Greetings,
I have a very large and complex machine to be modeled and to be analyzed in STAAD Pro. This machine is very huge made of plates and beams. Now since I am modelling most component as plate. I have few queries:-
1. Is it necessary to mesh plate members ?? I have made beams as plate members. There are hundred of such members. If I mesh these plates (divide further) there will be a very heavy model.
2. How to connect beam to plate ??
3. Is release member is applicable to plates also ??
Thanks in advance for any help
Hi Learning Engineer,
1. Yes, the appropriate results will be achieved with the plates meshed. The mesh size should be chosen in accordance with your engineering judgment. Say, for 10x10 meter plate, the mesh size 1x1 meter is more or less acceptable.
2. The beams and plates are connected via nodes. A good approach would be to model beams with unmeshed plates and then apply the plate meshing - the beams will be meshed together with plates (by default).
3. You can apply the releases to the plate nodes.
Answer Verified By: Learning Engineer
Hello Andrej,
Thank you for your useful reply. In my model there is various places where I have to model pin connection between plates. See above image.
What will be best approach to capture this mechanism. (I can compromise with dimensions of the plate here)
The plate release MX MY (MZ - optionally) is applicable to such connection too. These connectors may be modeled as meshed plates, depending on the project requirements.