he following is a step-by-step procedure for analysis a two-dimensional truss structure using SAP2000. The order of some of these steps is not critical; however, all step should be completed before execution of the the analysis. If you have any questions, or you you find any of these instructions unclear or inaccurate, please contact Dr. Charles Camp.
SAP2000 is general-purpose civil-engineering software ideal for the analysis and design of any type of structural system. Basic and advanced systems, ranging from 2D to 3D, of simple geometry to complex, may be modeled, analyzed, designed, and optimized using a practical and intuitive object-based modeling environment that simplifies and streamlines the engineering process. The training covers an old release of SAP2000, though that won’t be a problem for beginners. Verdict: This is the best outlet for beginners to start learning SAP2000 through video tutorials. AboutCivil.org is the second free outlet where beginners can start learning SAP2000 through a text based tutorial. You don’t have to. SAP2000 follows in the same tradition featuring a very sophisticated, intuitive and versatile user interface powered by an unmatched analysis engine and design tools for engineers working on transportation, industrial, public works, sports, and other facilities. The SAP name has been synonymous with state-of-the-art analytical methods since its introduction over 30 years ago. SAP2000 follows in the same tradition featuring a very sophisticated, intuitive and versatile user interface powered by an unmatched analysis engine and design tools for engineers working on transportation, industrial, public works, sports, and other facilities.
To help students become familiar with some of the numerous aspects and features of SAP2000, the following tutorial will focus on determining the forces in each member of the roof truss shown below. Assume all members are pin connected.
When you start SAP2000 Educational Version 7.4 you should see the following interface window:
| Step 1: Set Problem Dimensions - On the bottom on the interface window, set the desired units for the problem using the pull-down menu. In this example, the units are feet and kips. |
Step 2: Grid Spacing - Determine the appropriate number of grid line and grid spacing to locate the joints of the truss. The grid spacing is set by defining a new problem. To create a new problem, select New Model under the File menu.
| When you select New Model on the menu, the Coordinate System Definition window will appear (see the figure on the right). Remember, that SAP2000 assumes that your two-dimensional structure resides in the x-z plane. Define your grid system by entering data on the Coordinate System Definition window. For the truss shown above, the the grid spacing in the x and z-directions is 20 feet. The number of grid spaces in the x and z-directions are 4 and 1, respectively. No y-direction grid line are necessary for this problem. When you click OK, SAP2000 generates the grids line you have just defined and shows you the grid system in the SAP2000 interface window. By default SAP2000 show two views of your problem, typically a 3-D view and an x-y plane view. To adjust the views, select an window and click on the appropriate view button located along the top edge of the interface window. |
Step 3: Locate Truss Joints -To define the joint locations, select the Draw Special Joint button on the lower tool bar. Click on grid intersection lines to define joints. For this problem the joint locations are shown below:
Step 4: Draw Frame Elements - To define each frame element, select the Draw Frame Element button on the lower tool bar. To define an element, click on a joint at the beginning of the element and than on the joint at the end of the element. To end a series of element definitions, simply double-click on the final joint. For this truss problem, the frame elements are shown below:
Step 5: Define Structural Supports -To define the location and type of structural support, select the support location by clicking on the joint with the pointer. A yellow 'X' should appear at the joint to indicate that it is currently selected. Next click on the Joint Restraint button on the bottom tool bar.
| The Joint Restraints menu will appear as shown on the right. In most cases, the directions 1, 2, and 3 listed on the menu correspond to the x, y, and z directions. When working on two-dimensional structures, the Fast Restraints button may be used for most problems. If the support conditions for your problem are not listed in the Fast Restraints section of the menu, you should select the appropriate combination of restraints. In the truss example, select the lower-left hand joint with the pointer (an 'X' should appear at the joint) and then click on the Fast Restraints button. On the Fast Restraints menu select the pin button and click OK. Next, select the lower right-hand joint with the pointer and click on the Fast Restraints button. On the Fast Restraints menu select the roller button and click OK. |
After the supports have been defined the truss problem should appear in the SAP2000 interface window as follows:
Step 6: Apply Forces at Joints - To apply forces at a joint, select the joint with the pointer and click on the Assign Joint Loadings button . The following menu will appear:
| In this example, there are three 3 kip forces acting along the bottom cord of the truss. Remember that the truss was modeled in the in the x-z plane, therefore the forces are acting in the negative z-direction. Enter -3.0 in the Forces Global Z input field and click OK. The forces should be should be displayed on the truss (proper direction and magnitude) in the SAP2000 interface window. |
Step 7: Release Internal Moments at Joints - SAP2000 assumes that all structures are frames. Therefore, to analyze a truss structure we should convert each joint from a fixed connection to a pin connection. To ensure that every joint in the structure is pin connected, select all the members by clicking the Select All button on the bottom tool bar. Next click on Assign menu and select Frame then Releases and the and Frame Releases window will appear.
| In this example, the structure is a truss, which by definition has no moment capacity at each joint. To release the moment capacity, click on the check boxes that are associated with the Moment 22, Moment 33, and Torsion. Torsion can only be released at one end of the element, whereas, the other moment must be released at both the Start and End of the element. After the moments are released, the truss structure should appear in the SAP2000 interface window as follows: |
Step 8: Define Material Properties - SAP2000 assumes the loads acting on a structure include the weight of each weight. In our truss analysis, we assume that each element is weightless. To define the properties of a material , select the Define menu located along the top the SAP2000 interface window and then click on Materials. The Define Materials window will appear as shown below:
| On this menu you can change the properties of materials. In this example, select the OTHER material and click on the Modify/Show Material button. The Material Property Data window will appear. |
Change the value in the Weight per unit Volume input field to zero. Click OK to return to the Define Materials window and than click OK again. Now we have a material named OTHER that has no weight per volume. For this example problem, the default values for the Mass per unit Volume, Modulus of elasticity, Poisson's ratio, and the Coeff of thermal expansion can be used. For most linear elastic statically loaded structures only values for Weight per unit Volume and Modulus of elasticity are required.
Step 9: Define Frame Sections - To define the cross-section properties of a structural element click on the Define menu located along the top the SAP2000 interface window and then click on Frame Sections. The Define Frame Sections window will appear as shown below:
The default Frame Section label is FSEC1. To change the properties of the frame section click on the on the Modify/Show Material button. The Rectangular Section window will appear.
To the material of this frame section click on the Material pull-down menu and select our weightless material OTHER. Click OK to return to the Define Frame Sections window and than click OK again. If you are interested in computing deflections in the truss, then you must define the Depth (t3) and Width (t2) of the cross-section. In this example, we are interested only in the axial forces in a determinate truss, so the value of the cross-sectional areas are not important.
Step 10: Assign Frame Sections - To assign the cross-section properties of a structural element, select the element with the pointer and click on the Assign menu located along the top the SAP2000 interface window and then click on Frame Sections. You can assign the same section properties multiple elements by selecting all the elements that share the same properties. The Frame Section name will appear next to each element selected. After the frame sections have been assigned the SAP2000 interface window will appear as follows:
Step 11: Set Analysis Options and Run Analysis - In this example, the truss structure is modeled in the x-z plane. To limit analysis to variables in the x-z plane click on the Analyze menu located along the top the SAP2000 interface window and then click on Set Options. The Analysis Options menu will appear as follows:
To restrict SAP2000 to variables in the x- plane, select the Plane Frame button and click OK. The truss structure is now ready for analysis. To analyze the model press the Run Analysis button .If the analysis is successful, the Analysis Complete window will appear and report the the analysis is complete. Click OK and the SAP2000 interface window will display an exaggerated deflected shape of the modeled structure.
If the window reports that the analysis is incomplete, make sure that the moments have been released and that the analysis options have been set correctly.
After the Analysis Complete window has been closed, typically SAP2000 displays the deflected shape of the structure as shown below:
Step 12: Print Truss Forces - To get a quick feel for the relative magnitude of the forces in the truss, select the Member Force Diagram for Frames button along the bottom tool bar. The Member Force Diagram for Frame menu will appear as follows:
| The default values will display the Axial Forces using the Fill Diagram. If you click OK, the SAP2000 interface window will display the relative magnitude of the axial forces with compress forces in red and tension forces in yellow. Another way to display force information is to unclick Fill Diagram and click on Show Values on Diagram. In this case, the value of each axial force will be displayed next to the member (see the figure below). |
To print the results to a file click on the File menu and select Print Output Tables and click the Print to File box. There is an option for Spreadsheet Format if desired. The default location for the file is the same directory as the problem files. A different location can be specified by clicking File Name and choosing the desired file location and name.
In order to correlation the results printed in the output file to frame elements in the structure, the frame labels turned on and printed out. To display the frame element labels click on the Show Undeformed Shape button on the main interface. Next, click on the Set Elements button and under the Frame section of the menu click on Labels.
The frame element numbers, or any other information displayed in the main SAP2000 interface, can be printed by clicking on the File menu and selecting Print Graphics (the image will be sent to the default printer).
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The results of the truss analysis presented in the output file are listed by frame element number.
Note that SAP2000 list the variation of the internal forces and moments along the element. For truss analysis there are no bending moments and shear forces. The values listed in the 'P' column are the axial forces in the truss members.
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This web site was originally developed by Charles Camp for CIVL 7111.
This site is maintained by the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Memphis.
Your comments and questions are welcomed.