Tutorial
Simple steel structure
2D
This tutorial was created to make a simple introduction to the STAAD.PRO 2007 program. The mission is to enable the user to create a simple 2D model using the basic tools of the program.
1. Open the STAAD.PRO program
2. Click “New Project...”
3. Next we will add a Beam
• Enter File name
• Specify the Location, were the file will be saved • Select: Plane
• Length Units: Meters • Force Units: KiloNewton • Click Next
We selected Plane as we are only creating a 2D structure
• Check: Add Beam • Click Finish
This tutorial consist of steps 1-38 and comments as need-ed.
New Project... Button
4. Edit the Grid system
5. Grid edit
6. Adding Beams
• Change the Construction
Lines
• Set X and Y to 5 • Click OK
At this time we do not need to create a new grid line as our structure is simple and only in 2D
The Snap Node/Beam window is now open, just move the window so that the grid lines are visible
If the Snap Node/Beam win-dow is not open, just click the
Snap Node/Beam button to
enable the window • Click Edit
5.
Snap Node/Beam Button
7. View in 2D
8. Add Beam
9. Complete the structure
Note that the Snap Note/Beam window has to be open, see step 6
• Click Snap Node/Beam, if it is not already turned on • Move the cursor over the
Grid and click at the point (0,0) as the starting point for the beam
• Next click the point (0,4) as the finishing point for the beam
• Now we have created a beam
Complete step 8 for all the 5 beams and the structure should look like the structure here to the left
As we are only working with a 2D structure, we can change the view.
• Click View From +Z Then we have a plane Y-X
View From +Z Button Starting point (0,0) Finish point (0,4) Beam 1 Beam 2 Beam 3 Beam 5 Beam 4
10. General option
11. Defining Property
12. Assign Property to the beams
Go to the Properties - Whole
structure window (in the
bot-tom right corner)
• Click Section Database Next we select the steel Pro-files that we will be using • Select Steel
• Select European • Select IPE Shape
• Select IPE120 and click Add • Select IPE160 and click Add • Click Close
Next we will assign the select-ed steel profiles to the beams • Select IPE120
• Select Cursor To Assign • Click Assign
Use the Cursor to assign to IPE120 to beams 4 and 5 Repeat this for the IPE160 pro-file, assign to beams 1, 2 and 3 • Click General
Now we are ready to apply and define property for the beams
General option
Property option
13. Structure with assigned Properties
14. Creating bracing
15. Bracing - continued
• Click Spec
• Select Beam 5 and Double
click
• Select Change Releases At
Start... • Select Release Under Release • Check FY • Check FZ • Check MX • Check MY • Check MZ • Click Add
• Select Change Releases At
End...
• Repeat as the releas as
done for the Releases At
Start...
After assigning the IPE120 and IPE160 the structure should look like the one to the left
16. Bracing - continued
17. Creating Supports
18. Select support
• Click Support
Go to the Supports - Whole
structure window (in the
bot-tom right corner) • Click Create
• Select Pinned and Add We will only be using pinned supports for this structure The structure is statically inde-terminate, see also the hand calculations in appendix A
Support option
After releasing the structure should look like the one to the left
19. Assign Supports
20. Defining Loads
21. Load Cases Details
• Click Load
Go to the Load window (to the right)
• Select Load Cases Details • Click Add...
• Select the Pinned support • Select Cursor To Assign • Click Assign
Use the Cursor to assign to the pinned supports to Node 1 and Node 4
After having assigned the pinned supports the structure should look like the one to the left
Node 1 Node 4
Load option
22. Create Load Cases
23. Load Items
24. Assign Load
• Select 1 : Live • Click Add... • Select Nodal Load • Fx: 60
• Click Add • Click Close
In this example we will neglect self weight
• Select FX 60 kN,m • Click Node 2
• Select Assign To Selected
Nodes
• Click Assign
Assign the load to Node 2 • Select Primary
• Loading Type: Live • Title: Live
• Click Add • Click Close
25. Defining Material
26. Define the Analysis/Print
27. Check if Staad.pro will preform selected analysis
• Click Analysis/Print
The Analysis/Print window will pop up
• Select Preform Analysis • Select All
• Click Add • Click Close
Take a look at the Analysis -
Whole structure window (to
the right)
We have successfully added
PREFORM ANALYSIS PRINT ALL
• Click Material
We see we have already de-fined the Materials when we selected the steel profiles for the beams, when we defined the Property. See step 11
Material option
Analysis/Print option
28. Analyze
29. Analysis completed
30. Result Setup
Now the result window will pop up
• Select Go to Post
Process-ing Mode
• Click Done
• Select Loads
Move the Load Cases that are available box to the Selected box
• Click OK • Click Analyze
• Click Run Analysis... Or press Ctrl+F5
31. Postprocessing dialog
32. Displacement in Nodes
33. Reactions
• Click Node
• Click Displacement We see that the Horizontal (x-direction) displacement in Node 2 is 2,159 mm
This Horizontal (x-direction) displacement in Node 2 is the same as the hand calculations, page 18, see Appendix A
• Click Reactions
Now we can see the reactions in the supports
The reaction are the same as the hand calculations
Now we get the Postprocessing dialog
Here we can check the dis-placement, reactions, forces acting on the beams, stresses, look at graphs, animations and create reports
We will start by checking the displacements and reactions
Node Displacement
Node 2
Node Reactions
34. Forces in the Beams 35. Stresses 36. Graphs • Click Beam • Click Stresses • Select Beam 2
Try out by clicking beams We see that the beams 1 and 4 are in tension, beams 2, 3 and 5 are in compression. This was also seen visible in step 34
• Click Beam • Click Graphs
Now we can see the all of the beams graphs, Fy, Fx and Mz Try out by clicking beams Now we will take a look at the beams
• Click Beam • Click Forces
Now we can see all of the forces that are acting on the beams
If we focus on beam 1 we can see that the axial force 42 kN is as the hand calculations, and the same is for all the other beams Beam Forces Beam Stresses Beam Graphs
37. Beam Property
38. This ends this tutorial
We can take a look at each beam and see what properties are associated with them • Double Click Beam 2 • Click Property
Now we can see all of the information about the beam, such as material (steel), section (IEP160) and so on Appendix A. Hand calculations • Here we apply virtual work to solve statically indeterminate structure, ap-plying “Kraftmetoden” or the “Force method” • The hand calculations are used to compare with the results from Staad. pro program
Video tutorial and information are available from the Bentley web site: 1. Create a model of beams and finite element meshes, load, a 3D concrete
model and produce quality reports 2. Highlights of STAAD.Pro 2007
Appendix A
Appendix A
Horizontal (x-direction) displacement
