Staad Foundation Advance

I think staad foundation advance still needs to be improved. Here are some suggestions.
1- When we import load cases and combinations from staad, we have to change description of every load and load cases by selection each one by one (i.e it is primary load case, ultimate load case or allowable load case. Can you please create an option or introduce a feature so that it can be done in minimum steps.
2- Can you please introduce a feature to import load cases and combination from excel or notepad file and load template can also be saved from staad foundation advance to notepad or excel file.
3- There should also be a feature to design combined footing with four pedestals (two in front  of each other, not like strip footing) by rigid method.
                                                                                    
 
4- There should also be a feature to design combined footing with four pedestals of following shape by rigid method.
5- Its detaied output in excel show only output results,There should also included some basic inputs and footing sketch showing  overall dimension and pedestal sizes.Even its detailed output report does not show  calculated reinforcement in both footing and pedestals.
6- For heat exchanger and vessels there is no input of reinforcement dia and spacing for pedestal design. also it offently fail footing in shear while other softwares not.
7- When it is fail in punching shear then design is skip. Calculation does not show that from which factor it is failing.

  • Thanks for sending us your inputs. I will pass these on to the STAAD.foundation product management team. Have a couple of queries/observations regarding some points

    1. When one imports a .std file into STAAD.foundation Advanced from outside of STAAD.Pro, the import dialog box provides the option to choose the load case type for all cases in one place. That option is not available when one goes from inside STAAD.Pro to STAAD.foundation Advanced using the Foundation Design tab within STAAD.Pro. I am assuming you want a similar dialog box for the STAAD.Pro-STAAD.foundation Advanced workflow. Is that correct ?

    2. STAAD.foundation Advanced supports import as well as export from Excel. In the ribbon menu you will find options like “Import Spreadsheet” and “Export to Spreadsheet”. You may open a standard example and first do an “Export to Spreadsheet” and thereafter use that as the template for future jobs.

    5.                The calculation sheet contains input data, output, pictures as well as detailed design calculations for reinforcements. Did you check this   option ? When you say detailed output in Excel what workflow are you talking about ?



  • Thanks for your responce. Please find my reply below.

    1- It is right when I import std. file from staad tPro to Staad Foundation advance then there is no option to change load type.

    2-Yes staad foundation advance import  spreadsheet and also export to spreadsheet and this can be use as templete and also editing is easy. Sorry i did't see this option earlier.

    3- when I export calculation to excel using" Detail Output" . the calculation in excel format is not similar which is shown in "Calculation sheet". i.e in excel just sliding, overturning, etc checks are shown in table format and at the end of table no critcal load case valvue is shown as in calculation report. in short output in excel should be similar as in " Calculation sheet". It will be helpfull for easy submission of  calculation report to client.

  • Thanks for the clarification. I will add the point 1 as an enhancement request.

    Regarding the point 5, I see your point and I will discuss about this with our product team. The detailed output is being worked upon and would offer better reporting in version 7. Also in case it helps, you can actually copy the entire calculation sheet including graphics and paste it into excel. You need to select the entire content and do CTRL+C to copy the data and then do a CTRL+V in excel to paste it. You will have to adjust the column widths to make it presentable.

    Regarding point 4, you can actually define a combined footing with four pedestals if those are along a straight line. If you have the pedestals arranged in a rectangular array, it is currently not possible but this feature is under development.

    Regarding the point 6, the next patch release coming out in a few weeks will address the issue of specifying reinforcement bar for pedestals for heat exchangers/vertical vessels. As far as the footing failing in shear, if you can send us a sample file, we can look further into it.

    Regarding the point 7, I am assuming that you are referring to isolated footings. In general when the software fails to design a footing, try changing the boundary conditions like changing the design type to Calculate Dimensions, Max length/width/thickness limits and see what dimensions the software comes up with. This will give you an idea as to what was causing the design failure. I will also talk to our product team and see how we can provide messages pinpointing the reasons for failure.