STAAD - "GENERATE" command

Question

Hi, 
 
 I'm using "GENERATE" command to model continuous supports at the base of my my shear walls (surface elements). How do I extract the reactions on the nodes that are internally generated by the program i.e. nodes between the starting (ni) and ending nodes (nj)? 
 
 Thanks, 
 Dennis

Sye · Answer

The only way to view the reactions at these intermediate supports is to include the PRINT SUPPORT REACTION in the input file in which case the analysis output file will list the supports with the reactions. Unfortunately there is no easy way to view these supports graphically but you can get the reactions from the output file. When the support reactions are printed, STAAD.Pro would first print out the reactions at the start and the end nodes used in the generate command which would be followed by the reactions at the generated nodes.

Sye · Answer

Ok. Here is a sample file. The PRINT SUPPORT REACTION is included and if you look at the support reactions in the analysis output file, you will see reactions at all intermediate supports. 
 
 4744.Surface.std

Sye · Answer

Dennis : 20.07.06.35 is a dinosaur :) ... I would definitely recommend upgrading to the latest STAAD.Pro ( 20.07.11.82 )

Sye · Answer

Dennis : You mentioned about getting error messages when opening the file I sent. I did not see any details on those. Did you attach any screenshot ? The upgrade should not be required to get this feature to work. It has been there in the software for quite some time now. So let's try to get it to work in your version.

DSANJU · Answer

Please find another example on this. 
 Examplet.zip

DSANJU · Answer

You can simply go to STAAD editor and find that in material definition, you have the following commands: 
 
TYPE CONCRETE 
STRENGTH FCU 576000 
 
You can inactive them to get rid of the errors.

Sye · Answer

I am stumped. If you are able to run the analysis and you have the PRINT SUPPORT REACTIONS command in there, I don't see why you would not get the support reactions reported for the intermediate supports in the analysis output file in your version. I hope you are not looking at the postprocessing table for support reactions and looking at the analysis output file. 
 I have attached a modified version of the example I sent earlier. Try to analyze this file in your version and it should analyze and report the reactions in the intermediate supports in the analysis output file. If you are able to analyze the file and still do not see the reactions in the output, please attach the .ANL file and let me take a look. 
 Surface_revised.std

Sye · Answer

Dennis : Can you please analyze this modified file and see if you are now able to see the reactions or not. 
 Surface_revision1.std

Sye · Answer

Yes use these SET commands to get the reactions in your version. In later versions this is automatically reported as Kris indicated. Generally to print reactions for specific supports, you would use the LIST followed by support numbers but in this case it would not work because if you do so, you would only get reactions for the listed supports but not for the generated ones.

Sye · Answer

The support reactions are printed in the analysis output file such that reactions at the two nodes at the two extreme ends of the surface are printed first followed by the reactions at the generated nodes lying in between these two nodes. Once reactions for all the generated nodes for the first surface are printed, the support reactions for the next surface are printed following the same order.

Sye · Answer

Dennis 
 
Your version is 20.07.06.35 which was released in March of 2010 
 
Since then in the last 6 years we have released the following versions ( latest at the top ) 
 
STAAD.Pro V8i SS6 
•Build 20.07.11.82 ( 12 July 2016) 
•Build 20.07.11.70 ( 22 March 2016) 
•Build 20.07.11.50 ( 03 December 2015) 
•Build 20.07.11.45 ( 30 September 2015) 
•Build 20.07.11.33 ( 23 June 2015) 
 
STAAD.Pro V8i SS5 
•Build 20.07.10.66 ( 14 Jan 2015) 
•Build 20.07.10.65 ( 29 October 2014) 
•Build 20.07.10.64 ( 22 July 2014) 
•Build 20.07.10.41 ( 26 November 2013) 
 
STAAD.Pro V8i SS4 
•Build 20.07.09.31 ( 11 March 2013) 
•Build 20.07.09.21 ( 20 December 2012) 
•Build 20.07.09.11 ( 14 August 2012) 
 
STAAD.Pro V8i SS3 
•Build 20.07.08.22 ( 16 May 2012) 
•Build 20.07.08.20 ( 16 September 2011) 
 
STAAD.Pro V8i SS2 
•Build 20.07.07.32 ( 24 February 2011) 
•Build 20.07.07.19 ( 13 October 2010) 
 
The versions of the code IBC is 2012, ACI is 2011 and AISC is 14th edition or 360-10 in the latest version. 
 
You really need to upgrade :)

Sye · Answer

Yes uninstall the older one and install the new one. But 20.07.11.50 is also two versions old, so why not go for the latest 20.07.11.82.

Sye · Answer

Unfortunately the limitations that I mentioned above exists in STAAD.Pro till date. So looking at the reactions in the analysis output file is still the only option. 
 However regarding viewing the intermediate nodes graphically, there is a way. 
 Listed below is a series of steps that you can take to convert the surfaces to plates which would allow you to graphically view the generated intermediate nodes. 
 
 Save your STAAD model file by a different name. 
 Analyze the saved STAAD.Pro model. 
 Press &ldquo;F12&rdquo; key on the keyboard which is going to convert the surface to constituent nodes and plates. 
 You will NOT see the plates at first. Save the file. Close it and reopen it and you will see the plates. 
 The model will generate some errors while opening as all information related to the surfaces are not completely deleted from the file. 
 You can turn the node numbers on to check the location of the intermediate nodes