STAAD Instruction Manual

STAAD – Structural Analysis and Design
Instruction Manual
Problem 5-7 page 123 Third Edition

Problem 5-7 page 129 Fourth Edition
Applied Statics and Strength of Materials Textbook

Leonard Spiegel and George F. Limbrunner
©2006, General Training and Educational (GTE) Services,

All rights reserved. Reproduction without prior written authorization is strictly prohibited.
STAAD Instruction Manual
Table of Contents
1 Introduction…………………………………………….. 2
2 Creating A New Structure……………………………… 3
3 Generating the Model Geometry……………………….. 4
4 Saving the Structure……………………………………. 6
5 Specifying Supports…………………………………….. 7
6 Specifying Loads………………………………………... 11
7 Command File…………………………………………… 15
8 Specifying Materials…………………………………….. 17
9 Printing Member Information…………………………… 18
10 Performing Analysis…………………………………….. 20
11 Generating Post Analysis Report………………………... 21
12 Running Analysis……………………………………….. 23
13 Viewing the Output File and Interpreting Results…….. 24
14 Viewing Animated Deflected Shape of the Truss……... 26
-1-
1. Introduction:
STAAD.Pro is software for STructural Analysis and Design from Research Engineers International
(www.reiworld.com)
STAAD.Pro is used to generate a model of a truss, which can be analyzed using the same software. After
modeling and analysis is completed, the Graphical User Interface (GUI) can also be used to view the results
graphically.
In this manual, example 5-7 from Applied Statics and Strength of Materials book (3 rd/4th Edition- Leonard
Spiegel and George F. Limbrunner) is solved using STAAD.Pro. The first section of this manual explains
how to model the truss shown below.
9’-0”
Hinge
Roller
Support
4 bays @10’-0” = 40’-0” Support
In the second section, after analyzing the model, support reaction and member forces are printed. Using the
animation capabilities of STAAD.Pro, a visualization of the deflected shape of the truss is obtained.
-2-
2. Creating a New Structure:

2.1 To create a new structure, Click on File  New
2.2 To specify units
Note: Before you proceed, make sure that you have all the toolbars (icons) loaded in the
current session of STAAD. Click on View>Toolbars and check all boxes to import all
toolbars. Please note that the position of a certain toolbar may be different on your
screen. Also, the job info in the right side window is optional.
-3-
3. Generating Model Geometry

3.1 Click on the Geometry tab on the left. Then click on Beam tab next to it.
Or
Select Geometry  Snap Grid/Node  Beam
1. Click
here for 2. Click on Geometry and Beam tabs.
FRONT
view 3. Set No. of
grid lines and
the grid
spacing
Click #2,14 Click #4,15 Click #6,16 Click #8,17
7. Click on
Close
Click #1, 13* Click #3,12 Click #5,11 Click #7,10 Click #9
4. Make sure
5. Start adding members as shown by click numbers. that Snap
Node/Beam is
active.
* After 13, press and hold Control key and then click on #14
-4-
3.2 To view the node and beam numbers Click View> Structure Diagrams and select Labels tab
Or Click here
1. Make sure
that you are in
the Labels tab.
2. Check the
Node numbers,
Beam numbers
and Load
values
checkboxes.
3. Click on
Apply and then
OK.
-5-
4. Saving the structure:

Click on File  Save as. Select appropriate folder and name the file as ‘Problem 5-7 Myname.std’
-6-
5. Specifying supports
Click on General tab on the left side and click on support tab.
2. Make sure
that you are in
pinned support
tab.
1. Click on
3. Click on
Add.
Create.
-7-
1. Highlight
4. Click and Support 2
Select this
node
2. Check
Use cursor
to assign
3. Click on
Assign
-8-
Part II: Creating Roller Supports:
3. A roller support is 2. Select fixed

a fixed support But tab
without these
reactions. So we have
to release these
reactions.
Check these boxes.
4. Click on
1. Click on
Create.
Add. Or if you
have closed
this dialogue
box in the
previous step
again click on
General and
Supports tab.
-9-
1. Highlight
Support 3.
2. Check
Use Cursor
to Assign.
3. Click on
Assign.
1. Select this
node.
2. Click on
Close
- 10 -
6. Specifying Loads:
1. Select General and

load tab
2. Type ‘point loads’

and click on OK.
- 11 -
1. Click on
Nodal.
2. Specify the
value of the
vertical load as
–6 units.
3. Click on
Add.
- 12 -
Again Click on
Nodal and repeat
this procedure for 8
kips and 10 kips
load.
- 13 -
The truss should look like this…
Click on
Close.
If the forces and arrowheads look smaller, you may change the scale by which a force is being represented.
Click on View> Structure Diagrams and in the scales tab change the point force scale to 1kip per foot.
- 14 -
7. Command File:
Command file is a history file which records all procedures you have done while designing a truss problem.
When an analysis is run, this command file is executed. Please click on Edit  Edit Input file to see the
contents. Command file and the Graphical User Interface are bi-directional, which means if you make any
changes in command file, your truss model will be updated automatically. Any standard text editor such as
Notepad or Textpad can also be used to create the command file, but the build –in editor of STAAD.Pro
offers the advantage of syntax checking as we type the commands.
- 15 -
- 16 -
8. Specifying Materials:
1. Select General and

Property tab
2. Click on Database
3. Select American.
- 17 -
1. Select
Angle
tab.
3. Select
L40308.
2. Select Long
Leg Back to
Back, Double
angle.
5. Click on
Add.
3. Click on
individual members 1. Click on Use
till all members get Cursor to Assign.
material R1.
2. Click on Assign.
- 18 -
9. Printing Member Information:

Member information such as element number and its associated nodes can be printed in our final output
result file. This can be done without (or before) the actual analysis while being in the modeling stage of
truss design.
- 19 -
10. Performing Analysis:
- 20 -
11. Generating Post Analysis Report:

11-1 Member forces:
- 21 -
11-2 Support reactions:
- 22 -
12. Running Analysis:

Click on Analyze  Run Analysis
Select STAAD Analysis
- 23 -
13. Viewing the Output File and Interpreting Results:
- 24 -
The axial force in member 1 is 9.43 kips.
Tensile or compressive??
Let’s have a quick look at our model.
Positive direction
Member 1 is defined as FROM 1 TO 2.

Hence the positive direction of axis is
FROM 1 TO 2.
At joint 1, force is positive. (Directed

towards 2) and at joint 2, force is negative,
(directed towards 1)
Hence, the force in member 1 is

compressive.
- 25 -
14. Viewing Animated Deflected Shape Of The Truss:
1. Select the animation tab.
2. Check Deflection.
3. Specify these values. You can

play with these values to obtain
different intermediate shapes as
well as speeds.
4. Hit F12 for a full screen
display. Press F12 again to
return back to normal screen.
End of file
- 26 -

STAAD Instruction Manual

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

STAAD Instruction Manual

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

STAAD – Structural Analysis and Design

Problem 5-7 page 123 Third Edition

Applied Statics and Strength of Materials Textbook

©2006, General Training and Educational (GTE) Services,

2 Creating A New Structure……………………………… 3

3 Generating the Model Geometry……………………….. 4

4 Saving the Structure……………………………………. 6

9 Printing Member Information…………………………… 18

11 Generating Post Analysis Report………………………... 21

13 Viewing the Output File and Interpreting Results…….. 24

14 Viewing Animated Deflected Shape of the Truss……... 26

2. Creating a New Structure:

2.2 To specify units

3. Generating Model Geometry

4. Saving the structure:

Part II: Creating Roller Supports:

3. A roller support is 2. Select fixed

1. Select General and

2. Type ‘point loads’

The truss should look like this…

1. Select General and

9. Printing Member Information:

10. Performing Analysis:

11. Generating Post Analysis Report:

11-2 Support reactions:

12. Running Analysis:

Select STAAD Analysis

13. Viewing the Output File and Interpreting Results:

The axial force in member 1 is 9.43 kips.

Let’s have a quick look at our model.

Member 1 is defined as FROM 1 TO 2.

At joint 1, force is positive. (Directed

Hence, the force in member 1 is

14. Viewing Animated Deflected Shape Of The Truss:

1. Select the animation tab.

3. Specify these values. You can

You might also like