Applies To
	Product(s):	STAAD.Pro
	Version(s):	All
	Environment:	N/A
	Area:	Modeling Solutions
	Subarea:	Loading
	Original Author:	Sye Chakraborty, Bentley Technical Support Group

I am applying a POSTSTRESS Member load to a member but I do not see any loads in the adjacent members which are connected to that member. Why?

Please apply the load as PRESTRESS as opposed to a POSTSTRESS. In STAAD.Pro the “PRE” and “POST” are defined based on the time when the member is placed on the structure relative to the time when the pre-stressing force is applied. So when you specify POSTSTRESS, the member is pre-stressed first and then placed on the structure which is why the effect of the pre-stressing will only be local to that member and not transferred to the adjacent members/supports. On the other hand when you specify the member load as PRESTRESS, the member is placed on the structure first and then the pre-stressing load is applied due to which the forces are transmitted to the rest of the structure as opposed to being a local effect for that member.