Hi,
I'm running a model of a concrete podium structure and seem to be running into a "node tolerance error". The exact text is:"Tolerance error at coordinates (x,y,z). Check if all members at this coordinate are aligned."
The given coordinates lie in the span of a beam, not at a support or column. There are a series of "other" bearing walls bearing on said beam for a number of floors above. When checking the alignment, the walls above are all aligned and do not have a skew angle to them (measure angle in RAM is 0). The beam is also aligned with the y coordinate of the walls and also does not have any skew angle.
Unfortunately, the only post regarding this issue (https://communities.bentley.com/products/ram-staad/f/ram-staad-forum/52407/ram-concrete-tolerance-error-message) seems to be from a number of years ago and did not have any actual posted resolution.
I have tinkered with the node tolerances and tried redrawing the wall and the beam to no avail. If anyone has any suggestions it'd be most helpful.
Thanks,
Jason
This wiki is a good reference for meshing issues:
https://communities.bentley.com/products/ram-staad/w/structural_analysis_and_design__wiki/4027/ram-frame-meshing-and-segmentation-tn
Aligning walls to beams below is often what it takes to correct an issue, though changes in the mesh settings sometimes works. Another good step towards diagnosis is running the model one level at a time, and if that works, then two stories at a time to see which transfer level causes the problem. If you can't get it resolved, send over the file (use the Secure File Upload process, link below left).
Unfortunately even modifying the wall above the beam such that the coordinates matched with the beam did not resolve the error, nor did matching the edge of slab for the two floors. It doesn't seem to have an issue meshing as it only runs into the error as it is analyzing the loads on the level and can run a RAM Frame analysis fine. The strange thing is that this was not a problem in earlier renditions of the model, but only after a few changes in different areas of the building did this error arise.
I have uploaded the file; it is named "12-8". The error occurs in the lower right corner of the building between the 4F framing and 5F framing levels.
The error is associated with Wall #308 on Level 5F (4F Walls), which is supported by Beam #334 on Level 4F (3F Walls) below. The tolerance error is caused by the segmentation of the wall and the cantilever at the right end of the beam.
To resolve the problem, delete the wall and remodel it in 3 segments so that a wall end coincides with the rigid links and a separate wall segment is modeled over the cantilever as shown below:
Answer Verified By: Jason Chen