Hands-on Workshop on

Structural Analysis using LUSAS

By:
Dr Redzuan Abdullah
 Introduction to LUSAS

LUSAS London University Stress Analysis System

www.lusas.com
Commercial application products
Civil & Structural - for civil, structural, nuclear, seismic,
geotechnical and offshore engineering.
Bridge - for bridge engineering analysis, design, and
assessment.
Analyst - for automotive, aerospace, defense,
manufacturing and general engineering analysis.
Composite - for engineers designing composite
products or components.
 Latest version as on January 2015: Version 15
Free teaching version, limit : 250 elements,
500 nodes, 1500 degrees of freedom, and 10
load cases
 In this workshop

To give demonstration on how to use the

software by showing the basic steps for static
analysis.
Further readings and more information about
the software can be found through the
internet or at www.lusas.com
Use of example manual (pdf) which comes
with the software
 Day-1
Hands-on workshop on
Structural analysis
Running LUSAS

All model and input values must

use consistent unit
 Toolbar button
Main menu
Graphic window
Tree view
Tree frame

Status bar
Text window
 Steel Truss Analysis

The figure above shows a steel truss with equal spans of 4m. The height is
3.0m. The load shows are concentrated at truss joins.
Use EA75x75x6 for top and bottom chords (Eurocode Section)
EA50x50x6 for vertical and diagonal members
Mild steel
 Pre processing
Main Steps of model creation
Entering job information.
Building model geometry.
Defining element type.
Defining member properties, sections.
Defining material properties.
Assigning loads (load cases, combinations..)
Assigning supports and constraints.
 Groups of Elements

Bar Elements Membrane Elements

Beam Elements Joint Elements
2D Continuum Elements Thermal Elements
3D Continuum Elements Interface Elements
Plate Elements Mass Elements
Shell Elements
 Building model (structure) geometry

Methods for defining truss/frame geometry

Draw line by typing coordinates
Sweeping a point
By selecting two points
Sub menu under drop down
Copying lines
Draw point Draw line Group Copy Sweep

Draw surface Draw volume Move

Enter coordinate of points and
press tab to go to the next line. For 2D
model, z coordinate is not required
 Sweep points will
produce lines

Select these points,

and sweep in Y direction by 3m

press SHIFT to add to the selection. Press

CTRL to toggle the selection
Select two points and
draw the line
between the points
The above truss can also be drawn by drawing the first span and
copy translate by 4m to the right and copy mirror the
second span

Select the truss at 1st span and

Copytranslate in x direction by 4m
Select the middle span and
Copymirrorparallel to z
axis and input the mirror points
at (8,0) and (8,10)
 Turning on-off the label
Right click in the
graphic window

Deleting the
Check layer in the
tree view
will turn off
the graphics
associated
with the
layer

Line and point name

Defining Element Type

Bar element is
used for truss Truss is a constant
analysis stress element,
hence no need
discretization is
Give a required
meaningful
name
Press OK will create the bar
element named Truss
Element
 Select Truss Element, drag and drop
into the graphic window will assign the
selected lines with the Truss Element

Color means
this element is
being assigned

CTRL+A will select all objects

 Defining Member Geometry

Chose
section
Choose property
appropriate from
geometry section
property
library or
enter value
here
Member property dialog

Give name to the section

 Select the top and bottom elements and
assign the property by drag and drop
into the graphic window

Repeat for the vertical and diagonal

elements
Defining Material Property

Choose
Isotropic
to input
value
manually

Select all
members, drag
and drop the
material
property
Defining support

Select point and assign

the support
Load case 1 Load case 2 Load case 3
 Defining loads

Pressing Apply will not

turn off the dialog and we
can continue to define
other loads
Define the 10kN point
load in the Y direction
and name it as Point Load
Y = -10
Define other loads and
name them properly
 1. Assign the -10kN load to the end points

2. Select the load case

tab on the tree view
and rename the
Loadcase 1 to Dead
load

3. Assign the -20kN load to the

internal points under the
same Dead load case
 1. Assign the -15kN load to the end
points and rename the Load case to
Live load

2. Assign the -30kN load to the

internal points under the same
Live load load case
3. Repeat the load assignment
for Wind load load case
 Fleshing on/off Support on/off Isometric view

Return to home
graphics
Load on/off
Zoom all

Right click on the

load case and Set
Active load case Active to view the
load

Wind load loadcase

 Checking the model

Color label indicates

that the attribute has
been assigned
 Analysis and viewing results

Solve now

Turn on the
deformed
mesh layer
Deformed mesh for Dead load load
case dan Wind load load case
 Post processing
Load combination - basic

Type combination name

From main menu, Analysis Envelope and choose both load
combinations and name it as Design load
 Right click

Choose value
layer

Right
click
and set
active
Select All to show axial force values

Design load max

Design load min

End of Truss Analysis Example
Questions?
Tutorial 2 (hands-on)
Analysis of 2D Frame
Example from LUSAS pdf manual
A simple 2D frame as shown above is to be analysed. E = 210E9 Pa, v = 0.3, r =
7860 kg/m3. Loadcase 1 = Self-weight, Loadcase 2 = Sway load 5000N at the top
of the left-hand column. The units of the analysis are N, m, kg, s, C throughout.
Use 70x70x6 EA for roof members and 127x76x13 UB for columns

The required output from the analysis consists of:

1. A deformed shape plot showing displacements caused by the imposed
loading.
2. An axial force, shear and bending moment diagram showing stresses in the
members.
 Groups of Elements

Bar Elements Membrane Elements

Beam Elements Joint Elements
2D Continuum Elements Thermal Elements
3D Continuum Elements Interface Elements
Plate Elements Mass Elements
Shell Elements
 Building model geometry
1. Open LUSAS and create a new file. Choose 2. Draw lines by entering
unit: N, m, kg, s, C coordinate as follows

3. Select point P2 and P4

and click line icon to
draw line L4
Select L2 and L4 and divide these lines
into two by splitting in equal distance
1. Draw line between point P5 2. Select all lines and copymirror
and P6 parallel to z axis at mirror points
passing poins P3 and P4

3. Turn off or on the labels

1. Turn on the Geometry 2. Check the line direction
dialog by clicking the
geometry layer twice

3. Select L12, L13, L14, L15 and

reverse the line direction. Use pull
down menu: Geometry, Line,
Reverse. This will reverse the line
direction
 Defining element type

Select all lines and

assign thick beam
element by drag
and drop to
graphic window

The result is all lines assigned

with thick beam element,
discretized at 0.5m
Defining member section properties

1. Define two sections to be

used in the model

2. Assign the section properties to

the appropriate lines
 1. Click the isometric view
button will show the
model in isometric view

2. Change the vertical axis in

graphic window using menu
UtilitiesVertical Axis
Vertical Y axis and click the
isometric button again

3. Click resize button to enlarge

the graphic
Zoom the model to see if the member
orientation is satisfactory

We can orientate these

members by reversing the
line direction
 Select these members and reverse
the direction:
GeometryLinesReverse

Try to change the rotation

angle and see the effect to the
member orientation
 Defining material properties
Create material from menu:
AttributeMaterialMaterial library

Make correction to the material values and

assign the value to members by drag and
drop into the graphic windows. Dont forget
to select the member first
 Assigning support
Click Home button to
change the graphics
into front view

Drag and
drop to the
selected
point to
create
support
 Assigning loads
Create body force by defining acceleration:
AttributeLoadingBody forceNext,
input the acceleration in Y direction and
name it as Gravity ve Y

Change the loadcase name to Self weight

1. Create point load of 500N for sway load:
AttributeLoadingConcentratedNextEnter the
value in X field and name it as Sway load

2. Name the load case as Sway and assign

the load to the top left point
 Analysis and viewing results
Analyze

Combine result

Deform mesh for

Dead load + Sway load
 Bending moment
Set active load
combination

Bending moment diagram

Shear and axial force

Shear force

Axial force
 End of Frame
Analysis Example
Questions?
 Support movement
Analyze the frame due to the combined effect of the following:
a)The loading as shown in the figure
b)Clockwise rotation of 0.017 radians of the left support, and
c) The settlement of 18 mm of the right support

130kN

Note: We must use thick beam element to model support displacement

 Rigid end offset

Effect of the joint Better model to

Also known as
is negligible. Not consider the rigid end
joint eccentricity
accurate if the offset
beams depth is
large
 Can be modeled in 2 ways
Through the use of additional nodes and rigid
members
Use of rigid member / link can be done in all analysis
program
Through the use of a transformation matrix
End offset / beam eccentricity
At program level, must have option in the program
 Through the use of additional nodes and rigid
members
Easy to do, can be done in all programs
Recommended properties for the rigid beam
segments: 1000 times stiffer than the connected
elements (Kassimali)
 Through the use of a transformation matrix
At program level, must have option in the program
 Rigid end offset
Analyze the frame by considering the size of the members

130kN
2-D frame and
Shear wall
Analyse the frame and shear wall with the
following loads:
1. Load = 25 kN/m on all beams and on
alternate spans
2. Horizontal load of 10 kN/m on the left
column

Note: Beams are rigidly connected to

9@3m
the wall

Shear wall is modeled with plane stress

If beams are rigidly connected to shear
wall, extend the beam element into the
plane stress to overcome the
incompatible DOF at the beam end and
shear wall node

3m 3m 3m
Alternative
model
Axis rotation (local coordinate)
 Example of the inclined roller support

20kN/m
130kN

762x267x197 kg/m UB
914x305x201 kg/m UB
3m

10 m
45.0
 Box beam with skew support

If the cross section is assumed rigid, and the beam is long,

it can be modeled with beam element.
If the support is skewed, it will induce torsion in the beam.

2m
 The beam ends can be model using:
Local coordinate, or
Using rigid elements, ABC and DEF

Example:
(EI)ABC = (EI)DEF = 0.8, (EI)BE = 3.6, (GJ)ABC = (GJ)DEF = 2.0,
(GJ)BE = 4.0
Vertical load = w = 12 kN/m, L= 10 m
 -150
Analysis results by
(theory) hand
calculation
Ref: Bridge Deck
Analysis, OBrian and
Keogh, 1999
Portal Frame
 Portal Frame

Most efficient span = 25 35 m

Haunch length = 10% of the span
The depth from the rafter axis to the underside of the haunch is 2% of the span
Apex is not usually modeled in the analysis
Roof pitch 5% - 10%. Typically 6%
Clear height from floor level to the underside of the haunch is 5 12 m
The frame spacing is between 6 8 m
Stiffness ratio between column and rafter is 1.5
 Example
Design a portal frame with the dimensions and loads as shown

2m

4m

30 m

Column UB610x305x179 kg/m

Rafter UB914x305x201 kg/m
 Grillage beam
Grillage is made up of a mesh of
longitudinal and transverse
beams lying in horizontal plane
and subjected to loads acting in
vertical direction
Problem definition

The slab is represented as Grillage model

beams in x-y plane
 Grillage analysis
Floor slab
Bridge deck
 Carriageway width = 11.5m

0.05 m thk premix on

0.2 m thk conc slab
0.4
0.8

1.2 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.9 1.2

Figure 1 Bridge deck cross section

0.2

0.5
I

1 15@2m = 30m
1.65

Figure 2 Longitudinal section

 1.2
20 End diaphragm Dummy beam

Edge beam

5@1.9 m = 9.5 m
Longitudinal beams

Edge beam

Dummy beam
15@2m = 30 m

1.2
Figure 3 Grillage layout
 Example
Longitudinal
beam at 2m c/c

Transverse
Idealized Grillage Model (Deflected) beams at 5 m c/c
Bridge Deck

Skew layout at -20o

 Temperature loading
Uniform temperature increment
Temperature gradient

2m

4m

30 m

Column UB610x305x179 kg/m

Rafter UB914x305x201 kg/m
 Initial stress and strain
Sources:
Residual stress
Fabrication error
Tightening of bolt
 Day-2
Hands-on workshop on FE
modelling and analysis
 Introduction
Problems other than truss, beam and frame
(line element) are continuum structure:
2D (sx, sy txy)
3D
Mostly stress output
Mostly local effect
 Groups of Elements

Bar Elements Membrane Elements

Beam Elements Joint Elements
2D Continuum Elements Thermal Elements
3D Continuum Elements Interface Elements
Plate Elements Mass Elements
Shell Elements
 2D Continuum

Plane stress
Plane strain
Axisymmetric solid
sx, sy txy sx, sy txy
 Perforated plate

s max
Plate with circular hole K=
s0
Stress concentration depends on plate
geometry, type of discontinuity and type
of loads (load direction)
 Plate with elliptical hole, larger K

Plate with circular hole two direction loads

 Stress analysis of a plate with circular hole
Objective: Find the value of stress
concentration factor, K for the tangential
stress near the hole and along the symmetric
Build a quarter plate line
model to reduce problem
size
Stress analysis of a plate with circular hole
3. Sweep point to
upward by 90mm

1. Draw arc

2. Sweep point to the

right by 90mm
Select all lines
and create
surface from
lines
Create mesh: Attribute -> Mesh ->
Surface -> choose Plane Stress,
Quadrilateral shape and linear
interpolation and name as Plane
stress

After clicking OK, the Attribute

will display the mesh in the tree
view
Select the surface and drag and drop the plane stress
into the graphic area. This will mesh the surface with
the plane stress element

Drag and drop

Default mesh
 We can control the mesh division at any side of
the surface by assigning None element type.
Input the Number of divisions as required

1. Select none

2. Type in 10

3. Type in name
4. Select lines and
drag and drop
 Input the thickness

Assign the geometric

property for the plate.
Attribute ->Geometric-
>Surface

Give name

Select the surface, drag

and drop the surface
geometry
Toggle On and Off the flashing icon to see
the rendered surface

Isometric view Zoom in to

see the plate
thickness
Assign the material property:
Attribute -> Material ->Material
library -> Mild steel

Select the plate and drag and drop

the material property

Drag and drop

Assign the support:
Attribute -> Support and create the Fix x
and Fix y support

Select left line

and assign Fix x
support

Select bottom line and assign Fix y

support
Specify the load: Attribute -> Loading -> Check Global Distributed ->
Next. Check Per unit length, and input 10 for Y Direction load. The
evarage stress is 10N/mm2 because the thickness is 1 mm

Assign the load to the

to top line

Name the load

 Dont forget to save
file before analysis is
Hit Run icon to run the analysis. carried out

1. Right click in
2. Deformed the graphic area
mesh and (at empty space)
Value layer to open the
command dialog
and select the
3. Double click the Deform mesh
value layer to turn and Value layer
on the Value dialog Deformed mesh will
appear when the
Deformed mesh
layer is turned On
 Select Value Display tab to
Choose any result that you
choose the display option
would like to see
 Contour of stress sy

Turn On the
Contour layer to
choose the result
property
To draw the graph of any result through the plate:
Draw a line at the location where you want to draw the graph. Select the
line and choose command:
Utilities -> Graph Through 2D -> By Selected Line-> OK

Choose stress, Sy, Next, Finish

Repeat the analysis using smaller mesh

Smaller mesh

Coarser mesh

Average stress is 10 N/mm2

Select arc line -> Geometry -> Line
By Splitting->In equal division, 2

Then draw this line

Select top half, then create surface

Repeat
create
surface for
this half
1. Attribute -> Mesh ->Line->Structural element type = None->
Number of Div 10,-> Spacing ->check Uniform Transition-> 0.1->OK

2. Create none structural line

mesh with 5 div
 3. Assign 10 div none element mesh line to these lines

5. Mesh the
surface with
plane stress

4. Assign 5 div none

element mesh line to
these lines
 1. Select the bottom line
2. Utilities->Graph through 2D-> By selected line-> Stress Sy

Result of Sy along bottom line

Graph properties can be changed
through right clicking

The result converge to analytical solution when the mesh size is

refined at the critical location
 Convergence of solution

Depends on
Element type Linear and quadratic
interpolation are available
Element shape Type of element
Number of element

Dislaplacement vs. number of element Poor shape

 Symmetric model

Use symmetric model to reduce problem size

Choose appropriate BC to obtain the symmetric
model

Beam
 Example

Long pipe with internal pressure

Analysis of floor slab
 Problem

A floor plan of a building with rectangular opening

ABCD is shown in the below figure. Sides 1-2-3 are
fixed support and sides 1-4-3 are pin support. The slab
carries uniform load of 20 kN/m. Analyze the slab to
obtain the followings:
Vertical displacement
Bending moment diagrams plotted along the lines that
pass through the maximum moments in both x and y
directions. Show the maximum value in the plot.
Shear force diagrams plotted along the lines that pass
through the maximum shears in both x and y directions.
Show the maximum value in the plot.
Contour of maximum moment in x direction.
 Groups of Elements

Bar Elements Membrane Elements

Beam Elements Joint Elements
2D Continuum Elements Thermal Elements
3D Continuum Elements Interface Elements
Plate Elements Mass Elements
Shell Elements
 y

3m 4 m 5m

4 3

3m

A B

2m

C D
3m

x
1 2
Reinforced concrete beam
RC beam

Compare the stresses in the RC

beam with and without rebars
3D solid model for bridge peer
 Groups of Elements

Bar Elements Membrane Elements

Beam Elements Joint Elements
2D Continuum Elements Thermal Elements
3D Continuum Elements Interface Elements
Plate Elements Mass Elements
Shell Elements
Analyze the bridge peer
for the loading as shown.
Determine the largest
stress, Sx, Sz and bending
moment in the cross head
at the face of column
 3D-solid model

2.183m 2.617m

8m
 Slidelines

Slidelines are used to model

Contact problem
Impact problem
To tie dissimilar mesh together
As an alternative to joint element or constraint
equation
Advantage for use with problems where there are no
prior knowledge about the contact points
 Types of Slideline

Null The slideline attribute is ignored. Useful for

performing a preliminary check on the model.
No Friction Used to model contact without
friction.
Friction Used to model contact with friction.
Tied Used to tie different meshes together.
Sliding Used for problems where surfaces are
kept in contact but which are free to slide relative
to each other. The sliding behaviour is frictionless
 Example
Frictional slideline is defined between two
bodies
Tied slideline is used to joint dissimilar meshes

Note: Except for tied slideline, the slideline contact

facility is inherently nonlinear and must be used in
nonlinear analysis
Tied Slide line
Steel Beam Column joint

Joint element with vertical stiffness

Tied
slidline Prestressed the bolt

Share the
same line/tied
slideline
Volume
partition
 Spherical Dome under self weight
Ref: Fund. of the analysis and design of Shell Structure, V. S. Kelkar, 1987

Forces Displacements

Where p = weight per unit area of the surface

Example
 Dome with a sky light

Where r0 = a, P = line load per length, p = weight per unit area of the surface
Axisymmetric structure
Axisymmetric structure
100 dia
100 dia

150 dia tube

 Line -> Arc

Select the circle and

move it towards -
300x, then sweep it
towards 600x

Move Sweep
Draw another circle for
the 100 dia tube Select and Sweep the circle to
300x

Select the cylinder and

move, rotate about y
axis for -45o

Then while still selecting it, copy,

rotate about y-axis for -90o
 1. Select the larger
cylinder and the 1st
smaller cylinder, then
perform the boolean
union command

Select the larger

cylinder and the 2nd
cylinder and repeat the
boolean command
Select the surface inside the Delete the line and point below it
larger cylinder and delete it as well
Define thin shell element and mesh the Create geometry with
surfaces with auto meshing 2mm thick and asign to
the surfaces

Assign the surfaces with mild steel material

 Assign pin support at both ends of the large cylinder
Tension load
According to the manual, the concentrated
global load can be applied to the shell
element QSI4. As such we need to create Compression
local coordinate for the cross section line of load
the small cylinder in order to apply the
loading in the direction of the cylinder

Attribute -> local coordinate-> 45o about y-

axis , and assign to the line of the 2nd
cylinder

Create load and assign to the line

Repeat the local coordinate assignment of -

45o for the 1st cylinder and assign the load
End of Session