STAAD.

PRO V8I
UPDATES IN
SELECTSERIES 3
Jason T. Coleman, P.E.
Senior Technical Writer
Bentley Systems, Incorporated
www.bent ley.com
Sustaining Infrastructure 2

INTRODUCTION
This video is an overview of some of the features
included in the latest version of STAAD.Pro V8i,
which was released this month. V8i SELECTseries 3
is release 20.07.08.
NEW FEATURES
This release comes with dozens of new features and
improvements for analysis, design, and post-
processing.
For the general program operation, this version
includes ISM integration, export to SACS (Bentleys
offshore analysis and design suite), and additional
European and J apanese steel section catalogs.
For modeling operations, this version includes wind
load generation per ASCE 7-10, a load combination
generation tool for Eurocode, a single mass model
load type, and rigid floor diaphragms.
The analysis and design engine is updated to include
new versions of the American Petroleum Institute RP
and Indian Standard 800. Several new
enhancements to the Eurocode 3 design have been
added, including: shear buckling, Singaporean and
Belgian national annexes, slender circular hollow
sections, and user defined sections.
Post processing modules updated in this version
include the design of slabs per Eurocode 2 in the
Reinforced Concrete Design module and a free
license to STAAD.foundation for the design of rigid
foundation elements.
Lets take a closer look at using a few of these
features.
ISM INTEGRATION
STAAD.Pro is now ISM Enabled. Bentleys
Integrated Structural Modeling technology is used for
exchanging structural model data between various
applications as well as controlling any changes made
Sustaining Infrastructure 3

to a central repository of data. STAAD.Pro can
exchange data with an ISM repository using the
included StrucLink utility.
This allows integration with a wide variety of Bentley
programs as well as third-party program such as
Autodesk Revitand TeklaStructures.
Lets take a look an example how to create a
repository from a STAAD model as well as how to
update the STAAD model to reflect any changes
made to the repository.
Ill begin by opening an example model in
STAAD.Pro that ships with the product. From the Fi le
menu, Ill select ISM >Creat e Reposit ory. The
StrucLink utility opens and prompts me to provide a
name for the repository. This facility is used to
construct a physical model from the analytical
STAAD model.
After providing a name for the ISM Repository, you
can manage material and shape databases
associated with the StrucLink utility. Typically, the
default libraries are sufficient. However, if you have
any user shapes or custom catalogs, you will need to
provide additional data.
Once the project is configured, click the start button
to initiate the export. Messages pertaining to the
output progress are displayed in the window below.
Once this process is complete, a pop-up message
confirms a successful creation of the repository. You
can review any export errors and messages in
StrucLink. Once you are finished, you can close the
StrucLink utility.
The repository can be viewed using Structural
Synchronizer on your. Other ISM Enabled programs
can now read and update the same repository. To
view the model on your iPhone or iPad, export the
model to a Mobile ISM Repository, which can be
viewed using Structural Synchronizer View on your
iOS device.


STAAD.Pro V8i
model exported to
ISM repository
Sustaining Infrastructure 4

ASCE 7-10 WIND LOADS
STAAD.Pro can now automatically generate wind
loads per the 2010 edition of ASCE 7 Minimum
Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, in
addition to the previously incorporated 95 and 2000
editions of the same specification.
Lets take a look at how to generate these loads on a
structure.
Ill open an example that ships with the program and
select the General | Load & Definition tab. In the
Load Case Details section, I can see that a wind load
definition and load case has already been added in
the global X direction. Ill add another per the ASCE
7-10 specification in the Z direction. In order to
calculate the wind intensity, Ill need to know the
projection dimensions of my structure, so Ill use the
Node-to-Node Di mensi on tool to display these in
the View window.
Ill first add a new Wind definition entry to the
definitions in my input file. I can select this new
definition and the add intensity and exposure data for
this definition. On the Add New: Wind Definition
dialog box Intensity tab, click the Calculate as per
ASCE-7 to enter to define an intensity curve
parametrically per this speciation. Select the version
of the specification to usein this case ASCE 7-
2010and then specify the general wind parameters
for the site and select the structure type. Click Apply
and then select the Main Building Data tab where Ill
specify information describing my building structure.
Note that this tab varies depending on the structure
type selected, allowing you to define wind intensity
curves for the variety of structures covered in ASCE
7. Select the Building Design Pressure tab and select
the wall on which this wind is applied. The calculated
pressure coefficients are displayed but you can
override any of these values as needed. The
intensity curve and table of values is displayed. Click
OK. This height versus intensity data is now
populated as calculated per ASCE 7-10. Click Add
and then close the dialog box.

Parametrically
define wind loads
per ASCE 7-10
Sustaining Infrastructure 5

Of course, this is just a wind definition and I still need
to specify where and how this is applied to the
structure. Ill add a new load case to my structure
with the type Wind. In this load case, Ill add a wind
load based on the definition I just created. Ill select
to apply this to the Z Windward side of the building
structure. You can click and hold the Loadi ng
Convent ion >> button to display the nomenclature
used. It is important that this match the parameters
specified for the selected definition or your loads will
not be appropriate.
This procedure can be repeated for each direction,
windward and leeward sides.
EUROCODE LOAD COMINTATIONS
Load combinations can always be cumbersome to
generate for even relatively small, simple structures.
Those specified in Eurocode Basis of structural
design can be especially challenging to generate as
this requires that favorable and unfavorable
conditions be accounted.
Lets take a look at how to use the new Eurocode
Load Combination Generator tool to create these
load cases automatically using some simple input.
Ill open an example that ships with the program and
select the General | Load & Definitions tab. In the
Load Case Details section, I can see that one Load
Combination was included but well generate many
more using the utility.
It is important that each load case have a type
defined as this is used by the utility to evaluate the
category of load application (permanent, variable, or
pre-stress). I quickly assign dead load, roof live load,
and wind load types to each of my existing load
cases.
Now, Im going to select the User Tool s > Eurocode
Load Combination Generator. The dialog box
opens. I can specify which of three general
combination equations I want to use. Equation 6.10
is the default but the least favorable of 6.10a or b

Automatically
generate load
combinations per
Eurocode
Sustaining Infrastructure 6

may be used for strength limit state designs. The
load combination generator can be ran multiple times
for the same model, but be sure to change the initial
load case number in this case or if you already have
load cases or combinations with numbers 1,000 or
higher.
Next, I can specify load factors for use in the general
equations. These are explained in detail in the
program help or you can reference the specification.
For the psi factor, we have included a list of common
values you can select.
The Categories button opens a dialog box used to
specify the load category for each load type available
in STAAD. Some of the typical ones are specified by
default and you can specify any load type as needed.
Since STAAD.Pro does not have a load type for pre-
stress, we recommend just using an un-used load
type such as Imperfection for these loads if your
structure has them.
Once all of the load types in you model are assigned
categories and you have specified all the load
factors, click Generate Combinations to create the
load combinations in your STAAD file. A message
indicates how many combinations were generated. If
you dont need to generate any more combinations
for other equations, then click Cancel to return to
your model.
If the Load & Definition dialog doesnt update
automatically, simply close and re-open the dialog to
refresh. Each load combination is clearly labeled for
by the specification and equation selected.
SUMMARY
This has been a short overview of just a few of the
new features included in STAAD.Pro V8i
(SELECTseries 3). Please refer to the release notes
included with the product or the Whats New section
of the help file for more in-depth information on using
these and all the powerful features included in
STAAD.Pro.
Sustaining Infrastructure 7

If you would like to learn more about STAAD.Pros
features, sign up for training, or connect with other
engineers, please visit Bentley.com. Thanks for
watching.
Special thanks to Product Manager, Carlos Aguera
for his assistance in preparing this screencast.