How to draw Structure in STAAD Pro?

by | Sep 23, 2020 | STAAD | 0 comments

STAAD Pro

STAAD Pro is a multi functional Computer Aided Design (CAD) Software Application generally used for Structural Analysis and Design. We can draw, analysis and design steel as well as concrete (RCC) structures. In this article we’re discussing about only drafting that is general steps to draw structure in STAAD Pro.

What kinds of structures we can draw, analysis and design in STAAD Pro?

We can’t design Water Tank and Bridge Deck in STAAD Pro. For them only Analysis is Possible. In this article we’re only discussing about first four designs to get a basic idea to draw structure in STAAD Pro and then how to Analyse and Design them.

A) Basic Concrete Design
  1. Open Staad Pro Application
  2. Select New Project from popup panel
  3. Check Space, rename file and Select required dimensions
  4. Check Add Beam to open Modelling tab directly and press Finish
  5. Add Beams (Beams and Columns) and make 2D plan
  6. Now Select those nodes which we want Make Columns
  7. Now go to Translational Repeat, Select Y direction, define Spacing and finally check Link Steps to join nodes
  8. Similarly select the plan and go to translational repeat again and but this time define number of steps we want to repeat as our floor
  9. Now go to General tab and select Property tab to define Properties to the all members
  10. Select Define option and Select & Define Type of member and their dimensions and select Add option
  11. For column, go to Select tab and select members parallel to Y
  12. Similarly for Beams, go to Select tab and select beams parallel to X and Z (Otherwise select all horizontal Members from Front View)
  13. Now go to General tab again, Select Front View and Select All end Nodes for Footing
  14. After selecting all required nodes, select Create option and create Fixed Support
  15. After Creating Fixed Support, Assign this support to all selected nodes
  16. Now go to General Tab again and Select Load and Definitions
  17. Add Seismic or Wind Definitions in X & Z directions (both +ve and –ve)
  18. Now select Load Cases Details and Add Load Cases (If you want to give seismic loading, then give First preference to Seismic Loading then add another loads)
  19. For Load Combinations, go to Load Cases Details and select Auto Load Combinations, select our Indian IS Code and press Generate, select load combinations we want and add them
  20. After creating all load details, Go to Analysis/Print and add Print All in Perform Analysis tab
  21. Now Select Analysis tab and perform analysis
  22. Check errors and solve it and Check warnings too.
  23. And Analysis completed
  24. Then we want to perform basic design of concrete
  25. For that, Go to Design tab
  26. Then select Concrete tab and further select IS Code 456
  27. Click Select Parameters like Fmain, Fsec and Track etc.
  28. Then Define these Parameters and Add them
  29. After that Assign to view these all parameters
  30. Add Commands
  31. And once again Perform Analysis and this time all members will be designed
B) Interactive Concrete Design
  1. Follow Basic Concrete Design Steps upto 23 i.e. upto Analysis of Structure
  2. Then click on Concrete Design
  3. Add Job Details
  4. Create two envelops for Beams And Columns
  5. Each time add required load combinations for beams and Columns
  6. Then go to Groups/Briefs and Create two Groups first for Beams and Columns for each
  7. Then create briefs for each beams and columns groups
  8. Go to Member tabs, Select Model then click members and Select Auto Form Members
  9. Select Vertical members by Beam Cursor and press right click of mouse and add to Columns Group
  10. Similarly, Select Horizontal members and to Beams Group
  11. Now, Go to Concrete members then Design Each Beams and Columns Group
  12. And our Interactive Concrete Design is done
C) Basic Steel Design
  1. Open Staad Pro Application
  2. Select New Project from popup panel
  3. Check Space, rename file and Select required dimensions
  4. Check Add Beam to open Modelling tab directly and press Finish
  5. Add Beams (Beams and Columns) and make 2D plan
  6. Now Select those nodes which we want Make Columns
  7. Now go to Translational Repeat, Select Y direction, define Spacing and finally check Link Steps to join nodes
  8. Similarly select the plan and go to translational repeat again and but this time define number of steps we want to repeat as our floor
  9. Now go to General tab and select Property tab to define Properties to the all members
  10. Select Section Database Option and select Indian Steel Standards as per our required shape and dimensions
  11. For column, go to Select tab and select members parallel to Y
  12. Similarly for Beams, go to Select tab and select beams parallel to X and Z (Otherwise select all horizontal Members from Front View)
  13. Now go to General tab again, Select Front View and Select All end Nodes for Footing
  14. After selecting all required nodes, select Create option and create Fixed Support
  15. After Creating Fixed Support, Assign this support to all selected nodes
  16. Now go to General Tab again and Select Load and Definitions
  17. Add Seismic or Wind Definitions in X & Z directions (both +ve and –ve)
  18. Now select Load Cases Details and Add Load Cases (If you want to give seismic loading, then give First preference to Seismic Loading then add another loads)
  19. For Load Combinations, go to Load Cases Details and select Auto Load Combinations, select our Indian IS Code and press Generate, select load combinations we want and add them
  20. After creating all load details, Go to Analysis/Print and add Print All in Perform Analysis tab
  21. Now Select Analysis tab and perform analysis
  22. Check errors and solve it and Check warnings too.
  23. And Analysis completed
  24. Then we want to perform basic design of steel
  25. For that, Go to Design tab
  26. Then select Steel tab and further select IS Code 800 2007 LSD
  27. Click Select Parameters like Fmain, Fsec and Track etc.
  28. Then Define these Parameters and Add them
  29. After that Assign to view these all parameters
  30. Add Commands
  31. And once again Perform Analysis and this time all members will be designed
D) Interactive Steel Design
  1. Follow Basic Steel Design Steps upto 23 i.e. upto Analysis of Structure
  2. Then click on Steel Design
  3. Add Job Details
  4. Create two envelops for Beams And Columns
  5. Each time add required load combinations for beams and Columns
  6. Then go to Groups/Briefs and Create two Groups first for Beams and Columns for each
  7. Then create briefs for each beams and columns groups
  8. Go to Member tabs, Select Model then click Member Design>Physical Members and Select Auto Form Members
  9. Select Vertical members by Beam Cursor and press right click of mouse and add to Columns Group
  10. Similarly, Select Horizontal members and to Beams Group
  11. Now, Go to Steel members then Design Each Beams and Columns Group
  12. And our Interactive Steel Design is done

 From above steps you can easily draw a structure in STAAD Pro. Here, we discussed about ‘How to Draw?’ only. For more details like ‘Loads and Combinations’, ‘Shear Force Diagram (SFD)’, ‘Bending Moment Diagram (BMD)’, ‘Indian Code Recommendations and Limitation’ etc. Checkout our STAAD Category and find useful article for your practice.

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