Do Staad.pro Can Analyze Structure with Flat Slab?

Question

Hi everyone can somebody already design Structure with flat slab in Staad.pro? 
 Thanks

Seth Guthrie · Accepted Answer

Sure, people design flat concrete slabs with STAAD.pro all the time. If you're looking for something more than confirmation just reply with some further details.

Kris Sathia · Answer

See the answer posted at 
 communities.bentley.com/.../294638.aspx 
 Additionally, if you are planning to design the slab per the IS456 code, one more option is available - a third party application known as RCDC which is integrated with STAAD.Pro.

Seth Guthrie · Answer

You can model slabs of different thickness in STAAD.pro and still export the model for final design to Ram Concept, but if it were my model I would probably just use a single thickness simple slab in STAAD which is probably good-enough for lateral analysis and column design and then export the levels to Ram Concept where you can add the drop caps, tendons, design strips and punching checks. 
 Now, I personally think that the integration of RAM Structural System with Concept is a little tighter than the link between STAAD and Ram Concept, so if you already have the model in RAM SS you could continue with that. Since the program does not generate Wind or Seismic loads per the Indian codes yet you would have to put in use defined lateral loads. The biggest limitation I see is in the concrete column design within RAM SS which has a lot of concrete design codes, but not the Indian Standard.

Sye · Answer

Meshing the slab is important as you said. However please note that if you are modeling the floor using plates having appropriate thickness, you are already accounting for the stiffness due to the flat slab and so you do not need to define master slave on top of it. At column locations where there are caps, you can add a few dummy beams ( use high E and zero density for these ) connecting the column point to the adjacent nodes of the plate mesh. That would simulate a stiff cap and help distribute the stresses.