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    STAAD Pro - Lesson 08 - Plate Elements - Basics

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    EBee
    The document discusses plate elements in STAAD Pro, including: 1. Plate types can be 3-noded or 4-noded, and the shape of elements should have a width to length ratio of no more than 2. 2. The size of elements should divide the boundary into about 10x10 elements for normal accuracy, or have a size equal to half the boundary thickness. 3. The local axis is useful for applying loads and interpreting stresses, so the local axes of plates should be consistent.

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    STAAD Pro - Lesson 08 - Plate Elements - Basics

    Uploaded by

    EBee
    752 views6 pages
    The document discusses plate elements in STAAD Pro, including: 1. Plate types can be 3-noded or 4-noded, and the shape of elements should have a width to length ratio of no more than 2. 2. The size of elements should divide the boundary into about 10x10 elements for normal accuracy, or have a size equal to half the boundary thickness. 3. The local axis is useful for applying loads and interpreting stresses, so the local axes of plates should be consistent.

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    Plate Elements

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    STAAD Pro - Lesson 08 - Plate Elements - Basics

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    The document discusses plate elements in STAAD Pro, including: 1. Plate types can be 3-noded or 4-noded, and the shape of elements should have a width to length ratio of no more than 2. 2. The size of elements should divide the boundary into about 10x10 elements for normal accuracy, or have a size equal to half the boundary thickness. 3. The local axis is useful for applying loads and interpreting stresses, so the local axes of plates should be consistent.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    752 views6 pages

    STAAD Pro - Lesson 08 - Plate Elements - Basics

    Uploaded by

    EBee
    The document discusses plate elements in STAAD Pro, including: 1. Plate types can be 3-noded or 4-noded, and the shape of elements should have a width to length ratio of no more than 2. 2. The size of elements should divide the boundary into about 10x10 elements for normal accuracy, or have a size equal to half the boundary thickness. 3. The local axis is useful for applying loads and interpreting stresses, so the local axes of plates should be consistent.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 6

    STAAD Pro

    Plate Elements

    1. Plate types

    3 Noded plates 4 Noded plates

    2. Shape of Elements

    In general the width to length ratio should be not more than 2. A ratio of 10 is not good.

    3. Size of Elements

    In general, the boundary structural unit, ( say a slab panel, or wall) should be divided into
    about 10 x 10 elements for normal accuracy. But element size equal to half of the
    boundary element thickness (e.g. For a cantilevered 200 mm thick wall, an element size
    of 100 mm x 100 mm) will give reasonably good results. In general, for better PC
    stability, the total number of elements in the model may be limited to about 20000
    elements (for 4Gb RAM)

    4. Local Axis

    The local axis is useful when applying loads and as well as for interpretation of stresses.
    Therefore it is better to make sure the local axes of plates are consistent. The local X axis
    is parallel to the nodes 1 and 2. The Y axis is towards node 3 and perpendicular to X axis.
    You can use Shift + T to see the local axis orientation.

    2
    3
    4

    Lx Ly

    Lx
    Ly
    1 3
    1 2

    Prepared and Lectured by : Erwin Barthelot Page |1


    STAAD Pro

    1. To add a single plate element


    1.1 Using the Plate grid system
    Load the plate grid by going to
    Geometry > Snap/Grid Node > Plate > Quad
    On the "Snap Node/ Plate" palette click on "Snap
    Node/Plate" button and click on 4 points on the grid

    1.2 To add a plate between existing nodes


    Go to Geometry > Add plate > Quad and click on 4 existing node points

    2. To subdivide existing plates into smaller plates

    Using the Plate Cursor, select the plate and right click > Generate Mesh
    Select the type of plate required (say quadrilateral )

    *3. To add plates between existing nodes and subdivide it using the “Generate Surface
    Meshing” tool.
    This tool can be used to add plates between many nodes. If the overall shape is
    rectangular it may propose Quadrilateral and Triangular mesh types. If not it will directly
    use the Triangular mesh type.
    Go to Geometry > Generate surface meshing

    4. To generate Plates Parametrically (Parametric Mesh)


    This is a very powerful tool that enables the following features:
    * To change the mesh density at any time
    * To create mesh concentration points or lines
    * Auto detect intermediate beams and relocate plate nodes so that the plates and
    beams and connected properly.
    * STAAD pro 2007 onwards enables mesh modification even after analysis is done.

    This method of modeling will be discussed in later lessons.

    Prepared and Lectured by : Erwin Barthelot Page |2


    STAAD Pro

    To Model a Wall of a Rectangular Open Channel and Interpret Results

    Start with a “Space” type model.

    Use the “Add plate” option. Then STAAD will load the Plate grid so that we can use it to add a
    single plate.

    To model the geometry:


    Change the View direction to an elevation view.
    Click “Snap Node/Plate” and Click on 4 points on the grid to model the overall shape of the wall.
    (the points should be clicked in ABCD order)

    Prepared and Lectured by : Erwin Barthelot Page |3


    STAAD Pro

    Next use the plate cursor and select the plate > right click > generate mesh.

    Se the division so that each sub plate element is about 0.5m x 0.5m and click Apply.

    Prepared and Lectured by : Erwin Barthelot Page |4


    STAAD Pro

    Then it looks like the following:

    To assign property:
    Go to General > property

    Using the Plates cursor select the plates and click on “Thickness” enter 0.2m and click “assign”

    Support Assignment:
    Go to General > Support
    Using the Nodes Cursor select all nodes at the bottom of the wall and click on “Create”

    Prepared and Lectured by : Erwin Barthelot Page |5


    STAAD Pro

    And assign fixed supports.

    Load Assignment:
    Go to General > Loads and Create a
    load case.
    Under the load case click “add” and
    go to
    Plate Loads > hydrostatic

    Click “Select Plates”

    In the model, select the plates and


    click on “Done”
    Set the load values and click add.

    Analyze the model


    Setup the model for analysis and run
    the analysis

    Post Processing the Results


    In the Plates Tab go to Contour and
    under Stress type select “My” and click
    ok.

    Prepared and Lectured by : Erwin Barthelot Page |6

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