HK PolyU

CSE20201

prepared by S. Zhu

CEE 20201 Structural Mechanics

SAP2000 (version 14) Tutorial
To run SAP2000 (version 14), click
Start > All Programs > Computers and Structures > SAP2000 14 > SAP2000

The SAP2000 software provides exhaustive manual and help files. Besides the demo presented in this file,
the following files or examples will be helpful to you when you learn how to use this software:

A brief introduction of SAP2000:

Help Menu > Documentation > Manuals > Getting Started

A step-by-step tutorial similar to this file

Help Menu > Documentation > Tutorials > Introductory Tutorials

Many verification examples:

Help Menu > Documentation > Analysis Verification > Title Page and Contents
The files of these examples are located in the following directory:
C:\Program Files\Computers and Structures\SAP2000 14\Verification

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Given:
The overhanging beam has been fabricated with a projected arm BD on it. The structure supports a vertical
load of 3.6 kN at point A. Assume hinge supports at C and E, hinge connection at D and rigid connection at
B. All members are made of structural steel (
). The sectional properties for
each member are shown below
Member DE:
Member AC and BD:

Find:
i)

Axial force in DE

ii)

Axial force diagram for AC

iii)

Shear Diagram for AC

iv)

Moment Diagram for AC

v)

Displacement at A

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The following pages outline the major steps used to perform the analysis using SAP2000:
Step 1 Define Geometry (Grid, Nodes, Elements, Restraints)
Step 2 Define and Assign Element Properties (Materials, Cross-sections)
Step 3 Define Loading
Step 4 Analyze
Step 5 Examine and Record Output
Step 6 Troubleshooting
Step 7 Present Results

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STEP 1 - DEFINE GEOMETRY (Grid, Nodes, Elements, Restraints)

1) Decide on Dimensions choose
from pull down menu on lower
right, (e.g. N, mm, C)
2) Create New Model (or File
Menu > New Model)
3) Click Grid Only, and Enter the
grid information as shown in
screen
4) Choose one of the windows to
Display axes xz ( XZ button)

New
Model

Axes xz
(easiest for 2-D in SAP2000)

Add
Node
Add
Element

Dimensions

5) Add Nodes (Click on grid)

(
button)
(Esc to stop adding)

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6) Add Elements (Click on end
nodes)
(
button)

CSE20201

prepared by S. Zhu

(Esc to stop adding)

Notes About Geometry Inputs

Can combine steps 5 and 6 with Quick Draw Option (

button)
Can adjust grid lines by double-clicking on line. When moving, can also glue joints to grid lines so
that the nodes and lines move together.
Can move joint by right-clicking on joint and entering new location coordinates. (Can also assign joints
a letter, such as A, in this screen.)
Can show joint/element labels, restraints, by choosing
View Menu > Set Display Options > marking desired boxes.

Zoom

Pan

Views

Save
QuickDraw

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CSE20201

prepared by S. Zhu

7) Define Restrains
Select Nodes (When nodes
are selected, dashed Xs
appear)
Click
Assign Menu > Joints >
Restrains
Enter information as shown
in screen.

8) IMPORTANT:
SAP2000 defaults to beam
elements. To create truss
elements (rods), release
moment restraints at ends of
members
Select member DE
Click
Assign Menu > Frame/Cable
> Release/Partial Fixity >
Choose Start and End for
Moment 33 (Major)

Notes About Saving Your File

Dont forget to Save your file while you are inputting the information. (You dont want to waste your
time entering it twice if something goes wrong.)
The only file you really need to save for later use is the file with the extension: *.SDB. This file
contains all of your input information and can be analyzed again in SAP2000 (or emailed to others if you
are having problems.)

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STEP 2 - DEFINE & ASSIGN ELEMENT PROPERTIES (Materials, Cross-Sections)

9) Define Materials
Click
Define Menu > Materials >
Add New Material

Our
Material

Entered
E

10) Define Cross-Sectional

Geometry
Click
Define Menu > Section
Properties > Frame Sections
> Add New Property
Frame Section Property Type:
Select Other
Click General
Name: BEAM
Material: MAT4DEMO
Cross-Sectional (axial) Area =
600
Moment of Inertia about 3 axis
= 5e6
Shear Area in 2 direction = 0
(if neglecting shear
deformation)

Beam A
Beam I
To neglect
shear
deformation

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CSE20201
Can check A,
I if entered a
Rectangular
Section, etc.

Can set shear

factor=0 to
neglect shear
def. if
entered a
Rectangular
Section, etc.

prepared by S. Zhu
Section
Name

*Select
Material*
(Dont
forget)

Create as many cross sections as

needed
Name: ROD
Material: MAT4DEMO
Cross-Sectional (axial) Area =
100

Note about Entering Cross-Sections:

Can also select a specific cross-sectional geometry (such as steel wide flange sections) and have
SAP2000 calculate the Area and Moment of Inertia for you. In that case, to neglect shear deformation,
you would need to select Modification Factors and set Shear 2 = 0.

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11) Assign Section Definitions
to approriate elements

CSE20201

prepared by S. Zhu

Click to [select] elements

Assign Menu > Frames > Frame
Sections
Assign ROD to member DE
Assign BEAM to member AB,
BC and BD

Will
assign to
selected
(dashed)
elements

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CSE20201

prepared by S. Zhu

STEP 3 - DEFINE LOADING (Locations, Magnitude, Load Case)

12) Assign Loads
Click to [select] node 1
Assign Menu > Joint Loads >
Forces

Neg.
Direction

ADD
Or
REPLACE?

Note about Assign Loads:

Note that default is add to existing loads (not replace) - (Make sure you are not applying double
loads, etc.)
Can also assign distributed loads for frames
Assign Menu > Frame Loads > Distributed

12) Assign Load Case

Define Menu > Load Patterns
If dont want to include selfweight, must make
multiplier = 0 and Change
Load

Neglecting
Self Weight
To Accept
Change

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STEP 4 - ANALYZE
13) Define Analysis Options
Analyze Menu > Set Analysis
Options
Select Plane Frame (for 2-D
planar frame available degrees
of freedom are only ux ,uz, and
ry)

For Plane
Frame in
XZ plane

14) Run
Press

key

Select Dead, and Click Run

Now

Run /
Analyze

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STEP 5 - EXAMINE AND RECORD OUTPUT

(Displacements, Reactions, Bar Forces. All can be found under Display Menu)
14) Show Deformed Shape
Display Menu > Show
Deformed Shape
*

Make sure displacing in

direction consistent with
restraints and loads
Make sure of right
magnitude (deflections not
larger than structure
dimensions)
Below (in box on right) the
options chose: Wire
Shadow and Cubic Curve
To impress your friends,
you can click
Start Animation

15 ) Examine Reactions
Display Menu > Show Forces
/Stresses > Joints
*

Is global equilibrium
satisfied?

16) Examine Internal Bar

Forces
Display Menu > Show Forces
/Stresses > Frames/Cables
*

For 2-D structure, please

show the following in
sequence:
Axial
Shear 2-2
Moment 3-3
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(These refer to local axes 2
and 3)
*

Can do fill (solid) diagram

or Show values on diagram

Truss member DE should

have zero moment and shear
in members!!!!!

Can right-click to get

diagram of a single member
(and move cursor for values
along length)

CSE20201

prepared by S. Zhu

Note about Making Changes to the Model:

If your results dont make sense and you want to edit the model, you must Unlock it (
run it again after youve made your changes

key) and

Lock /
Unlock

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STEP 6 - TROUBLESHOOTING (Common Errors)

*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Self-weight was included when not desired (program includes as default)

Error in units (make sure consistent throughout, including for sections and material properties)
Restraints incorrect
Loads in wrong place or too large (programs default is to add to existing, not to replace)
Simplifying assumptions incorrect
Didnt specify truss members when needed to (release moment restraints from ends)
Didnt select correct material when defined frame sections

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CSE20201

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STEP 7 PRESENT RESULTS

Graphics & Input and Output for SAP2000 In-Lab Example
Notes:
Accompanying graphics are helpful. Try to wisely choose what you will printout. It is often a good
idea to show Axial Force, Shear Force, and Moment Diagrams with their values labeled. A graphic of
the undeformed shape with joint numbering, section names, etc. can also be useful for someone trying to
make sense of the data tables.

When submitting data to someone else, think about how you can make it easier for that person to read.
(Its usually not a good idea to hand someone 40 pages of printouts with no notations and expect them to
spot errors or assumptions.) In the data below, the information that is crucial to the analysis (and
different from the default values) is circled with notations. Also, page breaks have been added to group
similar information together.

To print the graphic on the screen:

File Menu > Print Graphics

Structural Model

Support Reactions

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CSE20201

prepared by S. Zhu

Deformed Shape

Bending Moment Diagram

Shear Force Diagram

Axial Force Diagram

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CSE20201

prepared by S. Zhu

Input/Output files were generated by choosing

(1) File Menu > Print Tables, and then check the following items.

(2) File Menu > Print Tables, and then check the following items.

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SAP2000Demo.SDB

SAP2000 v14.0.0 - License #28D9F

11 November 2009

INPUT DATA
Table:

Active Degrees of Freedom

UX

UY

Table:

Active Degrees of Freedom

UZ
RX

RY

RZ

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Table:

No

Connectivity - Frame

Frame

JointI

JointJ

1
2
3
4

1
2
2
4

2
3
4
5

AB
BC
CD
DE
Table:

Table:
IsCurved
No
No
No
No

Connectivity - Frame
Length
CentroidX
mm
mm
1800.00
1200.00
1200.00
2700.00
600.00
2100.00
1500.00
2700.00

CentroidY
mm
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

CentroidZ
mm
300.00
300.00
600.00
1350.00

GUID

Frame Release Assignments 1 - General, Part 1 of 2

Frame

PI

V2I

V3I

Table:
TI

No

No

No

No

Table:

In XZ plane

Frame Release Assignments 1 - General, Part 1 of 2

M2I
M3I
PJ
V2J
No

Frame Release Assignments 1 - General, Part 2 of 2

Yes

No

No

V3J

TJ

M2J

M3J

No

No

No

Yes

Truss element,
release the end moments

Table: Frame Release

Assignments 1 - General,
Part 2 of 2
Frame
PartialFix
4

cse

No

Page 19 of 25

SAP2000Demo.SDB

Table:

SAP2000 v14.0.0 - License #28D9F

11 November 2009

Frame Section Assignments

Frame

SectionType

1
2
3
4

General
General
General
General

AB
BC
CD
DE
Table:

Table: Frame Section Assignments

AutoSelect
AnalSect
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.

Table:
Shape

BEAM
ROD

Mat4Demo
Mat4Demo

General
General

Default
Default
Default
Default

Abeam = 600 mm2

Ibeam = 5000000 mm4
A(Shear) beam = 0 mm2
(heglecting shear deformation)
Arod = 100 mm2

Frame Section Properties 01 - General, Part 1 of 4

t3
t2
Area
TorsConst
mm
mm
mm2
mm4
457.200
254.000
600.00
1.00
457.200
254.000
100.00
1.00

I33
mm4
5000000.00
0.00

I22
mm4
1.00
1.00

AS2
mm2
0.00
0.00

AS3
mm2
1.00
1.00

TotalWt
N
166.26
11.55

TotalMass
N-s2/mm
0.017
1.177E-03

Frame Section Properties 01 - General, Part 2 of 4

SectionName

S33
mm3
1.00
1.00

BEAM
ROD

S22
mm3
1.00
1.00

Table:
Z33
mm3
1.00
1.00

Frame Section Properties 01 - General, Part 2 of 4

Z22
R33
R22
ConcCol
mm3
mm
mm
1.00
1.000
1.000
No
1.00
1.000
1.000
No

ConcBeam

Color

No
No

White
White

Frame Section Properties 01 - General, Part 3 of 4

SectionName

FromFile

BEAM
ROD

No
No

cse

BEAM
BEAM
BEAM
ROD

Frame Section Properties 01 - General, Part 1 of 4

Material

Table:

MatProp

BEAM
BEAM
BEAM
ROD

SectionName

Table:

DesignSect

AMod
1.000000
1.000000

Table:
A2Mod
1.000000
1.000000

Frame Section Properties 01 - General, Part 3 of 4

A3Mod
JMod
I2Mod
I3Mod
1.000000
1.000000

1.000000
1.000000

1.000000
1.000000

1.000000
1.000000

MMod

WMod

1.000000
1.000000

1.000000
1.000000

GUID

Page 20 of 25

SAP2000Demo.SDB

Table:

SAP2000 v14.0.0 - License #28D9F

11 November 2009

Frame Section Properties 01 - General, Part 4 of 4

Table: Frame Section Properties 01 - General, Part 4 of 4

SectionName
Notes
BEAM
ROD

Table:

Added 11/10/2009 9:32:19 PM

Added 11/10/2009 9:36:50 PM

Joint Coordinates

Joint

CoordSys

CoordType

1
2
3
4
5

GLOBAL
GLOBAL
GLOBAL
GLOBAL
GLOBAL

Cartesian
Cartesian
Cartesian
Cartesian
Cartesian

A
B
C
D
E

Table:

Table:
Y
mm
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

XorR
mm
300.00
2100.00
3300.00
2100.00
3300.00

Table:
LoadPat

CoordSys

DEAD

GLOBAL

F1
N
0.00

Joint Loads - Force

F2
F3
N
N
0.00
-3600.00

GlobalY
mm
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

GlobalZ
mm
300.00
300.00
300.00
900.00
1800.00

GUID

U1

Table:
U2

3
5

Yes
Yes

Yes
Yes

Joint Restraint Assignments

U3
R1
Yes
Yes

M1
N-mm
0.00

M2
N-mm
0.00

M3
N-mm
0.00

GUID

F = -3.6 kN

Joint Restraint Assignments

Joint

cse

GlobalX
mm
300.00
2100.00
3300.00
2100.00
3300.00

Joint Loads - Force

Joint

Table:

Joint Coordinates
Z
SpecialJt
mm
300.00
Yes
300.00
Yes
300.00
Yes
900.00
Yes
1800.00
Yes

No
No

R2

R3

No
No

No
No

C
E

Two pin supports

Page 21 of 25

SAP2000Demo.SDB

SAP2000 v14.0.0 - License #28D9F

11 November 2009

Table: Load Case Definitions, Part 1 of 2

Case

Type

InitialCond

DEAD

LinStatic

Zero

ModalCase

Table: Load Case Definitions, Part 1 of 2

BaseCase
DesTypeOpt DesignType
Prog Det

AutoType

RunCase

CaseStatus

None

Yes

Finished

DEAD

GUID

Table: Load Case Definitions, Part 2 of 2

Table:
Case

Load Case Definitions, Part 2 of 2

Notes

DEAD

Table:

Load Pattern Definitions

LoadPat

DesignType

DEAD

DEAD

Table: Load Pattern Definitions

SelfWtMult
AutoLoad
GUID

Notes

0.000000

Neglecting Self-weight
Table:

Material List 2 - By Section Property

Table: Material List 2 - By Section Property
ObjectType
NumPieces TotalLength
mm
Frame
3
3600.00
Frame
1
1500.00

Section
BEAM
ROD

Table:

Material Properties 01 - General

Material

Type

SymType

Mat4Demo

Steel

Isotropic

cse

TotalWeight
N
166.26
11.55

Table: Material Properties 01 - General

TempDepen
Color
GUID
d
No

Blue

Notes

ASTM A36 added 11/10/2009

8:55:11 PM

Page 22 of 25

SAP2000Demo.SDB

Table:

SAP2000 v14.0.0 - License #28D9F

11 November 2009

Material Properties 02 - Basic Mechanical Properties

Material
Mat4Demo

Table: Material Properties 02 - Basic Mechanical Properties

UnitWeight
UnitMass
E1
G12
U12
N/mm3
N-s2/mm4
N/mm2
N/mm2
7.6973E-05
7.8490E-09
200000.00
76923.08
0.300000

A1
1/C
1.1700E-05

E = 200 GPa

cse

Page 23 of 25

OUTPUT DATA

SAP2000 v14.0.0
Table:

AB

BC

BD
DE

Table:

11/10/09 23:18:33

Element Forces - Frames, Part 1 of 2

Frame

Station
mm

OutputCase

CaseType

1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4

0.00
450.00
900.00
1350.00
1800.00
0.00
400.00
800.00
1200.00
0.00
300.00
600.00
0.00
750.00
1500.00

DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD

LinStatic
LinStatic
LinStatic
LinStatic
LinStatic
LinStatic
LinStatic
LinStatic
LinStatic
LinStatic
LinStatic
LinStatic
LinStatic
LinStatic
LinStatic

Element Forces - Frames, Part 2 of 2

Frame
Station OutputCase Moment
M3
mm
N-mm
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4

0.00
450.00
900.00
1350.00
1800.00
0.00
400.00
800.00
1200.00
0.00
300.00
600.00
0.00
750.00
1500.00

DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD

0.00
-1620000.00
-3240000.00
-4860000.00
-6480000.00
-2160000.00
-1440000.00
-720000.00
2.328E-10
4320000.00
2160000.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

Axial

P
N

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
-7200.00
-7200.00
-7200.00
-7200.00
5400.00
5400.00
5400.00
9000.00
9000.00
9000.00

Shear

V2
N

V3
N

T
N-mm

M2
N-mm

3600.00
3600.00
3600.00
3600.00
3600.00
-1800.00
-1800.00
-1800.00
-1800.00
7200.00
7200.00
7200.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

FrameElem ElemStation
mm
1-1
1-1
1-1
1-1
1-1
2-1
2-1
2-1
2-1
3-1
3-1
3-1
4-1
4-1
4-1

No Shear in
truss element

0.00
450.00
900.00
1350.00
1800.00
0.00
400.00
800.00
1200.00
0.00
300.00
600.00
0.00
750.00
1500.00

No Moment in truss element

24/25

Table:

Table:

Joint Displacements
Joint

OutputCase

CaseType

1
2
3
4
5

DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD
DEAD

LinStatic
LinStatic
LinStatic
LinStatic
LinStatic

U1
mm

U2
mm

0.072000
0.072000
0.000000
-0.302400
0.000000

0.000000
0.000000
0.000000
0.000000
0.000000

U3
mm

R1
Radians

-10.425600
-0.748800
0.000000
-0.721800
0.000000

0.000000
0.000000
0.000000
0.000000
0.000000

R2
Radians

R3
Radians

-0.007320
-0.001488
-0.000192
-0.000192
0.000000

0.000000
0.000000
0.000000
0.000000
0.000000

Joint Reactions
Joint

3
5

OutputCase

DEAD
DEAD

CaseType

LinStatic
LinStatic

Fx

F1
N

F2
N

-7200.00
7200.00

0.00
0.00

Fz

F3
N

M1
N-mm

-1800.00
5400.00

0.00
0.00

M M2
N-mm

M3
N-mm

0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00

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