrete and Steel cross-sections.
The frame will look like the following:
The cross-section of AB was rotated +90o
.
The cross-section of EF was rotated -90o
.
This is because we want local Y to point outside.
Note User can use any angle, β is not only 90o
, or -90o
.
Example on using -45o
:
Angles in STAAD Pro is Absolute, and not Relative, meaning 45o
angle is always 45o
and not relative to the current position of the
Beam.
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5-9
There are three ways to assign β to Beams:
• Using menus.
• Using Page Control.
• Using double-click.
Using menus Select desired Beams.
From menus select Commands/Geometric Constants /Beta Angle,
the following dialog box will appear:
Input the desired angle (Make sure To Selection is selected).
Using Page Control Select th desired Beams.
From General Page Control, Property sub-page, from Data Area,
click on the Beta Angle tab. Data Area will change to:
Click Create Beta Angle button and input the desired angle, and
click Assign, to assign it to different Beams.
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Using
double-click
Double-click on the desired Beam. A dialog box will appear, under
the Additional Info part, the current Beta Angle will be displayed.
Click Change Beta button, and set the new Beta Angle.
Assign Geometric Constant
Exercise 21
2. Using Structure Diagrams, show the Section Outline.
3. Select the beam (the horizontal member).
4. Set Beta angle to be 90.
5. Don’t close the file and keep it open for the next exercise
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5-11
Supports
STAAD Pro provides several types of supports to model any
structural case.
Supports are essential part of the input file. Without this part, the
Analysis may not run, and may produce an error message.
Types of Supports We will focus in this courseware on the following supports:
• Fixed
• Pinned
• Fixed But
Fixed Support Fixed in STAAD Pro means there will be no movement in any
direction, and no rotation around any axes.
There will be six reactions on this support: Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx, My, and
Mz.
Used mostly to model isolated footings.
Can be used with STAAD.etc to design the footing after the analysis
results generated from STAAD Pro.
Pinned Support Pinned in STAAD Pro means there will be no movement in any
direction, but there will be rotation around all axes.
There will be three reactions only on this support: Fx, Fy, Fz.
Used mostly in Plane structure (2D geometry parallel to XY Plane).
If used in Plane structure, there will be only 2 reactions Fx, and Fy
(which is Axial, and Shear respectively) as Fz will not be considered
by the structure it self. If you want to use it in 3D geometry, study
your case carefully, as it may not fit what you need.
Fixed But Support We recommend this support to be used in cases of releasing your
fixed support, especially in 3D frames.
User can control which of the three forces, or the three moments to
be released.
This will give the user the power to model the structural case
exactly.
You can release any of the following: Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx, My, Mz
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How to Assign Supports
There are two ways to assign Supports to Nodes:
• Using menus.
• Using Page Control.
Using menus Select desired Nodes.
From menus select Commands/Support Specifications, then select
one of the first three choices; Pinned, Fixed, Fixed But/Spring.
For Fixed and Pinned, there will be no additional information,
hence click Assign.
For Fixed But, you should select which of the 3 forces, and/or which
of the 3 moments to be released:
Using Page Control From General Page Control, select Support sub-page.
Once you are there, the cursor will change to Node cursor
automatically.
Select the desired Nodes.
From the Data Area, click Create.
A dialog box will be displayed, pick the desired type of supports,
and click Assign.
Note The dialog box in the two methods is the same.
In the case of Fixed But, it will be meaningless if you clicked all the
3 forces and the 3 moments to be released.
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5-13
Editing Supports
From the Selection toolbar, select Support Edit Cursor icon,
double-click the support, to show the dialog box of the support to
edit it.
Another way would be to double click the Support definition in the
Data Area, to show the dialog box of the Support to edit it.
• Select the Ref number of the support you want to delete, and
click Delete button.
• Select the Ref number of the support and press Del at the
keyboad.
Assign Supports
Exercise 22
2. Go to General Page Control.
3. Select Support sub-page.
4. Select the left support, and define it as Fixed.
5. Select the right support, and define it as Pinned.
6. Don’t close the file and keep it open for the next exercise.
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Specifications
Specifications command in STAAD Pro is the way to define things
about your Model that geometry alone can’t.
For example, by default all of your Nodes at the ends of each Beam
are stiffed. In Specifications you can release Beams from any side
using any of the six reactions.
Another example would be to declare to STAAD Pro that some of
your Beams in Space model are Truss members; hence they can
sustain axial loads only.
Beam Release The Nodes at the ends of each Beam, is always considered to be
rigid Nodes, hence there will be six reactions at each Node.
You can release a Beam by releasing the Start Node, or the End
Node from any of the 3 forces, and/or 3 moments.
Point to the desired Beam, the Beam number will be displayed along
with the Green color (Start), and Blue color (End). This way you
will know where exactly you will define the release of the Beam.
Select General Page Control, and Spec sub-page.
Select the desired Beam, then click Beam button.
You can reach the same command using menus by selecting
Command/Member Specification/Release.
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Specify the following information:
• The Release Type, whether Partial Moment Release, or Release.
• The Location, whether at the Start, or at the End.
• Specify the Release, choose the desired checkbox.
• Click Assign.
This is how STAAD Pro represent the Release:
Editing Beam
Release
After you apply the release you can change it, by double clicking the
Beam, a dialog box will appear, under Releases you will see the
current release conditions:
Click Change Releases At Start button, if the current release is at
the Start, or else click the other key.
The original Release dialog box will appear, and you can change it
to the desired release.
From the Selection toolbar, select Member Release Edit Cursor
icon, double-click the Release itself (and not the Beam), to show the
dialog box of the Release to edit it.
Another way would be to double-click on the Release from the Data
Area, to show the dialog box and edit the Release.
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Plate Release The same idea applies for Plates. In this case you can specify 3-4
Nodes instead of 2 only. Select General Page Control, and Spec
sub-page.
Select the desired Plate, then click Plate button.
Command/Plate Element Specification /Release.
Select the Node you want to release (they numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4)
Then specify the Release by clicking the checkbox on. Click Assign.
If you want to release another Node in the same Plate, without
closing the dialog box, select the other Node, and set the new
release, and click Assign.
To edit it the release you can double-click the Plate, and follow the
same procedure as in the Beam case.
• Select from the list the Specification you want to delete, and click
Delete button.
Select the Ref number of the support and press Del at the keyboad.
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5-17
Truss Members If user defined the file as Truss structure, all the Beams (by default)
will take only axial loads only. Hence the Beams, will not carry
neither shear nor moment.
But if the user defined the structure as Space, or Plane, all the
Beams (by default) will carry axial, shear, and moment.
Accordingly, if you have in Space, or Plane structure a truss,
STAAD Pro will never know how to deal with truss members,
except to consider them as any other members, which means will
carry axial, shear, and moment.
To let STAAD Pro treat truss members as special case, you have to
specify that as Specification.
From General Page Control, select Spec sub-page.
Command/Member Specification/Truss.
Select the Beams to be declared as Truss members.
Click Beam button. The Member Specification dialog box will
appear, select Truss tab.
Click Assign.
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This is how STAAD Pro represent the Truss members:
Member Cracked
Property
As per the recommendation of ACI-318:2005 which recommeds a
simplified method of calcualting the Cracked Section Property by
using reducation factor, the user now has the ability to utilize such a
feature in STAAD Pro.
Click Beam button. The Member Specification dialog box will
appear, select Member Cracked Property tab.
Input one or all of the reduction factors as your case required.
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5-19
Assign Specifications
Exercise 23
2. Go to General Page Control, and select Spec sub-page.
3. Point to the beam (the horizontal member). Make sure you knew the
Start and the End of it.
4. Select it, and click Beam.
5. Release it from Mz only from the End.
6. Click Assign.
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Notes:
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5-21
Assigning Constants, Supports, and Specs (Concrete
Structure)
Workshop 3-A
2. Right-click, and select from the shortcut menu, Structure Diagrams,
when the dialog box appears select from 3D Section, the option Section
Outline. We did this step so we can see the cross section before and
after the Beta angle assignment.
3. Select the Beams as shown:
4. Set the Beta Angle to be 90.
5. Define all supports as Fixed.
6. Save and Close.
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Assigning Constants, Supports, and Specs (Steel
Structure)
Workshop 3-B
2. Select the Beams as shown:
3. Declare the selected Beams as Truss Members.
4. Define outer supports as Fixed, and the inner supports as Fixed but Mz.
5. Save and Close.
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5-23
Module Review
1. Beta must be always 90o
:
a. True
b. False
2. STAAD Pro:
a. Has a facility to declare Truss members.
b. In Space model can’t differentiate between Beams, and Truss Members.
c. Will treat Truss members as ordinary members in Space structure.
3. Pinned support will have _______ reactions.
4. You can release a Beam from any of the 6 reactions at the Start or End.
a. True
b. False
5. For Plates, one of the following is true:
a. In order to release a Plate, you can release the Beams holding the Plate.
b. You can release the Nodes of the Plates.
c. You can release more than one Node of the Plates.
d. Answers b & c.
6. ________, and _______ should be input as Material constants the rest can be ignored.
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1. b
2. d
3. 3
4. a
5. d
6. E & Density
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6-1
Module 6:
Loading
Introduction to the types of loading in STAAD Pro
How to create Primary Loads
Individual Loads: Member Loads
Individual Loads: Area & Floor Loads
Individual Loads: Plate Loads
Individual Loads: Node Loads
How to View and to Edit Loads
How to create Combinations (Manual or Automatic)
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Module 6: Loading
6-3
Introduction
Loading is considered to be the last step in creating your input file
before the Analysis command.
Loading will be done through creation of Primary Loads, which
includes Individual Loads.
Then creating Combination Loads, which will combine a factored
Primary Loads, simulating the design codes combinations, which
will generate the maximum shear/moments results.
Primary Loads Primary Load is the base for the loading in STAAD Pro.
Each Primary Load should have a Number (essential to STAAD
Pro), and a Title (optional for STAAD Pro but important to the
user).
As an example of Loading Number and Title will be: Load 1 Dead
Load, Load 2 Live Load, and Load 3 Wind Load.
If you left Title empty, STAAD Pro will accept that, but later on, it
will be very difficult, to remember what is this load, hence make
sure always to type a good title.
Primary Load contains inside it all the individual loads which may
act on:
• Nodes
• Beams
• Plates
One of the pre-defined loads, which can be included in a Primary
load, is Selfweight.
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Combination Loads Combination Load contains Primary Loads defined earlier
multiplied by a factor.
The number of the first Combination will take the following number
of the last Primary Load. As an example, if the last Primary Load
holds number 3, the first Combination will hold number 4.
One of the Combination may look like:
• 1.4 * (1) + 1.6 * (2)
Because STAAD Pro deals with the number of the Primary Loads,
and not the title, therefore the equation of the Combination should
show only the numbers of the Primary Loads.
How to Create Primary Loads
From Page Control Go to General Page Control, and select Load sub-page, the
following dialog box will appear on the Data Area:
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Module 6: Loading
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Note Make sure that you will select Load Cases Details before you proceed
to the below step
To add a new Primary load, click Add button, the following dialog box
will appear:
The Number of the Primary load is given automatically.
Leave the Loading Type to None (we will discuss this later)
Type in a good Title.
Click Add button.
A new load case will be added, and STAAD Pro gives you the ability to
add more loads in the same step. See the figure below:
From Menus From the menus, select Commands/Loading/Primary Load, wherever
you are, this command will take you directly to Load sub-page, and
open the dialog box shown in the above to define/edit Primary Loads.
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Note You can see the number of the current load in 3 different places:
Individual Loads: Introduction
While you are in a Primary Load, you will able to apply loads to
Nodes, Beams, and Plates.
It is preferable to select the desired Nodes, Beams, or Plates proir to
applying the load. This way you will be able to apply the load to
mulitple Nodes, Beams, or Plates which will minimize your time.
STAAD Pro enables the user to specify the direction of each load
using Global, Local, or Projected methods.
STAAD Pro is equipped with a Selfwheight command, which can
calcualte selfweight of the strcuture based on cross-section, length,
and material density.
STAAD Pro can simulate a One-Way and Two-Way slab loading
directly on the beams carrying any slab.
At the View toolbar
At the Status BarAt STAAD Pro window
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Individual Loads: Selfweight
No need to select anything, neither Members, nor Plates.
Select the desired primary load, and click Add button, the following
By default the Y is the Direction of the load, and the Factor is -1.
Click Assign.
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Individual Loads: Member Loads
Member Loads are loads applied to Beams, covering all types, like,
beams, columns, truss members, bracing members, etc.
It is preferable to select the Beams prior to invoking the command.
5-steps procedure This is a very simple approach to applying load to Beams:
• Select the Beams.
• Select the desired primary load case, and click Add button, a
dialog box will appear.
• Specify the type, value of the load, and the distances (if
applicable).
• Specify the direction of the load, click Add button.
• From Assignment method select Assign to Selected Beams, then
click Assign button.
Concentrated Force
or Moment
Click Concentrated Force, or Concentrated Moment.
The case should look like the following:
d1
d2
EndStart
P
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Module 6: Loading
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Specify P force value, d1, and d2:
• The sign of the force will be discussed in the Force Direction
part. d1 as shown in the illustration is measured from the Start of
the Beam. d2 is the eccentricty.
• If d1, and d2 left blank, the load is at the middle of the Beam.
Uniform Force or
Moment
Click Uniform Force, or Uniform Moment.
d2
d1
d3
EndStart
W1
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Specify W1 force value, d1, d2, and d3:
part. d1 and d2 as shown in the illustration is measured from the
Start of the Beam. d3 is the eccentricty.
• If d1, d2, and d3 left blank, the load will cover the whole Beam.
Trapezoidal Force Click Trapezoidal tab.
d1
d2
Start
W1
W2
End
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Module 6: Loading
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Specify W1, and W2 force value, d1, and d2:
part. d1 and d2 as shown in the illustration is measured from the
Start of the Beam. no eccentricty in this type of loading.
• If d1, and d2 left blank, the load will cover the whole Beam.
Force Direction In the above three types of Individual loads, 9 options (except for
Concentrated load 6 were available only) to specify the direction of
the load:
Three of them are in the Local direction of the Beam, X, Y, and Z.
Three of them are in the Global direction, GX, GY, and GZ.
Three of them are in the Projected direction, PX, PY, and PZ.
Specify whether the desired load will act parallel to the Globals, or
Locals, or in Projected fashion. According to your decision, specify
whether it holds negative sign or positive sign. Here are some
examples:
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Examples for Force
Direction
In case of a beam as in the illustration below, note that; if you
specify the direction of the load as GY or Y, the sign of the load will
be negative.
In case of a column as in the illustration below, note that, if you
specify the Global X as the direction of the load, the sign of the load
will be positive. Alternatively, if you specify the Local Y as the
direction of the load, the sign of the load will be negative.
In the case of inclined beam like in the illustration below, note that;
the only right choice would be negative Y.
-ve GY or -ve Y
+veGXor-veY
-veY
only
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For Porjected direction, if the Beam was in X-Y plane, then you
have only PX, and PY as possible directions for the loads to be
applied in the same plane. Accordingly, that applies to the other
planes. Also, for Uniform Force, using the Projected direction, the
value of the load will not be the input value, instead it will be the
input value multiplied by the Sine or Cosine of the angle beween the
inclined Beam and the horizontal in the plane of loading.
To verify, see the following example:
• If you have the following case (frame in X-Y plane):
• The angle between the inclined Beam and the horizontal is 60o
.
• If you apply a force = -10 KN over the 6 m length Beam using
PY direction, the value of the load will be -5, why? Because
Cosine 60o
= 0.5, and hence -10*0.5= -5.
• If you apply a force = 10 KN over the 6 m length Beam using PX
direction, the value of the load will be 8.66, why? Because
Sine60o
= 0.866, and hence 10*0.866=8.66.
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Creating Primary and Member Loads
Exercise 24
1. Open Common.std.
2. Create Primary Load 1, titled Dead Load and include inside it the
Selfweight only.
3. Create Primary Load 2, titled Live Load and create a Uniform Force
with value of 25 KN/m (you figure out what is the sign of the load), like
the illustration below:
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Module 6: Loading
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4. Create Primary Load 3, titled Wind Load and create a Trapezoidal Force
with value of W1=10 KN/m, and W2=25 KN/m (you figure out what is
the sign of the load), like the illustration below:
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Linear Varying Click Linear Varying tab.
Or the following case:
EndStart
W1
W2
Start End
W3
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Specify W1, and W2 force value, or W3:
• The force should cover the whole Beam length.
• The loading is always in the Local direction, hence you have only
three options rather than nine.
Individual Loads: Area Load
This load will simulate the One-Way slab loading.
You don’t apply it on a Plate, but on Beams surronding the Plate.
STAAD Pro will distribute the pressure value Force/Area on the
beams according to the theory of One-Way slab.
Select the desired primary load, and click Add button.
Select Area Load, from the left list, the following will appear:
Specify the pressure value.
Specify the Direction of the load, select one of the following: Local
Z, GX, GY, and GZ.
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Individual Loads: Floor Load
This load will simulate the Two-Way slab loading.
You don’t apply it on a Plate, but on Beams surronding the Plate.
STAAD Pro will distribute the pressure value Force/Area on the
beams according to the theory of Two-Way slab.
No need to select any Beam before applying this load.
Example See the following illustration to understand how the Floor load
works:
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Module 6: Loading
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To create Floor loading on the geometry as illustrated in the above
graph, you have to fill the data as in the following dialog box:
Explanation Specify the Load value in Force/Area units.
Define the Y force effectiveness range which will act in the Global Y
direction. In our example the force is affecting the first story of the
building and not the second, so range will be from 0 m to 7.5 m.
Define the X force effectiveness range which will act in the Global
X direction. In our example the range will be from 0 m to 8.5 m.
Define the Z force effectiveness range which will act in the Global Z
direction. In our example the range will be from 6 m to 12 m.
Note If you want to load partial part of structure you have to make sure
that there are beams at the location you specify, which means, when
you say from 6m to 12m, there should be beams at 6m and 12m, or
STAAD can’t implement the Floor Load.
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Individual Loads: Plate Loads
Plate Loads are loads applied to Plates.
It is preferable to select the Plates prior to invoking the command.
6-steps procedure This is a very simple approach to applying load to Plates:
• Make sure that you are showing the Plate Orientation (right-click,
then select Labels, under Plates, click Plate Orientation on).
• Select the Plate(s).
• Select the desired primary load, then click Add button.
• Click the Plate button. A dialog box will appear.
• Specify the type, value of the load.
• Specify the direction of the load, then click Add button.
• From Assignment method select Assign to Selected Plates, then
click Assign button.
Pressure on Full
Plate
Click Pressure on Full Plate.
The pressure will be Force/Area covering the whole Plate.
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Module 6: Loading
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Specify the pressure value W1.
Specify the Direction of the pressure. You have six choices:
• Local X, Local Y, and Local Z.
• GX, GY, and GZ, the three global direction, and accroding to the
direction specify the sign of the load.
The result may look like the following:
Note Although it looks like the load is on the Beams, but actually the load
is acting on all the Plate.
Partial Plate
Pressure Load
Click Partial Plate Pressure Load.
The pressure will be Force/Area covering the Plate partially. The
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Specify the pressure value W1.
Specify X1, Y1 which are the coordinates of the start point of the
area to be covered, measured from the centroid of the Plate.
Specify X2, Y2 which are the coordinates of the end point of the
area to be covered, measured from the centroid of the Plate.
If you put X1 = -1, Y1 = -1, this means 1 m to the left and below the
centroid. Also, if X2 = 1, Y2=1 that means 1 m to the right and
above the centroid.
Based on X1, Y1, X2, Y2 mentioned above the area to be covered
will be 2X2 m2
.
Specify the direction just like in the Pressure on Full Plate.
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Concentrated Load Click Concentrated Load.
Specify the Force value.
Specify the location of the concentrated load by specifying the X,
and Y coordinated measured from the centroid of the plate.
Specify the direction just like in the Pressure on Full Plate.
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Trapezoidal Click Trapezoidal.
The pressure will cover the whole Plate.
Specify the Direction of the Pressure.
Specify the value of Start force f1, and End force f2.
Specify the Variation along Element, in which the pressure will
vary along it. The illustration below will show a pressure will change
along the local X.
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Module 6: Loading
6-25
Individual Loads: Node Loads
Node Loads are loads applied to Nodes.
Select the Nodes.
Select the desired primary load case, and click Add, a dialog box
will appear.Click the Nodal Load then select Node.
Specify the value and the sign of the load, then click Add button.
From Assignment method select Assign to Selected Nodes, then
click Assign button
The illustration below will show the force working in the negative Z
axis.
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Creating Floor, Plate, and Nodal Loads
Exercise 25
1. Start STAAD Pro, and create 3D-frame 4m in X-axis, 3m in Y-axis, and
5m in Z-Axis. Add a single plate on the top of the frame.
2. Create Primary Load 1, titled Dead Load, which includes:
a. Selfweight.
b. Floor Load = -5 KN/m2
, which will cover the one story structure.
(Hint Y Range = 0 to 3)
3. Create Primary Load 2, titled Live Load, which includes Pressure Load
on the full Plate = -3 KN/m2
.
4. Create Primary Load 3, titled Wind Load, which includes Nodal Load
with a value of 2 KN (you figure out which direction and what is the
sign of the load) like the illustration below:
5. Don’t close the file you will need it in the next exercise.
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Module 6: Loading
6-27
Individual Loads: Viewing & Editing
Viewing To view the load value and Floor Load, right-click and select
Labels. The Labels dialog box will appear, under the part of
Loading Display Options:
• To view the Load Value on the screen click Load Values ON.
• To view the Floor Loading on the Beams, click Display Floor
Loading ON.
• To view the two trinagles and the two trapezoidal of the Two-
Way slab loading click Display Floor Load Distribution ON.
The following illustration clarifies more by displaying the Load
Value, Floor Loading, and finally Floor Loading Distribution.
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Using STAAD Pro
6-28
Editing When you are in the sub-page Load the Data Area would look like
the following:
Each load (Selfweight, Member, Plate, or Nodal) will be displayed
in this part of the screen, after selecting the load from the list you
can:
• Delete the individual load, by clicking Delete button, or clicking
the Del key on the keyboard.
• If you click Edit button, or if you double-click the load from the
list a dialog box will appear to give you the chance to edit the
value of the load, and its direction (if applicable).
• From the Selection toolbar, select Load Edit Cursor icon, select
the load itself (and not the Node, Beam, or Plate), to show the
dialog box of the load to edit it. Only Area Load, and Floor Load
can’t be edited in the last way.
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Module 6: Loading
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How to Create Manual Combinations
Manual Combination is any combination:
• User will create it, and not STAAD Pro
• User will specify the factors to be multiplyed by the Primary
Loads.
• User will specify how many combinations are needed.
To create a combination, click on Load Cases Details at the Data
Area, then click Add button, a dialog box will appear, click Define
Combinations, you will see the following:
As you can see STAAD Pro gave the first Combination a number
which will be a continuation of the last Primary Load number. Type
the Name of the combination (remember the name doesn’t mean any
thing to STAAD Pro). Make sure that the Type is Normal.
In the Default field type the desired factor (1.4, 1.6, or any other
factor).
Now select the primary load case, and click one arrow to the right.
Repeat the same process for the other primary loads.
From Menus From the menus, select Commands/Loading/Load Combination.
This command will not take you to the Load sub-page, but instead
will show you the same dialog box shown above, start with New
button to create a new Combination.
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How to Create Automatic Combinations
Automatic Combination is any combination:
• Created by STAAD Pro according to specific codes.
• STAAD Pro will specify the factors which will be multiplyed by
the Primary Loads.
• STAAD Pro specify how many combination is needed.
As pre-requisite user should take care of the following points:
• When creating a new Primary Load, select Loading Type from
the pop-list, which contians: Dead, Live, Roof Live, Wind,
Seismic, Snow, Fluids, etc. Don’t mix up the Loading Type with
the Title. Check the following dialog box:
• As you can see we selected Primary Load 1 to be Dead. Do the
same for 2 to be Live, and 3 to be Wind (just for the sake of an
example).
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Module 6: Loading
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When you are done with Primary Loads, create a combination by
clicking on Load Cases Details at the Data Area, then click Add
button, a dialog box will appear, click Auto Load Combinations,
you will see the following dialog box:
• Select the desired code, then select the Load Combination
Category which will decitate the number of combination the
program will generate.
• Now click Generate Loads button. Number of combination will
be generated automatically.
• Once you are done, click Add button.
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Editing Primary Loads and Creating Combinations
Exercise 26
2. Change the value of the Floor Load from -5 to -2.5
3. View the Load Values.
4. Create the following manual Combinations:
a. 1.4 DL + 1.6 LL
b. 0.75(1.4 DL + 1.6 LL + 1.6 WL), which is 1.05DL+1.2LL+1.2WL
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Module 6: Loading
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Creating Primary Loads & Combinations (Concrete
Structure)
Workshop 4-A
2. Create a Primary Load 1 Type = Dead, titled Dead Load, contains:
a. Selfweight (Y, -1).
b. Floor Loading -5 KN/m2
, YRange=0-6, XRange=0-10,
ZRange=0-5.
3. Create a Primary Load 2 Type = Live, titled Live Load, contains: Floor
Load -8 KN/m2
, YRange=0-6, XRange=0-10, ZRange=0-5
4. Create a Primary Load 3, titled Wind Load, contains: Nodal Load over
the Nodes as shown Fx = 5 KN:
5. Create automatic combinations using ACI code, and Table 1 category.
6. Save and Close
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Creating Primary Loads & Combinations (Steel
Structure)
Workshop 4-B
2. Create a Primary Load Number 1 Type = Dead, titled Dead Load,
contains:
a. Selfweight (Y, -1).
b. Uniform Force=-10 on the Beams as shown.
c. Nodal Load = -55 KN as shown:
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Module 6: Loading
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3. Create a Primary Load Number 2 Type = Live, titled Live Load,
contains:
a. Uniform Force = -15 KN/m on the top chord as shown (Use Y).
b. Uniform Force = -20 KN/m on the beams as shown.
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4. Create a Primary Load Number 3 Type = Wind, titled Wind Load,
contain:
a. Uniform Force = 13 KN/m on th left columns, as shown.
b. Uniform Force = -17 KN/m of the left top chord as shown (use Y).
5. Make automatic combinations, using AISC code, and Garage Category.
6. Save and Close.
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Module 6: Loading
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Module Review
1. Combinations is to simulate Design Codes Combinations:
a. True
b. False
2. Which of the following is true about GX, GY, and GZ:
a. Used to specify the direction of load.
b. The only 3 methods available to specify the direction of the load.
c. You can’t use Global direction to specify the direction of the load.
d. None of the above.
3. Primary Load includes _________ Loads.
4. You can’t edit the Floor Load from the Data Area:
a. True
b. False
5. Which is true about Plate Load:
a. Floor load not among them
b. Load Applied on Plates
c. Loads applied to the Beams surrounding the Plate
d. Answers a & b
6. After you define a Primary Load, the Load number will appear in ___ different places.
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1. a
2. a
3. Individual
4. b
5. d
6. 3
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7-1
Module 7:
Analysis
Types of Analysis
Perform Analysis Command
P-Delta Analysis Command
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Module 7: Analysis
7-3
Introduction
STAAD Pro Analysis can be:
• Static Analysis
• Dynamic Analysis
Static Analysis can be either:
• Perform Analysis (Linear Analysis)
• P-Delta Analysis
Dynamic Analysis can be either:
• Time History
• Response Spectrum
In this courseware we will cover only the types of the Static
Analysis commands, and their requirements.
Note Analysis command is a line, which will be added to your input file,
and not the execution command. Analysis command will tell
STAAD Pro what is the desired analysis type you want to use to get
your results.
Perform Analysis Command
The first analysis command is Perform Analysis.
When you use this command STAAD Pro would understand the
following:
• Displacement of Nodes is so minimal that will not cause any
secondary loading.
• Deflection of Beams is so minimal that will not cause any
secondary loading.
• The structure will be analyzed once.
• The results of the first iteration will be considered the Analysis
results.
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Using STAAD Pro
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Select Commands/Analysis/Perform Analysis, the following
Select one of the Print Options, and click OK.
Or from the Page Control select Analysis/Print the following dialog
box will pop-up automatically:
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Module 7: Analysis
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Select one of the Print Options, and click Add, then Close.
In both cases the line of the Analysis type will be added to the input
file, and you can see that in the Data Area as follows:
The Print Options in both dialog boxes are not related to the
analysis results generation, but instead they are some add-on print
option for loads and static check:
No Print Do the Analysis and don’t print any additional information.
Load Data Plus to Analysis, it’ll print the Primary Load cases, which of the
Nodes/Beams/Plates the Primary Loads are affecting, the value, and
the location.
Statics Check Plus to Analysis, it will print two sets of summations:
• The Σ of applied loads, and moments around center of gravity.
• The Σ of reaction loads, and moments around center of gravity.
Also, it’ll print the max displacement as movement and rotation.
Statics Load Like Statics Check, plus external and internal Joint Loads for
supports.
Mode Shape Only for Dynamic Loading
Both Load Data + Statics Check.
All Load Data + Statics Check + Statics Load
Perform Analysis
command is added to
the input file
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P-Delta Analysis Command
Second-order stability analysis.
A multi-iterative analysis.
Check the following case of loading:
If the lateral load and the vertical load are working simultaneously,
the P-Delta Analysis will go through the following steps:
• Calculate the Primary displacement of Nodes based on the
external loads (as discussed in the Perform Analysis).
• Due to the Displacement of the Nodes, STAAD Pro will calculate
the second order loadings.
• P will be revised to show the new value of loading (the original
external load + secondary loading).
• The location of P will be revised also.
• The new system is ready for another iteration.
P
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Module 7: Analysis
7-7
The Number of Iterations specified by the user, and/or the
Convergence value will stop the analysis engine from doing another
iteration.
Convergence is the tolerance value, which the user will set as a
reference, if the displacement of Nodes is less than this value the P-
Delta Analysis will stop.
The new system would look something like:
Select Commands/Analysis/P-Delta Analysis, the following dialog
box will appear:
P'
P
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Specify the Number of Iterations.
Click on the Converge value and Specify it.
Select Print Options, and click OK.
Alternatively, from the Page Control select Analysis/Print the
following dialog box will pop-up automatically:
Click on the PDelta Analysis tab, and do as in the previous method,
click Add, then Close.
In both cases the line of the Analysis type will be added to the input
file, and you can see that in the Data Area as follows:
P-Delta Analysis command is
added to the input file
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Module 7: Analysis
7-9
Note Several codes like ACI 318, LRFD, and IS456-1978 recommends
the using of the P-Delta Analysis instead of the Perform Analysis.
Because Perform Analysis command will not generate exact values
for the shear/moment, but instead approximate values, hence user
should magnify the moments by a factor to compensate the
approximation.
Only applied on Beams, and not Plates.
The Execution Command
Once the Analysis command is added to the input file, it will be
ready for execution.
Before you execute make sure that, you selected the proper License
Configuration from the opening screen, just like the following:
From the menus select Analyze/Run Analysis.
Now the entire input file will be sent to the STAAD Pro Analysis
engine.
STAAD Pro Analysis engine will read the input file from left to
right, and from top to bottom, verifying the following:
• All the information to formulate a complete structure is there
(nothing is missing, e.g. one of the supports was not defined)
• The structure, which the input file describes, is stable structure.
• STAAD Pro syntax has been followed, for instance, before the
Node coordinates, the input file should include Joint Coordinate
statement. If this statement was misspelled, or absent, STAAD
Pro will give a syntax error.
That doesn’t guarantee the correctness of the results.
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Using STAAD Pro
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First Case If everything seems to be OK, STAAD Pro will produce something
like the following dialog box:
In this dialog box STAAD Pro will list each step is going through
and the time taken to accomplish it.
Then it will show the following statement: “0 Error(s), 0
Warning(s)”.
STAAD Pro will report that it created the following files:
• Displacement file, filename.dsp
• Reaction file, filename.rea
• Section Force file, filename.bnd
• Section Displacement file, filename.scn
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Module 7: Analysis
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STAAD Pro will give the user three options to choose the next step:
• To View Output File. With this option to be valid, you should
have added set of printing commands to the input file to print
some (or all) of the results using the text editor. This is the old
method of printing the results, which this courseware will not
focus on; as an alternative we will focus on the new method of
viewing the results like the Post Processing Mode.
• To Go to Post Processing Mode. With this option you will be
directly taken to the Post Processing Mode, to view the results,
which contains tables and graphical output in a very professional
way.
• To Stay in Modeling Mode. With this option you will stay at the
Modeling Mode, and later on view the output file, or go to the
Post Processing Mode at your convenience.
Second Case If STAAD Pro find any type of error it will show the following
dialog box:
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In this dialog box, you can see that STAAD Pro was still in reading
input file, when it found that there is missing information which
made the strcuture unstable.
STAAD Pro gave two choices to select from:
• To View Output File (ERROR in Analysis. Check Output
(.ANL) File). This option will take you directly to the STAAD
Output editor to view where your mistakes were, it will show
something like the following:
• From the above message you will identify the error, hence go to
the input file and correct it.
• To Stay in Modeling Mode. With this option you will stay at the
Modeling Mode, and later on view the output file, and find the
error message.
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Module 7: Analysis
7-13
Adding Analysis statement & Execution Command
(Concrete & Steel Structure)
Workshop 5-A & 5-B
2. Add Perform Analysis Statement.
3. Select Analyze/Run Analysis.
4. If there are any errors try to go to the editor to identify the errors and
correct them in your input file.
5. If needed, re-run the Run Analysis command.
6. If not, choose to stay in the Modeling Mode.
7. Save and close.
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Using STAAD Pro
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Notes:
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Module 7: Analysis
7-15
Module Review
1. STAAD Pro Perform Analysis is:
a. Taking into consideration the Displacement of Nodes.
b. Taking into consideration the Stiffness Correction.
c. Multi-iteration Analysis.
d. None of the above.
2. P-Delta Analysis will ask the user for _____________ and __________.
3. ACI 318 is one of the codes recommends:
a. P-Delta Analysis
b. Non-Linear Analysis
c. Time History Dynamic Analysis.
d. Perform Analysis.
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Using STAAD Pro
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1. d
2. Number of iteration, and Convergence value.
3. a
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8-1
Module 8:
Post Processing
Post Processing Overview
Node Results
Beam Results
Plate Results
Creating Reports
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Module 8: Post Processing
8-3
Introduction
Post Processing Mode is where you see your results, print them, or
prepare a full report about selected parts.
In our input file, we didn’t specify what type of results we need
because STAAD Pro will produce them all.
This way is better than old method used in STAAD-III, as user
should specify in the input file, what are the desired results, and
STAAD-III will produce them only, nothing more.
STAAD-III results were (low-quality) tables, which can fit the dot-
matrix printers, with no graphics.
STAAD Pro results are graphical using colors in a very nice way,
and handsome tables with fonts, and grid (which user can
customize), and all can fit in the inkjet/laser printer with no
additional hassle.
Accordingly in this courseware we will focus on the STAAD Pro
Post Processing with no mention to old ways of STAAD-III (which
is still available in STAAD Pro).
First Step
There are four ways to go to Post Processing Mode:
• From menus select Mode/Post Processing.
• From Mode toolbar, select the Post Processing icon.
• Click on the Postprocessing tab at the top of the screen
• After you finish the Run Analysis command, the dialog box will
give you an option to go directly to Post Processing Mode (refer
to Module 7)
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Select any of the three methods, the following dialog box will be
shown:
User has the option to specify the desired loads to see the results for.
As you can see STAAD Pro assumed that all loads are wanted.
When you are done click OK, and you will be taken to the Post
Processing Mode.
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8-5
Node Displacement
The first Page will be opened to the user is the Node Displacement.
You will see the Screen cut into three parts:
• The Node Displacement table.
• The Beam Relative Displacement Detail table.
• The Node Displacement graphical shape.
Node Displacement
table-All tab
In this tab you will see for each Node, and for each load case
selected by the user:
• The movement of the Node in the X, Y, and Z direction.
• The Resultant movement of the Node.
• The Rotational of Node around X, Y, and Z measured in radians.
See the below table as an example:
Node Displacement
table-Summary tab
In this tab you will see:
• The Max and Min movement in the X, Y, and Z directions, and
which load case caused it. (Max is the largest number in positive,
and Min is the largest number in negative)
• The max and min rotation around X, Y, and Z, and which load
case caused it.
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Beam Relative
Displacement Detail-
All tab
In this tab you will see for each Beam, and for each load case
selected by the user, the movement in the X, Y, and Z direction of
the Start Node, and the End Node, and three intermediate points
inside the Beam (equally spaced), and finally the absolute Resultant
movement.
Beam Relative
Displacement Detail-
Max. Rel.
Displacement tab
In this tab you will see for each Beam, and for each load case
selected by the user, the maximum movement of the Beam and
where it occur within the span of the Beam in the X, Y, and Z
direction.
Also you will see the absolute maximum movement in the three
directions, and where it occurs within the span.
Finally, you will see the Span/Max ratio. As an example, assume
that a Beam with 4m long made 14.861 mm displacement, so, the
Span/Max will be 4/0.014861 the result is 269.
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8-7
Node Displacement
Graphical Display
You will see in this graphical display the Deflected shape of the
structure.
As a preparation do the following steps:
• From the View toolbar, select the desired load case.
• From the Structure toolbar, select Change Graphical Display
Unit icon, to get the following dialog box:
• From the left list, select Structure Units.
• Change the Displacement unit to be shown on the shape as either
cm, or mm, or any convenient unit, also you can specify the
decimal places.
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8-8
• If the defelected shape is not clear, you need to fix the scale of
the display, from the Strcuture toolbar, select Scale icon, you
will see the following:
• Change the Displacement scale to be less number than the
existing, in order to see the Deflected Shape more clearer.
You will see something similar to the following:
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8-9
In order to see the values on the defelected shape, do the following
steps:
• From menus, select Results/View Value, and you will see the
following dialog box:
• From the Ranges tab, click All (you can also select specific
Property (Cross Section) or, you can specify Ranges of numbers
for Nodes, and Beams)
• Select the Node tab, you will see the following:
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• Select the Nodal Displacement type, you have Global X, Global
Y, Global Z, and finally the Resultant, click Annotate.
You will get something similar to:
Node Reactions
You will see the Screen cut into two parts:
• The Support Reaction table.
• Graphical shape showing each support and its reactions.
Support Reaction
table – All tab
In this tab you will see for each support, for each load case selected
by the user, 6 reactions Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx, My, and Mz. See the below
table as an example:
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8-11
Support Reaction
table – Summary tab
In this tab you will see the maximum and minimum Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx,
My, and Mz, and on which supports took place, and which of the
selected load cases has caused them.
Support Reaction
table – Envelope tab
In this tab you will find the maximum positive and the maximum
negative Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx, My, and Mz on each support, and which of
the selected load case caused them.
Support Reaction
Graphical Display
In this display the user will see the 6 reactions of each support.
As a preparation select the desired load case from the View toolbar:
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You will see something like that (this is a top view):
Note The view is very condensed, and you can’t recognize anything out of
it.
Beam Forces
You will see the Screen cut into three parts:
• The Beam End Forces table.
• The Beam Force Detail table.
• Graphical Display showing (by default) the Bending Moment
Diagram using the current load case.
Beam End Forces
table – All tab
In this tab you will see for each Beam, for each load case selected by
the user, for each Node at the ends of the Beam the 6 reactions Fx,
Fy, Fz, Mx, My, and Mz.
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8-13
Beam End Forces
table – Summary tab
In this tab you will see the maximum and minimum Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx,
My, and Mz, and on which Node of each Beam, and which of the
selected load cases has caused them.
Beam End Forces
table – Envelope tab
In this tab you will find the maximum positive and the maximum
negative Fx, Fy, Fz, Mx, My, and Mz on each Node of each Beam,
and which of the selected load case caused them. See the below table
as an example:
Beam Force Detail
table – All tab
Same as Beam End Forces – All tab, but instead it shows the 3
forces and 3 moments for the beginning of the Beam (Dist = 0.0)
and the ending of the Beam (Dist = 1.0), and for 3 intermidiate
distances (1/4 of the length, 1/2 of the of the length, and 3/4 of the
length).
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Beam Force Detail
table – Max Axial
Forces tab
This tab will show the maximum positive and negative axial forces
(Fx) for each Beam, for each load case, and where it occur:
Beam Force Detail
table – Max Bending
Moments tab
This tab will show the maximum positive and negative Bending
Moments (Mz, and My) for each Beam, for each load case, and
where it occur:
Beam Force Detail
table – Max Shear
Forces tab
This tab will show the maximum positive and negative Shear Forces
(Fy, and Fz) for each Beam, for each load case, and where it occur:
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8-15
Beam End Forces
Graphical Display
By default the user will see the Bending Moment Diagram for the
current load case.
To change the current load case, go to the View toolbar, and change
it (you can select to view the Envelope):
From the Results toolbar, you can switch ON/OFF the results you
would like to view:
• To view the Axial Load Fx
• To view the Shear in Y direction Fy
• To view the Shear in Z direction Fz
• To view Moment around X (Torsion) Mx
• To view Moment around Y My
• To view Bending Moment around Z Mz
You can change the scale of Bending, Axial, Shear, etc., just like we
discussed it in the Node Displacement Graphical Display.
Also, you can Show/Hide the values of the different results on the
Beam End Forces Graphical Display, using from the menus
Results/View Value, then Select the Beam Results tab, you will see
the following dialog box:
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Beam Stresses
You will see the Screen cut into five parts:
• The Beam Combined Axial and Bending Stresses table.
• Graphical Display showing the stresses for the current load case.
• 3D Beam Stress Contour Display.
• Dialog box titled Select Section Plane with slider, allows user to
specify section plane along the length to know the stress values.
Beam Combined
Axial and Bending
Stresses table- All
tab
the user, and at the Start, End, and three intermediate points the
values of the Stresses at the four corners of the Beam cross section.
Then table lists the Max Compressive Stress and the Max Tensile
Stress. See the below table as an example:
Select the type of results you would like to show, and click
Annotate. You will see something like the following:
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8-17
Beam Combined
Axial and Bending
Stresses table- Max
Stresses tab
the user; the length of each Beam, the Maximum Compressive
Stress, where along the length, and in which of the four corners
occurred, the Maximum Tensile Stress, where along the length, and
in which of the four corners occurred. See the below table as an
example:
Beam Combined
Axial and Bending
Stresses Graphical
Display
In this Display you will see the Compression and Tension Diagrams
(the red is Compression, and Blue is Tension)
Change the current load case, go to the View toolbar, and change it:
Use the Scale function to view the right Display of the Stresses.
Also, you can use the Results/View Value as well.
You will get something like the following:
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3D Beam Stress
Contour
In the upper part of the screen, you will find two windows showing:
• At the left window is the full length of the selected Beam
showing the stress contour in colors. Along the length you will
find a cutting-plane, which can be moved through the slider in the
Select Section Plane dialog box, as shown below:
• Move the slider or type the Distance in which you want to view
the stress at.
• Select to Display Legend, and to Display Corner Stress.
• In the right-side window of the upper part you will see something
similar to the following:
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8-19
Beam Unity Check – for steel members only
This is valid for steel members only.
You will see the screen cut into two parts:
• The Design Results table.
• Graphical Display showing the values for ratio.
Design Results table-
All tab
In this tab you will see for each Beam, the assigned and the design
property (cross-section), then the Ratio (will be discussed by the
Steel Design Module), and what is the governing AISC clause, along
with the Load Case produced this max ratio. Then you will see the
three moment of inertias, along with Ax. See the below table as an
example:
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Beam Graphs
This is a Beam-per-Beam Graphical result. When you click the sub-
page of the Graphs something similar to the following will be
displayed:
From the View toolbar select the desired load case.
It will display for the selected Beam, for the selected Load case:
• Bending Moment Diagram (Moment around z-z).
• Shear Diagram (Shear in y-y direction)
• Axial Load Diagram.
Note You can change the three preset diagrams, by right-clicking on one
of the diagrams and selecting Diagrams from the shortcut menu, the
following dialog boxes will appear, Select the proper diagram you
want, and click OK.
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Plate Contour
To view this result, your model should have plates.
Once you go to this sub-page, the following dialog box will appear:
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This dialog box will allow the user to control the Plate Stess
Contour by changing the following:
• The desired Load Case user likes to display the Stresses for.
• Stress Type, you can choose one of the 19 available Stresses
Types (please refer to the Technical Reference manual section
1.6.1 which discusses these types in details). Once you do, the
Minimum, and Maximum value of this type will be displayed at
the lower left corner of the dialog box.
• Contour Type, select between Normal Fill, Enhanced Fill, or
Normal Lines. Nomal Fill mode means the contour will be
drawn using 5 points; the 4 edges, and the center of the plate.
Enhanced Fill will use 5 points plus the mid point of each edge
using interpolation. The No. of values will control the number of
values to be displayed in the legend (max number is 15). Normal
Lines means lines will be shown instead of fill.
• Switch ON/OFF the Absolute Values checkbox. If this is ON
that means all the Stesses value will be turned to postive
numbers, and hence the comparison will be according to value
and not to the sign.
• Select to show the index (of colors) based on Center Stress or
not?
• Select View Stress Index or not on the left side of the screen.
• Select to Re-index for any new view.
• Select to Show Displaced Shape or, not?
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The output may look something like the following:
Plate Centre Stresses
Tables & Plate
Corner Stress Tables
After you read section 1.6.1 of the Technical Reference manual, and
understand the types of stresses, take a look on these tables to view
for each plate for each load case selected by the user the different
types of stresses.
One of the tables may look like the following:
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Plate Results Along Line
In this tab you can define a line along a series of plates to view the
stresses and total forces along this line.
When you select this tab, the screen will look like the following
illustration below:
From the Results along line dialog box, click Cut by a Line button.
If you move the cursor over the structure you will notice that the
cursor became a cross-hair.
To define the line, click two points along the desired group of plates.
A third point (which will be perpendicular on the defined line) will
be asked as the direction of local Y).
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Once you are done, the screen will look something like the
following:
The upper portion of the screen will show you the stress diagram
along the line the user defined.
Increase the Max No. Div from the Results along line dialog box,
to view the upper portion of the screen in more details (the defualt is
2), then click Update button.
Also, you can see the results as a table from the Results along
selected line table, like the one below:
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In the Results along line dialog box like the one below, you will see
the following:
• By default, STAAD Pro will call your line LINE1, but you can
rename it as you wish.
• Select the type of stress you would like to view.
• Specify the Max No Div (as discussed earlier).
• If you made any changes, click Update button to make these
changes current.
• In the Defined Lines part, you will see the name of the Line, the
number of divisions, and the type of stress you select.
• Segment (as descendant from the line) will show the number of
the plate, which the line starts with, and the number of the plate
which the line ends with.
• In our example the Segment is showing P-123 to P-193, which
means starting with plate # 123 and ending with plate # 193.
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Animation
Once you go to this Page, the following dialog box will appear:
Select the Diagram Type from the following list:
• No Animation (default option)
• Deflection (means the movement of the Nodes)
• Section Displacement (means the movement of the Nodes, and
Deflection of the Beams)
Set the Animation setup through changing the following:
• Extra Frames, if you want more frames than the needed number
in order to enhance the animation.
• Target FPS (Frame Per Second); change this value to
increase/decrease the speed of the animation.
Click OK, to see the animation. Press F12 to see it in full screen.
Note The scale of Node Displacement affects the clarity of the animation.
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Reports
This is the replacement of all old fashion reports of STAAD-III.
It should produce elegant-good-looking reports, which take
advantage of the colors of ink-jet printers, and to include the
graphical and tables in the same report.
Once you go to this sub-page, the Report Setup dialog box will
appear automatically:
Other ways to start the same command are:
• From the Print toolbar, click Report Setup icon.
• From menus, choose File/Report Setup.
Items tab In this tab you will select what are the contents of the report from
the input data, output results, and pictures.
From the Available pop-up list, select the desired part:
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From the Input, you will have a list of the Input data at the left.
Select the input data you want to include it in your report. Then click
the one arrow button (by default the Job Info is included in the
report).
From the Output, the same thing applies. You will see a list at the
left. Select the output tables you want to include in your report;
which they are identical to the tables we covered in this module.
Then click the one arrow button.
In order to include pictures in your report, you should capture the
pictures before hand.
While you are reviewing the results in the Post Processing mode
you could use one of the following methods:
• From the Print toolbar, click Take Picture icon.
• From menus choose Edit/Take Picture.
• The following dialog box will appear:
Type in the ID field, which is the name of the picture. The Caption
is generated automatically from the status of the results viewing on
the screen.
If you create several pictures, and you selected the Pictures option
in the Available pop-up list, you will find these pictures listed for
you. Select the desired pictures and click one arrow button.
After you select the Input, Output, and Pictures, you may want to
re-arrange the sequence of the data. You can use the two arrows at
the right side of the dialog box. The arrow pointing up will take any
item one step up in the list, hence this data will appear in the starting
pages. The arrow pointing down will take any item one step down in
the list, hence this data will appear in the ending pages
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Load Cases tab By default the output results will be shown for all load cases
(Primary & Combination).
In this dialog box you can specify the load cases to be included in
your report:
Ranges tab In this tab, user specifies if the report should contain results about all
Nodes, Beams, and Plates, or some of them.
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Picture Album tab In this tab, user can browse the pictures already capured.
Specify whether to delete any of them.
You can leave each picture with it’s defualt size or:
• Specify if you want each picture to take a Full Page.
• Instead specify the Height and Width of each picture.
Options tab In this tab, you will specify the general options of the report, which
will control its looks.
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Specify to show or hide:
• Header
• Footer
• Page Outline (the frame appears around the page)
In the Sheet Numbering part, specify the following:
• To include a Prefix (for instance the word Page) or not
• The staring page number of the report
• To include a Suffix, or not
• To Reverse page order, or not
In the Tables part, specify:
• Whether the table includes a grid, or without grid
• Whether to start a new table in a new page, or not
• Specify the Fonts for the column header, and contents of the
tables
Name and Logo tab In this tab, you will specify the Name of the company you represent,
and its logo, which will appear in all of the pages of the report.
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In the white area, type the desired company name.
In the Graphic part, click File button, and select the logo file of the
company. Under the Position select the placement of the logo,
whether Left, Center, or Right.
In the Text part, select the Font to be used in the company name.
Then select the palcement of it, as you did in the logo part.
Note If the position of the logo is centered STAAD Pro will remove the
company name. So it is better to keep the logo left always.
Load/Save tab In this tab you will be able to save the report contents.
Click the Save As button, the following dialog box will appear:
Type in the name of the report (no need for any extension) and click
OK.
Next time you will find this file in the list, once you select it, it will
be loaded.
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Print Preview
Report
By default the Print Preview mode in on.
Other ways to view the report are:
• From the Print toolbar, click the Print Preview Report icon.
• From menus select File/Print Preview Report.
On both ways you will get something similar to the following:
Use Zoom In, and Zoom Out, to see the details of the report, or the
whole picture.
You can see One Page, or Two Pages simultaneously.
Use Next Page, or Prev Page to navigate through the pages of the
report.
Use Print to print out the report as is.
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Print Report In order to send the report to the printer, use of the following
method:
• Click the Print button on the right hand side, you will see the
Specify the following:
• The Printer you want to send to.
• The Print range, All, or certain page range.
• The number of copies.
Export Report You can Export the saved report to:
• Text File
• MS Word File
From menus select File/Export Report, and then choose Text File
or MS Word File.
Note If you have a long report the process of exporting a report to MS
Word file may take considerable time.
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Current View Another way of getting output from your input file is to deal with
the current view displayed on the screen right now. You can:
• Print Preview it
• Print it
• Export it
Make sure that you are now displaying the current view
(Displacement, Moment Diagram, Shear Diagram, etc…).
From the Print toolbar click the Print Preview Current View icon.
You will see the following picture:
From the Print toolbar click the Print Current View icon to print
the current view. You will get the same dialog box of Print Report.
From the Print toolbar click the Export View to save as the current
view with one of the famous graphics file format such as jpg, tif,
bmp, etc.
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Other Ways: Double-Clicking a Beam
To see the results of an individual Beam, simply double-click it.
Make sure that you are using the Beam Cursor.
Double-click on the desired Beam, you will see the following dialog
box:
Shear Bending tab From the Selection Type part, decide on the following:
• Desired Load Case to view the results for.
• For the diagram type, you have four types to select from;
Bending in Z direction, Shear in Y direction, Bending in Y
direction, and finally Shear in Z direction. Most likely users will
be interested in the first two items.
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Accordingly you will see the results in three different places:
• Diagram view, which will show the Shear or Bending diagrams,
with values at the ends, and distances at zero values
• Table at the lower left portion of the dialog box, which will show
always the values of Fy, and Mz at Intermediate and End points
within the Beam selected
• The slider, which will allow the user to move it to selected
distances within the Beam, and hence see the corresponding
values of Fy, and Mz.
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Deflection tab If you select the Deflection tab, you will see the following dialog
box:
The same above procedure applies.
Note User can print all screens, simply click Print button.
Also use menus, Tools/Query/Member, after you select a Beam.
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Other Ways: Double-Clicking a Plate
To see the results of an individual Plate, simply double-click it.
Make sure you are using the Plate Cursor.
Center Stresses tab Click the Center Stresses to see the following dialog box:
Select the desired Load Case from the Load List.
In this tab, you will see the Plate Center Stresses, SQX, SQY, SX,
SY, SXY, MX, MY, and MXY.
Also, you will see the Principal, Von Mis, and Tresca stresses at the
top and bottom of the Plate.
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Princ Stress and
Disp tab
Click the Princ (Princ is an abbreviation for Principal) Stress and
Disp to see the following dialog box:
You will see picture at the left showing the number of the Nodes at
the four corners of the Plate. Accordingly you can read from the
Plate Corner Displacements table Displacement of each Node in
X, Y, and Z Axis.
Also, you can see the Plate Principal Stresses which they are;
SMAX, SMIN, and TMAX at the top and bottom of the Plate.
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Corner Stresses tab Click the Corner Stresses to see the following dialog box:
You will see picture at the left showing the number of the Nodes at
the four corners of the Plate. Accordingly you can read from the
Plate Corner Stresses table all the types of stresses at these plate
corners.
Note User can print all screens, simply click Print button.
Also use menus, Tools/Query/Plate, after you select a Plate.
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Notes:
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Seeing the Results
Workshop 6-A & 6-B
2. Go to the Post Processing Mode. Choose only the Combinations.
3. Browse through the different Pages, and sub-pages of the Post
Processing; see the tables and the graphs. Change the Scale of the
different results as needed.
4. While you are doing so, Take Pictures of some of the results.
5. Create a report, which includes Input data, Output data, and some of the
taken pictures.
6. Re-arrange the contents according to your desire.
7. Specify a Name and a Logo to appear in the report.
8. Print Preview the Report.
9. If you like it, print two page of it.
10. Close without saving.
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Module Review
1. The new method of output in STAAD Pro is better than old STAAD-III methods, but these old
methods still available in STAAD Pro:
a. True
b. False
2. The Load cases to appear in the tables of the Post Processing Mode are:
a. Dictated by STAAD Pro
b. Can be customized by the user once selecting the Post Processing Mode
c. Always the Combinations
d. None of the above
3. Press ______ to see the Animation in full screen window
4. Reports can be exported to XLS files
a. True
b. False
5. In which of the following methods I can view the Shear/Bending diagrams with the distances
along the Beam with ZERO Shear/Bending:
a. From Node Displacement tab
b. From Beam Forces tab
c. From Double Clicking the Beam
6. Use from the menus __________________ to show results values on the diagrams
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1. a
2. b
3. F12
4. b
5. c
6. Results/View Value
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Module 9:
Concrete Design
Modes of the new Concrete Design Engine
Steps to accomplish the Design Process
Steps to view and verify the Design Results for Beams
Steps to view and verify the Design Results for Columns
Producing the Design Report
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Module 9: Concrete Design
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Introduction
Concrete Design in STAAD Pro has been improved significantly.
Since STAAD Pro 2001, a new separate-but-integrated RC Designer
module has been added, which reads the Analysis file, and perform
the design for concrete columns, beams, and slabs.
Hence, analysis is the first step of the Concrete Design.
From menus select Mode/Interactive Designs/Concrete Design.
Or click Concrete Design tab at the top of the screen.
STAAD Pro will take the user to a new program called STAAD.Pro
RC Designer, the screen will change to:
This screen is almost identical in its layout to the STAAD Pro
screen.
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Modes of Concrete Design
Concrete Design got four modes:
• Design Layer Mode
• Member Deign Mode
• Slab Design Mode
• Earthquake Mode
In Design Layer Mode, you specify the inputs of the concrete design
process.
Then user issues the command of design.
In Member Design Mode, you will see the results for the members,
and generate reports.
In Slab Design Mode, you will see the results for the slabs, and
generate reports.
In the Earthquake Mode, you will design for the earthquake.
Just like in STAAD Pro, for each mode, there will be different Page
Control, and sub-pages.
Also, for each Page Control, and sub-page, there will be a different
Data Area.
You will be in the Design Layer Mode by default.
Here are the steps you will undergo to accomplish the designing
process.
Step 1: Job Info
By default the Job Info of your Analysis file will be transferred to
your Concrete Design file.
You can change the Job Info as you wish in the Concrete Design.
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Step 2: Creating Envelopes
Click on the Envelopes Page Control.
In this Page Control you will specify the Primary and/or the
Combination Loads, which will be involved in the design process.
At the Data Area you will see the following:
Click on the New Env. button to create a new Envelope, the
Type in the name of the Envelope and click OK.
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By default only Combinations are shown, to show even the Primary
Loads, simply click OFF the check box Show Combinations Only.
You will see the dialog box changes to the following:
Now select the desired Primary and/or Combination loads and click
one arrow to the right button, or click the two arrows to the right
button to select all the loads. Click OK.
To edit the Envelope, simply select the envelope from the table, and
click Edit Env. button. The same dialog box will reappear, so you
can make the desired changes.
Step 3: Creating Members
Click on the Members Page Control.
This page is specifically important to create continuous beams for
designing purposes.
STAAD Pro treats any member between two Nodes as a separate
Beam, hence adjacent Beams (which are separated by columns) will
be considered, as not related Beams, and this is wrong assumption in
concrete design.
Members Page Control came to solve this problem.
To create a Member, you have two ways:
• Form Member
• Auto Form Member
Form Member This function is usefeul to create continuous beams.
Select the desired Beams you want to form as a single Member.
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From toolbars click Form Member button.
Automatically the selected Beams will form a single Member named
as M1 (if this is the first time you define Members in this file).
Accordingly the Data Area will show the following information:
In this table you will see the following data:
• The Member number
• The number of the Beams (here they call it Emt which is an
abbreviation of Element) as defined by STAAD Pro input file
• The number of the Nodes of the two ends of each Beam
• The Properties (Cross-Section) of the beginning and end Nodes
of the Beams
• Beta angle for each Beam (it should be consistent)
• The length of each individual Beam.
• The Overall length of all adjacent Beams.
Auto Form Member This function is important to create Column members.
If you select multiple columns each will be a separate Member.
From toolbars click Auto Form Member button.
Automatically the selected Beams will form single Members and
will be numbered as sequesnce M1, M2, M3, etc. or it will follow
the last numbered Member.
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Step 4: Creating Slabs
Click on the Slabs Page Control.
This page for creating slabs for designing purposes.
STAAD Pro treats any plate as a separate plate, hence adjacent
plates which considered as one slab are not related slabs, and this is
wrong assumption in concrete design.
Slabs Page Control came to solve this problem.
To create a slab, you have to select the adjacent plates forming one
slab, and click on Form Slab button from toolbars.
Accordingly the Data Area will show the following information:
In this table you will see the following data:
• The Slab number
• The thickness of the slab
• The Net Area, and the Gross Area.
• How many Holes are there in this slab.
• How many plates this slabs consists of.
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Step 5: Creating Briefs
Click on the Groups/Briefs Page Control.
We will discuss now only the Briefs part, and in the next step we
will cover the Groups part.
In the Briefs we will set the values of the design requirements,
which belong to this specific design case. There are Beam Brief,
and Column Brief.
The Briefs we will discuss is for ACI.
Note Although STAAD Pro 2007 contains the slab design but only for the
British standard, hence, we will discuss only Beam and Column
design in this courseware.
From Data Area click the New Brief button at the lower part of the
screen.
Beam Brief The following dialog box will appear:
• Type in the name of the Brief.
• From Design Code pop-up list select ACI 318-95
• From Design Type select Beam.
• Click OK.
In the Data Area you will see the following:
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You can create as many Briefs as you wish.
You can create for each Beam a separate Brief.
To change (edit) the values in any Brief, simply select this Brief
from the list, and click Edit Brief button.
In the ACI Beam Design Brief there are three tabs, which they are:
• General
• Main Reinforcement
• Shear Reinforcement
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General Specify the Minimum Cover from the 3 sides: Top, Side and
Bottom (Default value = 2 in).
Specify the design concrete strength fc
’
(Default = 4 ksi)
Specify the Maximum Aggregate Size to be used in the Concrete
Mix (Default value=1.5 in)
Also, you can specify if a Lightweight concrete or not, if yes,
specify the criteria to be used; either:
• Input the tensile strength as a value (using ksi)
• Or you can input it as a percentage of the compressive strength
Select to Include Torsional Effects or not?
Specify whether to design for moments at Center Line of Column,
or Column Face (Default).
Select the desired Envelope from the provided pop-up list (this is
the only place to link the previously made Envelope and the Brief).
To calculate the max Shear and Bending values, specify the number
of segments of the Beam (Default value=12 segments)
Main Reinforcement Click on the Main Reinforcement tab, you will see:
In the Top Bar Criteria section, you will specify:
• Min. Size of steel to be used (Default=# 3)
• Max. Size of steel to be used (Default=#10)
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• In case of there is no need for steel to resist bending but to be as
supporting links, select the Link Hanger Size (Default = #3).
• In case of more than one layer of steel in the top, provide the
Min. Gap (Default = 1.5 in).
The same applies to the Bottom Bar Criteria section.
In case of Deep Beams, the Side Bar Criteria section will control
whether:
• You will specify the Minimum Bar Size of steel (Default = # 3).
• Spacing, which means will leave it for program to find the
suitable bar size.
In the Main Bar Type section, you either:
• Input bar Strength (Default = 60 ksi), you can also set if Epoxy
Coated, or not?
• Specify whether to calculate Development Length using clause
12.2.2, or clause 12.2.3. Also, click the Bending Dimensions
button to specify Minimum Bending Radius for each Bar Size.
Shear
Reinforcement
Click on the Shear Reinforcement tab, you will see:
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In the Design Shear for section specify whether to design shear at
Center Line of Support, Column Face, or ‘d’ From Column
Face. In all cases, specify to Include Axial Load Effects, or not?
In the Shear Bar Criteria section, control the following:
• Steel Bar Strength (Default = 60 ksi)
• Specify the bar Size will be used (Default= #3).
• Specify the Min. No. of Legs for the stirrups (Default=2).
• Specify the Min. Spacing between two stirrups (Default=3 in).
• Specify the Stirrups type: Closed or Open.
• Click the Bending Dimensions button to specify Minimum
Bending Radius for each Bar Size.
Column Brief To create a Column Brief, from Data Area click the New Brief
button.
• Type in the name of the Brief.
• From Design Code pop-up list select ACI 318-95
• From Design Type select Column.
• Click OK.
You can create as many Briefs as you wish.
You can create for each Column a separate Brief.
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To change (edit) the values in any Brief, simply select this Brief
from the list, and click Edit Brief button.
The following dialog box:
As you can see in the ACI Column Design Brief there are three
tabs, which they are:
• General
• Column Parameters
• Member Loadcases
General In the Concrete section:
• Specify the design concrete strength fc’ (Default = 4 ksi)
• Specify the Maximum Aggregate Size to be used in the Concrete
Mix (Default value=1.5 in)
• Specify the minimum Cover from Shear Links (Default = 2 in).
• Also, you can specify if a Lightweight concrete used or not? if
yes, specify the criteria to be used; either; input the tensile
strength as a value (using ksi), or you can input it as a percentage
of the compressive strength.
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In the Main Bars section, specify:
• Input bar Strength (Default = 60 ksi).
• Then input the Minimum bar size (Default =# 6), and
Maximum bar size to be used (Default =# 11)
In the Links section, specify:
• Input bar Strength (Default = 60 ksi).
• Then input the Minimum bar size (Default = # 4).
• For Circular Section Use either; Tie Rft (Rft is Reinforcement),
or Spiral Rft.
Column Parameters Click on the Column Parameters tab, and you will see the
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In the Bracing Conditions y-y section specify
• The Effective Length Factor (for the purpose of calculating
Slenderness Ratio) (Default = 1)
• Whether or not the Columns are braced in local y-y axis?
• Select a specific Sidesway Load Combination, or set it to be
Same as Primary Combination.
The same applies for Bracing Conditions z-z.
Specify to Include Torsional Effects, or not?
Specify to Design as Sway Frame, or not?
In the Starter Bar Area Provided, specify the Area provided for
Starter bars, this is to calculate the final steel percentage.
Specify Biaxial β factor, and βd
Member Loadcases Click on Member Loadcases tab, and you will see the following
dialog box:
Select the load cases and/or the Combination, by using the one
arrow or two arrows.
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Step 6: Creating Groups
You should be in the Groups/Briefs Page Control.
Group is to combine the Members you created in Step 3, and the
Briefs you created in Step 5.
Follow the following steps:
• As a first step select the desired Member using the current cursor.
• Now click New Design Grp (Grp means Group) button.
• Specify the name of the Group.
• Select the Design Brief. Click OK.
• In the Data Area you will see the following:
Create other Groups as needed.
In the Page/Mode Automatic toolbar you will see for each Group,
there will be a member attached to it:
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Step 7: Design Mode
To activate all the inputs you made in the previous 6 steps, you have
to go to the Member Design Mode.
From menus select Mode/Member Design.
The screen will change to the following:
At the beginning you will see that all results are Fail, don’t worry
this will change in a moment.
By default last selected Group and Member in Design Layer Mode
will be selected. You can select another Group and Members if you
wish.
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Click Design page, the following dialog box will appear:
You will find that the Members associated with the current Group
are already selected.
Click Design button.
If there is any problem in the design, the below will appear:
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For Beam Design, by default you are in the Summary tab.
In the Data Area, you will see the following two parts:
• Summary table; which will list the Members, the Spans, the Main
Bars status (Fail, or OK), the Shear Bars status (Fail, or OK), and
the Span Depth status (Fail, or OK).
• Beam Span table which includes two tabs; the first one for the
spans (Length, Covers, and Link size), and the second is for
supports (the connection between Beam, and Column is
considered Fixed Support).
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Step 8: Reading Results: Beam Main Layout
Go to Main Layout page.
In this page you will see – for the selected Beam – the following
picture:
This display is cut into four main synchronized views with single
horizontal scroll bar:
• The upper part shows the elevation view of the Beam with the
reinforcement. You can also see the Plan view by right-click on
the view and selecting Plan View.
• The mid part shows the Moment Envelope.
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• The lower part to the left shows the cross section of the
Reinforcement at specified distance from the Start of the Beam.
Type in the section distance and click Set button, or, you can use
the Cross-Section indicator in the upper part to move it to the
desired location.
• The lower part to the right shows a table outlining the layers of
reinforcement top and bottom (in our example there are two
layers at the top and two layers at the bottom) then the table lists
where each bar starts and finishes along the member length.
Step 9: Reading Results: Beam Main Rft
Go to Main Rft page (Rft means Reinforcement).
In the Data Area you will see two tables, one of them, which are
Beam Spans table, has already been discussed in the Summary tab.
The other table is Main Reinforcement table, which includes two
tabs; Hogging, and Sagging:
Hogging is where bending moment is positive. Sagging is where
bending moment is negative.
In both tabs, you will see something similar the following table:
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Which includes:
• Distance from the start of the Beam, and in which Span.
• Moment value.
• As Required.
• As’ Required.
• Bottom Layers of Steel (Bars & Area)
• Top Layers of Steel (Bars & Area)
Note In the table you will see the spans marked at the start of the span
with the letter (s), and at the end of the span with letter (e).
STAAD Pro will search for the maximum positive moment at the
beginning and at the end of each span, and then the maximum
negative moment at intermediate points, accordingly will make the
design based on these moments.
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Step 10: Reading Results: Beam Shear Layout
Go to Shear Layout page.
In this page you will see – for the selected Beam – the following
picture:
This display is cut into three main synchronized views with single
horizontal scroll bar:
• The upper part shows the elevation view of the Beam with the
shear reinforcement.
• The mid part shows the Shear Envelope.
• The lower part shows the cross section of the Shear
Reinforcement at specified distance from the Start of the Beam.
Type in the section distance and click Set button, or, you can use
the Cross-Section indicator in the upper part to move it to the
desired location.
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Step 11: Reading Results: Beam Shear Rft
Go to Shear Rft page (Rft means Reinforcement).
In the Data Area you will see two tables. At the upper part you will
see Shear Reinforcement table, which includes:
• Distance from the start of the Beam, and in which span.
• Vu value (in KN) at the location, Vc value (in KN) at the location,
and finally the Area of Steel required (Av in mm2
).
The other table is Shear Zones table:
Which includes:
• The Zone number, and where does it start along the member, and
where does it finish.
• Number of legs of the stirrup
• The stirrup size
• Spacing between stirrups (in cm).
• The Area of Steel provided (in mm2
)
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Step 12: Reading Results: Beam Drawing
Once you select the Drawing control page, the following dialog box will
appear:
This dialog box will allow you to print the drawing of the reinforcement
of the steel to the desired printer, DXF file to be used in AutoCAD, or to
MutliREBAR software.
You have to set the Paper Size, Drawing Scale, the Position of the Title
Block, and the distances for the spacing of the span (if multi spans
apply).
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Also, you will find in the Data Area one table called Scheduled Bars:
Which contains:
• Bar Mark.
• Type of the Bar, and its size.
• How many bars to be used.
• The length of the bar to be used.
• Bar shape code according to ACI.
• The A, B, C, D, etc. according to ACI
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Step 13: Reading Results: Column Main Layout
You have to make sure that you performed Design as we did in the
Beam part.
Go to Main Layout page.
In this page you will see – for the selected Column – the following
picture:
In this view you will see:
• Bending Moment diagram of the column
• Elevation view of the column
• Cross-sectional view of the column showing the main
reinforcement steel bars
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Step 14: Reading Results: Column Shear Layout
Go to Shear Layout page.
In this page you will see – for the selected Column – the following:
In this view you will see:
• Shear diagram of Fy
• Shear diagram of Fz
• Cross-sectional view of the column showing the shear
reinforcement steel bars
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Step 15: Reading Results: Column Results
Go to Results page.
In the Data Area you will see two tables, at the upper part you will
see Main Reinforcement table, which includes:
• Member number
• Load or Combination number
• Axial Load value, Moment around Major axis, Moment around
Minor axis, and which axis was designed for.
• Area of Steel required.
• Total number of bars suggested,
• Area of Steel provided.
At the lower part you will see Shear Reinforcement table, which
includes:
• Member number
• Max Shear in Local z & Local y, which includes Load or
Combination number, Shear value, and the position
• Area of Steel Required
• The Link size selected and Spacing between Links.
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Step 16: Reading Results: Column Drawing
Once you select the Drawing control page, the following dialog box will
appear:
This dialog box will help you to print the reinforcement of the steel to the
printer, DXF file to be used in AutoCAD, or to MutliREBAR software.
You have to set the space between the border and the column drawing.
Also, set the Paper Size, Drawing Scale, wether the the page will be
Portrait, or Landscape, and the Position of the Title Block, with its size.
You will find in the Data Area one table called Scheduled Bars:
Which contains:
• Bar Mark.
• Type of the Bar, and its size.
• How many bars to be used.
• The bar length to be used.
• Bar shape code according to ACI.
• The distances A, B, C, D, etc. according to ACI.
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Step 17: Reading Results: Generating Design Report
The Design Report is very similar to Analysis Report, which we saw
in Module 8, except this one show the Design results (for either the
Beam design or Column design) and not the Analysis results.
From the toolbars click Report Setup icon.
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Items tab You will see that the current Group is already selected.
In this tab you will select the data to be included inside the report.
You can use the Arrow Up and the Arrow Down to change the
location of each item in the report.
Detailed Results tab Click the Detailed Results tab, you will see the following dialog
box:
By default all items are selected. They are: Design Requirements,
Main Reinforcement, Deflection Check, and finally Shear
Reinforcement.
Members tab Click the Members tab, you will see the following dialog box:
Select which members design to be included in the report.
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Design Briefs tab Click the Design Briefs tab, you will see the following dialog box:
Select which Design Briefs will be included in the report.
Rest of tabs Rest of tabs is identical to Module 8 Analysis Report part.
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To see the final report, from toolbar click Print Preview icon, or
from menus select File/Print Preview.
Both ways will lead to the following picture (this picture showing
STAAD Pro design calculation):
To send the report to the printer, from the toolbar click the Print
icon, or from menus, select File/Print.
In both ways you will see the following dialog box:
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Concrete Design
Workshop 7-A
2. Select Mode/Interactive Designs/Concrete Design.
3. Define new Envelope call it First Envelope to contain all the loads
(Primary and Combination).
4. From Members, define one beam, and one column as shown in the
illustration below:
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5. Create a new ACI Beam Brief, call it Beam M1 Brief and change the
following values:
a. At Support, take design moments at = Center Line of Column
b. Envelope = First Envelope
c. Divide Beam into = 4
d. Top Bar Criteria: Min Size = #3, Max Size = #5
e. Bottom Bar Criteria: Min Size = #3, Max Size = #5
f. Design Shear for: ‘d’ From Column Face
g. Use Enhanced Shear Effects = On
6. Create a new ACI Column Brief, call it Column M2 Brief and change
the following values:
a. Main Bars: Min Size = #8, Max Size = #14
b. Links, For Circular Section Use = Tie Rft
c. Bracing conditions y-y, Braced = ON
d. Bracing conditions z-z, Braced = ON
e. Design as Sway Frame = ON
f. Member Loadcases, select all the available Loads and
Combinations.
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7. Select the Beam member.
8. From Design Groups, click New Design Grp, and create a new group
and call it First Group, which contains the selected Beam member, and
Beam M1 Brief.
9. Select the Column member.
10. From Design Groups, click New Design Grp, and create a new group
and call it Second Group, which contains the selected Column member,
and Column M2 Brief.
11. From menus select Mode/Design.
12. Make sure that the upper part of the screen is showing First Group and
M1.
13. From Page Control, click Design, a dialog box will appear, select M1,
and click one arrow to the right, then click Design.
14. Look at the results.
15. From the upper part of the screen switch to Second Group and M2.
16. From Page Control, click Design, a dialog box will appear, select M2,
and click one arrow to the right, then click Design.
17. Look at the results.
18. Create a proper report, and produce graphical output for both the Beam
member, and the column member.
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Module Review
1. Form Member is a function to create a continuous beam:
a. True
b. False
2. Concrete Design got four modes:
a. Design Layer Mode, Member Design Mode, Slab Design Mode, and Earthquake Mode
b. Design Layer Mode, Member Design Mode, Column Design Mode, and Earthquake Mode
c. Design Layer Mode, Member Design Mode, Column Design Mode, and Slab Design
Mode
3. In the ___________ we set the values of the design requirements.
4. Groups are:
a. Beam Briefs + Column Briefs
b. Briefs + Members
c. Envelopes + Briefs
d. Briefs + Job Info
5. In the Design Report I can show a detailed design results plus graphical illustration:
a. True
b. False
6. Use from the menus __________________ to change the mode to Member Design Mode.
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1. a
2. a
3. Briefs
4. b
5. a
6. Mode
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Module 10:
Steel Design
Introduction to the new Steel Design
Creating Envelopes, Members, Briefs, and Groups
Check Code, and Member Select Commands
The Design Report
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Module 10: Steel Design
10-3
Introduction
Steel Design in STAAD used to be part of the input file of the
Analysis, which means any change in the design commands means
the input file should be re-run again, which is tedious and time
consuming.
Since STAAD Pro 2003, a new separate-but-integrated Steel
Designer module has been added, which reads the Analysis file, and
perform steel design for selected members.
Hence analysis is the first step of the Steel Design.
From menus select Mode/Interactive Designs/Steel Design.
Or, click the Steel Design tab at the top of the screen.
STAAD Pro will stay in the same interface (not like Concrete
Design which takes the user to a separate program), but the menus,
and the Page Control will change, as the below picture shows:
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Step 1: Load Envelope Setup
By default you are in Load Envelope page, and Setup sub-page.
In Data Area, you can see two buttons:
• New Envelope
• Edit Envelope
Click New Envelope to specify the Primary Loads and/or the
Combinations, which you desire to be involved in the Design
Process.
• Envelope Name; input name for your envelope.
• Select All Load Cases Shown Below; click this ON if all loads
(namely Primary and Combination) are desired to be included in
the envelope.
• Show Combinations Only; if you want to show only the
Combinations, and you are not interested in the Primary Loads.
Once you are done click OK.
Click Edit Envelope, if you want to edit an existing Envelope.
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Step 2: Member Setup
Click on the Member Design Page Control, the default sub-page
will be Member Setup.
This sub-page is to combine several adjacent beams into one single
Member.
Sometimes in the Modeling phase, user may insert intermediate
Nodes inside a Beam for the sake of loading. As for STAAD Pro in
Steel design, it will treat any Beam between two Nodes as a separate
Beam; hence a single Beam will not be considered deflecting
together. In order to solve such a problem; combine Beams together.
At the end, STAAD Pro Steel Design will not design except
Members, and not Beams and Columns coming from the Analysis
file.
To create Member, you have two ways:
• Form Member
• Auto Form Member
Form Member This function is usefeul to combine beams into single Member.
Select the desired Beams you want to form as a single Member.
From Steel Design toolbar click Form Member button.
Automatically the selected Beams will form a single Member called
M1 (if this is the first time you define Members in this file).
Auto Form Member This function is important to create non-stacked Column members,
or single-non-adjacent Beams members.
Select the desired Beams or Columns you want to form as a single
Member.
From Steel Design toolbar click Auto Form Member button.
Automatically the selected Beams will form single Members and
will be numbered as sequesnce M1, M2, M3, etc. or it will follow
the last numbered Member.
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After creating Members, the screen may look something like:
Accordingly the Data Area would look something like:
Step 3: Change the Restraints
Click the Member Design Page Control, then sub-page Restraints.
There are preset values for Member Restraints.
In this sub-page you can change the values to reflect the real values
of your case.
Once you move to this sub-page, you will see the following table:
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To edit any of the values for any of the members:
• From the table shown above simply select the desired member.
• Right-click, the following shortcut menu will appear:
• Click Edit, the following dialog box will appear:
• If the Member selected is consisting from more than one Beam,
then STAAD Pro will show all of the Beams, and you can select
the desired Beam by two methods: either by clicking on the
preview shape, or from the pop-up list.
• Start changing the Restraint values as you wish, which they are:
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Deflection length in
Y Direction
To specify the Starting Node number and Ending Node number, so
STAAD Pro will calculate the defection in local Y direction for all
the length between these two nodes. This is very useful if you
(through the modeling phase) introduced intermediate nodes in a
long beam. These are in the table DJ1y, and DJ2y.
Deflection length in
Z Direction
The same thing applies for calculating the deflection in the local Z
direction. These are in the table DJ1z, and DJ2z.
Type of deflection
checking
Specify the Type of deflection, there are two possibilities:
• Value of 0 (zero) means local intermediate section displacement.
• Value of 1 means global relative end displacement.
K values Slenderness factor in the three local axes x (torsional axis) , y (minor
axis), z (major axis).
Length Effective Length in the three local axes x, y, z,
Unsupported Length
for Allowable
Bending Stress
The length of compression flange.
The same as above but as a factor, and not as a value.
The length of bottom flange
The length of top flange.
Tor. Res. At Start To specify the boundary condition of the member for the purpose of
designing for Torsion, they are:
• Free: this means free end just like a cantilever.
• Pinned: this means either a pinned support, or you set a Release
using the Specification sub-page in the Modeling mode.
• Fixed: This means either a fixed support, or a normal Node,
which considered structurally a fixed end.
Tor. Res. At End Just like above, except will be considered for the end Node.
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Step 4: Creating Briefs
In the Briefs we will set the values of the design requirements,
which belong to this specific design case.
The parameters you will control in the Brief will affect directly the
design process. So a thorough study of these parameters means a
better understanding of the design requirements.
The Brief we will discuss is for AISC ASD. Click on the Member
Design Page Control, and then sub-page Briefs/Groups.
From the Design Briefs Data Area click New Brief button, the
Select the Design Code to be AISC ASD.
Type a desired name for the Brief.
Start changing the values, as your case needs.
The parameters are:
Fyld Yield strength of steel (Default = 248212.797 KN/m2)
Wstr Allowable welding stress (Default = 0.4 * Fyld)
Torsion Design for torsion, you have two choices:
• (0) Don’t design for torsion (Default)
• (1) Design for torsion
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Dmax, Dmin In the coming parts of this module we will discuss the Member
Select command of STAAD Pro, where the user will let STAAD Pro
select the proper cross section.
STAAD Pro will always select from the same cross section which
the user specify in the Modeling mode and starting from the smallest
cross section in the tables up to the largest cross section.
You can limit the search by specifying Dmin, which is the minimum
depth of the cross section and not the smallest cross section in the
table. Also you can specify Dmax, which is the maximum depth of
the cross section and not the largest cross section in the table.
Wmin Minimum welding thickness (Default = 0.002m)
Stiff Spacing for stiffeners for plate girder design
Dff No default value
If you didn’t input a value for this parameter, there will be no check
for deflection.
Dff is the Maximum Allowable Local Deflection.
Nsf Nsf is an abbreviation for Net Section Factor.
• Used to calculate Anet, which is Anet=Ag x Nsf
• By default the value is 1.00, which means the Gross Area equal
to the Net Area.
Cb Cb as specified in chapter F of AISC ASD (Default = 1)
SSY, SSZ To specify if there will be any side sway in local y-axis and/or in
local z-axis. You have two choices:
• (0) There is sideway (Default)
• (1) No sideway
CMY, CMZ CM value in local y-axis and in local z-axis. There are two choices:
• SSY=0, hence there is sideway, therefore CMY = 0.85. Also, if
SSZ=0, hence there is sideway, therefore CMZ = 0.85.
• Or, if SSY=1, hence there is no sideway, therefore CMY will be
calculated. Also, if SSZ=1, hence there is no sideway, therefore
CMZ will be calculated.
Main Design for slenderness. You have two choices:
• (0) Check for slenderness (Default)
• (1) Don’t check for slenderness
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Ratio Ratio of Actual Stresses to Allowable Stresses.
• By default this value is 1.00
• When design starts this Ratio will be governing the design,
deciding whether certain cross section will SUCCEED or FAIL.
Weld Design for weld. You have two choices:
• (1) Closed sections
• (2) Open sections (Default)
Beam How to find the critical moments in designing a beam. You have
two choices:
• Perform design at ends, and those locations specified in the
SECTION command
• Perform design at ends, and 1/12th
section location along member
length (Default)
Profile Only used for AISC ASD
• As discussed in Dmax, and Dmin, Profile will be also used in
conjunction with Select command
• Profile will limit the selection process to a certain type (e.g. W4)
• You can select up to 3 profiles
Fu Ultimate tensile strength of steel (Default = 413688 KN/m2
)
Taper Decide how to design Taper I section, you have two choices:
• Design Tapered-I section based on rules of chapter F and
appendix B of AISC ASD
• Design Tapered-I section based on appendix F of AISC ASD
Composite Composite and all the below parameters will tackle the Composite
Beam Design.
Composite action with connectors. You have three choices:
• (0) No composite action (Default)
• (1) Composite act
• (2) Ignore positive moments during design
Condia Diameter of shear connectors (Default = 0.016m)
Conheight Height of shear connectors after welding (Default = 0.064m)
Cycles Cycles of maximum stress that the shear connector is subjected to
(Default = 500000)
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Dlratio Ratio of moment due to dead load applied before concrete hardens
to the total moment (Default = 0.4)
Dlr2 Ratio of moment due to dead load applied after concrete hardens to
the total moment (Default = 0.4)
Effwidth Effective width of concrete slab (Default = 0.25 Member Length)
Fpc Compressive strength of concrete at 28 days (Default = 20684
KN/m2
)
Impact Impact fraction in % to be multiplied with live load (Default = 20%)
Plthick Thickness of cover plate welded to the bottom flange of composite
beam
Pltwidth Width of cover plate welded to the bottom flange of composite beam
Ribheight Height of rib from steel deck
Ribwidth Width of rib from steel deck
Shoring Temporary shoring during construction. You have two choices:
• (0) Without shoring (Default)
• (1) With shoring
Slabthick Thickness of concrete slab, or thickness of concrete slab above the
form steel deck (Default = 0.102m)
WMAX Maximum weld thickness (Default = 0.025m)
FSS Full Section Shear for welding, you have two choices:
• (0) False.
• (1) True. (Default).
OVR In case of a member to accept or not an overstress:
• (1.00) means overstress is not permitted (Default).
• Any other value will be the factor which all of the allowable
stresses multiplied by.
SHE How the actual shear stress will be calculated:
• (0) means calculate Actual Shear stress using VQ/lb (Default).
• (1) means calculate Actual Shear stress using V/(Ay or Az).
ELECTRODE Specify the material used in welding from 6 different materials.
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DINC DINC and the parameters to follow are all for designing a Tapered
section. DINC is depth of tapered section to be incremented.
FTBINC Flange width (top and bottom) of tapered section to be incremented.
FTINC Top flange to be incremented only. In this case Bottom Flange = W.
FBINC Bottom flange to be incremented only. In this case Top Flange = W.
BMAX Maximum allowable width of the flange.
AXIS Local axis system about which design of single angles is to be done:
• 1 = Principal Axis (Default)
• 2 = Geometric Axis
FLX Torsional buckling restraint:
• 1 = Member is partially braced (Default)
• 2 = Member is fully braced
• 3 = Member is braced at the point of maximum moment
TMAIN Allowable L/R in tension (Default = 300) (Enter a value = 1, to
bypass L/R ration check)
Use this button in the Brief Details dialog box if you want to
minimize the parameters you want to set. If you click it, the
following will be shown:
Click OFF the unneeded parameters, hence only the selected
parameters will be available for editing.
Note In order to control these parameters, user should refer always to
STAAD manuals as it refers to the chapters, clauses, and parameters
in AISC-ASD, which will enable the user to relate each STAAD
parameter to the correct required part of the code.
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Step 5: Creating Design Groups
To combine: Envelope, Member, and Brief
These are the steps to create a Design Group:
• Make sure you are in the Briefs/Groups sub-page, if not, go to it.
• Select the desired Member to design.
• Click the New Design Grp (Grp means Group) button.
Type in the Group Name.
From the pop-up lists select an Envelope, and then select Brief.
Click Add button, a new Group will be added.
Because the desired Member is already selected, simply click one
arrow to the right button, so the Member will be associated with the
Group. When you are done click OK.
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You can see the results of what you did in Data Area in the Design
Groups table, just like the following:
You will see the Design Group name, the Design Brief name, and
finally the Envelope name.
To edit any part of the Group, simply select it an click Edit Design
Grp button.
Steel Design Commands in STAAD Pro
After you finish the input, execute one of two steel design
commands in STAAD Pro:
• Check Code
• Member Selection
Check Code STAAD Pro will take the cross-section selected by the user and
check it against the loads (different types of stresses), and report
whether the cross-section is SAFE, or UNSAFE.
The Brief selected has a major effect over the results.
As noted before, the parameters will control which way should
STAAD Pro take in order to decide the outcome of the design
process.
Member Selection STAAD Pro will select from the table the lightest section, which
will sustain the loads input by the user.
STAAD Pro will select the same type of the cross-section the user
designated in the first place.
Also, the Brief (parameters) input by the user, will decide which
way STAAD Pro will take in order to select the suitable cross-
section.
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Command
Execution
Make sure that the desired Member to be designed is selected.
From menus select Member Design/Perform Group Design, and
then select either Check Code, or Member Selection.
Click OK.
In order to see the results, simply go the sub-page titled
Results/Reports, in the lower part of the screen. You will see the
following table:
In order to see a full report, do the following steps:
• Select the Group No. (in the above illustration the Group No. is
G1)
• Right-click, shortcut menu will appear select from it the option
View Design Calculation.
• You will see something like the report in the next page:
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Design Calculation
Report
The following is Calculation Report:
Printing the Report While the report is open, select from menus File/Print Preview, and
from the Print Preview window you can direct the output to the
printer.
Or you can reach to the same results by using the Print toolbar;
click the Print Preview Report icon.
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Steel Design
Workshop 7-B
2. Select Mode/Interactive Designs/Steel Design.
3. Define new Envelope call it First Envelope to contain all the loads
(Primary and Combination).
4. Create the following members as shown:
5. For M1, remember the leftmost Node number, and the rightmost Node
number, now go to Restraint sub-page and check the numbers of DJ1y,
and DJ2y, are they the same numbers? Or not? If not change them to the
Node numbers you know.
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6. Create a new Brief, based on AISC-ASD, and call it First Brief, and
change the following parameters:
a. Torsion = 1
b. Dff = 180
c. Nsf = 0.85
d. Ssz = 1
e. Main = 1
f. Ratio = 0.95
g. Beam = 1
7. Select M1
8. Create a new Group and call it First Group, and combine:
a. First Group
b. First Brief
c. First Envelope
d. M1
9. Select from menus Member Design/Perform Group Design/ Check
Code.
10. From Design Calculation report, did STAAD Pro check for
Slenderness? Why?
11. What was the critical stress? __________________________________,
And what was the ratio value? _________________________________
12. What was the actual deflection in the local y-axis, and what was the
allowable deflection?
(Facebook Group)

Using STAAD Pro
10-20
13. Create another Brief, based on AISC-ASD, and call it Second Brief, and
change the following parameters:
a. Dmax = 1m
b. Dmin = 0.3m
c. Nsf = 0.85
d. Ssz = 1
e. Main = 0
f. Ratio = 0.95
g. Beam = 0
14. Select M2
15. Click Edit Design Grp, and delete First Group
16. Create a new Group and call it Second Group, and combine:
a. Second Group
b. Second Brief
c. First Envelope
d. M2
17. Select from menus Member Design/Perform Group Design/ Member
Selection.
18. From Design Calculation report, if you know that the assumed cross-
section was HP14X102, what is the selected cross-section of STAAD
Pro __________________.
19. Did STAAD Pro check for deflection? Why?
20. What was the critical stress? __________________________________,
and what was the ratio value?
(Facebook Group)

10-21
Module Review
1. The new Steel Design Engine is separate-but-integrated engine:
a. True
b. False
2. There are two steel design commands, which they are:
a. Beam Design and Column Design
b. Check Code and Beam Design
c. Member Select and Column Design
d. Check Code and Member Select
3. Design Group combines ___________, _____________, and ____________.
4. In the Brief you can specify:
a. To check for Slenderness
b. To check for Deflection
c. The maximum depth of the cross-section if STAAD will perform Member Select
d. All of the above
5. Envelopes can be created only from Combinations:
a. True
b. False
6. You can change Kx, Ky, and Kz in ______________________ sub-page.
(Facebook Group)

Using STAAD Pro
10-22
1. a
2. d
3. Envelopes, Brief, and Member
4. d
5. b
6. Restraints
(Facebook Group)

1
Test Your Knowledge
The main objective of this test is to test-your-knowledge, which you learned from this courseware.
The test should be closed book, and without using the software.
How to assess your self:
First don’t look at the answers in the last page
If you score 25 or more out of 30, then you are Excellent
If you score between 20-24, then you are Very good
If you score between 15-19, then you are Good
If you score below 15, then you are Fair
(Facebook Group)

Using STAAD Pro
2
Name:_______________________________________ Date:_______________________________
Answer All of the following questions:
1. Geometry in STAAD Pro is:
a. Nodes
b. Beams
c. Plates
2. You create Combinations, then you create
Primary Loads:
a. True
b. False
3. Assigning Truss Members to certain Beams
can be done in:
a. Properties
b. Specs
c. Loading
d. Analysis
4. How many types of Static Analysis are there
in STAAD Pro:
a. 1
b. 2
c. 4
d. 3
5. Which of the following is not considered a
method to create geometry in STAAD Pro:
a. Drafting the Geometry
b. Importing DXF file
c. Importing DOC file
d. Importing XLS file
6. You have to select Beams prior to creating the
Floor Load:
a. True
b. False
7. How many files STAAD Pro can deal with
simultaneously:
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
8. Which is true about selecting methods in
STAAD Pro
a. Window
b. Clicking
c. Clicking the table
d. All of the above
9. One of the following specification does not
apply on L-sections:
a. LD
b. TB
c. SD
d. RA
10. Beta can be:
a. +90
b. –90
c. +90 and –90
d. Any angle
11. In Post Processing user can generate a
handsome reports, with different fonts,
embedded graphics, showing the logo of the
company:
a. True
b. False
12. In the new Concrete Design module:
a. There will be new menus
b. There will be new Page Controls
c. There will be new Modes
d. All of the above
13. Node in the input file is described by
a. The Beam at its ends
b. Node Number
c. Node Coordinates
d. B & C
14. After you assign a cross-section to Beam, then
double-clicking it, one of the following will
not be shown:
a. Cross-sectional area
b. Volume
c. Moments of Inertia
d. Effective Shear Areas
15. The title of the Combination is very important
to STAAD Pro, and can predict from it the
factors to be multiplied by the Primary loads.
a. True
b. False
16. One of the results STAAD Pro will generate is
the rotational of Nodes around X, Y, Z, the
units of this piece of information is:
a. Degrees
b. Radians
c. Grads
d. User choice
17. In Translational Repeat command, the
direction of repeat is:
a. In the Global direction only
b. In the Global and Local direction
c. In the Local direction only
d. Non of the above
18. The Minor principle axis is Local Z
a. True
b. False
(Facebook Group)

Test Your Knowledge
3
19. Fixed But support will allow the user to
release one or more of the six reactions of the
that support:
a. True
b. False
20. In Steel Design module Ky, Kx, Ly, UNL,
DJy1, these are:
a. Briefs
b. Restraints
c. Deflection Length parameters
d. Member Controlling specifications
21. The Analysis type, which takes care of, both
secondary loading caused by Displacement of
the Nodes, and geometric stiffness correction
caused by Deflection of Beams is:
a. Perform Analysis
b. P-Delta Analysis
c. Non-Linear Analysis
d. Time History Analysis
22. The file extension of STAAD Pro input files
is:
a. filename.pro
b. filename.stp
c. filename.std
d. filename.sta
23. Although we create our input file using
graphical methods, STAAD Pro will create a
text file which represent the input file
containing the STAAD Pro syntax:
a. True
b. False
24. The Material constants stored in STAAD Pro
are:
a. The only method to input Material
constants for your Beams
b. You can input your own if you didn’t
like them
c. Can be altered
d. There are no stored Material
constants in STAAD Pro
25. Bending Moment in STAAD Pro is the
moment:
a. Around y-y
b. Around x-x
c. Around z-z
d. Around Global Z
26. In Circular Repeat, the resulting total number
of frames is:
a. No. of Steps assigned by user + 1
b. No. of Steps assigned by user –1
c. No. of Steps assigned by user
d. No. of Steps assigned by user + 2
27. In Concrete Design/Beam Briefs, where do
you link Envelope to Brief:
a. In the Brief dialog box, General tab
b. In the Brief dialog box, Column
Factors tab
c. In the Brief dialog box, Main
Reinforcement tab
d. In the Group dialog box
28. In Concrete Design/Column Brief, where do
you link Envelope to Brief:
a. In the Brief dialog box, General tab
b. Column Briefs uses Combinations
rather than Envelopes
c. In the Brief dialog box, Column
Factors tab
d. In the Group dialog box
29. In Post Processing Mode:
a. I can change the Scale of the results
b. I can change the Units of the results
c. I can show or hide the values of the
results
d. All of the above
30. In Rotate Command, I can specify the Axis of
rotation by:
a. Typing in the numbers of two Nodes
b. Clicking on two Nodes through a
special cursor
c. Type in the coordinates of two Nodes
d. All of the above
(Facebook Group)

Using STAAD Pro
4
Answers:
1. a
2. b
3. b
4. d
5. c
6. b
7. a
8. d
9. b
10. d
11. a
12. d
13. d
14. b
15. b
16. b
17. a
18. b
19. a
20. b
21. c
22. c
23. a
24. b
25. c
26. a
27. a
28. b
29. d
30. d
(Facebook Group)

Staad.pro2007 full course

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