Scia engineer advance modelling

Tutorial Steel Frame

Scia Engineer

1

Release: 2008.0

Req. Module: ESA.00 Base Modeller

ESAS.00 Lineair Statics 2D

ESASD.01.0* Steel Code Check

ESASD.02 Connections Frame - Rigid

Manual: Scia Engineer Tutorial Frame Steel

Revision: 03/2008

Scia Engineer

2

All information in this document is subject to modification without prior notice. No part or this manual may be reproduced, stored in a database or retrieval system or published, in any form or in any way, electronically, mechanically, by print, photo print, microfilm or any other means without prior written permission from the publisher. SCIA Software is not responsible for any direct or indirect damage because or imperfections in the documentation and/or the software.

© Copyright 2008 SCIA Software. All rights reserved.

Scia Engineer

3

WELCOME 4

INSTALLATION 5

INTRODUCTION 6

GETTING STARTED 7 Starting a project ......................................................................................... 7

PROJECT MANAGEMENT 9 Save, Save As, Close and Open ................................................................. 9

GEOMETRY INPUT 10 Input of the geometry ................................................................................ 10

MODIFYING THE GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF THE STRUCTURE 36 Modifying the view .................................................................................... 36

INPUT OF THE CALCULATION DATA 40 Load Cases and Load Groups .................................................................. 40 Loads ......................................................................................................... 42 Combinations ............................................................................................ 50

CALCULATION 52 Linear Calculation ..................................................................................... 52

RESULTS 53 Viewing results .......................................................................................... 53

CODE CHECK 58 Buckling parameters ................................................................................. 59 Steel code check ....................................................................................... 64 Steel connections ...................................................................................... 69

DOCUMENT 78

POSTFACE 81

Scia Engineer

4

Welcome

Welcome to the Scia Engineer Tutorial Frame Steel. Scia Engineer is a calculation program under Windows XP/2003 with a large range of application: from checking simple frames to the advanced design of complex projects in steel, concrete, wood…

The program includes the calculation of 2D/3D frames, including the profile check and the connection check for steel structures. Apart from frames, plate structures can be dimensioned as well, including advanced concrete calculations.

The entire calculation and design process is integrated in one program: geometry input, input of the computational model (loads, supports…), linear and non-linear calculation, output of the results, elements check and optimisation to the different codes as well as generation of the calculation note…

Scia Engineer is available in three different versions:

Licensed version

The licensed version of Scia Engineer is protected with a ‘dongle’, which is installed onto the parallel or the USB port of your computer either with a software license, which is installed on your network.

Scia Engineer is modular and includes several modules. The user chooses from the available range to compose a calculation program, which perfectly matches his or her needs.

The general Scia Engineer product overview includes a list of the available modules.

Demo version If no protection is found, the program will automatically start in demo version. The features of this demo version are:

All projects can be entered;

The calculation is limited to projects containing 25 1D elements, 3 plates/shells and 2 load cases;

The output contains the watermark “Unlicensed software”;

The projects saved in the demo version cannot be opened in the licensed version.

Student version The student version offers for all modules the same possibilities as the licensed version. It is also protected with a ‘dongle’ or a software license.

The output contains the watermark “Student version”.

Projects saved in the student version cannot be opened in the licensed version.

Scia Engineer

5

Installation System requirements

For the installation of Scia Engineer, your system needs to meet the following system requirements:

Hardware requirements

Processor speed Pentium IV - 1Ghz (recommended: Pentium IV- 3Ghz)

RAM 512 MB (recommended: > 1GB)

Graphic card 64 MB, OpenGL support

Free disk space for program 350 MB

Free disk space for projects and temporary files

200 MB (the required space can amount up to several GB for very large projects)

Software requirements

MS Windows XP / 2003 It is recommended to install the latest Service Pack for these operating systems

Other requirements

To install Scia Engineer, you need at least Power User rights. To work with Scia Engineer, you need normal user rights as well as read and write rights for the Scia Engineer folders.

The general set-up program of the CD-ROM will automatically start when you insert the CD-ROM in the CD-ROM player. You will obtain a menu listing all available software on the CD-ROM. Follow the instructions on the screen to install Scia Engineer.

Scia Engineer

6

Introduction The example of this Tutorial can be designed with the Licensed or Student Versions. Before you proceed, you must be familiar with your operating system: for instance working with dialogues, menu bars, toolbars, status bars, handling the mouse, etc.

This Tutorial describes the main functions of Scia Engineer for the input and calculation of a 3D steel frame.

First, we will explain how to create a new project and the set-up of the structure. After the geometry and load input, the structure will be calculated and the results can be viewed. Next, we will discuss the input of the buckling parameters and we will perform the steel check, the profile optimization and calculate a connection. The Tutorial ends with a brief introduction to the calculation note.

The figure below shows the calculation model of the structure to be designed:

Scia Engineer

7

Getting started Starting a project

Before you can start a project, you need to start the program first.

Starting the program

1. Double-click on the Scia Engineer shortcut in the Windows Desktop.

Or:

2. If the shortcut is not installed, click [Start] and choose Programs > Scia Engineer > Scia Engineer.

If the program does not find any protection, you will obtain a dialogue indicating that no protection was found. A second dialogue will list the restrictions of the demo version. Click [OK] in both windows.

For this Tutorial, you must start a new project.

Starting a new project

1. If the dialogue Open appears, click [Cancel].

2. Click the New icon in the toolbar.

In the Select New Project dialogue, choose for the structure environment by clicking on the corresponding icon. Confirm your choice by clicking ‘OK’.Now, the Project data dialogue is opened. Here, you can enter general data about the project.

Scia Engineer

8

3. In the Data group, enter your preferred data. These data can be mentioned on the output, e.g. in the document and on the drawings.

4. Choose the Project level: Standard and Model: One.

5. Click on the rectangular button below National Code to choose the default code for the project. This code will determine the available materials, combination rules and code checks. For the project of this Tutorial, choose EC-ENV. The window Codes in project is opened.

a) Click [Add].

The dialogue Available national codes is opened.

b) Select the European flag and click [OK].

You will return to the Codes in project dialogue and EC-ENV is added.

c) Select the flag named EC-ENV.

d) Select the Active code option and click [Close].

You will return to the Project data window and EC-ENV is the active code.

6. Select Frame XYZ in the Structure field. The structure type (Frame XZ, Frame XYZ, Plate XY, General XYZ,...) will restrict the input possibilities during the calculation.

7. In the Material group, select Steel.

Below the item Steel, a new item Material will appear.

8. Choose S235 from the menu.

9. Confirm your input with [OK].

Notes:

• On the Basic data tab, you can set a project level. If you choose “default”, the program will only show the most frequently used basic functions. If you choose “advanced”, all basic functions will be shown. • On the Functionality tab, you choose the options you need. The non-selected functionalities will be filtered from the menus, thus simplifying the program. • On the Combinations tab, you will find the values for the partial safety factors. In this Tutorial, we will use the default settings.

Scia Engineer

9

Project management Save, Save As, Close and Open

Before entering the structure, we first will discuss how to save a project, how to open an existing project and how to close a project. When executing the project of this tutorial, you can save the project every now and then. In this way, you can leave the program any time and continue with the project at a later time from that point on

Saving a project

Click in the toolbar.

If the project has not been saved yet, the dialogue Save as will open. Click on the arrow in the list box Save in to select the disk where you want to save the project. Select the folder where you want the project and click [Open]. Select sub-folders. Enter the file name below File name and click [Save] to save the (empty) project.

If you click the icon again, the project will automatically be saved with the same name. If you choose File > Save as in the main menu, you can enter a new/other disk, folder and name for the project file.

Closing a project

To close this project, choose File > Close in the main menu.

A dialogue box will appear, asking you if you want to save this project. Depending on your answer, the project will be saved and the active dialogue will be closed.

Opening a project

Click to open an existing project.

A list of projects will appear on the screen. Select the desired project and click [OK] (or double-click on the project to open it).

Scia Engineer

10

Geometry input Input of the geometry

If you start a new project, the geometry of the structure must be entered. The structure can be entered directly, but you can also use for instance templates with parametric blocks, DXF files and other formats.

- Profiles When entering one or more 1D structure elements, a profile type is immediately assigned to each member. By default, the active profile type is represented. You can open the profile library to activate another profile type. If you want to add a part of the structure, before a profile type has been defined, the profile library will automatically be opened.

Adding a profile

1. Click on the Cross-Sections icon in the toolbar.

The Cross-Sections manager is opened. If no profiles have been entered in the project, the New cross-section window will be automatically opened.

2. Click Profile library in the group Available groups.

3. In the Available items of this group, you can choose a I profile . Choose HEA 200 from the list.

4. Click [Add] or to add the profile to the project.

5. Add IPE 180 and IPE 160 in a similar way.

6. In the Available components for this group, you can choose an angle steel . Choose L70x7 from the list.

Scia Engineer

11

7. Click [Add] or to add the profile to the project.

8. Click [Close] in the New cross-section window, the Cross-Sections manager will appear.

9. Click [Close] to close the Cross-Sections manager and to return to the project.

Scia Engineer

12

- Geometry

Structure menu

1. When a new project is started, the Structure menu is automatically opened in the Main window. If you want to modify the structure at a later time, you must double-click on Structure in the Main window.

2. In the Structure menu, you can choose different structural elements to enter the structure.

To set up the structure, you must enter the first frame. Then, this frame will be copied and the wind bracings and the horizontal beams will be entered.

To enter the frame, you can use columns and bars. Scia Engineer however offers multiple Catalogue blocks, allowing for a smooth and simple input of the structure.

Entering a frame using a Catalogue Block

1. To enter a new frame, use the option Catalogue Blocks in the Structure menu. The Block select manager is opened.

Scia Engineer

13

2. In the Available Groups group, choose a Frame 2D

3. In the Available items of this group, you can choose the first frame:

4. Confirm your choice with [OK]. The Geometry block window appears.

5. Now, enter the frame dimensions: L = 12m, H1 = 5m and H2 = 1m

6. In the pull-down menus, choose HEA 200 for the Column and IPE 180 for the Beam.

7. Confirm your input with [OK]. The Catalogue block manager appears.

8. Click [Close] to return to the project.

Scia Engineer

14

9. The frame is positioned with the left column in the origin of the coordinate system. To this end, type the coordinates 0;0 in the Command line and press <Enter> to confirm your input.

10. End the input with the <Esc> key.

Notes:

• The properties of selected elements are shown and can be modified in the Properties window. • If no section has been defined in the project, the New cross-section window will automatically appear, as soon as you will try to enter a structural element (column, beam…). • You can end your input by pressing either the <Esc> key either the right mouse button.

• With Zoom All in the toolbar, you can visualize the entire structure. • The use of , or ; to separate coordinates depends on the regional settings in Windows.

Scia Engineer

15

After input of the first frame, it can be copied to obtain the entire hall. As you need two copies, you

can use the Multiple copy option .

Create multiple copies

1. First select all entities to be copied. As you must copy all bars, you can use the Select All icon

In this way, all bars and nodes are selected; this is represented in magenta:

2. Now, you can use the Multiple copy option .

3. In the Number of copies field, enter 2.

Scia Engineer

16

4. To manually set the distance between the frames, deactivate the Define distance by cursor option. Now, you can enter the distance 6m in direction Y.

5. Click [OK] to confirm your input. The frame is copied.

6. Press <Esc> to finish the selection

After the frames have been entered, the connecting beams of the frames can be entered. The start and end nodes of the beams are already known, i.e. the start and end nodes of the entered bars. Therefore, you do not have to enter the beams by means of coordinates; instead of that, you can use the Cursor snap settings.

Cursor snap settings

1. Double-click on the Cursor snap settings icon in the Command line or click on the button at the lower right of the screen. The Cursor pick settings window is opened:

2. Activate the options a) and b) to pick the midpoints and the end points of bars in this project.

3. Click [OK] to confirm.

Scia Engineer

17

Now, you can enter the beams.

Entering a beam

1. To enter a new beam, you use the Horizontal Beam option in the Structure menu.

2. In the CrossSection field, choose the third section, IPE 160.

3. As the structure type Frame XYZ has two horizontal directions (i.e. X and Y), you must indicate the right direction for the horizontal beam in the Direct field. Choose Axis Y option.

4. The beam length is 6m.

5. The insertion point is default set to Begin so that the left point determines the position of the beam.


7. Now, you can enter the beam by clicking with your mouse on the top node of the left-hand side column of the first frame:

Scia Engineer

18

8. Enter the other beams of the roof in a similar way, by always clicking on the top node of a column.

9. Press <Esc> to finish the input.

10. Press <Esc> once more to finish the selection.

Note:

The Multiple copy option also allows for the automatic input of the beams connecting the framees.

In the first fields between the first and second frame, two more horizontal beams are located. To enter these beams, you could use the Horizontal Beam option. Scia Engineer however enables copying these entities manually.

Copying entities

1. First indicate the entity to be copied. As this is a horizontal beam, you can select one of the entered beams with the left mouse button. The magenta colour indicates that the bar is selected. The properties of the bar are shown in the Properties window.

2. Click with the right mouse button somewhere in the work environment. The appearing menu lists the available possibilities for the selected entity:

Scia Engineer

19

3. In this menu, choose the option

4. The program asks the Start point of the copy. Click with the left mouse button on the start node of the selected bar

5. Now, you must enter the End point, i.e. the position where the starting point should be copied. As the new beams start in the middle of the columns, the midpoint of one of the columns of the first frame is indicated.

Scia Engineer

20

As the Midpoints option was already activated for the Snap settings, you can simply pick the centre point of the column.

6. When the first beam is copied, the command remains active, so that you can also pick the midpoint of the second column of the first frame to enter a horizontal beam at that position.


8. Press <Esc> once more to finish the selection

After input of the horizontal beams, you can enter the bracings.

The bracings are no columns or horizontal beams; therefore, you must use the Drawing a member command here.

Entering bracings

1. To enter a new member, use the Drawing a member option in the Structure menu.

Scia Engineer

21

2. In the Type field, choose Wall Bracing. This type is only considered for the STRUCTURAL model and does not influence the calculation model or the results.

3. In the CrossSection field, choose the fourth section, L70x7


5. Now, the bracings can be entered between the second and third frame. To this end, always click on the start and end nodes of the columns:



The structure is completely set up. Now, you can finish the geometry, i.e. enter Haunches, hinges and supports.

Scia Engineer

22

- Haunches In this project, haunches are entered on the roof beams, at the connecting positions with the columns.

In Scia Engineer, a haunch is defined by the following parameters:

• A section with variable height

• A length, over which the variable height must vary up to 0

Entering Haunches

1. To enter a new haunch, use the Haunch option in the Structure menu.

2. As indicated, a haunch requires a variable profile. Since this project does not contain variable profiles yet, the New cross-section window automatically appears.

3. In Available items of this group, choose a I + I var -profile

4. Click [Add] or to add the profile to the project. The Cross-Section window appears; here, the properties of the variable section can be changed.

Scia Engineer

23

5. In the I sections field, change the section in an IPE 180 by clicking the button behind the section type.

6. When the correct section is set, the variable height va (mm) is set to 150mm

7. Confirm your input with [OK]

8. The New cross-section window reappears; click [Close] to close this window.

9. The Cross-Section manager appears; click [Close] to close this window as well.

10. Now, the Haunch on beam window is opened.

11. In the Position field, choose Begin to position the haunch at the start node of the member.

12. In the Coord. definition field, choose the option Abso to indicate that the length, over which the variable height must vary, can be entered in absolute units, i.e. in meter.

Scia Engineer

24

13. When the Coordinate Definition is adapted, the length of the haunch can be entered in the Length x [m] field. For this project, enter length 1m.

14. Confirm your input with [OK]

15. Now, the program asks to indicate the members, on which a haunch must be entered. Select the 6 roof beams with the left mouse button:



As the previous image already showed, the haunches are correctly positioned on one side of the hall. On the other side however, the haunches are located at the wrong extremity. To visualize this situation, you need to click the following buttons in the command line:

• Show/hide surfaces to show the surfaces of the sections.

• Render geometry to obtain a rendered view of the members.

The position of these three haunches must be corrected in the Properties window.

Adapting Entities through the Properties window

Scia Engineer

25

1. Select the 3 haunches to be adapted with the left mouse button.

2. The Properties window show the common properties of these 3 entities

3. Here, you can see that the Position is set to Begin, in accordance with your input.

4. Change this Position to End

The modification is immediately reflected in the graphical window.

5. Press <Esc> to finish the selection.

Scia Engineer

26

In the command line, click Show/hide surfaces and Render geometry to deactivate both options and visualise the system lines of the members again.

Note:

A haunch overwrites the original section. For this project, this specifically means that the profile of the roof beam is replaced by the I + I var profile. If the haunch is removed, the I + I var profile will be maintained instead of the I-section of the roof profile.

- Hinges In this project, the diagonals are connected with the other members in a hinged way. As the chosen structure type is Frame XYZ, the structure elements are connected to each other in a rigid way. Therefore, you must enter hinges manually.

Entering hinges

1. To enter hinges, use the Hinge on beam option in the Structure menu.

Scia Engineer

27

2. The hinges are entered at both extremities of the diagonals; therefore, choose Both for the Position.

3. To obtain a hinge, the rotation phiy is set to Free, the translations and the other rotations remain Rigid. In this way, the diagonals will be exclusively hinged in the planes of the sidewalls.


5. The hinges are added when you click the diagonals with the left mouse button.

6. Press <Esc> to finish the input


Note:

Hinges are always defined with regard to the local coordinate system of a member.

- Supports The geometry input can be completed with supports. The column bases are modelled with hinges.

Scia Engineer

28

Before adding the supports, you first must select the nodes to position the supports (for this Tutorial). You can select these nodes manually, one by one, but Scia Engineer offers a simple method to select entities with a common property.

Selecting elements per property

1. To select all column bases, select one of the lower nodes, by drawing a frame from the left to the right with the mouse.

2. The Properties window shows the properties of this node:

3. Now, choose the property to be used for the selection of the entities. For this project, you want to select all lower nodes. The common property of these nodes is their coordinate in global Z direction. Click with the left mouse button on the Coord Z (m) property to select the field of this property.

Scia Engineer

29

4. Choose the Select elements by property option. The program will search all entities with the same property. In this example, the program will select all nodes, for which the Coord Z (m) property corresponds to 0m

The column bases are selected; now, supports can be added to these nodes.

Entering supports

1. To enter supports, use the Support – in node option in the Structure menu.

2. To create a hinge, take the translations Rigid and all rotations Free.

3. Confirm your input with [OK]. The supports are automatically attributed to the selected nodes.


Scia Engineer

30

Notes:

• If you draw the box from the left-hand side to the right-hand side, only entities, which are completely in the rectangle, will be selected. If you draw the rectangle from the right-hand side to the left-hand side, the entities, which are completely in the rectangle, as well as the entities that intersect with the rectangle will be selected. • The Command line includes a number of predefined supports. For this project, you could have used the Hinged support icon. • Similar to the selection of supports, you could have used the Select elements by property

option to select all diagonals, where hinges had to be entered. The determinant property here would have been the Section.

Scia Engineer

31

- Check Structure data After input of the geometry, the input can be checked for errors by means of the option Check Structure data. With this tool, the geometry is checked for duplicate nodes, zero bars, duplicate bars…

Checking the structure

1. Double-click on the Check Structure data option in the Structure Menu or click on the icon in the toolbar.

2. The Structure data check window appears, listing the different available checks.

3. Click [Check] to perform the checks.

4. The Data Check Report window appears, indicating that no problems were found.

5. Close the check by clicking [OK].

Scia Engineer

32

- Connecting entities A column and a roof girder have a common node. The end node of the column for instance is the start node of the roof girder. This girder automatically is connected to the column.

The two girders arriving in the middle of the columns are not ending in nodes. The end nodes of the beams are located inside the column and therefore are not yet connected to the columns. In this paragraph, we will explain how to connect the bars to each other.

To display the names of the bars and nodes, you can activate the labels by means of the buttons in the Command line.

Activating node labels

Node labels are activated by means of the icon on top of the Command line.

Activating bar labels

Bar labels are activated by means of the button on top of the Command line.

Scia Engineer

33

When you select column B1 with the left mouse button, the properties are displayed in the Property Window:

This window indicates that the start node is N1 and the end node N2. Node N18 is not part of the column. To connect beam B20 to the columns, use the Connect members/nodes option.

Connecting entities

1. Press <Esc> or click the Cancel selection icon to deactivate any selection of entities.

2. Double-click on the Connect members/nodes option in the Structure menu or click the icon in the toolbar.

3. A dialogue asks if all nodes must be connected to bars:

Answer Yes.

4. The Setup for connection of structural entities dialogue box now appears.

Scia Engineer

34

Confirm the settings by clicking ‘OK’.

5. A window appears to indicate the number of connected nodes:

6. Connected nodes are represented in the graphical screen by means of double red lines:

When you select for instance girder B20, the Properties window will show that node N18 connects the girder with column B1 and that node N19 connects the girder with column B5.

Scia Engineer

35

Note:

1) If a possible active selection is not deactivated when the Connect members/nodes command is used, the program will only search the nodes to be connected in this selection and not in the entire project.

2) It is also possible to perform the two previous operations at once. Therefore you have to check the option Check (merge duplicate nodes, erase invalid entities) in the Setup for connection of structural entities dialogue box.

6. Click [Close] below the Structure menu.

Scia Engineer

36

Modifying the graphical representation of the structure Modifying the view

Scia Engineer offers multiple possibilities to change the graphical representation of the structure. Below, we will discuss the main options:

• Modifying the viewpoint on the structure

• Setting the view direction

• Using the magnifying glass

• Modifying the view parameters through the View parameters menu

Modifying the viewpoint on the structure

Setting the viewpoint using the wheels. At the bottom right of the graphical screen, there are three scroll buttons, two horizontal and one vertical. Using these scroll buttons, the structure can be zoomed or rotated.

1. To zoom the structure or to rotate the structure, click on the scroll button (the cursor will

change from an arrow into a hand), keep the left mouse button pressed and move the scroll button.

Or

2. Setting the viewpoint using a key-mouse combination.

1. Simultaneously press the CTRL key + the right mouse button and move the mouse to rotate the structure.

2. Simultaneously press the SHIFT key + the right mouse button and move the mouse to shift the structure.

3. Simultaneously press the CTRL + SHIFT key + the right mouse button and move the mouse to zoom in or to zoom out.

Note:

If a node is selected when the structure is being rotated, the structure will be rotated around the selected node.

Setting a view direction with regard to the global coordinate system

1. Click on the View in X-direction icon to obtain a view in X-direction.

2. Click on the View in Y-direction icon to obtain a view in Y-direction.

3. Click on the View in Z-direction icon to obtain a view in Z-direction.

Scia Engineer

37

The magnifying glass

• Use to enlarge.

• Use to reduce.

• Use to zoom in a window.

• Use to obtain a view of the entire structure.

• Use to zoom on a selection.

Modifying the View Parameters through the View Parameters Menu

1. In the graphical window, click the right mouse button. The following popup menu appears:

Note:

If an element was previously selected, you can define a setting that only applies to the selected elements (you will obtain an adapted popup menu).

2. Choose the option Set view parameters for all. The window View Parameters Setting appears. The menu includes several tabs. You can set the view parameters for all entities or just for the selected entities.

View parameters – Structure

Using the Structure tab, you can change the representation of the different entities.

On this tab, the following items are important to this project:

Style + colour: you can display the colours by layer, by material, by section or by structural type.

Scia Engineer

38

Draw Cross-Section: use this option to display the symbol of the section on each bar.

Local Axes – Members 1D: this option activates the local axes of the bars.

View parameters – Labels and Description

With the Labels tab, the labels of the different entities can be displayed. In the Beam labels group for instance, the following items can be displayed in the label:

Name: displays the name of the sections in the label.

Cross-Section type: displays the section type section in the label.

Length: displays the bar length in the label.

Scia Engineer

39

View parameters – shortcuts

The toolbar on top of the Command line includes a number of frequently used options, amongst others:

• Show/hide surfaces to display the surfaces of the sections.

• Render geometry to obtain a rendered view of the bars.

• Show/hide supports to display the supports.

• Show/hide loads to visualise the load case.

• Show/hide other model data to display the model data (hinges, connected nodes…).

• Show/hide node labels to display the labels of the nodes

• Show/hide member labels to display the labels of the bars

• Set load case for display to modify the active load case.

• Fast adjustment of viewflags on whole model for a quick access to the options in the View parameters menu.

After rendering, the following structure is obtained:

Scia Engineer

40

Input of the Calculation Data Load Cases and Load Groups

Each load is attributed to a load case. A load case can contain different load types.

To each load case, properties are attributed, which are determinant for the generation of combinations. The action type of a load case can be permanent or variable.

Each variable load case is associated with a load group. The group contains information about the category of the load (service load, wind, snow…) and its appearance (default, together, exclusive). In an exclusive group, the different loads attributed to the group cannot act together in a norm combination. For default combinations on the other hand, the combination generator allows the simultaneous action of the loads of a same group.

The way, in which load cases are defined, is decisive for the load combinations created by the generator. We recommend that you thoroughly read the chapter about loads and combinations in the reference manual.

In this project, two load cases are entered:

- LC1: Permanent Load Case: Self weight of the bars + Roof weight

- LC2: Variable Load Case: Side wind on the frames

Defining a Permanent Load Case

1. Double-click on in the Main window.

2. Before you can define loads, you first must enter load cases. Since this project does not contain any load cases yet, the Load Cases Manager will automatically appear.

3. By default, the load case LC1 is created. This load is a permanent load of the Self Weight load type. The self weight of the structure is automatically calculated by means of this type.

4. Since you will also manually enter loads in the first load case of this project (Roof Weight), you must change the Load Type to Standard.

5. In the Description field, you can describe the content of this load case. For this project, enter the description “Self Weight Structure”.

Scia Engineer

41

Defining a Variable Load Case

1. Click or to create a second load case.

2. Enter the description “Wind”.

3. As this is a variable load, change the Action type to Variable.

4. The Load Group LG2 is automatically created. Click to display the properties of the Load Group.

The EC1 - load type determines the composition factor that are attributed to the load cases in this load group. In this project, choose Wind.

5. Click [Close] to close the Load group manager and to return to the Load cases manager.

6. Click [Close] to close the Load cases manager.

Note: Load groups

Each load is classified in a group. These groups influence the combinations that are generated as well as the standard-dependant factors to be applied. The following logic is adopted.

Variable load cases that are independent from each other are associated to different variable groups. For each group, you set the load category (see EC1). The combination factors from the Eurocode are generated from the available load groups. When a generated combination contains two load cases belonging to different groups, reduction factors will be applied for the transient loads.

Scia Engineer

42

If the load is divisible, its different components are entered as individual load cases. As long as the load combination does not contain any variable load belonging to another group, no reduction factors may be applied. The different load cases of a divisible load are therefore associated to one variable group.

Load cases of the same type that may not act together, are put into one group, which is made exclusive, e.g. “Wind X” and “Wind -X” are associated to one exclusive group “Wind”.

Loads

After input of the Load cases, the Loads menu will automatically appear:

The first load case includes two loads:

- Self weight of the bars

- Roof weight

Switching between load cases

Activate LC1 by selecting this load case with the mouse pointer in the list box:

Scia Engineer

43

Entering the self weight as linear load

1. Cancel any possibly active selection by pressing <Esc>.

2. Click on Line Force - on beam in the Loads Menu. The dialogue Line Force on beam appears.

3. In the field Type, choose Self Weight. The Direction is the global Z-direction and the Gravity coefficient is set to –1, so that the load is acting vertically downwards.


5. Select all the bars by means of the Select all icon in the toolbar.



The self-weight load is represented in brown:

Scia Engineer

44

The roof weight is entered as a series of concentrated loads. The roof girders are charged with 5 concentrated loads of 5,8 kN. The first and last load is positioned at 1/10th of the length; therefore, the distance between the concentrated loads is 1/5th of the length.

Entering a series of concentrated loads

1. Click Point Force – on beam in the Loads menu. The Point Force on beam dialogue appears.

2. For the Type of Point Force on beam, choose Force.

3. The load Direction is Z and the System is the global coordinate system GCS. In this way, the concentrated loads are acting vertically downwards.

4. Change the Value of the concentrated load to –5,8 kN.

5. For the Coordinate definition, choose Rela. In this way, you can enter the above-mentioned relative distances.

6. The starting Position x is modified to 0,1, so that the first concentrated load is located at 1/10th of the length.

7. The series consists of 5 concentrated loads; therefore, set the Repeat (n) field to 5.

8. The intermediate distance Delta x between the concentrated loads is 0,2, i.e. 1/5th of the bar length.


10. Select one of the roof girders, e.g. B3



Scia Engineer

45

Note:

Loads, supports, hinges… are considered as additional data, i.e. data that are additionally added to entities such as nodes, bars…

The other roof girders could have been charged in the same way. Scia Engineer however offers a simple method to copy additional data such as loads to other entities. Therefore, the load of this roof girder can be copied to the other roof girders.

Copying loads

1. Select one of the concentrated loads on the roof girder with the left mouse button. As this concentrated load is part of a series, the entire series is automatically selected.

2. Click on the right mouse button at an arbitrary location in the workspace. A popup menu shows the possibilities for the selected entity:

Scia Engineer

46

3. Choose the option

4. Select with the left mouse button the bars, where this load must be copied: the remaining 5 roof girders.



Use the Fast adjustment of viewflags on whole model icon on top of the Command line to activate the Labels of Loads option in the Loads/Masses group. A normal load is displayed in green.

On the first and the last frame, only half of the load must be active. If you need to edit entities or additional data afterwards, you can use the Properties window.

Adapting a load

1. Select the series of concentrated loads on the roof girders of the first and last frame by clicking with the left mouse button on these 4 series.

2. The common properties of the 4 series are displayed in the Properties window.

3. Change the Value from –5,8 kN to –2,9 kN.

4. Confirm your modification with <Enter>.


Scia Engineer

47

After input of the loads in the first load case, the wind load can be entered. The frames are loaded with a wind load of 4,8 kN/m

Switching between load cases

Activate LC2 by selecting this load case with the mouse pointer in the list box:

Scia Engineer

48

Entering a linear load

1. Click on Line Force - on beam in the Loads Menu. The dialogue Line Force on beamappears.

2. Change the Type of the Line Force on beam to Force

3. The load Direction is Z and the System is the local coordinate system LCS. The linear loads are acting in accordance with the local Z-axes of the bars

4. Change the Value to –4,8 kN/m.


7. Select the bars where this load must be positioned: the roof girders and the columns.



Scia Engineer

49

Similar to the roof load, the wind load on the first and last frame must be divided by two.

Adapting a load

1. Select the linear loads on the roof girders and the columns of the first and last frame by clicking with the left mouse button on these loads.

2. The common properties of the 8 series are displayed in the Properties window.

3. Change the Value from –4,8 kN to –2,4 kN.

4. Confirm the modification with <Enter>.


Scia Engineer

50

Click [Close] to quit the Loads menu and to return to the Main window.

Note:

The Command line includes a number of predefined loads: , which enable a fast and simple input of loads.

Combinations After input of the load cases, the latter can be grouped in combinations. In this project, two linear combinations are created, one for the Ultimate Limit State and one for the Ultimate Serviceability State.

Defining Combinations

1. Double-click on below in the Main window.

2. Since no combination has been entered yet, the window to create a new combination will automatically appear.

3. The Type of the combination is changed to En – ULS. With this combination type, Scia Engineer will automatically generate combinations in accordance with the composition rules of the Eurocode.

4. By means of the button [Add all], all load cases can be added to the combination.

5. Confirm your input with [OK]. The Combination Manager is opened.

Scia Engineer

51

6. Click or to create a second combination.

7. Change the Type of the combination to EC - SLS char.


9. Click [Close] to close the Combination manager.

Scia Engineer

52

Calculation Linear Calculation

As the calculation model is completely ready, you now can start the calculation.

Executing the Linear Calculation

1. Double-click on below in the Main window.

2. The FE Analysis window appears. Click [OK] to start the calculation.

3. After the calculation, a window announces that the calculation is finished. Click [OK] to close this window.

Scia Engineer

53

Results Viewing results

After the calculation is executed, the results can be viewed.

Viewing the Reaction Forces

1. Double-click on in the Main window. The Results menu appears.

2. Below Supports, click Reactions.

3. The options in the Property Window are configured in the following way:

• The Selection field is set to All. • The Load type is set to Combinations and the Combination to CO1. • The Values are wanted for Rz. • The Extreme field is changed to Node.

4. The action Refresh has a red background, i.e. the graphical screen must be refreshed. Click on the button behind Refresh to display the results in the graphical screen in accordance with the set options.

Scia Engineer

54

5. To display these results in a table, the Preview action is used. Click on the behind Preview to open the Preview.

Note:

The Preview appears between the Graphical Screen and the Command line. This screen can be maximised to display more data at once.

Viewing internal forces on beam

1. Click on Internal forces on beam below Beams

Scia Engineer

55

2. The options in the Property Window are configured in the following way:

• The Selection field is set to Current. • The Load type is set to Combinations and Combination to CO1. • The Values are wanted for My. • The Extreme field is changed to Global.

3. Select the columns and the roof girders of the centre frame with the left mouse button.

4. Click on the button behind Refresh to display the results in the graphical screen in accordance with the set options.

To change the display of the results, the settings of the Graphical Screen can be adapted.

Scia Engineer

56

Configuring the Graphical Screen

1. In the Properties window, click the icon behind Drawing Setup. The options for the graphical screen are opened.

2. In the Representation field, choose Filled.

3. The Angle of text is set to 0°.

4. Click [OK] to confirm your input.

5. In the Property Window, click the button behind Refresh to display the results in the graphical screen in accordance with the set options.

Scia Engineer

57

6. Then click [Close] to leave the Results Menu.

7. Press <Esc> to cancel the selection.

Note:

To change the font size of the displayed results, you can use the Setup > Fonts menu. In this menu, the different sizes of the displayed labels can be changed.

Scia Engineer

58

Code check

The Scia Engineer steel modules include a number of powerful tools to perform the steel calculations in accordance with the chosen standard.

The possibilities at a glance:

• Input of advanced steel data

• Simple input and edition of buckling data

• Input of reinforcements, stabilities against lateral-torsional buckling, cladding…

• Unit check of the profile section

• Optimisation of the profile section

• Fire-resistance check

• Input and calculation of frame connections

• Input and calculation of diagonal connections

• Automatic generation of sectional drawings

• Automatic generation of assembly drawings and anchorage plans

• Relative deformation check

• …

In this Tutorial, we will only explain the basics of the steel calculation. For more information regarding advanced steel calculations, we refer to the Advanced Steel Training.

Before the steel calculations can be started, the buckling parameters of the members need to be checked. By means of the view parameters, the buckling lengths of the members can be visualised.

Scia Engineer

59

Buckling parameters

Displaying the system lengths on the structure

1. Select with the left mouse button column B1, the left column of the first frame.

2. Click on the right mouse button at an arbitrary position in the workspace. A menu lists the possibilities for the selected entity.

3. In this menu, select the option. The View parameter settings window appears.

4. Activate the System lengths and Draw cross-section options to display the reference lengths and the section of the bar.

5. Activate the Local axes – Members 1D option to display the local coordinate system of the bar.



Notes:

• The system lengths are only displayed on elements that are connected to other bars in their field or for bars located in each other extension. On mono-component elements, such as the roof girders of our project, no system lengths are displayed • The system lengths are automatically interrupted at the hinges.

Scia Engineer

60

The figure shows that system length Ly for buckling around the strong axis is 5m and Lz for buckling around the weak axis 2,5m. The girder in the middle of the column therefore supports the column for buckling around the weak axis, i.e. for bending in the Y direction.

To modify the buckling data of a bar, use the option Buckling and relative lengths.

Setting the Buckling Parameters

1. Select both columns of the first frame with the left mouse button.

2. The Properties window shows the common properties of both entities. The Buckling and relative lengths are set to Default.

3. Click the icon behind Buckling and relative lengths. The Buckling data window appears.

Scia Engineer

61

This window shows that in the middle, the column is supported for buckling around the weak axis (zz) and that the column in the middle is not supported for buckling around the strong axis (yy).

4. Click [Edit] to change the buckling data. The Buckling and relative lengths window appears.

5. On the Base Settings tab, several data can be changed. • The Name field contains the name of the buckling parameter, in this case BC1. • ky factor and kz factor: in these fields, you can indicate how the program must calculate the buckling factor around the axis regarded or you can choose a manual input of this factor. A third option allows for a manual input of the buckling length. • Sway yy and Sway zz: in these fields, you can indicate if the bar is braced or not in the direction regarded. When you choose the Acc. to Steel > Beams > Setup option, the default settings are used.

Scia Engineer

62

Note:

The default settings for the buckling parameters are displayed below Steel > Beams > Setup > Setup for check of steel members. For a steel calculation, the structure is by default non-braced for buckling around the strong axis and braced for buckling around the weak axis. Otherwise said: a frame in non-braced in the plane and plane outside of the plane, taking the presence of wind bracings outside of the plane into account.

• Buckling systems relation: in these fields, you can define the system length to be used for, amongst other things, torsional buckling and lateral-torsional buckling.

• Relative deformations systems relation: in these fields, you can define the system length to be used for the relative deformations.

6. On the Buckling data tab, you can edit the parameters in detail. The column consists of 2 components, i.e. 3 positions are available: (1) at the start, (2) in the middle at the horizontal girder and (3) at the end, at the roof girders.

For instance, by modifying the Free option on position (2) for yy to Fixed, buckling of the column in the middle around the strong axis would be avoided as well. For this Tutorial, the default options are maintained.

7. Click [OK] to close this window.

8. The Buckling data window re-appears. Click [Close] to close this window.

Scia Engineer

63

The Properties window indicates that the buckling parameter BC1 is used for the columns of the first frame.


When the buckling parameters are set, you can continue with the steel check. Before proceeding, deactivate the Member parameters and Local axes representation by means of the Fast

adjustment of viewflags on whole model option.

Scia Engineer

64

Steel code check Double-click on in the Main window to open the Steel menu.

Displaying the Slenderness and the Buckling Lengths

1. Click the icon in the Steel menu

2. If this option is not available, you must restart the calculation using the Hidden calculation

icon in the Project toolbar.

3. The options in the Properties window are configured in the following way: • The Selection field is set to Standard

• The Values are wanted for Lam y, i.e. the slenderness around the yy axis

• The Extreme field is modified to No.

4. Select column B1, the left column of the first frame


6. Change the Values field to Ly to display the reference length for buckling around the strong axis.

Scia Engineer

65

7. In the Property Window, click the button behind Refresh to display the new set values.

As already indicated in the buckling parameters, the reference length is 5m.

9. Change the Values field to ly to display the buckling length for buckling around the strong axis.

10. In the Property Window, click the button behind Refresh to display the new set value.

The buckling length is determined as reference length Ly x buckling factor ky.

After viewing the steel data, you can perform the steel check for the columns. A unit check is carried out in accordance with the standard. The unit check includes both a capacity and a stability check.

Performing the Steel Check

1. Click in the Steel menu

2. The options in the Properties window are configured in the following way: • The Selection field is set to All

• The Load type is set to Combinations and the Combination to CO1. • The Filter is changed to Cross-Section

Scia Engineer

66

• For the Cross-Section, choose HEA200 to ensure that only the results for the columns are displayed.

• For the Values, choose a un. check • The Extreme field is changed to Global.


The graphical screen shows that the maximum unit check occurs for one of the columns. To understand the cause of the problem, you can open the Preview with a detailed representation of the performed steel check.

Scia Engineer

67

4. Before opening the preview, set the Output option in the Properties window to Detailed. Click the icon behind Preview to open the Preview.

This report reveals that the column does not comply with the Combined Stress Analysis; a section with a larger inertia is required.

Scia Engineer allows for a simple and smooth optimization of the steel section. The program will automatically propose a profile section, which complies with the unit check.

Optimisation of the Steel Section

1. In the Properties window, click the icon behind Optimization. The settings of the Properties window are maintained, so that HEA200 can be optimised. The Optimization of the cross-section window is opened.

2. This window once more displays the maximum unity check for HEA200: 5,961

Scia Engineer

68

3. Click the Search for Optimal button. The program will search in the profile library for a profile complying with the unit check.

It appears that HEA300 complies with the requirements: maximum unit check 0,917.

4. Confirm the optimisation with [OK].

Note:

After an optimization, the project must be recalculated. The changed cross-section modifies the self weight of the structure as well as the stiffness of the whole, which will lead to a different distribution of the forces. This specifically means that, after optimisation and recalculation of the structure, the profile concerned could possibly reveal inappropriate. In that case, you must re-execute the optimisation in order to find a solution in an iterative manner.

5. To quickly restart the calculation after an optimisation, use the hidden calculation

option. Click on the Hidden Calculation icon in the Project toolbar.

6. Click [Close] to quit the Steel menu

Note:

An optimisation is always performed for a section, i.e. the optimised section is always attributed to all bars with that particular section. In this Tutorial, the filter was already set to section. If not, the program will automatically switch to this filter.

Scia Engineer

69

Steel connections In Scia Engineer, steel connections can be detailed in an advanced manner. Both rigid and hinged frame connections can be modelled, as well as bolted diagonal connections and grid connections.

In this Tutorial, a rigid frame connection will be inserted between a column and a roof girder.

Activating the Steel Connection Input

1. To obtain access to the steel connections, this functionality needs to be activated first. Double-click on in the Main window to open the Project Data and click on the Functionality tab.

2. In the Steel part, activate the Frame rigid connections functionality. The functionality Structural model is automatically activated as well, as this one is required for the definition of the connection.

3. Confirm your choice with [OK]

When the required functionality is activated, the Structural model, on which the connection will be defined, can be activated.

Scia Engineer

70

Displaying the Structural model

1. Zoom in on node N2, i.e. the node that connects column B1 and roof girder B2 to each other.

2. In the Command line, click on the Show/hide surfaces and the Render geometry icons. The program displays the calculation model:

In the calculation model, the bars are arriving in the same node, i.e. node N2. In actual practice, the girder stops for instance at the column flange or vice versa. In Scia Engineer, one can indicate this through the structural model.

3. Activate the structural model by clicking the Generate Structural model icon in the View toolbar.

Scia Engineer

71

The structural model shows the structure, as it will be realized in practice. On this model, you can introduce the connection.

Note:

• The structural model uses priorities. The element with the highest priority has priority. By default, an element of the Column type has a higher priority than an element of the Beam (Girder) type. Therefore, the girder is interrupted at the column flange. • With Setup > Beam types (Structural), the priorities can be adapted. • Steel connections are always based on the structural model. If the column continues, a connection with end plate on the girder is obtained; if the girder continues, a connection with end plate on the column is obtained.

Entering a Steel Connection

1. Double-click on in the Main window to open the Steel menu.

2. Double-click on to enter a new rigid frame connection.

3. The program ask for a junction, select node N2

4. Now, indicate the bars between which the connection should be established. The program automatically selects all bars arriving in node N2. As the connection must be inserted between the column and the roof girder, deselect girder B13. Press the CTRL key and click on the girder with the left mouse button to deselect this girder.

Scia Engineer

72

5. Press <Esc> to finish the selection. The connection is inserted and the properties are displayed in the Properties window.

6. The options in the Properties window are configured in the following way:

• The Load type is set to Combinations and Combinations to CO1. • For the Frame type, choose braced.

7. Now, the components of the connection can be entered. Activate (check) the End plate option. The end plate is entered and immediately displayed in the graphical screen:

8. To change the properties of the cap plate, click the icon behind the End plate option in the Properties window. The properties of this component are displayed and can be modified, if desired.

Scia Engineer

73

9. Click [OK] to close this window.

10. Now, the Bolts option can be checked.

The bolts are automatically displayed in the graphical screen.

11. To change the properties of the bolts, click the icon behind the Bolts option in the Properties window.

Scia Engineer

74

12. For the Selected bolt position, an M20 – 8.8 is chosen. A window informs you that the bolt position has changed.

Click Yes: the bolt positions, intermediate distances, edge distances… are automatically adapted to the new bolt type.

13. The window furthermore shows that 2 bolt rows are active: the 1st Row and the 3rd Row

Check the 2nd Row as well to insert an additional bolt row.

Scia Engineer

75

14. Click [OK] to confirm your input. The bolts are displayed in the graphical screen.

15. To complete the connection, check the Top Stiffener and Bottom Stiffener options.

At this time, the connection is displayed in the same colour as the model. To change this view, use the View parameters menu

16. Click the right mouse button at an arbitrary location in the workspace. The menu lists the available possibilities for the selected entity.

17. In this menu, select the option. The View parameters settings window appears.

Scia Engineer

76

18. In this menu, check the Welds and Coloured options.

Close this menu with [OK].

19. In the Properties window, click the icon behind Refresh to regenerate the input in the graphical screen. The connection is displayed in a rendered manner:

The connection now is completely modelled. Now, you can open the results.

20. In the Properties window, click on behind Results to display the results of the connection.

Scia Engineer

77

This Results window shows the performed unit checks, the rigidity calculation, the weakest link of the connection, etc …

21. Close this menu with [OK].

22. To display these results in a table, use the Open Preview action. Click the icon behind Open Preview to open the Preview.

23. Press <Esc> to finish the selection

24. Press [Close] below the Steel menu to return to the Main window.

Note:

Connections are additional data, i.e. a connection can be copied to other junctions.

Scia Engineer

78

Document In this final part of the tutorial, we will explain how a calculation note can be drawn up.

Formatting the Document

1. Double-click in the Main Window or click in the button bar. The Document appears. The Project data are automatically displayed in the header of the document.

2. Click the [New] button below the Document Menu. The window New Document item appears.

3. By means of this window, several data can be added to the document. • Open the Libraries group and click on Materials. Click [<<< Add] to add this item to the document. • Click Cross-Sections. Click [<<< Add] to add this item to the document. • Open the Structure group and click Members. Click [<<< Add] to add this item to the document. • Open the Results group and click Reactions. Click [<<< Add] to add this item to the document.

4. Click [Close] to close the New document item window and to return to the document.

The items that were added to the document are displayed in the Document Menu. Drag the items with the mouse to change their order. At the right-hand side of the screen, the Preview of the document is displayed.

Scia Engineer

79

Displaying results in the document

1. In the Document menu, click Reactions. In the Properties window the properties of this table are displayed. The parameters for displaying the results in the Document are configured in the same way as the parameters for viewing the results in the Results Menu. • The Selection field is set to All. • The Load type is set to Combinations and the Combination to CO1. • The Values are wanted for Rz. • The Extreme field is changed to Global.

2. Click the button behind Refresh to display the table in accordance with the set options.

Click the [Close] button below the Document Menu to close the document and to return to the structure.

Adding an image to the document

1. Click on the Print Picture icon in the button bar.

2. Choose the Picture to document option in the list box to send the image, which is currently displayed in the graphical screen, to the document. The window Insert item(s) into document appears.

Scia Engineer

80

3. The Percentage of page height field is changed to 50 so that the image covers 50% of a page, i.e. half a page.

4. Confirm your input with [OK] so that the image is sent to the document.

5. Click in the button bar to open the Document.

6. In the Document Menu, click Picture. The image is displayed in the Preview of the Document.

7. Click [Close] below the Document Menu to close the document and to return to the structure.

Scia Engineer

81

Postface In this syllabus, the basic functionalities of Scia Engineer for the input of a steel structure, including the steel calculation, were introduced by means of an example.

After reading the text and executing the example, the user should be able to model and calculate simple structures consisting of steel bars.

For more detailed information about steel calculations, we refer to the Advanced Training Steel.

Documents

Scia engineer advance modelling