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Instabilities For Spring Compression

The document discusses issues with using the YONLY option for generating spring supports for a raft foundation in STAAD, as it does not restrain movements in the FX, FZ, and MY directions, resulting in instability warnings. To resolve this, the user could switch to the Y option, which restrains these directions, or add restraints to one joint. Additionally, the document provides advice to a separate question about significant instabilities when using compression-only foundation springs, noting that wind or seismic loads alone are unrealistic and the combination of these with dead and live loads using repeat loading is needed.

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CY Lee
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8 views7 pages

Instabilities For Spring Compression

The document discusses issues with using the YONLY option for generating spring supports for a raft foundation in STAAD, as it does not restrain movements in the FX, FZ, and MY directions, resulting in instability warnings. To resolve this, the user could switch to the Y option, which restrains these directions, or add restraints to one joint. Additionally, the document provides advice to a separate question about significant instabilities when using compression-only foundation springs, noting that wind or seismic loads alone are unrealistic and the combination of these with dead and live loads using repeat loading is needed.

Uploaded by

CY Lee
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Analyzing the foundation for a clarifier ( contd)

Question: When we try to generate the spring supports for a raft foundation using the
joint-list PLATE mat Dir YONLY Sub 10000
command, we get instability warnings in FX, FZ and MY at certain joints.

Answer: The messages have to do with the Y option versus the YONLY option.
The Y option automatically fixes the FX and FZ directions at all mat joints whereas
the YONLY option does not. Without any support in the FX and FZ directions, your
structure is unstable in these directions and MY as well.

123

Analyzing the foundation for a clarifier ( contd)


Answer contd.

You could switch to the Y option or


perhaps restrain FX, FZ, MY at one
joint near the center. Since STAAD
automatically applies very small
springs at one joint to stabilize an
unstable structure, you could ignore
the messages if there are no FX, FZ,
or MY loadings and if the
displacements are small in those
directions.

124

Analyzing the foundation for a clarifier ( contd)


Question: I am trying to use the foundation spring generator. I am getting significant
instabilities at joints in the foundation. Can you point out where my problems are in this
model?
Answer: When the spring supports are of the COMPRESSION-only type, they cannot
resist a load which causes the slab to lift off.
Vertically upward loads, or overturning moments due to WIND or other lateral loads,
cause a progressive lift-off of the base slab. If there are no compensating effects from
vertically downward loads, a stabilizing effect is not available.

125

Analyzing the foundation for a clarifier ( contd)


The base pressure
diagram for such load
cases is

126

Analyzing the foundation for a clarifier ( contd)


which is equal to

127

Analyzing the foundation for a clarifier ( contd)


With each successive iteration, the portion of the slab in contact with the soil gets
smaller and eventually, there are no supports left.
The solution:
WIND alone or SEISMIC alone are not realistic cases. Ignore the results of these cases.
Only the results of cases where they are combined with DEAD and LIVE are
meaningful.
Do not use the COMPRESSION-only attribute with these component cases. Use it only
for the combination cases.

128

Analyzing the foundation for a clarifier ( contd)


The combination cases must be of the REPEAT LOAD type. COMPRESSION-only
supports necessitate a non-linear approach to the situation. The LOAD COMBINATION
type is not appropriate for non-linear situations.

129

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