Example2 PDF
Example2 PDF
Example2 PDF
In this example, two oblong reinforced concrete sections will be created and their response com-
pared. The columns will be transversely reinforced with interlocking spirals and longitudinally
reinforced with #11 reinforcing bars.
The next page of the wizard defines how to begin the project (Figure 1). Projects can begin from
a section created with the section template, imported from a file, or created from a blank slate (a
Once the model has been applied, it becomes part of the project. To view materials in the project
open the Project Manager and expand the materials folder (Figure 3).
After the material dialog box is closed, the blank Section Builder is exposed. For this example,
two other material models need to be added - Unconfined Concrete and Bilinear Steel with Strain
Hardening. From the Materials drop-down menu on the title bar, select Mander Unconfined
Concrete. In this form, enter the values shown in Figure 4. For a detailed description of the con-
crete Yield Strain or the Failure Strain consult the Step-by-Step Example 1 or the XTRACT
Help file. After entering the parameters, click the Apply button and close the form.
From the Materials drop-down menu select Bilinear with Strain Hardening. On this form, select
A706 from the Steel Standard and Grade drop-down menu and click the Apply button to add
this material model to the project.
Upon clicking the Discretize button, the Discretizer dialog box will be opened. In the dis-
cretizer, enter the values shown in Figure 6 and click the Discretize/Overlay button. Then, on the
Builder Tools toolbar, click the Zoom Section button ( ). On the Section Builder the dis-
cretized oblong shape, in unconfined concrete, should be seen as shown in Figure 7. In the Draw/
Import Shape dialog box, select Interlocking Spiral from the Select Shape drop-down box and
enter the values shown in Figure 8. Click the Import button then the Discretize button to dis-
active section by single clicking the section name (Section2) in the Project Manager.
To change the geometry of the cross section, click the Remesh Mode icon on the Builder Tools
toolbar ( ). In the Remesh Section dialog box click the mouse icon to select specific points
in the shape as shown in Figure 11. On the Section Builder, select the four points as shown in
Move Points icon on the Remesh Section dialog ( ). Then, either grab any of the selected
points and move them 6 inches to the right or enter 6.0 in the Delta X text box. Use the Scroll
Shape and Scroll Point buttons until one of the selected points is highlighted with the larger
yellow circle, then click the Modify Point(s) button (Figure 13).
Repeat this procedure for the intersecting points of the inside interlocking spiral shape (Figure 14)
but move those points just 3 inches to the right. To un-select a single point, click the selected point
while the Select icon is depressed ( ) in the Remesh Section dialog box. To un-select all
the points, click the Move Shape icon ( ) then click back to the Select icon. Next, click
the word SNAP in the bottom left side of the builder and change the snap distance to 1.0 inch.
Then click the Move Point icon ( ) on the Remesh Section dialog box, grab the top inter-
secting point and move it downward 1.0 inch to coordinates (3, 14.37). Grab the bottom intersec-
tion point and move it upwards 1.0 inch to coordinates (3, -14.37). After relocating the shape
points, click the Discretize All button to remesh the entire cross section with the new dimensions.
nates dialog box, click the Stop icon in the bottom right side corner of the form to prevent
interaction between the mouse and the screen. On the Builder Tools toolbar, click the Arc icon
( ) to generate the bars around an arc.
In the Enter Generation Points by Coordinates dialog input the values as shown in Figure 16, then
click the Apply button. The coordinates were found from the total width of the interior circular
shape (18in radius) less the cover (1.5in) less the assumed diameter of the transverse reinforcing
steel (0.5in) less half the diameter of a #11 reinforcing bar. To enter the reinforcing bars for the
other side of the left circular shape, change the X-Coordinate in the second bar text box to -21.31
and click the Apply button. The first and last bars that were overlapping were removed then re-
applied resulting in a total of 14 longitudinal reinforcing bars as shown in Figure 17.
To add the longitudinal bars in the other transverse reinforcing spiral, repeat the above procedure
using the appropriate coordinates. After completion, the section should appear as shown in
Figure 18.
Again, following the same procedure for bar generation around an arc performed for Section1,
add the double spiral of longitudinal reinforcing bars to Section2 (Figure 19). Save the file.
From the title bar Loading menu, select Moment Curvature. Enter the loading parameters
shown in Figure 20 and click Apply. Change the On Section drop-down menu to Section2,
re-enter the same loading data shown in Figure 20 with the loading name of MCs1 and click the
Apply button. Save the file and close XTRACT.
Begin_Loading
NAME = MC1
TYPE = Moment Curvature
Use_Best_Fit = True
# Analysis Parameters.
Method = BiSection
N_Steps_Before_Yield = 10
N_Steps_After_Yield = 20
Multiple_On_First_Yield = 2
BS_Tol = 1.0000
BS_Max_Itter = 40
End_Loading
#---------------------------------------
loading name to MC2 and the ConstAxial value to -2000. Repeat four times (MC3 with -3000,
MC4 with -4000). Next, highlight the loading block of text for Section2, MCs1 and repeat the
steps outlined above with:
Save the file and re-open in XTRACT. Open the Project Manager to verify that the various load-
ings were imported correctly.
Section = Section1 Name = CO1u Axial Load = 1000k Orbit Option = Analyze at ulti-
mate material strains
Section = Section2 Name = CO2y Axial Load = 1000k Orbit Option = Analyze at first
material yield option
Section = Section2 Name = CO2u Axial Load = 1000k Orbit Option = Analyze at ulti-
mate material strains
In this project there should be 2 sections each with 6 applied loadings - 4 moment curvatures and
2 capacity orbits. Click the Analyze icon ( ) from the main toolbar to run the analyses.
Viewing Results
After closing the analysis display windows, click the Add Graph icon ( ) to add graph to the
project. In the graph dialog box, change the name to Sec1 Moment Curv and add the Curvatures
about the Y-Axis data on the X-Axis and Moments about the Y-Axis on the Y-Axis. Repeat for
all moment curvature loadings applied on Section1 (Figure 23). This can be repeated for the
moment curvature analyses performed on Section2 allowing comparison of results from the two
sections. The comparison of moment curvature results for varying axial loads applied on
Section1 shown in Figure 23 reveals that there is a higher moment capacity as the axial load is
increased (both at yield and ultimate limit states); however, with increasing axial load there is a
decrease in curvature capacity.
Add a graph called Capacity Orbit Curv (Figure 24) - in this graph plot the Curvatures about the
X-Axis on the Y-Axis of the chart against the Curvatures about the Y-Axis on the X-Axis of the
chart. Repeat for both ultimate analysis on both cross sections. This chart suggests that Section1
has more deformation capacity when loaded to the left (bending about the strong axis) where as
Section2 has more deformation capacity when loaded upwards (bending about the weak axis).
Conclusion
This step-by-step example file has demonstrated to the reader how to create a user defined cross
section. The example has also demonstrated the use of the remesher and generation of longitudinal
reinforcing bars. In addition, the input file was opened and manipulated within a text editor and
multiple analyses were performed. For more information on specific details not contained within
this example, consult the XTRACT.hlp.