Tekla Structure Analysis - Tutorial

Tekla Structures
Analysis Manual
Product version 14.0

April 2008
2008 Tekla Corporation
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This Software Manual has been developed for use with the referenced Software. Use of the Software, and use of this
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Contents
Preface ...............................................................................................................7
Audience ............................................................................................................................................................. 7
Additional help resources .................................................................................................................................... 7
Conventions used in this guide ........................................................................................................................... 8
Related guides .................................................................................................................................................... 9
Getting Started with Analysis................................................................. 11

1.1
Basics ................................................................................................................................................... 11
Following through structural analysis ............................................................................................... 13
Members, elements, and nodes....................................................................................................... 13
1.2
Determining member properties ........................................................................................................... 14

Member analysis type ......................................................................................................................
Member axis location .......................................................................................................................
Analysis member offsets ..................................................................................................................
Analysis properties of plates ............................................................................................................
Spanning ...................................................................................................................................
Loading ......................................................................................................................................
Analysis offsets of plates ...........................................................................................................
Analysis properties of components ..................................................................................................
Analysis properties of slab components...........................................................................................
Analyzing composite beams ............................................................................................................
Viewing analysis results ............................................................................................................
Manual method - limitations ......................................................................................................
Support conditions ...........................................................................................................................
Defining support conditions..............................................................................................................
Design information ...........................................................................................................................
Properties of intermediate members ................................................................................................
Defining buckling lengths (columns) ................................................................................................
Effective buckling length ............................................................................................................
Kmode options ..........................................................................................................................
1.3
15
17
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
24
25
25
25
27
28
28
28
29
Fine-tuning analysis models ................................................................................................................. 30

Adding intermediate nodes .............................................................................................................. 33
Using rigid links ................................................................................................................................ 34
1.4
Analysis information and settings ......................................................................................................... 36
TEKLA STRUCTURES 14.0
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A closer look at the analysis model ..................................................................................................

Objects .......................................................................................................................................
Nodes connecting members and elements ...............................................................................
Loads in analysis..............................................................................................................................
Load modeling code .........................................................................................................................
Analysis method ...............................................................................................................................
36
36
36
37
38
39
Loads........................................................................................................ 41
2.1
Basics.................................................................................................................................................... 41
Automatic loads and load groups ..................................................................................................... 42
2.2
Grouping loads...................................................................................................................................... 42
Load group properties ......................................................................................................................
Load group compatibility ..................................................................................................................
Working with load groups .................................................................................................................
Checking loads and load groups ...............................................................................................
Changing the load group ...........................................................................................................
Importing and exporting load groups .........................................................................................
2.3
Load types and properties..................................................................................................................... 45

Load types........................................................................................................................................
Load forms .......................................................................................................................................
Load magnitude................................................................................................................................
Temperature loads and strain ..........................................................................................................
2.4
45
47
47
48
Distributing loads................................................................................................................................... 48
Attaching loads to parts or locations ................................................................................................
Applying loads to parts .....................................................................................................................
Loaded length or area ......................................................................................................................
Modifying load distribution................................................................................................................
2.5
42
43
44
44
44
45
48
49
50
50
Working with loads................................................................................................................................ 52

Changing loaded length or area ....................................................................................................... 52
Scaling loads in model views ........................................................................................................... 53
Defining varying wind loads.............................................................................................................. 53
2.6
Load reference...................................................................................................................................... 54
Analysis and Design ............................................................................... 57

3.1
Analysis model geometry...................................................................................................................... 57

Creating rules to define analysis model geometry ...........................................................................
Modifying analysis model geometry .................................................................................................
Connecting or disconnecting parts in analysis .................................................................................
Defining analysis connections of parts .............................................................................................
Analysis part properties....................................................................................................................
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58
59
60
60
61
3.2
Analysis model properties..................................................................................................................... 64

Objects in an analysis model ...........................................................................................................
Analysis model filter ..................................................................................................................
Member axis.....................................................................................................................................
Member end connectivity .................................................................................................................
Defining nodes .................................................................................................................................
Model merging with analysis applications ........................................................................................
Analysis method...............................................................................................................................
Seismic analysis...............................................................................................................................
Modal analysis .................................................................................................................................
Design codes and methods..............................................................................................................
Design properties ......................................................................................................................
Contents of STAAD.Pro results files and reports .............................................................................
3.3
Load combination ................................................................................................................................. 72

Load combination properties............................................................................................................
Load combination factors .................................................................................................................
Load combination types ...................................................................................................................
Creating load combinations..............................................................................................................
Automatic load combination .............................................................................................................
Automatically including loads in combinations .................................................................................
Manual load combination .................................................................................................................
3.4
78
78
78
81
81
82
Analysis and design reference.............................................................................................................. 82
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72
73
73
75
75
76
77
Working with analysis and design models ............................................................................................ 77

Checking objects contained in an analysis model............................................................................
Adding or removing analysis objects................................................................................................
Showing analysis models and support conditions in model views ...................................................
Analysis model status ......................................................................................................................
Running analysis..............................................................................................................................
Viewing analysis results ...................................................................................................................
3.5
65
66
66
67
67
68
69
69
70
71
71
71
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Preface
Tekla Structures includes complete documentation in an accessible help system. Our online help
is a detailed guide to Tekla Structures concepts, tools, commands, and features, with plenty of
examples. The documentation is also available in PDF format.
Topics in the Preface are:
Audience (p. 7)
Conventions used in this guide (p. 8)
Related guides (p. 9)
Additional help resources (p. 7)
Audience
This guide is aimed at structural engineers, detailers and designers who model, analyze, and
design concrete and steel structures.
We assume that you are familiar with the processes of structural engineering.
Additional help resources

The following resources also provide information about Tekla Structures:
Web site
http://www.tekla.com
E-mail
Contact your local helpdesk via e-mail:
Area office
E-mail address
China
TeklaStructures.Support.CHI@Tekla.com
Finland
TeklaStructures.Support.FI@Tekla.com
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Area office
E-mail address
France
TeklaStructures.Support.FR@Tekla.com
Germany
TeklaStructures.Support.GER@Tekla.com
Japan
TeklaStructures.Support.JPN@Tekla.com
Malaysia
TeklaStructures.Support.MY@Tekla.com
Middle East
TeklaStructures.Support.ME@Tekla.com
Sweden
TeklaStructures.Support.SWE@Tekla.com
UK
TeklaStructures.Support.UK@Tekla.com
US
TeklaStructures.Support.US@Tekla.com
If you believe you have discovered a problem with this software, please report it to your Tekla
Structures Reseller using the maintenance request form provided at Help > Tekla on the
Web > Maintenance request....
Please send any comments or suggestions about Tekla Structures documentation to
BetC_Documentation@tekla.com.
Tekla Extranet
Anyone with a current maintenance contract can use Tekla Extranet. Register now to get free
access to our online discussion forums, hints & tips, software downloads, tutorials, and more.
To register, go to https://extranet.tekla.com. You can also access Tekla Extranet from Tekla
Structures by clicking Help > Online Support > Tekla Extranet.
Conventions used in this guide

Typefaces
We use different typefaces for different items in this guide. In most cases the meaning is obvious
from the context. If you are not sure what a certain typeface represents, you can check it here.
Convention
Usage
Bold
Bold indicates the names of keyboard keys.

Bold is also used for general emphasis in text.
Arial bold
Any text that you see in the user interface appears in Arial bold. Items
such as window and dialog box titles, field and button names, combo
box options, and list box items are displayed in this typeface.
Italic bold
New terms are in italic bold when they appear in the current context
for the first time.
Monospace
Extracts of Tekla Structuress program code, HTML, or other material that you would normally edit in a text editor, appears in monospaced font.
Filenames and folder paths appear in monospace.
Also all the text you enter yourself appears in monospaced font.
Noteboxes
We use several types of noteboxes, marked by different icons. Their functions are shown below:
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A tip might introduce a shortcut, or suggest alternative ways of doing

things. A tip never contains information that is absolutely necessary.
A note draws attention to details that you might easily overlook. It can
also point you to other information in this guide that you might find
useful.
You should always read very important notes and warnings, like this
one. They will help you avoid making serious mistakes, or wasting your
time.
This symbol indicates advanced or highly technical information that is

usually of interest only to advanced or technically-oriented readers. You
are never required to understand this kind of information.
Related guides
Tekla Structures includes a comprehensive help system in a series of online books. You will also
receive a printed installation guide with your Tekla Structures installation DVD.
Modeling Manual
How to create a physical model.
Analysis Manual
How to create loads and run structural analysis.
Detailing Manual
How to create reinforcement, connections, and details.
Drawing Manual
How to create and edit drawings.
System Manual
Covers advanced features and how to maintain the Tekla Structures environment.
TplEd Users Guide

How to create and edit report and drawing templates.
SymEd Users Guide

How to use the SymEd graphical interface to manipulate symbols.
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Installation Troubleshooting Guide

Printed booklet explaining how to install Tekla Structures.
10
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Getting Started with

Analysis
Introduction
This chapter explains how to prepare a Tekla Structures model for structural analysis and design.
It includes a general description of the principles of analysis and design and discusses the
theoretical basis of the analysis method used in Tekla Structures. This chapter also explains what
is included in the analysis model, and how it is included. You will also learn how to define
support conditions for parts.
Audience
This chapter is for engineers and designers who run structural analysis on concrete and steel
structures.
Assumed
background
We assume that you have read Parts in the Modeling Manual and created parts.
Contents
This chapter is divided into the following sections:
Basics (p. 11)
Analysis information and settings (p. 36)
Determining member properties (p. 14)
1.1 Basics
In this section
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This section presents the basic vocabulary and concepts we use to describe structural analysis in
Tekla Structures. The illustrations below show the analysis concepts and procedures.

Getting Started with Analysis
11
Parts
Loads
Physical and load models
Node
Loads
Analysis member
Analysis model
Physical model
A physical model includes the parts you have created using the Model Editor, and information
related to them. Each part in the physical model exists in the completed structure.
Load model
The load model contains information about loads and load groups. It also contains information
about the building code Tekla Structures uses in load combination. To create a load model, see
Loads (p. 41).
Analysis model
Tekla Structures generates an analysis model of the physical and load models when you run
structural analysis. Tekla Structures does the following in order to generate the analysis model:
Creates nodes and analysis members and elements of the physical parts
Determines the connectivity between the members and nodes
Distributes loads to members and elements
Determines the support conditions for nodes
The analysis model also includes load combinations.

Analysis
application
Tekla Structures links with a number of analysis applications and also supports import and
export with them in several formats. The analysis application you use to run structural analysis
uses data from the analysis model to generate analysis results.
For more information on the analysis applications that you can use with Tekla Structures, visit
Tekla Extranet at https://extranet.tekla.com. You can also access Tekla Extranet from Tekla
Structures at Help > Online Support > Tekla Extranet.
12

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Tekla Structures analyzes parts using properties in the profile and material catalogs, including user-defined properties. If there are no profile or
analysis properties in the catalog, Tekla Structures calculates them using
the profile dimensions in the model.
Following through structural analysis

Before analysis
Carry out the following steps before you run structural analysis in Tekla Structures:
1.
Create the main load-bearing parts to form the physical model. See Parts in the Modeling
Manual. There is no need to detail or create connections at this stage.
To create accurate analysis models, make sure that connected parts have
common reference points, for example, at grid line intersections.
2.
Set the support conditions for parts and connections, as well as other analysis properties for
individual members. See Determining member properties (p. 14).
3.
Create the load model. See Loads (p. 41).
4.
Define the analysis geometry settings and modify the geometry if needed. See Analysis
model geometry (p. 57) and Modifying analysis model geometry (p. 59).
5.
Create a new analysis model and define its properties. See Analysis model properties (p.
64).
6.
Create load combinations.
7.
Check the analysis model in a Tekla Structures model view. See Showing analysis models
and support conditions in model views (p. 78) and Checking objects contained in an
analysis model (p. 78).
8.
Check the analysis parts and modify their properties if needed. See Analysis part
properties (p. 61).
Now you are ready to run the analysis.

See also
The following sections discuss the theoretical basis of the analysis method used in Tekla
Structures. They also explain what is included in the analysis model, and how it is included.
Members, elements, and nodes (p. 13)
Loads in analysis (p. 37)
Load modeling code (p. 38)
Analysis method (p. 39)
A closer look at the analysis model (p. 36)
Members, elements, and nodes

Members
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Every physical part (beam or column) that you select to include in the analysis model produces
one or more analysis members. A single physical part produces several members if the part
intersects with other parts. Tekla Structures splits the part at the intersection points of the
member axes.

13
Elements
Tekla Structures splits the plates, slabs, and panels that you include in the analysis model into
analysis elements, based on their analysis properties and the parts connected to them.
Nodes
Nodes connect analysis members and elements. Tekla Structures creates nodes at:
The ends of members
The corners of elements
The intersection points of member axes
The following properties affect the exact location of nodes:
Part profiles, i.e. neutral axis and orientation
Location of member axes (see Member axis location (p. 17) and Member axis (p. 66)
Location and shape of elements (see Analysis properties of plates (p. 18))
Node definition method (p. 67)
Part reference lines (see Part location in the Modeling Manual)
To force members to meet in the analysis model, Tekla Structures may need to merge nodes,
shift or extend member axes, create rigid links between nodes, ignore minor members, etc.
The methods used to create a physical model affect the analysis model.
Because of this, you may need to try different modeling methods and
analysis model properties in order to create an accurate analysis model of
a complex physical model.
For more information on where and how Tekla Structures creates nodes, members, and
elements, see A closer look at the analysis model (p. 36).
1.2 Determining member properties

You can define analysis properties for individual parts, or for an entire analysis model. This
section describes the properties of the individual analysis members. To define these, use the
Analysis, Loading, Composite, Start releases, End releases, and Design tabs in the part
properties dialog boxes, or the Analysis tab in the connection and detail dialog boxes.
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Some analysis properties of parts are user-defined attributes. For more

information, see Fine-tuning analysis models (p. 30).
For more information on using common properties for the parts in an analysis model, see
Analysis model properties (p. 64).
Member analysis type

Use the Analysis tab in the part properties dialog boxes to define how Tekla Structures handles
individual members in the analysis. The following table lists the options.
You can have Tekla Structures show the member analysis type of parts using different colors in
the physical model. The Color column lists these colors.
Option
Description
Color
Default
Member can take any type of load.
Light gray
Columns, beams, and braces are

modeled as beam members. Slabs and
panels are modeled as shell elements.
Temperature load is available only for
beam members.
Beam
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Member can take any load, including

temperature.
Dark red

15
Option
Description
Color
Shell
Member can take any load, except

temperature. Use to analyze slabs,
panels, and plates.
Magenta
Ignore
Member ignored in the analysis.
Red
Truss
Member can only take axial forces, not

bending or torsion moments, or shear
forces. Usually used for brace members.
Green
Truss - Tension
only
Member can only take tensile axial

forces, not moments or shear forces. If
this member goes into compression, it is
ignored in the analysis.
Cyan
Truss - Compression only
Member can only take compressive

axial forces, not moments or shear
forces. If this member goes into tension,
it is ignored in the analysis.
Yellow
Rigid diaphragm
Only applies to contour plates and

concrete slabs parallel to the global xy
plane.
Blue
Nodes that belong to a part matching the

filter will be connected with rigid links
which together affect displacement. For
example, you can use column_filter to
connect only column nodes to rigid
diaphragms.
For rectangular concrete panels and
concrete slabs using design codes ACI
and BS 8110 only.
Shear wall
Gray
Tekla Structures analyzes the concrete

panel or slab as a shear wall that does
not take any direct loads.
Plate
Membrane
Mat foundation
Same as Shell but plate, membrane, or

mat foundation elements are used in the
analysis application.
Aqua
Lime
Pink
The analysis application that you use may not support all options.
For more information on members with the Truss, Tension only, or Compression only setting,
see A closer look at the analysis model (p. 36).
To have Tekla Structures indicate the member analysis type of parts in an object group using
colors:
16
1.
2.
Click View > Representation > Object Representation....

Select the object group.
3.
In the Color column, select Color by analysis type.
4.
Click Modify.

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For more information on object representation and object groups, see Object representation
settings and Object groups in the Modeling Manual.
Member axis location

The locations of the member axes of parts define where the analysis members actually meet, and
their length in the analysis model. They also affect where Tekla Structures creates nodes. See
Members, elements, and nodes (p. 13) and A closer look at the analysis model (p. 36).
Use the Analysis tab in the part properties dialog boxes to define the member axis location of
individual parts for analysis purposes. The options are:
Option
Description
Neutral axis
The neutral axis is the member axis for this part.

The location of the member axis changes if the
profile of the part changes.
Reference axis
The part reference line is the member axis for this

part. See also Part location in the Modeling
Manual.
Reference axis
(eccentricity by
neutral axis)
The part reference line is the member axis for this

part. The location of the neutral axis defines axis
eccentricity.
Tekla Structures uses the options above for each part when you select the Model default option
for the member axis location in the analysis model properties. See Member axis (p. 66).
If you select the Neutral axis option, Tekla Structures takes the part location and end offsets into account when it creates nodes. See End offsets
in the Modeling Manual. If you select either of the Reference axis
options, Tekla Structures creates nodes at part reference points.
Analysis member offsets

Use offsets at the ends of analysis members to shorten or lengthen members in their local x
directions, for analysis purposes and to take the eccentricity effects into account.
For example, if a beam only actually spans the clear distance between two supporting columns,
you can use offsets to only include the clear distance in the analysis, instead of the distance
between the center points of the columns.
Another example is an eccentric connection between a precast concrete column and beam. To
take the eccentricity of the load from the beam into account, use the analysis offsets of the beam.
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17
Use the Analysis tab in the part properties or connection dialog boxes to define the offset at each
end of a member. The options are:
Option
Description
Manual
Works like end offsets for parts in the physical

model. Enter a positive or negative value in the Dx
field. See also End offsets in the Modeling Manual.
Automatic Dx
The offset is the distance between the intersection of

the parts neutral axes and the intersection of the
edges of the parts.
Longitudinal
member offset
Only applies to connection members and details.

Works like the Manual option and a value in the Dx
field for parts.
Analysis properties of plates

When creating an analysis model, Tekla Structures creates analysis elements for contour plates,
concrete slabs, and concrete panels.
Use the Analysis, Spanning, and Loading tabs in the appropriate part properties dialog boxes
to define how Tekla Structures creates analysis elements.
The analysis properties of plates are:
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Property
Description
Type
See Member analysis type (p. 15). Set to Shell to

create elements in the analysis model.
Plane
The plane of the plate on which Tekla Structures

creates the elements. The options are:
Top plane
Bottom plane
Left plane
Right plane
Middle plane (of left/right)
Middle plane
The reference points of connected parts must also be

in this plane.
Element size
The approximate dimensions of the elements, in the

local x and y directions of the plate. For triangular
elements, the approximate dimensions of the
bounding box around each element.
Holes
The approximate dimensions of the elements

around openings.
Some analysis properties of parts are user-defined attributes. For more

information, see Fine-tuning analysis models (p. 30).
Spanning
Use the plate spanning properties to define which parts carry loads from plates in slab-to-beam
connections and wall-to-column connections:
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Property
Description
Spanning
The options are:

Single spanning plates carry loads in the direction
of the primary axis. Beams or columns parallel to

the spanning direction are not connected to the
plate, and will not carry the load from plate.
Double spanning plates carry loads along the
primary and secondary axes. Beams or columns in

both directions will carry the load from plate.
Primary axis direction
Show direction on
selected members
Define the direction of the primary axis in one of the

following ways:
Enter 1 in the axis field which is parallel to the

primary axis direction.
Click Parallel to part, and then select the beam

in the model that is parallel to the direction.
Click Perpendicular to part, and then select

the beam in the model that is perpendicular to
the direction.
A red line indicates the primary spanning direction

of the plate carrying the load.
The spanning settings of the plate determine the spanning of the load. The spanning setting of
the load does not affect a load applied to a plate (see also Modifying load distribution (p. 50)).
Loading
The loading properties allow you to include concrete slabs as loads in the analysis model. The
loading properties are:
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Property
Description
Generate self weight

load
The analysis model includes the part weight, for

example a deck, as a load even if the part is not
otherwise included in the analysis model.
If the part is included in the analysis model, so is its
self-weight. The option No works only with the
analysis types Ignore and Rigid diaphragm.
List boxes for additional loads
Enter slab live load or additional self-weight

(screed, services) using three additional loads with
load group name and magnitude. The directions of
these loads follow the direction of the load group to
which they belong.
Part names
Use this filter to ensure that area load from a slab is

transferred to the correct parts, for example, beams
supporting the slab. Typically you would enter the
beam name as the filter value.
Use continuous
structure load distribution
Use to assign most of the load to the middle

supports on continuous structures.
Analysis offsets of plates

You can define analysis offsets for individual corners of contour plates, concrete slabs, and
concrete panels in the global x, y, and z directions. Use the Analysis offsets tab in the parts
user-defined attributes dialog box. It includes Node offset fields for 12 corners.
To define analysis offsets for a plate:

1.
2.
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Run the analysis, or create an analysis model.

Click Tools > Inquire > Object and select the plate in the model to query its corner points.

21
The Inquire Object dialog box opens, listing the corner indices and coordinates:
3.
Double-click the plate in the model to open its properties dialog box.
4.
On the Attributes tab, click the User-defined attributes... button to open the attributes
dialog box.
5.
On the Analysis offsets tab, enter the x, y, and z offsets of each corner in the appropriate
field, according to the index of the corner. Use the current length units and separate the x,
y, and z values with spaces.
6.
Click Modify.
You can also modify analysis model geometry by moving analysis part
handles. See Modifying analysis model geometry (p. 59).
Analysis properties of components

Use the Analysis tab in the connection or detail dialog boxes to define how Tekla Structures
handles connections and details in the analysis.
The analysis properties of connections and details are:
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Property
Description
Use analysis
restraints
Set to Yes to use the analysis properties of the

connection or detail in the analysis, instead of the
analysis properties of the parts in the connection.
You must also select Yes in the Member end
release method by connection list box in the
Analysis Model Properties dialog box when you
create the analysis model. See Member end
connectivity (p. 67).
Member selection
Use to associate the analysis properties with each

connection part (Primary, 1. secondary, 2.
secondary, etc.).
Restraint combination
See Support conditions (p. 25) and Defining

support conditions (p. 25).
Support condition
Longitudinal
member offset
See Analysis member offsets (p. 17).
Analysis profile
Tekla Structures uses this profile in the analysis,

instead of the one in the physical model, in order to
take the stiffness of the connection or detail into
account.
Analysis profile
length
This means that in the analysis, Tekla Structures

overrides the profile of the part in the physical
model, for this length.
Analysis properties of slab components

Use the Analysis tab in the Slab generation with polygon plate (61) and Slab generation with
points (62) dialog boxes to define the analysis properties of parts created using these
components.
The following table lists the analysis properties of slab components. The option you select in the
Analysis type list box limits the other properties you can define (see the Only use for column).
Property
Description
Analysis type
How Tekla Structures analyzes the slabs.
Ignore: Slabs are not analyzed.
Plate: Analyze each slab as a plate.
Only use
for
Beam: Analyze each slab as a beam.
Rigid diaphragm: Analyze slabs as a
rigid diaphragm.
See also Member analysis type (p. 15).
Beam axis
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The location of the beam axis. See also

Member axis location (p. 17).
Beam

23
Only use
for
Property
Description
Restraints
The support conditions of beam ends. The

options are Pinned and Fixed.
Beam
Plate plane
The plane on which to create the elements

and nodes. If you select Top plane, Tekla
Structures creates the elements on the top
surface of the slab.
Plate
Element type
The shape of the elements.
Plate
Element size
x and y: The approximate dimensions of the

elements, in the local x and y direction of the
slab. For triangular elements, the approximate dimensions of the bounding box
around each element.
Plate
Holes: The approximate size of the elements
around openings.
Nodes that belong to a part matching the
filter will be connected to the rigid
diaphragm. For example, you can use
column_filter to connect only column nodes
to rigid diaphragms.
Filter
Rigid
diaphragm
Analyzing composite beams

Composite beams consist of a beam and studs, with a concrete slab on top of the beam. You can
define the analysis properties of the slabs in composite beams, and define the width of the slab
manually or automatically.
To define the properties of the concrete slab in a composite beam:
1.
2.
Open the Beam Properties dialog box and go to the Composite tab.
Select the Composite beam option in the Composite beam list box.
3.
Select a Material and enter the Thickness of the slab.
4.
To define the effective slab width:
Manual method: Select the To the left from the beam and/or To the right of the
beam radio button and enter a value in the field next to these buttons. See also Manual
method - limitations (p. 25).
Automatic method: For the left and right side, select the Automatic, half of span
length divided by radio button and enter a value in the field next to these buttons.
When you run the analysis, Tekla Structures calculates the effective slab width by
dividing the span length of the beam by the value you enter.
Viewing analysis results

To view the analysis results for composite beams, right-click the beam and select Inquire on the
pop-up menu. The analysis results include:
24
Element and node IDs
Slab thickness
Slab material
Effective width

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Concrete strength
Rib width and height
Stud diameter and length
Manual method - limitations
Effective width cannot exceed the distance to the nearest beam.
If there is no beam on either side of the composite beam, the slab width is zero. Use the
Automatic composite beam option to have Tekla Structures calculate the slab width.
Effective width cannot be more than half the distance to the nearest composite beam.
Support conditions
In structural analysis, the stresses and deflections of a part depend on how it is supported by, or
connected to, other parts. You normally use restraints or springs to model connections. These
determine how analysis members move, deflect, warp, deform, etc., in relation to each other, or
to nodes.
Member ends and nodes have degrees of freedom (DOF) in three directions. The displacement
of a member end can be free or fixed, and the rotation can be pinned or fixed. If the degree of
connectivity is between free, or pinned, and fixed, use springs with different elastic constants to
model them.
Tekla Structures uses part, connection, or detail properties to determine how to connect
members in the analysis model. To define the member end conditions, use the Start releases
and End releases tabs in the part properties dialog boxes. The connection and detail dialog
boxes have Analysis tabs.
The analysis properties of a member determine the degrees of freedom for each end of a main
part or member. The first end of a part has a yellow handle, the second end has a magenta handle.
See also Part location in the Modeling Manual.
Defining support conditions

Parts
Use the Start releases and End releases tabs in the part properties dialog boxes to define
support conditions. The Start releases tab relates to the first part end (yellow handle), the End
releases tab to the second part end (magenta handle).
Plates
To define the support conditions of contour plates, concrete slabs, and concrete panels, use the
Supported list box in the Analysis Part Properties dialog box.
Connections and
details
Use the Analysis tab in the connection or detail dialog boxes to define the support conditions
for the members and node in a connection. Use the Member selection list box to associate the
support conditions with each connection part (Primary, 1. secondary, 2. secondary, etc.).
Support
conditions
Tekla Structures includes four predefined combinations for member ends, and an option for
user-defined settings. The predefined combinations (the first four in the following table)
automatically set the appropriate support conditions and degrees of freedom. The combinations
are:
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25
Combinatio
n
Support
condition
Translational
DOFs
Rotational
DOFs
Supported
Fixed
Fixed
Supported
Fixed
Pinned
Connected
Fixed
Fixed
Connected
Fixed
Pinned
Use this option to define your own settings for the supports
and connections at member ends. You can use springs and
almost any combination of degrees of freedom.
To ensure that the part remains stable, and that all loads applied to it pass
through to the other structures, avoid using combinations with too many
degrees of freedom.
The support conditions of a member end can be:
Option
Description
Connected
Member end is connected

to an intermediate analysis
node (another part).
Indicate degrees of
freedom for the node.
Member end is the ultimate support for a superstructure (for example, the
foot of a column in a
frame).
Supported
Indicate degrees of
freedom for the support.
Displacements
and rotations
26
U denotes translational degrees of freedom (displacement). R denotes rotational degrees of

freedom (rotation). Define the degrees of freedom in the global coordinate system. The options
are:
Option
More information
Free
Only applies to translational degrees of freedom.
Pinned
Only applies to rotational degrees of freedom.

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Option
More information
Fixed
Spring
Enter translational and rotational spring constants.

The units Tekla Structures uses depend on the
programs unit settings. See Units and decimals in
the Modeling Manual.
Partial release
Only applies to rotational degrees of freedom.

Use to specify the degree of connectivity, if it is
between fixed and pinned. Enter a value between 0
(fixed) and 1 (pinned).
Design information
Use the Design tab in the part properties dialog boxes to view and modify the design properties
of individual parts in an analysis model. Design properties are properties which can vary,
according to the design code and the material of the main part (for example, design settings,
factors, and limits).
The properties you see when you first open the dialog box are the properties that apply to the
entire analysis model you have selected in the Analysis & Design Models dialog box. See also
Design codes and methods (p. 71).
To set different design properties for specific parts, modify the values in the appropriate part
properties dialog box.
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27
For example, if the analysis model contains parts with different material grades, define the most
common material grade using the analysis model properties. Then change the material grade of
specific parts using the appropriate part properties dialog box.
To omit individual members from the design check when you run the analysis, set the following
properties to No:
Steel parts: Check design - Enable design check of member

Concrete parts: Calculate required area - Enable design check of member
Properties of intermediate members

When creating an analysis model, Tekla Structures may need to produce more than one analysis
member for each physical part. This can result in intermediate members and member ends.
Tekla Structures determines the analysis properties of intermediate members as follows:
1.
The member analysis type and member axis location of the analysis members are the same
as of the original part.
The analysis offsets of the part ends apply to the corresponding analysis member ends.
Intermediate member ends do not have analysis offsets.
2.
3.
The support conditions of all intermediate member ends are Connected. The translational
and rotational degrees of freedom are all Fixed. This reflects the nature of the physical part,
which is a continuous length.
4.
The effective buckling length of each analysis member is K*L. K is the length factor for
buckling. L is length, a value described by the Kmode design property. For more
information, see Defining buckling lengths (columns) (p. 28).
5.
The other design properties are the same for the analysis members as for the original part.
Defining buckling lengths (columns)

Tekla Structures allows you to define buckling lengths for column segments, which represent
the building levels. Tekla Structures automatically divides columns into segments at the point
where a support in the buckling direction exists, or where the column profile changes.
Effective buckling length

Effective buckling length is K*L, where K is the length factor and L is the buckling length. To
calculate a parts effective buckling length:
1.
2.
Open the part properties dialog box and go to the Design tab.
Select an option for Kmode. For more information about the available options, see Kmode
options (p. 29).
3.
Enter one or more values in the K - Length factor for buckling field. The number of values
you can enter depends on the option you selected in the Kmode field. For multiple values:
4.
28
Enter a value for each column segment starting with the lowest segment, and
You can also use multiplication to repeat factors, for example, 3*2.00.
Use spaces to separate multiple values:
Go to the L - Buckling length field:

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5.
To automatically calculate length values, leave the fields blank.

To override one or more length values, enter values in the relevant buckling length
fields. The number of values you need to enter depends on the option you selected in
the Kmode field. You can use multiplication to repeat buckling lengths, for example,
3*4000.
Create the analysis model and use the Tools > Inquire > Object command on a part. The
Inquire Object dialog box opens and displays the member number and the effective
buckling length for each segment:
Kmode options
Use the Kmode options to define how Tekla Structures calculates buckling lengths. The options
are:
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Option
Description
Physical member
L is the length of the column.
Column segment
L is the length of one column segment.
Column segment,
multiple values
L is the length of one column segment with

user-defined factors and lengths for each
column segment.
Analytical member
L is the length of the member in the analysis

model.
Analytical member,
multiple values
L is the length of the member in the analysis

model with user-defined factors and lengths for
each member.

29
1.3 Fine-tuning analysis models

Several properties and user-defined attributes enable you to control how Tekla Structures creates
analysis models.
Use the analysis model geometry settings and analysis properties of parts
to define how Tekla Structures creates analysis models. See Analysis
model geometry (p. 57) and Analysis part properties (p. 61).
To modify the user-defined attributes, open the part properties dialog box and click the Userdefined attributes... button to open the attributes dialog box.
You can also modify several properties on the Analysis and Analysis (2) tabs of the attributes
dialog box:
30

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Attribute
Description
Node offsets
Moves the part in the analysis

model when members do not
meet and are not connected.
Consider longitudinal model offsets
Controls the member longitudinal offsets.
Options/Values
Auto (default) uses the Dx end

offset if it extends the beam, or if
it shortens the beam and there is
a node near the shortened position.
None
Extending only uses the Dx end
offset when it extends the beam,
and ignores it when it shortens
the beam.
Always
No. of split nodes
Use to create additional nodes or

analyze a beam as straight
segments, for example, a curved
beam.
Enter the number of nodes.
See also Adding intermediate

nodes (p. 33).
Split distances
To define additional nodes in the

member, enter distances from the
part starting point to the node.
Enter distances, separated by

spaces, for example:
1000 1500 3000
See also Adding intermediate

nodes (p. 33).
Curved beam by
straight segments
Use to analyze a curved beam as

straight segments.
Yes
Node merge
distance
Merges nodes within the distance

specified into a single node.
Distance
No
For example, use this to force

truss-type analysis members to
meet in the analysis model.
The Keep axis attribute overrides this attribute.
Design group (optimization)
Defines which design group the

part belongs to. Used in optimization.
Member level (z)
Sets the same z coordinate for all

nodes.
Enter a value for the z coordinate.
Profile
Analysis part profile.
Select a profile from the profile

catalog.
You can use different analysis

profiles at the start and end of
parts if the analysis application
you use supports it.
To use different profiles at part

ends, enter two profiles separated
by a pipe character, for example:
HEA120|HEA140
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31
Attribute
Description
Options/Values
Connect to (part
IDs)
Forces or disables connections

between the analysis members
you specify.
To enable connections, enter the

part IDs, separated by spaces.
Works with the Connect exclusively attribute.

Connect exclusively
Select Yes to connect the part

only to the parts defined by the
Connect to (part IDs) attribute.
Keep axis
Select Yes to fix the location of

member axis so that Tekla Structures does not shift the axis when
it makes members meet in the
analysis model.
To prevent connection, enter

negative part IDs, separated by
spaces.
For example, use this with the

Node merge distance attribute
to force truss-type members to

meet in the analysis model.
Overrides the Node merge
distance attribute.
Rigid link
Enables or disables rigid links at

the start, mid, and end points of
parts.
Use with the Force to centric
connection option in the Analysis Model Properties dialog
box to specify which parts to use
rigid links.
See also Using rigid links (p.
34).
For each point:

0 = disable
1 = enable
For example:
0 = no rigid links
111 = rigid links at start,

mid, and end point
001 = rigid link at end point
100 = rigid link at start point
Pinned rigid link (to

part names)
Connects the part using pinned

rigid links to the parts you
specify.
Thickness
Analysis plate thickness.
Minimum hole size

(to consider)
Use to ignore small openings in

plates in the analysis.
Enter the size of the bounding

box around the opening.
Short cantilever
limit (to remove)
Use to ignore short plate cantilevers in the analysis.
Enter a cantilever length.
Mesh point IDs (add/

remove)
Use to exclude nodes from or

include nodes in plate element
meshes.
To include nodes, enter the point

IDs, separated by spaces.
Only nodes created because of

connected members or loads can
be excluded.
Enter the part names, separated

by spaces, commas, or semicolons. You can also use wildcards
(see Using wildcards in the
Modeling Manual).
To exclude nodes, enter negative

point IDs.
For example:
1203 -1205 -1206
32

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Attribute
Description
Simple plate
Select Yes to create a simpler

analysis model of plates, where
cuts and openings are not considered.
Trim plate connections
Select No to connect plates using

rigid links, without moving
nodes.
Options/Values
Select Yes to connect plates by

moving plate nodes, instead of
using rigid links.
Supported
Use to define supports for plates

and beams.
Simply: only translations are
You can create supports for the

bottom edge of a wall, for all
edge nodes of a slab, or for all
nodes of a beam. For walls the
bottom edge can be inclined.
Fully: both translations and rota-
fixed
tions are fixed
Some attributes are only available if you select the Extended clash
check checkbox in the Analysis Model Properties dialog box. They are:
Rigid link
Connect to (part IDs)
Connect exclusively
Keep axis
Node merge distance
For more information on the Extended clash check, see Creating

common nodes (p. 37).
See also
To find out how to create user-defined attributes, see Adding properties in the System Manual.
Adding intermediate nodes

Sometimes intermediate nodes are needed along a member, for example in frequency analysis.
To create additional nodes, use the following user-defined attributes on the Analysis tab of the
part properties dialog box:
No. of split nodes
Enter the number of nodes. Tekla Structures gives equal spacing to added nodes.
Split distances
Enter the distance values from the part starting point. Tekla Structures adds nodes using
these distances:
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33
Using rigid links

You can enable or disable rigid links using the Node definition method (p. 67) in the entire
analysis model. You can override this setting in specific places:
If Node definition is Force to centric connection, rigid links are generally not used, but
it is possible to force rigid links in specific places.
If Node definition is Use rigid links, rigid links are used, but it is possible to prevent the
use of rigid links in specific places.
To define rigid links, use the user-defined attribute Rigid link in the part properties.
34

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The value of the attribute is a three-digit number of 1s and/or 0s.
1 = rigid link enabled

0 = rigid link disabled
The first digit is the setting for the part start point, the second digit is the setting for all
intermediate points between the start and end point, and the third digit is setting for the part end
point.
A rigid link is created at a connection between two members if:
An eccentric connection exists.

Rigid links are enabled for both parts, either as an analysis model property or user-defined
attribute of parts.
If you are merging nodes of two parts, and you have set the Keep axis
attribute to Yes for both parts, Tekla Structures creates a rigid link.
Example 1
The node definition method of the analysis model is Force to centric connection. If the Rigid
link attribute is not set, there will be no rigid link. To create the rigid link, use the following
values of the user-defined attribute Rigid link:
For this beam, type in 010. (Rigid link is wanted in mid beam.)
For this brace, type in 100. (Rigid link is wanted at beam start point.)
Example 2
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The node definition method of the analysis model is Use rigid links. If the Rigid link attribute
is not set, there will be rigid links. To disable rigid link between two members, set the attribute
for one part only:

35
For this beam, type in 101. (No rigid link is created for intermediate
nodes.)
1.4 Analysis information and settings

This section generally discusses the analysis process and describes analysis settings.
A closer look at the analysis model

This section gives detailed information on how Tekla Structures creates analysis models of
physical models.
The methods used to create a physical model affect the analysis model.
Because of this, you may need to try different modeling methods and
analysis model properties in order to create an accurate analysis model of
a complex physical model.
Objects
Tekla Structures ignores the following objects in the analysis, even if you have included them
in the analysis model (see Objects in an analysis model (p. 65)):
Truss members
Parts and loads that are filtered out (see Analysis model filter (p. 66))
Parts with the Ignore setting (see Member analysis type (p. 15))
Component objects (minor parts, bolts, reinforcing bars, etc.)
Tekla Structures does not split members with the Truss, Tension only, or Compression only
setting (truss members) when two or more truss members intersect with a normal member or
with another truss member.
To force truss member nodes to meet at the same point, use the user-defined attributes Node
merge distance and Keep axis. For more information on user-defined attributes, see Finetuning analysis models (p. 30).
Nodes connecting members and elements

Tekla Structures first creates analysis nodes:
36
On member axes at the ends of parts

At the intersection points of member axes

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At the corners of elements
Tekla Structures then checks if the analysis members have common nodes.
Creating common
nodes
To force Tekla Structures to find parts that clash and create common nodes for them, select
Extended clash check checkbox in the Analysis Model Properties dialog box.
If the end points of the parts are within 10 mm of each other, Tekla Structures moves the nodes
in the following order:
1.
2.
Horizontal parts
Other parts
Vertical parts and parts that have the user-defined attribute Keep axis set to Yes do not move.
Also, supported nodes are not moved.
If the part end points are not within 10 mm of each other, Tekla Structures extends each parts
bounding box by 1 mm to find parts that clash.
Other methods
Tekla Structures also creates common nodes for members if:
See also
Element nodes
A connection exists between the members.

The user-defined attribute Connect to (part IDs) forces the parts to meet.
For more information on user-defined attributes, see Fine-tuning analysis models (p. 30).
For more information on the nodes, see Defining nodes (p. 67).
This is how Tekla Structures creates nodes when plates connect with other parts:
Connected part
Action
Beam
Tekla Structures splits the beam and creates nodes in it

at the element corners.
Column
Tekla Structures creates a node at the column.
Another plate
Tekla Structures creates the analysis elements so that

the plates have common nodes on the edges of the
plates.
Loads in analysis
These are the principles that Tekla Structures follows when it processes loads in the physical
model to create analysis model loads.
You define which loads are included in the analysis model. Tekla Structures applies these loads
to members, based on the part name filtering criteria and each loads bounding box. See
Applying loads to parts (p. 49).
Point loads
Point loads are transferred to the node that is generated from the member to which the load is
applied to, and that is nearest to the location of the load, or to a member. Only one load can
correspond to each physical load.
Line loads
A line load is transferred to members that are inside the bounding box of the line load, and whose
part names match the part name filtering criteria of the load. The load must have a perpendicular
component to the part to be applied to the part. If several members receive the load, the load is
distributed based on the length of each member.
Area and uniform

loads
Area loads are decomposed to line loads. These decomposed loads are then applied to members.
Members inside the bounding box of the load and whose names match the part name criteria
receive the load. The area load is divided among the members so that the load applied to the
member is proportional to the projection length of the member to the load plane. The resultant
of the line loads is the same as the resultant of the original area load.
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37
Nodal load
Tekla Structures binds loads to nodes or members in the analysis model. A load is a nodal load if:
It is between two nodes and the distance to the nearest node is less than 110 mm.
It is not between two nodes (even outside the member) but inside the bounding box and
meets the part name filtering criteria.
Nodal loads do not cause parts to bend.

Member load
If a load does not meet the criteria for the nodal load, it is a member load. Member loads cause
parts to bend.
Other loads
Temperature loads are like line loads which affect an entire member. The left, right, top, and
bottom surfaces of the member a temperature load affects define the direction of the load.
Load modeling code

Use the Options dialog box to determine the building code and safety factors Tekla Structures
uses in load combination.
1.
2.
Click Tools > Options > Options... > Load modeling.

Go to the Current code tab.
3.
Select the code in the Load modeling code list box.
4.
Change load combination factors on the appropriate tab if needed:
Tab
Description
Current code
The code to follow in analysis

and load combination.
Eurocode
The partial safety factors in limit

states and reduction factors, for
the Eurocode, based on load
group types.
British

states, for the British code, based
on load group types.
AISC (US)

states, for the US code, based on
load group types.
UBC (US)
Uniform building code, American code.
CM66 (F)

states, for the French code for
steel structures, based on load
group types.
BAEL91 (F)

states, for the French code for
concrete structures, based on
load group types.
IBC (US)
International building code.

American code.
ACI
American Concrete Institute

publication 318.
5.
38
More information
Load combination
factors (p. 73)
Click OK.

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If you have to change the code during a project, you will also need to
change the load group types and check load combinations.
Analysis method
You can use either the linear (first order), or non-linear (second order, P-delta), analysis method
in Tekla Structures. The non-linear method considers the non-linear nature of the geometry. This
takes into account major deflections, but not the non-linear nature of materials. Tekla Structures
treats materials as linear. See also Analysis method (p. 69).
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39
40

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Loads
Introduction
Once you have modeled physical structures by creating parts you can start adding loads. In Tekla
Structures, you can create point loads, line loads, area loads with uniform or variable
distribution. You can also model temperature, wind, and seismic loads. Either attach loads to
specific parts or to locations.
In this chapter
This chapter explains how to create and group loads. It also includes a general description of
load groups, load types, and load properties. The online help contains step-by-step instructions
for all load commands.
Assumed
background
We assume that you have created a Tekla Structures model and have a basic understanding of
modeling.
Contents
Basics (p. 41)
Load types and properties (p. 45)
Distributing loads (p. 48)
Working with loads (p. 52)
Load reference (p. 54)
Grouping loads (p. 42)
2.1 Basics
This section presents some Tekla Structures vocabulary and concepts to help you start to model
loads.
Load model
A load model is the portion of the Tekla Structures model that includes all loads, together with
the load group and building code information related to them. Each load in a load model has to
belong to a load group. Each load can only belong to one load group. A load group can contain
one or more loads.
Load group
A load group is a set of loads that are treated alike during load combination. Load groups should
contain loads caused by the same action and to which you want to refer collectively. Tekla
Structures assumes that all loads in a group:
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Loads
41
Have the same partial safety and other combination factors
Occur at the same time and all together
Have the same action direction
See Grouping loads (p. 42) and Load combination (p. 72).
You need to create load groups because the same action can cause different types of loads, for
example, point loads and area loads. See Load types (p. 45). You can include as many loads as
you like in a load group, of any load type.
Working with
loads
In Tekla Structures, you can attach each load to a part for modeling purposes. You can also
create floating loads that are bound to locations rather than parts. See Attaching loads to parts
or locations (p. 48).
Use the loads bounding box and part name filter to define which parts carry the load. See
Applying loads to parts (p. 49).
Automatic loads and load groups

Self-weight
Tekla Structures automatically calculates the self-weight of structural parts using the density of
the material and the dimensions of the part.
To automatically include the self-weight of parts in load combinations, select the Include selfweight checkbox when you create load combinations. See Creating load combinations (p. 75).
Wind loads
Use the Wind load generator (28) tool to define the effects of wind on a structure.
Seismic loads
To automatically include seismic loads in the x and y directions in load combinations:

1.
2.
Define the code to follow in the seismic analysis.

Define the load groups to include in the seismic analysis and their factors.
For more information, see Seismic analysis (p. 69).

See also
Load combination types (p. 73)

Attaching loads to parts or locations (p. 48)
2.2 Grouping loads

Load groups should contain loads caused by the same action and to which you want to refer
collectively. Tekla Structures assumes that all loads in a group:
Have the same partial safety and other combination factors
Occur at the same time and all together
Have the same action direction
Load group properties

To define the properties of a load group, click the Load groups icon on the Loads and Analysis
toolbar to open the Load Groups dialog box. The properties are:
Current
42
When you apply loads in the model, Tekla Structures applies the Current load group. You can
only define one load group as Current.
Loads
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Name
Each load group must have a unique name. Use load group names to define the visibility and
selectability of loads. For example, you can select, modify, or hide loads based on their load
group. See Filter in the Modeling Manual.
Type
The type of a load group is the type of action that causes the loads.
Actions causing loads are building code specific. See Load modeling code (p. 38). Most
building codes use some or all of the following actions and load group types:
Permanent, dead, and/or prestressing loads
Snow loads
Wind loads
Temperature loads
Accidental and/or earthquake loads
Imperfection loads
Live, imposed, traffic, and/or crane loads
Tekla Structures automatically determines and applies the self-weight of

parts. See Automatic loads and load groups (p. 42).
The direction of a load group is the global direction of the action that causes the loads. Individual
loads in a load group retain their own magnitudes in the global or local x, y, and z directions.
See also Load magnitude (p. 47).
Direction
Load group direction affects which loads Tekla Structures combines in load combination:
z direction groups are combined with both x and y direction groups.

x or y direction groups are not combined with each other.
Use different colors for different load groups.
Color
Load group compatibility

When Tekla Structures creates load combinations for structural analysis, it follows the building
code you select in Tools > Options > Options... > Load modeling. See Load modeling code
(p. 38) and Load combination (p. 72).
To accurately combine loads which have the same load group type, you need to identify which
load groups:
Can occur at the same time (are compatible)

Exclude each other (are incompatible)
To define load group compatibility, click Load groups icon on the Loads and Analysis toolbar
to open the Load Groups dialog box. Enter numbers to indicate compatibility.
Compatibility
Compatible load groups can act together or separately. They can actually be one single loading,
for example, a live loading that needs to be split in parts acting on different spans of a continuous
beam. Tekla Structures then includes none, one, several, or all of the compatible load groups in
a load combination.
Incompatibility
Incompatible load groups always exclude each other. They cannot occur at the same time. For
example, a wind loading from the x direction is incompatible with a wind loading from the y
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Loads
43
direction. In load combination Tekla Structures only takes into account one load group in an
incompatible grouping at a time.
Tekla Structures automatically applies basic compatibility facts, such as

self-weight being compatible with all other loads, or live loads being
compatible with wind load.
Tekla Structures does not combine loads in the x direction with those in
the y direction.
Compatibility indicators are all 0 by default. It indicates that Tekla Structures combines the load groups as defined in the building code.
Working with load groups

Use the Load groups dialog box to view, define, modify, and delete load groups. For example,
this is where you set load group properties and indicate load group compatibility.
Click the Load groups icon on the Loads and Analysis toolbar to open the dialog box:
Load group types vary according to the code defined in Tools > Options
> Options... > Load modeling. If you have to change the code during a
project, you will also need to change the load group types and check load
combinations.
Checking loads and load groups

To find out which load group a load belongs to, select the load in the model and click the Load
groups by loads button. Tekla Structures highlights the load group in the dialog box.
To find out which loads belong to a load group, select the load group in the dialog box and click
the Loads by load groups button. The associated loads are highlighted in the model.
If you have many loads in the model, you can show the group name and magnitude in the model
view by right-clicking a load and selecting Inquire from the pop-up menu. If you have already
run the analysis, Tekla Structures also highlights the parts that carry this load.
Changing the load group

To move a load to a different load group, select the load in the model, then select a load group
in the dialog box and click the Change load group button.
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Importing and exporting load groups

To use the same load groups in other models, you can import and export load groups.
Right-click on a load group in the Load Groups dialog box and select Export... from the
pop-up menu to allow the load group to be used in other models.
Right-click on the load group list in the Load Groups dialog box and select Import... from
the pop-up menu to use load groups from another model.
Tekla Structures saves the load group files in the folder you specify, with the extension lgr.
The default load groups are defined in the DefaultLoadGroups.lgr file, located in the
...\TeklaStructures\*version*\environments\*your
environment*\system folder.
2.3 Load types and properties

Each load has a type and properties which define it (e.g. magnitude, direction, and distribution).
This section describes the different load types and the properties of each load type.
Introduction
Use the load properties dialog box to view or modify the properties of a load. Click Analysis >
Properties and select a load type to open its properties dialog box.
You can use load types and groups in filters. For example, you can select, modify, or hide loads
based on their type and load group. See Filter in the Modeling Manual.
Filtering by
properties
Load types
Tekla Structures includes the following load types:
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Uniform load
Area load
Point load
Line loads
Load type
Description
Point load
A concentrated force or bending moment that

can be attached to a part.
Line load
A linearly-distributed force or torsion. By

default it runs from a point to another point. You
can also create a line load with offsets from the
points. A line load can be attached to a part. Its
magnitude can vary linearly across the loaded
length.
Area load
A linearly-distributed force bounded by a

triangle or quadrangle. You do not have to bind
the boundary of the area to parts. Area loads can
have openings.
Uniform load
A uniformly-distributed force bounded by a

polygon. Uniform loads can have openings. You
do not have to bind the polygon to parts.
Temperature load
A uniform change in temperature, that is

applied to specified parts, and that causes
axial elongation in parts.
A temperature difference between two

surfaces of a part that causes the part to
bend.
Strain
46
An initial axial elongation or shrinkage of a part.
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To ensure that load analysis is correct, use area and uniform loads for
loads on floors. For example, when the layout of beams changes, Tekla
Structures recalculates the loads to the beams. It will not do this if you use
point or line loads on individual beams.
Load forms
Distributed loads (line and area loads) can have different load forms.
Line load
The load form of a line load defines how the load magnitude varies along the loaded length. The
options are:
Option
Description
The load magnitude is uniform across the loaded
length.
The load has different magnitudes at the ends of the
loaded length. The magnitude changes linearly
between the ends.
The load magnitude changes linearly, from zero at
the ends of the loaded length, to a fixed value in the
middle of the loaded length.
The load magnitude changes linearly, from zero at
one end of the loaded length, through two
(different) values, back to zero at the other end.
Area load
The load form of an area load defines the shape of the loaded area. It can be:
Option
Description
Quadrangular
Triangular
For information on how to define the length or area a load affects, see Loaded length or area
(p. 50).
Load magnitude
Load magnitude can occur in x, y, and z directions. The coordinate system is the same as the
current work plane, so positive coordinates indicate a positive load direction. See Basics in the
Modeling Manual.
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For example, when you create loads perpendicular to sloped parts, shifting the work plane helps
you to place loads accurately. See Defining the work area and shifting the work plane in the
Modeling Manual.
Some types of loads can have several magnitude values. For example, the magnitude of line
loads may vary along the loaded length. See Load forms (p. 47).
In the load properties dialog boxes, the following letters denote magnitudes of different types:
P is for a force acting on a position, along a line, or across an area.
T is for torsional moments acting along a line.
M is for bending moments acting on a position or along a line.
Temperature loads and strain

Temperature loads can be caused by:
An increase or decrease in temperature
A difference in temperature between the sides of a part
A difference in temperature between the top and bottom surfaces of a part
Temperature changes cause axial elongation or uniform volume expansion in parts.

Different surface temperatures cause parts to bend.
Strain is an initial axial elongation (+) or shrinkage (-) of a part.
Strain
To define the temperature loads and strain that affect parts, click Analysis > Properties >
Temperature Load... and use the Magnitude tab.
2.4 Distributing loads

This section explains how to attach loads and how to define which parts, or lengths and areas of
parts, carry loads.
Attaching loads to parts or locations

You can attach loads to parts or locations for modeling purposes.
Attaching a load to a part binds the load and the part together in the model. If the part is moved,
copied, deleted, etc., it affects the load. For example, a prestressing load moves with the part to
which it is attached, and disappears if the part is deleted.
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If you do not attach a load to a part, Tekla Structures fixes the load to the position(s) you pick
when you create the load.
To attach a load to parts or locations, open the load properties dialog box. On the Distribution
tab, select an option in the Load attachment list box:
Option
Description
Attach to member
Attaches the load to a specific part. If the part is

moved, copied, deleted, etc., it affects the load.
Dont attach
The load is not attached but it is considered a

floating load. This load is bound to the position
you pick when you create the load, not to parts.
If you select the Attach to member option, you must select the part
before picking the position for the load.
To define which parts carry a load, see Applying loads to parts (p. 49).
Applying loads to parts

In order to apply loads in the structural analysis model, Tekla Structures searches for parts in the
areas that you specify. For each load, you can define the load-bearing parts by name and the
search area. To do this, open the loads properties dialog box and click the Distribution tab.
Part names
To define the parts that carry the load, enter the part names in the Part names field and select
Include in the list box.
To define the parts that do not carry the load, enter the part names in the Part names field and
select Exclude in the list box.
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You can use wildcards when listing the part names. See Using wildcards
in the Modeling Manual.
Bounding box
Use the loads bounding box to define the area to search for the parts that carry the load. The
bounding box is the volume around the load that Tekla Structures searches for load-bearing
parts.
Each load has its own bounding box. You can define the dimensions of a bounding box in the x,
y, and z directions of the current work plane. The dimensions are measured from the reference
point, line, or area of the load. See also Handles (p. 52).
Offset distances from the reference line or area do not affect the size of the bounding box. See
Loaded length or area (p. 50).
Loaded length or area

If a line, area, or uniform load affects a length or area which is difficult to pick in the model, pick
one close to it. Then use the values in the Distances fields in the load properties dialog boxes
to pinpoint the length or area. You can shorten or divide the loaded length, and enlarge or reduce
the loaded area.
Line load
To shorten or divide the length of a line load, enter positive values for a and b.
Area load
To enlarge the area an area load affects, enter a positive value for a. To reduce the area, enter a
negative value.
Modifying load distribution

By default, Tekla Structures distributes loads using the panel method. To modify the way loads
are distributed, modify the properties on the Load panel tab in the load properties dialog box.
The properties are:
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Property
Description
Spanning
Single: in the direction of the primary axis only

Double: along the primary and secondary axes
Primary axis direction
If Spanning is set to Single, you can define the

primary axis direction by picking a part in the model
and setting this option to Parallel to part or Perpendicular to part.
To manually define the primary axis weight when
Spanning is set to Double, you must also define the
primary axis direction.
Automatic primary
axis weight
Yes: Tekla Structures automatically calculates the

load portions for primary and secondary directions.
No: Enter the weight for the primary direction in the
Weight field. Tekla Structures calculates the weight
for the secondary direction by subtracting this value

from 1.
Load dispersion angle
The angle by which the load is projected onto the

surrounding elements.
Use continuous structure load distribution
Yes: for uniform loads on continuous slabs. For the

first and last spans, the distribution of support reactions is 3/8 and 5/8, instead of 1/2 and 1/2.
No
Example
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When using double spanning, automatic primary axis weight and the weight value affect the
proportions of the load which is applied to the primary axis and to the perpendicular axis.
If Automatic primary axis weight is Yes, the proportions will be in proportion to the third
power of the span lengths in these two directions, i.e. the shorter the span, the bigger the
proportion of the load. The Weight value does not matter.
If Automatic primary axis weight is No, the given Weight value (0.50 in this example) is
used to divide the load.

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51
2.5 Working with loads

To modify the properties of a load, double-click it in the model to open the relevant load
properties dialog box.
When you have finished, click Modify to update the properties of the load in the model.
Changing loaded length or area

As well as changing load properties, you can modify loads by:
Handles
Moving line load ends
Changing the shape of openings in loads
Adding corners to uniform loads
Moving uniform load corners
Tekla Structures indicates the load reference points (the ends and corners of line, area, and
uniform loads) using handles. When you select a load, the handles are magenta.
You can use these handles to move load ends and corners:
1.
2.
3.
Select the load to display its handles.

Click the handle you want to move. Tekla Structures highlights the handle.
Move the handle(s) like any other object. See Move in the Modeling Manual. If you have
Drag and drop on, just drag the handle to a new position. See Drag and drop in the
Modeling Manual.
To add corners to uniform loads, use the Modify Polygon Shape command. See Modify
Polygon Shape in the online help.
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Scaling loads in model views

You can have Tekla Structures scale loads when you are modeling. This ensures that loads are
not too small to see, or so large that they hide the structure.
To scale loads in model views, click Tools > Options > Options... > Load modeling and go to
the Arrow length tab:
Example
You define that point loads with magnitude of 1 kN or less are 250 mm high in the model, and
point loads with magnitude of 10 kN or more are 2500 mm high. Tekla Structures linearly scales
all point loads that have a magnitudes between 1 kN and 10 kN between 250 mm and 2500 mm.
Defining varying wind loads

The Wind load generator (28) component allows you to define which zones have concentrated
wind load. Each zone is the height of the wall. Define the width of the zone using either
dimensions or proportions. You can define up to five zones for each wall.
In the example below, the loads in the global x direction are multiplied by 3 at both corners of
wall 1.
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The Wind load generator (28) dialog box contains one tab for each wind direction.
2.6 Load reference

To create loads, use the icons on the Loads and Analysis toolbar or select a command from the
Analysis > Loads menu. The following table lists the commands for creating loads and gives a
short description of each one. For the detailed instructions, see the online help.
Command
54
Icon
Description
Load Groups...
Displays the Load Groups dialog box.
Create Point Load
Creates a point load at a picked position.
Create Line Load
Creates a line load between two picked

points.
Create Area Load
Creates an area load using three picked

points.
Create Uniform Load
Creates a uniformly-distributed polygonal area load using at least three picked

points.
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Command
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Icon
Description
Create Wind Load
Creates wind loads on a structure.
Create Temperature
Load
Defines a temperature change in a part,

or a temperature difference between two
part surfaces.

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Loads
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Analysis and Design
Introduction
This chapter explains how to define analysis model geometry in Tekla Structures. It also
includes a general description of analysis and design model properties and an overview of
analysis commands. You will also learn how to create load combinations.
Audience
This chapter is for engineers who run structural analysis on concrete and steel structures.
Assumed
background
We assume that you have read the Chapter 1, Getting Started with Analysis (p. 11), first and
defined the support conditions for parts.
Contents
Analysis model geometry (p. 57)
Load combination (p. 72)
Working with analysis and design models (p. 77)
Analysis and design reference (p. 82)
Analysis model properties (p. 64)
3.1 Analysis model geometry

This section explains how to define analysis model geometry.
Introduction
Analysis model geometry is a representation of analysis settings applied to a physical model.
It indicates, for example, the locations of member axes. The analysis model geometry is a means
to ensure that each analysis model passed on to the analysis application is accurate.
The analysis model geometry includes analysis parts, part nodes, connection nodes, and links
between nodes.
You can show analysis parts in Tekla Structures model views.
Defining analysis
model geometry
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You can define analysis model geometry by using:
Analysis model geometry settings for the entire physical model and all its analysis models
Analysis properties of individual parts and connections
Analysis model geometry rules for specific parts in the physical model

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57
Analysis model properties that control the locations of member axes and nodes
Modifying the analysis model geometry does not affect the physical model.
Geometry
settings
Analysis model geometry settings define how Tekla Structures creates analysis models of the
physical model by default.

You can define limits for when to use rigid links (Rigid link limit) and when to merge nodes on
a part (Merge distance on beams).
To access the analysis model geometry settings, click Analysis > Geometry Settings..., or
.
You can also use analysis model geometry rules to control the analysis model geometry.
Geometry rules specify what Tekla Structures does for specific parts in specific conditions to
force members to meet in the analysis model, or to prevent them from connecting. For example,
you may want Tekla Structures to merge nodes in certain conditions, and in other conditions you
may prefer rigid links.
Analysis geometry rules are based on selection filters. For example, you can define that parts
matching the columns filter always keep their member axis locations.
Creating rules to define analysis model geometry

You can control analysis model geometry with rules created on the basis of selection filters. You
can create rules to define how Tekla Structures handles individual parts when it creates analysis
models, and how parts are connected with each other in the analysis.
Preconditions
Create the physical parts and define their individual analysis properties if needed.
Usage
To create analysis model geometry rules:

.
Click Analysis > Geometry Settings..., or
In the Analysis Geometry Settings dialog box, click Analysis geometry rules....
1.
2.
The Analysis Geometry Rules dialog box is displayed.

On the Part properties tab:
1.
2.
Click Add to add rules to define individual analysis part properties.

In the Selection filter column, select a filter for each rule.
The properties defined by a rule will be applied to the parts matching the filter.
3.
In the Keep axis position always column:
4.
Select Yes to fix the member axis locations of the filtered parts.
In the Merge distance on part column, define the distance within which the nodes on the
filtered parts are merged to connection nodes.
5.
In the Exact connectivity column:
Select Yes to connect parts only if their member axes intersect.
On the Part connectivity tab:

1.
58
2.
Click Add to add rules to define how two groups of parts are connected with each other in
the analysis.
In the Selection filter 1 column, select a filter to define the first part group.
3.
In the Selection filter 2 column, select a filter to define the second part group.
4.
In the Status column:
Analysis and Design EMail:cadserv21@hotmail.com

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5.
Select Disabled to prevent connections between the part groups.

In the Linkage column, select an option:
Option
Description
(blank)
Merges nodes or creates a rigid link according to the rigid

link limit defined in the Analysis Geometry Settings
dialog box.
Merge
Always merges nodes when parts matching the selection

filter 1 connect with parts matching the selection filter 2.
Rigid link
Creates a rigid link when parts matching the selection

filter 1 connect with parts matching the selection filter 2.
Rigid link, moment release

at node 1
Creates a rigid link and a moment release at the nodes of

parts matching the selection filter 1.

at node 2
Creates a rigid link and a moment release at the nodes of

parts matching the selection filter 2.

at both nodes
Creates a rigid link and moment releases at the nodes of

parts matching the selection filters 1 and 2.
On both tabs:
Click Move up or Move down to change the order of rules.

The order of the rules is important.
On the Part connectivity tab, the last rule applicable to a part is used.
On the Part properties tab, the last rule applicable to a pair of parts is
used.
Click Selection filter... to create a new selection filter that suits your needs.
Click Test selected part or Test selected parts to see how rules affect the parts selected
in the model.
Click Remove to delete the selected rules.
To save the settings:
See also
1.
To save the analysis geometry rules for later use, enter a name in the field next to the Save
as button, and then click Save as.
The filename extension of an analysis geometry rules file is adrules.
2.
Click OK to save the rules and close the Analysis Geometry Rules dialog box.
3.
Click OK to save the rules with geometry settings and to close the Analysis Geometry
Settings dialog box.
Filter in the Modeling Manual
Modifying analysis model geometry

In addition to changing the analysis model geometry settings, you can graphically modify the
geometry by moving analysis part handles, or you can use the commands in Analysis > Edit
Geometry.
Preconditions
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Switch View Analysis Parts on to show the analysis parts.

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59
A check mark next to View Analysis Parts on the Analysis menu indicates that the analysis
parts are already visible.
To modify an analysis part by using its handles:
Usage
1.
Select the analysis part to show the handles.

The analysis part handles are white.
2.
Select the handle you want to move.
3.
If you have Drag and Drop (shortcut D) active, just drag the handle to a new location, or
use the Move commands to move handles.
Use the appropriate snap switches to snap to the correct locations, for
example, Snap to perpendicular points. See Snap switches in the
Modeling Manual.
Connecting or disconnecting parts in analysis

You can connect and disconnect individual parts in the analysis.
To connect parts:
Usage
1.
Select the parts to connect.
2.
Click Analysis > Edit Geometry > Connect Parts, or
To disconnect parts:
1.
Select the parts to disconnect.
2.
Click Analysis > Edit Geometry > Disconnect Parts, or
You can view the modified analysis connections of a part in the Analysis
Member Connectivity dialog box. See Defining analysis connections of
parts (p. 60).
Defining analysis connections of parts

Use the Analysis Member Connectivity dialog box, in addition to the analysis geometry
settings, to define the analysis connections of a part to other parts.
Description
60
You can:

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Usage
Force parts to connect if they do not connect according to the geometry settings.
Ignore the geometry settings and define all connections manually.
View the analysis connections that you have modified using the Connect Parts and
Disconnect Parts commands.
Prevent parts from connecting if they connect according to the geometry settings.
To view or modify the analysis connections of a part:

1.
2.
Click Analysis > Edit Geometry > Edit Part Connectivity..., or

Select the part.
To use the analysis model geometry settings but override them for the part:
1.
2.
In the Connectivity mode list box, select Automatic.

Select the parts to connect to and click Add selected parts next to the Additional forced
connectivity list.
3.
Select the parts to disconnect from and click Add selected parts next to the Prevented
connectivity list.
4.
Click OK.
To ignore the analysis model settings for the part and define all analysis connections manually:
1.
2.
In the Connectivity mode list box, select Manual.

Select the parts to connect to and click Add selected parts.
3.
Click OK.
Analysis part properties

An analysis part is a representation of analysis properties applied to a physical part. It indicates,
for example, the location of the member axis.
You can show analysis parts in Tekla Structures model views.
You can use the properties of analysis parts to fine-tune analysis model geometry for specific
parts, for example, for built-up sections.
To access the properties of an analysis part:
1.
2.
Select the part.

Click Analysis > Properties > Analysis Part....
The Analysis Part Properties dialog box is displayed.
The table below describes the analysis part properties. They correspond to the user-defined
attributes (UDA) of parts used in the previous versions of Tekla Structures.
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Property
Description
Built-up section
mode
Indicates the role of the part in a built-up

section that consists of a main part and one or
more sub-parts. In the analysis, merges the subparts to the main part.
Corresponding
UDA
The options are:
Automatic
Not part of built-up section: Disconnects
the part from a built-up section.
Main part of built-up section: Always use

to define the main part of a built-up
section.
Sub-part of built-up section
Beam sub-part of built-up section:

Defines that the main part is a beam.
Column sub-part of built-up section:

Defines that the main part is a column.
Exact connectivity
Select Yes to connect parts only if their

member axes intersect.
Merge distance on
part
Merges nodes within the distance specified into

a single node.
Node merge
distance
Keep axis position

always
Select Yes to fix the location of member axis so

that Tekla Structures does not shift the axis
when it makes members meet in the analysis
model.
Keep axis
Fixed level (z) of

member
Sets the same z coordinate for all nodes.
Member level (z)
Replacement profile
name
Select a profile from the profile catalog.
Profile
You can use different analysis profiles at the

start and end of parts if the analysis application
you use supports it.
To use different profiles at part ends, enter two
profiles separated by a pipe character, for
example:
HEA120|HEA140
Longitudinal offset
mode
Defines whether the longitudinal analysis

offsets Dx of the physical part are used (part
properties dialog box, Analysis tab).
See also Analysis member offsets (p. 17).
The options are:
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Offsets are not considered
Offsets are always considered
Only extensions are considered

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Consider longitudinal model

offsets
Corresponding
UDA
Property
Description
Curved beam mode
Defines whether a beam is analyzed as a curved

beam or as straight segments. Select either:
Curved beam by
straight
segments
Use curved member

Split into straight segments
Use the variable

XS_AD_CURVED_BEAM_SPLIT_ACCU
RACY_MM in Tools > Options > Advanced
Options... > Analysis & Design to define how
closely straight segments follow the curved
beam.
Design group
Defines which design group the part belongs to.

Used in optimization.
Design group
(optimization)
No. of split nodes
Use to create additional nodes or analyze a

beam as straight segments, for example, a
curved beam.
No. of split nodes
Enter the number of nodes.

See also Adding intermediate nodes (p. 33).
Split distances
To define additional nodes in the member, enter

distances from the part starting point to the
node.
Split distances
Enter distances, separated by spaces, for

example:
1000 1500 3000
See also Adding intermediate nodes (p. 33).
Rigid link
Enables or disables rigid links at the start, mid,

and end points of parts.
Rigid link
Use with the Force to centric connection

option in the Analysis Model Properties
dialog box to specify which parts to use rigid
links.
See also Using rigid links (p. 34).
Pinned rigid link (to
part names)
Connects the part using pinned rigid links to the

parts you specify.
Pinned rigid link

(to part names)
Enter the part names, separated by spaces,

commas, or semicolons. You can also use wildcards (see Using wildcards in the Modeling
Manual).
Simple plate model
Select Yes to create a simpler analysis model of

plates, where cuts and openings are not considered.
Simple plate
Smallest hole size

to consider
Use to ignore small openings in plates in the

analysis.
Minimum hole
size (to consider)
Enter the size of the bounding box around the

opening.
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63
Property
Description
Corresponding
UDA
Supported
Use to define supports for plates and beams.
Supported
You can create supports for the bottom edge of

a wall, for all edge nodes of a slab, or for all
nodes of a beam. For walls the bottom edge can
be inclined.
The options are:
Simply: only translations are fixed

Fully: both translations and rotations are
fixed
Beam offsets tab
Use to move analysis part ends to force

members to meet in the analysis model.
Node offsets
You can also move analysis part ends using

handles. See Modifying analysis model geometry (p. 59).
3.2 Analysis model properties

This section explains the properties that Tekla Structures uses to create analysis members and
analyze them. These properties apply to all members in an analysis model.
Tekla Structures also takes into account the individual analysis properties defined in the parts
properties. See Determining member properties (p. 14).
Defining analysis
model properties
64
To set the properties for a new analysis model:

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1.
2.
Click Analysis > Analysis & Design Models....

Click New....
To view or modify the properties of an existing analysis model:

1.
2.

Select the model.
3.
Click Properties....
Analysis
application
Tekla Structures links with a number of analysis applications and also supports import and
export with them in several formats. The analysis application you use to run structural analysis
uses data from the analysis model to generate analysis results.
Model name
Each analysis model must have a unique name, which you can define. For example, you could
use a name that describes the portion of the physical model you want to analyze.
Objects in an analysis model

You can define which objects to include in an analysis model. For example, you can create
analysis models of:
Creation method
The entire physical and load models
A single part
A particular sub structure under a specific loading
To define which objects to include in an analysis model, open the Analysis Model Properties
dialog box. On the Analysis model tab, select an option from the Creation method list box. The
options are:
Option
Description
Full model
Includes all main parts and loads, except for parts

whose analysis type is set to Ignore on the Analysis
tab of part dialog box. Tekla Structures automatically adds physical objects to the analysis model
when they are created.
By work area
Includes all the main parts and loads that are inside
or partly inside the work area when you create the
analysis model.
By selected parts
Only includes selected parts.
By selected parts
and loads
Only includes selected parts and loads, and parts

created by components. To later add or remove
parts and loads, use the following buttons in the
Analysis & Design Models dialog box:
Floor model by
selected parts and
loads
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Add selected objects

Remove selected objects
Only includes selected columns, slabs, floor beams,

and loads. Tekla Structures replaces columns in the
physical model with supports.

Analysis and Design
65
Tekla Structures ignores some objects in the analysis. See A closer look
at the analysis model (p. 36).
Even if you select Full model, Tekla Structures does not include parts
created by most components in the analysis model. The following components set the analysis properties of the parts they create, so these parts are
included in the analysis model:
See also
Truss (S78)
Building (S58) and (S91)
Slab generation (61) and (62)
Shed (S75)
Analysis model filter (p. 66)
Analysis model filter

To use the analysis model filter to select objects to include in an analysis model, select a filter
from the Filter list box on the Analysis model tab in the Analysis Model Properties dialog box.
The analysis model filter works in similar way to the selection filter (see Selection filter in the
Modeling Manual), but Tekla Structures saves the settings with the analysis model properties.
So you can go back and check the criteria you used to select objects.
Tekla Structures automatically adds new objects you create in the physical model to the analysis
model if they fulfill the criteria in the analysis model filter.
Use the analysis model filter to filter out non-structural parts, such as railings, from the analysis model.
See also
To add individual objects to an analysis model, or to remove them, see Adding or removing
analysis objects (p. 78).
To check which objects are included in an analysis model, see Checking objects contained in
an analysis model (p. 78).
Member axis
The locations of the member axes of parts define where the analysis members actually meet, and
their length in the analysis model. They also affect where Tekla Structures creates nodes.
To define member axis locations for all members in an analysis model, open the Analysis Model
Properties dialog box. On the Analysis model tab, select an option from the Member axis
location list box. The options are:
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Option
Description
Neutral axis
The neutral axis is the member axis for all parts. The
location of the member axis changes if the profile of
the part changes.
Reference axis
The part reference line is the member axis for all

parts. See also Part location in the Modeling
Manual.
Reference axis
(eccentricity by
neutral axis)
The part reference line is the member axis for all

parts. The location of the neutral axis defines axis
eccentricity.
Model default
The member axis of each part is defined individually according to the parts properties. See Member
axis location (p. 17).
If you select the Neutral axis option, Tekla Structures takes the part location and end offsets into account when it creates nodes. See End offsets
in the Modeling Manual. If you select either of the Reference axis
options, Tekla Structures creates nodes at part reference points.
To visually check the analysis model before running the analysis, see Showing analysis models
and support conditions in model views (p. 78).
See also
Member end connectivity

You can choose to define the support conditions of individual analysis members according to
the parts properties, or the support conditions of connections between parts. See Support
conditions (p. 25).
To have Tekla Structures use the support conditions of connections:
1.
2.
For each connection or detail, open the properties dialog box. On the Analysis tab, select
Yes in the Use analysis restraints list box. See Analysis properties of components (p.
22).
Open the Analysis Model Properties dialog box for an analysis model. On the Analysis
model tab, select Yes in the Member end release method by connection list box.
Select No in the Member end release method by connection list box to have Tekla Structures
use the support conditions of individual parts.
Defining nodes
If physical parts collide, but their member axes do not intersect, you can have Tekla Structures
create common nodes for them in the analysis model by using the Extended clash check option
in the Analysis Model Properties dialog box. In order to force the members to meet in the
analysis model, Tekla Structures may need to use the methods described in A closer look at the
analysis model (p. 36).
Node definition
method
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If Tekla Structures cannot merge nodes because they are outside the merge distance
(XS_AD_NODE_COLLISION_CHECK_DISTANCE), you can define how to connect
members. Open the Analysis Model Properties dialog box. On the Analysis model tab, select
one of the following options in the Node definition list box:

Analysis and Design
67
Option
Image
Description
Use rigid links
Creates a node at each

members axis and connects
the members using a rigid link
between the nodes.
Force to centric
connection
Creates a single node for the

members and forces them into
a centric connection by
extending the member axes.
With both node definition methods you can override the setting at specific
places. For more information, see Using rigid links (p. 34).
Rigid links
See also
Rigid links have the following properties in the analysis model:
Profile = PL300.0*300.0
Density = 0.0
Modulus of elasticity = 100*109 N/m2
Poissons ratio = 0.30
Thermal dilatation coefficient = 0.0 1/K
Material = RigidlinkMaterial
To visually check the analysis model before running the analysis, see Showing analysis models
and support conditions in model views (p. 78).
Model merging with analysis applications

Updating
changes
You can merge analysis models with some analysis applications, which means that existing
models in analysis applications update when changes occur in Tekla Structures analysis models.
To use model merging, select Enabled in the Model merging with analysis applications list
box in the Analysis Model Properties dialog box.
In analysis applications that support model merging, you can, for example, add special loads to
analysis models, in addition to the loads created in Tekla Structures, then make changes in Tekla
Structures, and still keep the model in the analysis application up to date.
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With all analysis applications, model merging helps in keeping the node and member numbers
unchanged when changes occur in the analysis model.
Keeping node
and member
numbers
Resetting models
Node numbers are kept if the node coordinates stay the same.
Old numbers are not re-used.
Member numbers are kept if the start and end node numbers stay the same.
To renumber nodes and members, or to remove a Tekla Structures analysis model from an
analysis application, click the Reset button next the Model merging with analysis
applications list box in the Analysis Model Properties dialog box.
Analysis method
To define the analysis method for the model, open the Analysis Model Properties dialog box.
On the Analysis tab, select an option from the Analysis method list box. The options are:
Option
Description
1st order
Linear analysis method.
P-delta
A simplified second order analysis method. This method gives

accurate results when deflections are small.
Non-linear
Non-linear analysis method
If you select P-delta, Tekla Structures takes into account the additional stresses induced by the
deflections of the structure. This leads to the iteration of deflection.
Iteration
The accuracy of the second order analysis depends on the number of iterations; the longer the
iteration goes on, the more accurate the analysis. Increasing the number of iterations also
increases processing time and analysis model size. To limit the number of iterations in second
order analysis, enter a value in the Maximum number of iterations field. You can also set the
accuracy, which is the relative tolerance used to control the iteration of deflection.
Iteration stops when the analysis reaches the accuracy or the maximum number of iterations you
define on the Analysis tab.
Seismic analysis
Type
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To define which building code to use to generate seismic loads, use the Seismic tab in the
Analysis Model Properties dialog box. You can create lateral seismic loads in the x and y
directions according to several codes using a static equivalent approach (z is the direction of the
gravity loads). Select one of the following options in the Type list box:
Option
Description
None
Seismic analysis not run.
UBC 1997
Uniform Building Code 1997
UBC 1994
Uniform Building Code 1994
IBC 2000
International Building Code 2000
IS 1893-2002
Indian Standard. Criteria for Earthquake Resistant Design of

Structures
IBC 2003
International Building Code 2003

Analysis and Design
69
Properties
Seismic loads
Option
Description
AIJ
Japanese code
Response spectrum
Response spectrum specification
Depending on the code you select, you can define some or all of the following:
Whether to calculate the accidental torsion
Importance factor
Numerical coefficients Rw for the lateral loads in x and y directions
Soil profile type
Soil factor
Site class
SDS, SD1, S1
Near source factors NA and NV
CT value to calculate time period
Periods of structure (in seconds) in the x and y directions
Response reduction factor
Type of structure
Damping ratio
Depth of foundation below ground level
Seismic zone coefficient (Zone)
Use the Seismic masses tab in the Analysis Model Properties dialog box to define the load
groups and load group factors to include in the seismic analysis.
To include the self-weight of parts in the seismic analysis, select the Include self-weight as
seismic mass checkbox.
To use the same load groups from the modal analysis in the seismic analysis, click the Copy
modal analysis masses button.
To move load groups between the Selected load groups and Not selected load groups lists,
select a load group and use the arrow buttons between the lists.
Modal analysis
To use modal analysis properties (resonant frequency and the associated pattern of structural
deformation called mode shapes) instead of static load combinations:
1.
2.
70
Open the Analysis Model Properties dialog box. On the Analysis model tab, select the
Modal analysis model checkbox. This forces Tekla Structures to ignore static load
combinations.
On the Modal analysis tab, define the following properties:

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Property
Description
Count of modes
The number of natural mode shapes in the structure.
Max frequency
The maximum natural resonant frequency of the

structure.
Include self-weight
Select checkboxes to indicate the directions for

which Tekla Structures includes the self-weight of
parts in the modal analysis.
Copy seismic
masses
Select to include the same load groups in the modal

analysis as in the seismic analysis.
3.
To move load groups between the Selected load groups and Not selected load groups
lists, select a load group and use the arrow buttons between the lists.
4.
For each load group, enter a load factor and set the mass direction, the options are:
XYZ to include the load in all three directions.

Model default to include the load only in the direction of the load.
Design codes and methods

Use the Design tabs in the Analysis Model Properties dialog box to define the code and method
to use in structural design. The design options available vary depending on the material.
The design code options available vary depending on the analysis application you use.
The design method options of different materials are:
Option
Description
Material
None
Tekla Structures only runs a structural analysis

and creates data on stresses, forces, and displacements.
Steel
Concrete
Timber
Check design
Calculate
required area
Tekla Structures checks whether the structures

fulfill the criteria in the design code (i.e. whether
cross sections are adequate).
Steel
Tekla Structures defines the required area of reinforcement.
Concrete
Timber
Design properties
When you select a design code and method for a material, Tekla Structures lists the design
properties in the lower part of the Design tab in the Analysis Model Properties dialog box.
Click on an entry in the Value column to change the value of a particular property.
To change the design properties of specific parts, use the Design tab in the appropriate part
properties dialog box. See Design information (p. 27).
Contents of STAAD.Pro results files and reports

If STAAD.Pro is the analysis application you use, you can define the contents of the analysis
results files and reports in the Analysis Model Properties dialog box in Tekla Structures.
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Analysis and Design
71
Use the Output tab to define the contents of the analysis results files.
Use the Job tab to define the contents of the STAAD.Pro reports. The properties you can include
in reports are:
Property
Field in STAAD.Pro reports
Name
Job title, Client, Job Number, Part, and Reference fields in the report header (displayed on
Client
Number
each page).
Part
Reference
Comment
Comments field in Job information item in the
report.
Engineer
Checker
Approved
See also
Engineer and Checker names appear in the

report header and in the Job information field.
Acceptor name, appears in the Job information

field.
Running analysis (p. 81)
3.3 Load combination

Introduction
Load combination is a process in which some simultaneously acting load groups are multiplied
by their partial safety factors and combined with each other according to specific rules.
Load combination rules are specific to a design process and are defined in building codes. One
of the most typical design processes is the limit state design.
The result of the load combination process is a load combination.
You can have Tekla Structures automatically create load combinations, or you can create and
modify them manually.
Load combination properties

Load combination properties define how Tekla Structures combines loads. The following
properties control the load combination process:
Name and ID
Load modeling code (p. 38)
Load combination types (p. 73)
Load group compatibility (p. 43)
Load combination factors (p. 73)
Each load combination must have a unique name. Use names that describe the load situation.
Each load combination has an ID. This is an incremental number, based on order in which load
combinations are created in the analysis model.
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Load combination factors

You can use values for load combination factors that are building-code specific or user-defined.
To use building-code specific factors, click Tools > Options > Options... > Load modeling. On
the Current code tab, select an option from the Load modeling code list box. See Load
modeling code (p. 38).
If you change any values on the code-specific tabs, save the properties using a new name. To do
this, enter a name in the field next to the Save as button and click the Save as button.
You should not need to change these settings during the project. If you
have to, you will also need to change the load group types and check load
combinations.
The partial safety factors needed in the limit state design appear on the code-specific tabs. They
are:
Partial safety
factors
Reduction factors
Unfavorable partial safety factor in the ultimate limit state (sup)
Unfavorable partial safety factor in the serviceability limit state (sup)
Favorable partial safety factor in the serviceability limit state (inf)
Favorable partial safety factor in the ultimate limit state (inf)
Depending on the codes you use, you may need to use other combination factors. For example,
the Eurocode contains three reduction factors (0, 1, 2). Reduction factors exclude the
impractical effects of simultaneous loads.
Load combination types

You can perform several types of load combination, which vary according to the building code
you use. The options are:
Description
Load groups (LG)
Each load group forms a load

combination. All partial safety
factors equal 1.00.
All codes
Ultimate limit state
Combines load groups that occur

persistently and transiently. Uses
the partial safety factors of the ultimate limit state when combining
loads.
Eurocode,
British,
AISC
Serviceability limit state

Rare (SLS RC)

quasi-permanently and rarely. Uses
the partial safety factors of the
serviceability limit state when
combining loads.
Eurocode

Quasi-permanent (SLS

quasi-permanently. Uses the partial
safety factors of the serviceability
limit state when combining loads.
Eurocode
(ULS)
QP)
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Applies
to
Combination type

Analysis and Design
73
Description

quasi-permanently. Uses the partial
safety factors of the serviceability
limit state when combining loads.
AISC
Combines load groups and uses

factors according to the French
codes CM66 or BAEL91.
CM66,
BAEL91
(SLS)
Normal loads
Extreme loads
CM66
Displacement loads
CM66
Accidental loads
CM66
Ultimate loads
BAEL91
Ultimate accidental
loads
BAEL91
Loads for public structures

Loads for public structures with drifted snow
Combines load groups according to

the US IBC code (International
Building Code)
IBC (US)
IBC (US)
Loads for non public

structures
IBC (US)
Loads for non public

structures with drifted
snow
IBC (US)
Loads for public non

concrete and masonry
structures

the US UBC code (Uniform
Building Code)
UBC (US)
Loads for public non

snow
UBC (US)
Loads for non concrete

and masonry structures
UBC (US)
Loads for non concrete

and masonry structures
with drifted snow
UBC (US)
Loads for public

structures
UBC (US)
Loads for public

snow
UBC (US)
Loads for concrete and

masonry structures
UBC (US)
Loads for concrete and

masonry structures with
drifted snow
UBC (US)
ACI Table 1 - ACI Table 8
74
Applies
to
Combination type

the ACI code (American Concrete
Institutions publication 318)

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ACI
Use the Load Combination Generation dialog box to define the load combination type.
Creating load combinations

To create load combinations:
1.
2.

In the Analysis & Design Models dialog box, select an analysis model and click Load
combinations... to open the Load Combinations dialog box. This lists the existing load
combinations, together with their ID, name, type, and the load groups they contain.
Use the buttons in the Load Combinations dialog box to carry out various tasks. The buttons
are:
Button
Description
New...
Displays the Load Combination Coefficients dialog box,

where you manually create load combinations. See
Manual load combination (p. 77).
Generate...
Automatically generates load combinations based on the

code and factors in Tools > Options > Options... > Load
modeling. See Automatic load combination (p. 75).
Remove
Deletes the selected load combination.
Remove all
Deletes all load combinations.
Use the Save as and Load buttons to copy load combinations between
analysis models.
Automatic load combination

To automatically create load combinations:
1.
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In the Load Combinations dialog box, click Generate... to open the Load Combination
Generation dialog box.

Analysis and Design
75
2.
In the upper part of the dialog box, select the checkboxes against the combinations you want
to create. See Load combination types (p. 73).
3.
To automatically include the self-weight of parts or wind loads from the opposite direction,
select the appropriate checkboxes in the lower part of the dialog box. See Automatically
including loads in combinations (p. 76).
4.
Click Apply or OK.
Tekla Structures creates the load combinations for different load groups and limit states
according to the load modeling code you select, and uses the combination factors defined in
Tools > Options > Options... > Load modeling.
See also Creating load combinations (p. 75) and Manual load combination (p. 77).
Automatically including loads in combinations

You can automatically include various loads in load combinations. To do this, select the
appropriate checkboxes in the Load Combination Generation dialog box. The options are:
Checkbox
Description
Applies to
Include self-weight
Automatically includes the selfweight of parts in load combinations. This means that you do not
have to model self-weight loads
separately. See Automatic loads
and load groups (p. 42).
All codes
Generate wind also

in opposite direction
If the analysis model has wind

loads from a specific direction (x
or y), select this checkbox to
include wind loads from the
opposite direction (-x or -y).
All codes
To automatically include seismic loads in load combinations, use the

Seismic and Seismic masses tabs in the Analysis Model Properties
dialog box. See also Seismic analysis (p. 69).
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If the analysis model has imperfection loads, Tekla Structures automatically creates load combinations with both the positive and negative directions (x and -x, or y and -y).
Manual load combination

To create load combinations manually:
1.
In the Load Combinations dialog box, click New... to open the Load Combination
Coefficients dialog box.
2.
Select a combination type. See Load combination types (p. 73).
3.
Enter a unique name for the load combination. Try to make the name as descriptive as
possible.
4.
Use the arrow buttons to move load groups between the Loads available list and the
Combinations table.
5.
Modify the combination factors in the Combinations table by clicking a value.
6.
Click Apply or OK.
See also Creating load combinations (p. 75) and Automatic load combination (p. 75).
3.4 Working with analysis and design models

This section explains how to examine and modify analysis models. Click Analysis > Analysis
& Design Models... and use the Analysis & Design Models dialog box.
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Analysis and Design
77
Checking objects contained in an analysis model

To check which parts and loads an analysis model contains:
1.
2.

In the Analysis & Design Models dialog box, select a model.
3.
Click the Select objects button. Tekla Structures highlights and selects the parts and loads
in the physical model.
Adding or removing analysis objects

As well as changing the properties of an analysis model, you can also modify existing analysis
models by adding and removing objects.
Adding and removing objects changes the analysis model status to out of
date, so you must run the analysis again. See also Analysis model status
(p. 81).
To add or remove parts and loads:

1.
2.
In the physical model, select the parts and loads to add or remove.
3.
4.
To add the objects to the analysis model, click Add selected objects.
5.
To remove the objects from the analysis model, click Remove selected objects.
Showing analysis models and support conditions in model views

You can visually check analysis models in Tekla Structures, and make corrections if needed,
before actually running the analysis and using the analysis application. This is particularly useful
with large models, when the analysis may take some time.
To have Tekla Structures show an analysis model in a Tekla Structures model view:
1.
2.
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3.
If the analysis is not yet run, click the Create model button. Tekla Structures creates the
analysis model.
4.
Click the Show in model button.
Tekla Structures shows the analysis members and their identification numbers, nodes, rigid
links, and support conditions using the following colors and symbols:
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Object
Color
Node
Magenta
Rigid link
Dark blue
Normal member (Beam)
Red
Truss member
Green
Truss member Tension

only
Violet
Truss member
Compression only
Yellow
Composite beam
Gray
Plate, slab, or panel edge
Light blue
Image

Analysis and Design
79
Connected
Supported
To hide the model parts and view only the wire frame analysis model:
1.
2.
Double-click the model view.

In the View Properties dialog box, click the Display... button.
3.
On the Settings tab of the Display dialog box, clear the Parts checkboxes.
4.
Click Modify.
To hide the analysis model from the model view, right-click the view and select Redraw View
from the pop-up menu.
To show all member types and to permanently hide member or node numbers or support
conditions from model views, set the following variables to FALSE in Tools > Options >
Advanced options... > Analysis & Design:
80
XS_AD_MEMBER_TYPE_VISUALIZATION
XS_AD_NODE_NUMBER_VISUALIZATION
XS_AD_MEMBER_NUMBER_VISUALIZATION

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XS_AD_SUPPORT_VISUALIZATION
Analysis members will appear in red.
Analysis model status

The Results field in the Analysis & Design Models dialog box shows the status of the analysis
model. This can be:
Up to date
Status unknown
None
Not up to date
Not up to date means that the model has changed. To find out more:
1.
2.
Click Analysis > Analysis & Design models....

In the Analysis & Design Models dialog box, select an analysis model.
3.
Click Details... to open the Details of analysis model status dialog box. This displays the
status of the following:
Calculation
Analysis model properties
Parts
Loads
Load groups
Load combinations
The Parts, Loads, and Load groups tabs display information about individual objects based on
their ID number.
Running analysis
To run structural analysis on an analysis model:
1.
2.
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Analysis and Design
81
3.
Click Run.
The analysis application starts and opens the analysis model. Some analysis applications
automatically run the analysis.
Viewing analysis results

Once you have run the analysis, you can view the results. For information on analysis results,
see the following topics in the online help:
Get results
Analysis > Analysis & Design Models...
So that you can perform a visual check, you can have Tekla Structures use different colors to
show the utilization ratio of steel parts in the physical model. To do this:
1.
2.
Run the analysis.

3.
In the Analysis & Design Models dialog box, select an analysis model.
4.
In the Model Editor, click View > Representation > Object Representation....
5.
In the Object Representation dialog box, select the object group whose utilization ratios
you want to show.
6.
In the Color column, select Color by analysis utility check....
7.
In the Utility Ratio Ranges dialog box, set the ranges of ratio for each of the colors that
Tekla Structures uses to show safe and unsafe parts.
8.
Click OK. Tekla Structures shows the utilization ratio of the steel parts in the selected
analysis model using the following colors:
To show the utilization ratio of steel parts in a report, add the AD$$UtilityRatio template field in the report template you use.
3.5 Analysis and design reference

Use the commands on the Analysis menu to work with analysis and design models. The
following table lists the analysis and design commands and gives a short description of each one.
For the detailed instructions, see the online help.
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Command
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Icon
Description
Analysis & Design

models...
Displays the Analysis & Design

models dialog box so that you can
work with analysis and design
models.
View Analysis Parts
Shows the analysis parts superimposed on the physical parts in all

model views.
Geometry Settings...
Displays the Analysis Geometry

Settings dialog box where you can
define the automatic settings of analysis model geometry. See also Analysis model geometry (p. 57).
Connect Parts
Connects the selected parts in the

analysis. See also Connecting or
disconnecting parts in analysis (p.
60).
Disconnect Parts
Disconnects the selected parts in the

analysis. See also Connecting or
disconnecting parts in analysis (p.
60).
Edit Part Connectivity...
Displays the Analysis Member

Connectivity dialog box of a selected
parts so that you can view, define, and
modify the analysis connections of the
part. See also Defining analysis
connections of parts (p. 60).
Reset Geometry for

Selected Parts
Resets the selected parts to the default

analysis model geometry settings. All
manual adjustments in geometry are
removed.

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83
Index
a
bounding box ................................................................50

buckling length..............................................................28
adding nodes................................................................ 33
analysis ..................................................................12, 57
analysis and design
overview ................................................................ 57
prior to ................................................................... 13
analysis application
merging models..................................................... 68
analysis member offsets............................................... 17
analysis members
properties ........................................................14, 28
analysis method .....................................................39, 69
analysis model geometry.............................................. 57
modifying............................................................... 59
analysis model geometry rules..................................... 58
analysis models
a closer look .......................................................... 36
adding or removing objects ................................... 78
checking objects.................................................... 78
creating ...........................................................58, 64
filtering objects ...................................................... 66
modifying.........................................................65, 78
modifying geometry.........................................59, 60
objects................................................................... 65
properties .............................................................. 64
running analysis .................................................... 81
seismic loads......................................................... 69
status..................................................................... 81
viewing results....................................................... 82
analysis parts
properties .............................................................. 61
analysis settings ........................................................... 36
applying loads to parts ................................................. 49
attaching
loads...................................................................... 48
automatic loads ............................................................ 42
in load combinations ............................................. 76
seismic loads......................................................... 70
self-weight ............................................................. 42
c
color by analysis type ...................................................15
color by analysis utilization check.................................82
combination factors ......................................................73
combining loads............................................................72
common nodes .............................................................37
compatibility of load groups ..........................................43
components
in analysis..............................................................22
slabs in analysis ....................................................23
composite beam ...........................................................24
connecting parts in analysis .........................................60
creating
analysis models.....................................................64
load combinations .................................................75
loads......................................................................54
d
defining
load groups............................................................44
nodes.............................................................. 36, 67
support conditions .................................................25
degree of freedom ........................................................25
deleting
load groups............................................................44
design codes and methods...........................................71
design information ........................................................27
disconnecting parts in analysis.....................................60
distributing loads...........................................................48
DOF ..............................................................................25
e
effective buckling length ...............................................28
elements .......................................................................13
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handles......................................................................... 52
load modeling code ......................................................38

loads ................................................................ 41, 50, 54
applying .................................................................49
attaching................................................................48
automatic...............................................................42
combining ..............................................................72
creating..................................................................54
distribution .............................................................48
forms .....................................................................47
grouping ................................................................42
in analysis..............................................................37
load panel..............................................................50
magnitude..............................................................47
modifying ...............................................................52
properties ..............................................................45
scaling in model views...........................................53
seismic ..................................................................69
types......................................................................45
longitudinal member offset ...........................................17
intermediate analysis members.................................... 28

intermediate nodes....................................................... 33
iteration......................................................................... 69
member analysis type...................................................15

member axis
of all parts in analysis model .................................66
of individual parts ..................................................17
member end connectivity..............................................67
member end release method........................................67
members.......................................................................13
keeping numbers...................................................68
properties ....................................................... 14, 28
merging
models with analysis applications..........................68
modal analysis..............................................................70
modifying
analysis .................................................................59
analysis models.............................................. 65, 78
load groups............................................................44
loads......................................................................52
filter
in analysis models................................................. 66
filtering
analysis model objects .......................................... 66
g
geometry rules of analysis models ............................... 58
geometry settings of analysis models .......................... 57
k
Kmode .......................................................................... 28
l
load............................................................12, 41, 45, 47
load combination .......................................................... 72
automatic............................................................... 75
code ...................................................................... 38
creating combinations ........................................... 75
factors .............................................................38, 73
manual .................................................................. 77
properties .............................................................. 72
types...................................................................... 73
load groups................................................................... 42
automatic............................................................... 42
compatibility .......................................................... 43
defining.................................................................. 44
deleting.................................................................. 44
modifying............................................................... 44
properties .............................................................. 42
n
nodes..................................................................... 13, 37
adding....................................................................33
defining........................................................... 36, 67
keeping numbers...................................................68
o
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85
of loads .........................................................................52
partial safety factors......................................................73

parts
analysis properties.................................................61
physical.........................................................................12
plates
in analysis..............................................................18
seismic loads ................................................................69

self-weight.....................................................................42
slabs
components in analysis .........................................23
spanning
of loads ..................................................................50
of plates .................................................................19
split nodes.....................................................................33
strain .............................................................................48
support conditions.........................................................25
defining ..................................................................25
reduction factors ...........................................................73

rigid links................................................................ 34, 67
running analysis............................................................81
temperature load...........................................................48
user-defined attributes ..................................................30

utilization ratio ...............................................................82
safety factors ................................................................73

scaling
loads in model views .............................................53
see ................................................................................25
seismic analysis............................................................69
86
u
w
wind load generator ......................................................53
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Tekla Structure Analysis - Tutorial

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Tekla Structures

Product version 14.0

2008 Tekla Corporation and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Getting Started with Analysis................................................................. 11

Determining member properties ........................................................................................................... 14

Fine-tuning analysis models ................................................................................................................. 30

Analysis information and settings ......................................................................................................... 36

TEKLA STRUCTURES 14.0

A closer look at the analysis model ..................................................................................................

Load types and properties..................................................................................................................... 45

Working with loads................................................................................................................................ 52

Analysis and Design ............................................................................... 57

Analysis model geometry...................................................................................................................... 57

TEKLA STRUCTURES 14.0

Analysis model properties..................................................................................................................... 64

Load combination ................................................................................................................................. 72

Analysis and design reference.............................................................................................................. 82

TEKLA STRUCTURES 14.0

Working with analysis and design models ............................................................................................ 77

TEKLA STRUCTURES 14.0

Conventions used in this guide (p. 8)

Related guides (p. 9)

Additional help resources (p. 7)

Additional help resources

Contact your local helpdesk via e-mail:

TEKLA STRUCTURES 14.0

Conventions used in this guide

Bold indicates the names of keyboard keys.

TEKLA STRUCTURES 14.0

A tip might introduce a shortcut, or suggest alternative ways of doing

This symbol indicates advanced or highly technical information that is

TplEd Users Guide

SymEd Users Guide

TEKLA STRUCTURES 14.0

Installation Troubleshooting Guide

TEKLA STRUCTURES 14.0

Getting Started with

This chapter is divided into the following sections:

Basics (p. 11)

Analysis information and settings (p. 36)

Determining member properties (p. 14)

TEKLA STRUCTURES 14.0

Determines the connectivity between the members and nodes

Distributes loads to members and elements

Determines the support conditions for nodes

The analysis model also includes load combinations.

TEKLA STRUCTURES 14.0

Getting Started with Analysis

Following through structural analysis

Create the load model. See Loads (p. 41).

Create load combinations.

Now you are ready to run the analysis.

Members, elements, and nodes (p. 13)

Loads in analysis (p. 37)

Load modeling code (p. 38)

Analysis method (p. 39)

A closer look at the analysis model (p. 36)

Members, elements, and nodes

TEKLA STRUCTURES 14.0

The ends of members

The corners of elements

The intersection points of member axes

The following properties affect the exact location of nodes: