GTSTRUDL Using the GTSTRUDL Base Plate Wizard Example of Creating and Analyzing a Base Plate Rob Abernathy CASE Center GTSUG June, 2009 Atlanta, GA

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Using the GTSTRUDL Base Plate Wizard

Using the GTSTRUDL Base Plate Wizard

Example of Creating and Analyzing a Base Plate

Example of Creating and Analyzing a Base Plate

Rob AbernathyCASE Center GTSUG June, 2009 Atlanta, GA

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GTSUG June, 2009 GTSUG June, 2009 2

Ex_1: Simple W on rectangular plateEx_1: Simple W on rectangular plate

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Start the Base Plate WizardStart the Base Plate Wizard

The Base Plate Wizard will not start unless you have a separate license for it. This extra password can be put in the regular GTSTRUDL password file.

Documentation for the Base Plate Wizard is available through the Help -> Reference Manuals menu pick in GTSTRUDL, or the Help menu pick in the Base Plate Wizard.

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The Plate PageThe Plate Page

Use the Plate tab to enter the plate dimensions: height, width and thickness.

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The Attachment PageThe Attachment Page

The Attachment page will list all the attachments to the plate. There is a limit of 25 separate attachments.

From this page you can add, change or delete attachments.

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The Attachment Page – Add AttachmentThe Attachment Page – Add Attachment

When you click the ‘Add Attachment’ button, this dialog pops up.

Select the Table ‘WSHAPES9’

Select the Profile ‘W10x45’

You can translate and rotate the attachment footprint, but for this example, the default values of centered and 0.0 rotation are correct.

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Attachments – Create your ownAttachments – Create your own

The Attachment file determines the Tables and Profiles available in the Add Attachment dialog. You can create your Attachment file with just the profiles you need, or create an Attachment file with custom profiles, e.g. non-AISC shapes, beam seats, etc.

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Attachments – Create your own (cont)Attachments – Create your own (cont)

When you select a new Attachment file, you will be offered a choice of how deal with the existing Attachment file.

‘Add’ leaves the data from the current Attachment file and adds data from the new Attachment file, in effect combining the two Attachment files.

‘Replace’ clears the data from the current Attachment file, leaving only the data from the new Attachment file.

NOTE: By default, all of the ASD 9th Edition shapes except for double angles are included, so it is likely you will want to create a custom Attachment file.

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Attachments – Create your own (cont)Attachments – Create your own (cont)

• Refer to Appendix A2 in the Base Plate Wizard Documentation for more information about creating attachments.

• You can create as many Attachments files as you need and change between them with the Options – Attachment file menu pick.

• See the sample Attachment files in C:\Program Files\GTStrudl\30\BasePlate

• Refer to Appendix A2 in the Base Plate Wizard Documentation for more information about creating attachments.

• You can create as many Attachments files as you need and change between them with the Options – Attachment file menu pick.

• See the sample Attachment files in C:\Program Files\GTStrudl\30\BasePlate

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The Anchors PageThe Anchors Page

The Anchors page displays a summary of each anchor, with its location, diameter and type description. Use the Edit Anchors button for a detailed description of an anchor.

Add Anchors: Add new anchors to the base plate. Add as many asyou need, but they all must have the same properties,i.e. diameter, axial stiffness, etc.

Edit Anchors: Select anchors, then click this button. Only edit anchors with the same properties together.

Delete Anchors: Select anchors, then click this button.

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Add AnchorsAdd AnchorsThe Add Anchors dialog is where you describe the plate anchors. You must specify anchor location, axial properties and shear properties.

The Anchor Patterns button helps to place anchors that are arranged in a symmetrical pattern.

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Add Anchors (cont)Add Anchors (cont)

Shear properties include:

Fixed – anchor shear is calculated from the reactions.

Elastic spring – KFX and KFY

Nonlinear spring – Use a specified NLS

None – this is only appropriate for an anchor modeled as a frame member, or with a shear lug (modeled as a constraint) or some other applied constraint.

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Add Anchors (cont)Add Anchors (cont)

If you want to have the Results Summary check the anchor results, enter the Allowable Values. This is not a check by ACI 318 Appendix D.

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Anchor PatternsAnchor Patterns

The Anchor Patterns dialog can add as many anchors as you like. The ‘X’ and ‘Y’ values are how far to come in from each corner to place the corner anchors. ‘Top/Bot’ is how many anchors to evenly space between the corner anchors in the X direction. ‘Sides’ is how many anchors to evenly space between the corner anchors in the Y direction.

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The Bearing Surface PageThe Bearing Surface Page

The bearing surface page is used to specify the stiffness of the surface under the base plate. Concrete of 4000 psi is assumed. If the base plate is elevated, check the “No bearing surface support” radio button, but be sure your anchors provide a stable support system, such as anchors modeled as frame members.

Tip: When you want to check the geometry in GTMenu for a complex base plate before analysis, set the type to “No bearing surface…” until you verify the model. This will simplify viewing the base plate in GTMenu.

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Check Geometry in GTMenuCheck Geometry in GTMenu

Remember to check the “Process Input File..” box. After OK – you will see the input file running and generating output – the View -> View in GTMenu pick will be activated.

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Check Geometry in GTMenu (cont)Check Geometry in GTMenu (cont)

In GTMenu, you can verify that the generated geometry is appropriate.

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The Loading PageThe Loading Page

The Loading page allows you to enter or review the loads to be applied to the base plate attachments. Loadings can be directly typed in, or they can be read from a file.

Files may be created by you in the specified Base Plate Wizard format (see Section 9.1, Case 1), or they can be Joint or Member results DBX files.

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Loadings (cont)Loadings (cont)

As an example, read the member end forces from the start of member 1 to be applied to attachment 1.

When the OK button is clicked, the specified DBX file is read, results for member 1 extracted, and then added into the load data dialog, as shown.

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Analyze and Check ResultsAnalyze and Check Results

When the base plate data is complete with attachments, anchors, bearing surface and loads, you are ready to analyze.

Pick the File -> Write GTSTRUDL input file selection again. Note that the analysis box is now available since loads exist.

When you click OK, an input file created and send to be processed. This can take a while, depending on model size and number of loads.

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Results MenuResults Menu

After an analysis has been performed, the Results menu will be activated.

The Results Summary is a quick way to check the status of the base plate. Select the type of data to include in the Summary and then click the OK button.

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Results SummaryResults Summary

If Allowables have been specified, each type of result will be marked Pass or Fail.

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Exit Base Plate WizardExit Base Plate Wizard

Upon exiting the Base Plate Wizard, if it detects you have made changes, you will be prompted to save the changes in a Georgia Tech Base Plate (.gtbp) file.

This file is a text file whose format is defined in Appendix A1.

You can explicitly save this file at any time with the File -> Save to .gtbp menu pick.

You can restore a previously saved base plate with the file -> Restore from .gtbp menu pick.

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Input fileInput fileThe Base Plate Wizard creates a GTSTRUDL input file that remains after the Wizard is closed.

The input file begins with a header summarizing the base plate components.

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Input file (cont)Input file (cont)

Next come the JOINT COORDINATES, ELEMENT INCIDENCES and ELEMENT PROPERTIES.

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Attachments come next. Notice the creation of a RIGID BODY master node ‘C1’. This is where loads applied to the attachment are placed. If the attachment is modeled as an extension (2D elements extending in the Z+ direction) the RIGID BODY will be created at the end of the extension.

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Comments are added with K (bearing surface stiffness) calculation information. See the Base Plate Wizard documentation for more information and the equation used to calculate K. Then nonlinear springs are created for each joint, much like CALCULATE SOIL SPRINGS does.

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Anchors are modeled as springs (elastic or NLS) or support conditions at the node in the center of the anchor.

Documents

GTSTRUDL Using the GTSTRUDL Base Plate Wizard Example of Creating and Analyzing a Base Plate Rob Abernathy CASE Center GTSUG June, 2009 Atlanta, GA