7.1
Staad Pro is a structural analysis and design computer software that is the premier choice of structural engineers and consultants all over the world. It supports over 70 international and 25 North American concrete, steel and wood design codes. It’s flexible, state of the art modelling environment and large array of analysis and design features make Staad Pro the leading software with the largest user base in the world.
Staad Pro provides a parallel engineering-based environment that allows structural modeling, analysis, design and verification. It utilises a complete array of analysis that includes static, p-delta, pushover, response spectrum, cable and buckling for concrete, steel and wood design; making it a one stop tool for all and any analysis and design needs. It is able to optimize steel structures with considerations to constraints such as drift, deflection, section ranges, etc. It is also able to determine quantity and size of steel reinforcement for concrete beams, slabs, columns and shear walls. Any combination of both or all three materials is possible for analysis and design.
7.1.1
The Process
The potash concentrator building designed by Zenith Design is a steel structure with concrete foundations and slab on grade. A 3-d model of the steel structure was created on Staad Pro for analysis and design purposes. The use of analysis software has several steps that have to be strictly followed and accurately performed. Creating a 3-d model is a process that is both long and extremely detailed. In this process several main steps exist: modelling, analysis and finally design (optional). In the case of the potash concentrator structure being designed, two separate models had to be created as there is an expansion joint that splits the structure into two parts and each structure is independent from the other.
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The structural modelling means drawing the structural members of the building and preparing it for analysis. This process is...