Building a Model Guideline
Typical steps for the creation of a building model are outlined below. The forms (dialog) for the first three steps will automatically appear when a new project is defined.
The best way to learn how to build a new model is to go through our comprehensive e-learning tutorials : ProtaStructure Basic E-learning
- Start a new project. Choose an appropriate template to set up the required design codes and initial parameters then click "OK ". The settings can be reviewed and modified at any time during the building model creation via the Template Management tab in Setting Control Center. (Refer to Template Management)
- Define the storey information for the 1st storey in the building. Storey Height, h , Storey Label and 1st Bottom Storey Level, Level fields must be defined.
Click OK to close the dialog box. If the building has only one storey level then the storey data is complete. If not, right click "Storeys" in the bar and select "Insert Storey " to enter the total number of storeys in the building.
All storeys will have identical heights as defined by the height of the 1st storey. You are therefore advised to define the 1st storey (ground floor) with a typical height initially, and revise it if necessary after the other storeys have been inserted. To edit any of the properties of any storey, user can right click the "Storeys" and pick “Edit Storey”.
More storeys related information can be studied in Storey Related Controls and Settings section. - Axes are the references for all structural members. Therefore, they must be specified before the columns and beams. To create an axis; define the "Axis Label ", simply drag two points in the drawing area. The axis will be created when you release the left mouse button. More information of the axis modeling techniques can be studied in Working with Axes section.
- Select the storey at which you want to start defining members by double-clicking the related storey title (St-n) in "Structure Tree". Alternatively, you can right-click the “Storeys” option in the “Structure Tree” and then click “Select Storey”.
- Structural members such as columns, walls, beams and slabs can be defined at this time using crossing axes as references for their insertion. Typically columns and walls are defined prior to the beams. More details are available for creating these members in the related sections below.
- Building systems usually consist of similar storeys. You can generate similar storeys above or below the active storey and edit only the differences. To generate a storey pick “Generate Storey”.
- Member labels are also generated based on the label of the target storey. For example, the beam "1B20 " in the source storey (which is "1 ") will be generated to 4th storey as "4B20 ".
- Floors that are completely similar do not have to be generated in the Graphic Editor. Similar storeys are defined in "Edit Storey" menu. Refer to Storey Related Controls and Settings.
- Upon completion of the building model, pick “Building Analysis”
to load the Building Analysis form. Please refer to Building Analysis Content for more details.
- Click “Load Combinations” on the “Pre-Analysis tab” to review the Load Combinations that will be designed for. To generate a different set of combinations click “Loading Generator”.
- Using the “Model Options” tab, select modelling options for the analysis (eg. Wall model, diaphragm options, etc). For more details of "Model Option", please refer to this article: Model Options.
- Click the "Building Analysis" button to start the analysis process of the building. Following the completion of the building analysis, some post-analysis processes will be carried out to prepare the design data.
- Providing analysis results are available, the beam and column designs can be performed at any time by picking “Design All ”
in "Design" pull down menu or the particular members design icons.
- Foundation elements such as pad footing and pile cap must be modelled in “Storey 0 ” level.
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