CE4011 – Finite Element Methods in Structural Engineering
General Instructions for Analysis of a 2D Frame Using SAP2000
Step 1: Begin a New Model
Go to File Menu>New Model to bring the New Model form. Select the default units appropriate for
the model
Select Blank button from the template. This will bring two 3-D view windows. Close one window.
Save the sap file you are about to develop now. Go to File>Save As. Then locate the directory
and save the file.
Step 2: Set the Coordinates
Go to Edit menu>Interactive Database Editing. Click the check box Expose All Input Tables.
Select Connectivity Data>Joint Coordinates>OK. This will bring a table where the coordinate
data can be entered.
Click To Excel to go to MS Excel format. This allows you to use the facilities in MS Excel to fill the
table.
After completing the table, minimize the Excel window and click From Excel to import all the data
to Interactive Database Editing window. Then, all the coordinate data inserted at the Excel
window will be imported to SAP2000.
If there are no warning messages, click apply to Model>Done.
Go to View>Set 2D View. Select the appropriate plane making one coordinate axis zero. (ex: If the
required plane is XY, click the XY plane with Z=0). Click OK.
If the points are not visible, go to View>Set Display Options, and uncheck the box in front of
Invisible and check the box in front of Labels to appear joint numbers. Click OK.
Step 3: Define the Material Properties
Click the Define>Material to display the material properties form.
Click Add New Material to bring up the Material Property Data form.
Type the material name (ex: Mat 1)
Insert the Modulus of Elasticity and Poisson’s ratio. Set the weight per unit volume if dead
weight of the frame is considered.
Click OK twice to accept the changes.
Step 4: Define the Frame Section
Click the Define>Frame Sections command which will display Frame properties form.
Click Add New Property to bring up the Add Frame Section Property form.
Choose Frame Section Property Type and select the section from Click to Add a Section form.
Insert property data/section dimensions/materials defined for the frame and name the section. (ex:
FSEC 1)
Click OK twice to accept the changes.
(Note: Use Modify/Show Property option in the Frame Properties form if any changes are needed to
be done in the inserted frame properties data)
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Step 5: Draw the Object
Go to Draw>Draw Frame/Cable/Tendon. This will bring Properties of Object window.
Select the frame section defined from the drop down menu and draw the elements by clicking at
the respective nodes. Click Esc key to stop drawing the element.
Step 6: Define Restraints
Select the node that is to be restrained and go to Assign>Joints>Restraints to bring up the Joint
Restraints form. Check the boxes to represent the boundary condition provided at the selected
node and click OK.
Repeat the same for the other nodes which are to be restrained.
Step 7: Define Load Cases Assign Loads
Go to Define>Load Patterns command to bring up the Define Load Patterns form.
Click on the edit box for the Load Pattern Name column. Type the name of the load to be applied
and select the type of load from the drop down list. Make sure the self weight multiplier is set to
zero. Click the Add New Load Pattern button to add the defined load pattern name to the load list
and click OK.
Step 8: Assign Loads
Assigning joint loads
Select the node which the load is to be applied.
Click Assign>Joint Loads>Forces. This will bring the Joint Loads window.
Select the defined Load Pattern Name and verify that correct working unit is selected.
Set the Coordinate System appropriately and insert nodal loads with correct sign convention.
Choose Replace Existing Loads in the option form.
Click OK.
Assigning uniformly distributed loads
Select the frame to which the uniformly distribute load is to be applied.
Click Assign>Frame/Cable/Tendon Loads>Distributed. This will bring the Frame Distributed
Loads window.
Select the defined Load Pattern Name and verify that correct working unit is selected.
Set Coordinate System and the direction appropriately and insert loads with correct sign
convention.
Choose Replace Existing Loads in the option form.
Click OK.
Step 9: Define Load Combinations (Optional)
Go to Define>Combinations command to bring up Define Load Combinations window.
Click Add New Combo..... to open a form named Load Combination Data.
Type the name of the load combination name
Set the load combination type
Select the load case and set the scale factor as necessary, Click Add
Repeat the same procedure for other load cases necessary and Click Add
Click OK twice.
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Step 10: Run the Analysis
Save the model
Go to Analyze>Run Analysis to bring up the Set Load Case to Run form.
Note that program has automatically created the load patterns defined and the load case DEAD
and MODAL for the analysis.
Set the Run/Do Not Run button appropriate for the analysis.
Click the Run Now button. When the analysis is finished, the message ANALYSIS COMPLETE
will be displayed. Then click OK.
Step 11: View the Results
In Graphical form
Go to Display>Show Forces/Stresses>Frames/Cables command to bring up the element forces
form. Select the name of the load pattern/load combination defined and the required component
(axial force, shear 2-2, Moment 3-3, etc.). Click OK to see the results in graphical form.
Go to Display>Show Deform Shape to see deform shape under each load case/load combination
from drop down list.
Numerical values in Tabular form
Go to Display>Show Tables command to bring up the Choose Tables for Display. Set the name
of the load pattern/load combination defined and Analysis Results and outputs (Joint Output,
Element Output….etc.). Click OK to see the results in tabular form.