Structural Analysis and Design

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Use of UBC load generator for Seismic Load in Mat analysis

Posted by Arun Subramanian on Thu, Apr 9 2009 6:05 AM

Thanks again Kris..

Infact i had thought of that same idea as my last resort.. It reduces selfweight of the mat considerably.. I'll need to check for uplift anyway..

Thanks & Regards, Arun.

Posted by Kris Sathia on Wed, Apr 8 2009 2:12 PM

For those members and plates whose weight you want to dis-regard, a) Create a new material whose density is equal to zero or a negligible value. Remaining terms like E, Poissons, should be equal to the value of the actual material with which those entities are constructed. b) Assign this material to those entities. c) Run the analysis.

Posted by Arun Subramanian on Wed, Apr 8 2009 1:24 PM

Thanks Kris!!!

It was very helpful indeed.. solves some major problems..

Any other way of eleminating mat selfweight in 2006 version??? It'd be one very good favour (for me atleast)..

Thanks & Regards, Arun.

Posted by Kris Sathia on Wed, Apr 8 2009 12:20 PM

You asked : whether list command can be used inside the generator & does it work correctly. Answer : Lists for selfweight can be used in UBC Load generator syntax in STAAD.Pro 2007 and V8i. For example : DEFINE UBC LOAD ZONE 0.38 I 1.0 STYP 2 RWX 5.6 RWZ 5.6 NA 1.3 NV 1.6 SELFWEIGHT 1.0 LIST 101 TO 136 201 TO 236 Our tests indicate that the feature works correctly. However, it is not supported in STAAD.Pro 2006. _________________

You asked : whether we can use factors for the selfweight command in UBC Load Generator syntax.. Answer : You can use factors for selfweight in UBC Load generator syntax in STAAD.Pro 2007 and V8i. For example : DEFINE UBC LOAD ZONE 0.38 I 1.0 STYP 2 RWX 5.6 RWZ 5.6 NA 1.3 NV 1.6 SELFWEIGHT 0.75 However, it is not supported in STAAD.Pro 2006.

Posted by Arun Subramanian on Tue, Apr 7 2009 5:03 AM

Thanks Kris.. I'm not using a 2007 version or V8i. Mine is 2006 version and so only list command didn't work. It would be much helpful if you can check & clarify the point raised by dynamics on whether list command can be used inside the generator & does it work correctly. One more point.. It would be even better if you can clarify on whether we can use factors for the selfweight command in UBC Load Generator syntax.. Ex) SELWEIGHT 0.75 Regards, Arun.

Posted by dynamics on Tue, Apr 7 2009 3:12 AM

Kris just a clarification, this latest feature of enabling selfweight with specific list of members and elements is already enabled in the load case assignment however, I'm not sure though if this will also work on the

seismic deifinition of weights since you can't input the list using the GUI but you can just type in in the editor the list of members and plates to be included and it seems ok with the syntax. I'm not just sure if staadpro really computes only the seismic weight of those members specified in the list or will just ignore the list and still consider the total weight of the members and plates modeled? Please clarify thanks.

Kris Sathia: Selfweight based on a member and element list was introduced in STAAD.Pro 2007 Build 03. In versions prior to that, selfweight was not list based, but applied to all entities in the model. So, make sure that you are running STAAD.Pro 2007 Build 03 (20.07.03.15) or the current version which is called STAAD.Pro V8i.

Posted by Kris Sathia on Mon, Apr 6 2009 2:58 PM

Selfweight based on a member and element list was introduced in STAAD.Pro 2007 Build 03. In versions prior to that, selfweight was not list based, but applied to all entities in the model. So, make sure that you are running STAAD.Pro 2007 Build 03 (20.07.03.15) or the current version which is called STAAD.Pro V8i.

Posted by Arun Subramanian on Mon, Apr 6 2009 5:38 AM

Frame Without List.zip

I tried to use the LIST command for self weight applied to the structure. But it's giving me syntax error.. I've attacheds the STAAD file for your reference. Kindly check n tell me why..

Posted by Arun Subramanian on Mon, Apr 6 2009 4:44 AM

I will try that today and find out whether it's leading to the correct seismic loads (i.e., loads calculated from the structural members only & not including plates.)

One other thing... I tried to identify the percentage contribution of plates in selfweight & use that as a factor. Say if total selfweight of structural members alone is 75 kN and weight inclusive of plates is 100 kN, i tried to use a factor of 0.75 in SELFWEIGHT command in UBC load generator. But it leads to a syntax error... Is there anyway to use a factor in selfweight syntax of seismic definition?? It might prove useful...

Posted by dynamics on Sat, Apr 4 2009 1:45 AM

Arun Subramanian: Is there ways to specify which members & plates will be assigned wit selfweights??? How is it done???

You can actually list the specific members and plates that you want to be included in the selfweight calculation but this feature can only be found in the actual load aplied to the structure i.e. Selfweight -1 List 35 to 40 I'm not sure though if this will work with the seismic definition selfweight syntax. I did try to add list in the seismic defintion syntax and it seems ok i.e. Selfweight 1 List 35 to 40 but I don't know if Staapro will really calculate only the selfweight of those members and plates being specified in the list. This needs to be confirmed by the support team.

Posted by Arun Subramanian on Fri, Apr 3 2009 8:24 AM

Is there ways to specify which members & plates will be assigned wit selfweights??? How is it done???

Posted by dynamics on Fri, Apr 3 2009 2:08 AM

As far as I know the load generator will consider the weight of all members and plates in the model with assigned material which will not be correct if part of the structure is below grade. Like in your case your mat foundation. Nonetheless, in the actual load you have an option to select which members and plates will be assigned with selfweight. Your problem would have been solved if the same option is also available in the seismic definition of selfweight.

Posted by Arun Subramanian on Thu, Apr 2 2009 11:24 AM

Hi !! I'm using STAAD for analysis & design of a plant supported on a mat. I've modeled the mat along with the structure in a single file. I'm using UBC LOAD GENERATOR (1997) for Seismic Loads. I've a problem...

While assigning loads to various joints, the LOAD GENERATOR takes into consideration the self weight of the mat too. It results in very heavy loads applied to joints. How can i get over this problem?? Is there a specific way to consider the self weight of super structure alone

Regards, Arun.