Check out this video for in-depth understanding: https://youtu.be/v5pMYU3YWZ4
A workflow is the best way of organizing your ideas and actions into a step by step process which yields great results every time. We have already seen how to create a "Workflow for creating awesome structures". This workflow forms the overarching principle for structural analysis and design.
When designing structures in real life you are more than likely to use one of the many Structural Analysis and Design software like STAAD Pro, ETABS, etc. While the basic workflow of structural analysis and design remains the same, the software has certain essential things that modify how you look at your workflow.
STAAD Pro will help you with the calculations thereby eliminating the chance of calculation errors and also reducing the time to solve a structure.
For example, when working with software like STAAD Pro, you will work in 03 broad categories:
INPUTS
Inputs will consist of the following:
Modeling the structure, e.g. creating beams and columns in an RCC Frame structure
Assigning initial Properties to the members
Providing connection parameters like moment released hinges etc.
Creating support conditions where the structure is supported
Assigning Loads on the structure
OUTPUT/ ANALYSIS
STAAD Pro will help you perform the analysis. However, you must keep in mind the fundamental of any software "GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT". This means that the software has no analytical brain of its own. It will provide results based upon whatever inputs you feed into the system. Hence, be very careful when providing inputs. If you give in Garbage Inputs you will get Garbage Outputs back.
Output/ analysis consists of the following:
Support reactions calculated by the software
Internal Forces calculated by the software for all the members
Internal Stresses calculated by the software for each member at all sections
DESIGN
Once you have the outputs at your disposal you can quickly analyze the outputs and provide the design parameters. This is where you try and provide member properties that have a Strength greater than the Internal stress imposed on the member due to your input conditions.
The design consists of the following:
Assigning initial design parameters to each member
Running the STAAD Design and Analysis
Analyzing the results and re-designing by changing initial properties if necessary
Repeat the process till a safe and economical design emerges
As you can see, the workflow remains almost similar to the one we saw in our previous video "Workflow for creating awesome structures" But the key here is that, STAAD is helping you with the calculations.
Check out this video for in-depth understanding: https://youtu.be/v5pMYU3YWZ4
Thanks,
Kushal
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