USING STAAD-PRO ANALYSIS TOOL TO DESIGN AND ANALYSE STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A MULTI-STOREY (G+6) RESIDENTIAL BUILDING.
My third project involved designing a G+6 residential building and analyzing its structure under different loading conditions on STAAD-Pro Software. I worked on this project while studying at the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, India. The project was part of my Bachelor in Civil Engineering course. In the project, I was both the design engineer and researcher under the guidance of my project supervisor, who was an assistant professor. The project, which was as explained in this document, provided me with a platform to apply my theoretical knowledge and improve my design and analytical skills.
Structural analysis of designed multi-storied buildings before they are constructed is vital to determine whether the building parts are capable of withstanding the loads and moments acting on them. Several analysis methods exist, such as Kani’s method, Cantilever method, and Matrix method. Due to the setbacks of these methods, which include exhaustive calculations and wastage of time, I did this project to prove that the STAAD Pro software package was a better alternative in analysing building designs. In this project, a reinforced concrete building having a G+6 storey frame was to be designed before being analysed for its structural characteristics under different loading conditions. The building had 40m by 28m dimensions and consisted of monolithically built columns, which formed a network.
My primary objective in the project was to design and analyse the structure of a building with ground and subsequent six floors using the STAAD Pro analysis tool. The residential building model was to be developed as a 2D vertical frame and the minimum and maximum bending moments as well as shear forces evaluated through a series of trial and error methods in line with the IS 456-2000 code. After the design, the building was to be subjected to both vertical and horizontal loads. Vertical loads consisted of live loads and dead loads due to the beams, columns, and slabs. The horizontal loads, on the other hand, consisted of wind loads as per IS 875.
The assistant lecturer who supervised me during the project assigned me different duties and tasks to carry out as part of the project. They were as listed below;
- Review available kinds of literature to familiarise myself with the existing structural analysis methods and identify their limitations.
- Model the G+6 building and design its structural parts such as the columns, beams, and foundation with the right dimensions as per the provided plan drawings.
- Use AutoCAD to draw the layout plan and vertical elevation of the residential building and indicate design details of the staircases and reinforcements used.
- Determine the vertical and horizontal loads through calculations and apply them to the designed building.
- Analyse the 2D vertical frame of the building for minimum and maximum bending moments as well as shear forces.
- Perform calculations for both shear forces and bending moments using the building design parameters and validate the simulation results for the analysis performed.
- Prepare the project reports and brief the project supervisor with the project progress regularly.
- Ensure that the models developed and calculations performed in the project were compliant with the relevant design codes and Indian building standards.
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The project began with the presentation of project proposals to our department. After my proposal had been approved, I was assigned a project supervisor and a group of students to assist me with the analysis. Initially, I met the project guide for more advice on the project. The assistant professor advised me on the topics to study for the project and gave me the deadline to complete the project. I started by preparing the project timetable. I applied different statistical methods and Microsoft applications such as MS project to evaluate the tasks involved in the project and estimate the time each needed for execution. Lastly, I subdivided the total allocated time among the tasks and arranged them in their order of implementation to prepare the final project schedule.
I continued to organise a group meeting for the project members to discuss its requirements and develop ideas for implementing it. Also, I briefed them on the project timetable, and we divided the tasks among ourselves. I then collected and studied the architectural plans and layout drawings of the residential apartments before visiting the site of the proposed building. At the site, I took pictures and measurements of the building, which was already being constructed. These details would be crucial in the calculations and simulations to be performed as part of the analysis. I completed my preparation by installing the AutoCAD and STAAD Pro software packages on my PC and studying their use and commands.
I began the project by developing the G+6 apartment building model, consisting of 30 residential flats. Here, I utilised the AutoCAD software first to draw the floor plan of the building and its elevation. I used the software tool features to sketch the entire details on the plan with their correct dimensions. I validated the drawings against the GHMC rules for minimum floor height for residential buildings, which was 3m.
The next step was to import the AutoCAD two dimensional drawings onto the STAAD Pro software tool. I used the transitional repeat and link steps tool to generate the entire skeletal structure. I then continued to apply loading factors on the mesh outline of the building that was automatically created on the analysis interface. For this project, the design loads followed were as per the ASCE 7 standard code, which gave provisions for acceptable practice for building loads. The loads on the building were indicated as arrows facing downwards as the dead and live loads acted against the structure in that direction. The dead loads were automatically assigned when I inputted the properties of the building members, which consisted of the floor, columns, beams, and foundation. Whereas the columns carried the dead weight, the beams were to support the live loads. The mesh rested on supports which were explicitly placed at the column locations on the initial plans.
I verified the dead load obtained from the results of the STAAD Pro simulations by carrying out calculations using formulas entailed in part one of the IS 875 standard. According to the standard, the floors’ weight, which was equivalent to the total dead load, was the product of the floor volume and density of building materials. On the other hand, the live loads were calculated as provided in the IS 875: Part 2. Lastly, the wind load was determined after considering the local topography, terrain roughness, as well as the height and size of the structure. I used the formula below as outlined in the IS 875-3, to perform the calculations to obtain the total wind load.
Where Vz =Design speed depending on building height, z
K1 = Risk level coefficient
K2 = Structure size factor
K3 = Topography factor
The analysis phase involved checking the designed concrete building members, which were beams, columns, and slabs to determine if they needed reinforcement. If reinforcement was needed, I designed it accordingly and planned the area of reinforcement steel needed. Besides, I also calculated the spacing of the steel bars accordingly as per the IS 456-2000 standard code. I later used the STAAD Pro analysis tool to carry further simulations to check if the designed reinforcement provided enough structural strength to the proposed building.
I encountered different challenges during the project, but I solved them using my theoretical knowledge. For instance, as I performed simulations to determine the magnitude of the nominal shear stress acting on the beams, I realised that the design shear strength nominal was less than the shear stress. To solve this issue, I had to design the needed shear reinforcement. I used the calculations below as per clause 40.4 of the IS 456-2000 code.
Where Vu = Vertical shear force
= Design shear strength
b = Beam breadth
d = Effective depth
Another challenge encountered was selecting cheaper building materials to reduce building costs without interfering with the structural strength of the building. Nonetheless, through my research, I identified exceptional materials such as self-compacted concrete and fly ash. Due to the lightness, they reduced the dead load of the building, thus increasing its life. At the same time, these materials were cheaper hence reduced the cost of building materials.
I followed the provisions of the Indian building standards and other design codes as per the project requirements. I referred to the IS 456-2000 for the partial factor of building materials to determine the design loads which I applied to the building for analysis. On the other hand, I calculated the live and wind loads as specified in the IS.875-86. I further validated the design loads against the ASCE 7 standard, which provided the safe design loads for residential structures. By following the provisions of these building standards and codes, I ensured that the building was safe for its occupants.
Since I had little basic knowledge of the AutoCAD and STAAD Pro software, I utilised the user manuals of these tools to understand their installation procedure. Also, I downloaded and watched their tutorials videos from the manufacturer-approved websites to train myself and my group members on their features, commands, and libraries. While working on the project, I also referred to standard manuals and product catalogues for densities of materials and other design parameters.
I coordinated the activities of the team I worked with to achieve the project goals in time. As the group leader, I further communicated with the project supervisor to update him on the progress made. The supervisor also advised us of the design codes to use for the analysis and gave recommendations to solve the issues encountered. Besides, I consulted with other professionals in the civil engineering field by engaging them on online platforms for more innovative design ideas to implement in the project to minimise dead loads, in turn, improving the stability and life of the building.
One of my key achievements in the project was introducing an innovative idea that allowed the dead load to be reduced without affecting the building’s structural strength. I used fly ash and self-compacted concrete for the slabs instead of in-situ cast concrete. Not only were these materials light in weight, but they also were more affordable. The project supervisor hailed my idea as it was very economical.
I prepared detailed project reports to assist in future references and shared them with my classmates. I attached the spreadsheets for the calculations conducted and the results for the simulations performed. Moreover, I prepared the diagrams for the building plan and elevation prepared on AutoCAD as well as the mesh outline of the building showing all loads. Lastly, I compiled the completion report, which I presented to our department, along with the simulation results and calculation spreadsheets.
In the end, I analysed the structure of the residential building model using the STAAD Pro analysis tool. The project exposed me to the use of computer design and analysis tools. The AutoCAD and STAAD Pro software packages I used for the project significantly minimised the structural analysis work involved in the design of multi-storied buildings. The project also gave a better understanding of building materials, Indian building standards, and safety design codes.