Structural Analysis (FRAME) - CAESAR II - Reference Data

The following example uses CAESAR II to analyze the braced frame shown below, subject to the given uniform load and self weight.

• Column section data area = 15 in2 inertias = 250 in.4

• Column section data area = 10 in2 inertias = 500 in.4

• Brace section data area = 5 in2 inertias = 1 in.4

• Material density: 490 pcf

• Material density: 200 lb/inches

This example shows how to model a structure using the CAESAR II Structural module. The figure below displays a single-bay, braced space frame. All beam and column lengths are 50-inches. This frame is subject to its own weight load as well as a uniform load of 200 pounds per inch on all of the top-level beams. You need to determine the displacements, reactions, and element forces for three load cases: self weight, uniform load, and self weight plus uniform load.

This example illustrates how to use most of the keyword directives in the structural preprocessor. A standard finite element modeling approach is followed, where the system nodes are defined first, followed by materials and section properties, elements, and finally the loading.

Process the Input File

1. In CAESAR II, click File > Open and open the structural file Frame.str.

   

   • Example files are delivered to the [Product Directory]\Examples folder during installation.

   • Select Structural(*.str) in the Files of type list.

2. Click Input > Structural Steel.

   The Structural Modeler dialog box displays the frame model.

   

3. Click Save on the Structural Modeler toolbar to error check and save the model.

4. Click Yes in the Save changes to FRAME? message box.

5. Click OK in the Model Generation Status message box.

6. Click File > Exit to exit the structural steel input processor.

7. Click Static Analysis on the CAESAR II toolbar.

   CAESAR II reads the binary files created by the structural preprocessor and displays recommended load cases in the Static Analysis dialog box.

   

   CAESAR II recommends load cases to satisfy piping code compliance and not necessarily loads that you would want to use for structural analysis.

8. Edit the load cases as shown in the example below.

   Load case 2 (L2) consists only of U1, which is designated as an operating case (OPE). This is a construction case and is segregated here because it may be interesting to see the loads produced by the Uniform Load.

   

9. Click Run Analysis to begin processing.

   The software displays the results for the analysis.