ARCH 331 Note Set 12.

3 updatedF2018abn

Frame Analysis Using Visual Analysis

1. The software is available at the Open Access Labs (OAL) and the Virtual OAL at
http://voal.tamu.edu in Programs under the Windows Start menu. The software can also be
downloaded for use on student computers. To download, go to
https://www.iesweb.com/edu/index.htm and follow the instructions that requires your TAMU
email address to obtain the download link. The license is valid for one academic year, and may
require registration renewal.
2. There is detailed documentation and tutorials available in the Help menu of the software by
choosing Table of Contents. The first task is to define the unit system:
 Choose Manage Units from the Home tab or use the style listed in the
drop down menu. Unit Styles are available for the most common units,
although a Custom Style can be defined.

To set the scale of the geometry grid, a Grid tab is

available in the Project Manager window:
 Choose Grid, and specify the grid spacing for both axes
and how many divisions to be displayed for each axes.
3. To create the geometry, you must be in the Structure tab
and Model View. Draw Members allows you to draw line
members with the mouse that snap to the grid. You can
also define end coordinates with Create Members:

The Create Tab of the Project Manager shows other objects

and systems that can be created. (Hovering over the menu
gives instructions.)

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The moment frame (Unbraced) can create a bay or multiple bays. (Double click to open the
dialog.) Enter the number of bays (horizontally), number of stories (vertically) and the
corresponding spacings and dimensions:

 If the frame does not have regular bays, use the Draw Members command. It is
recommended that all columns be drawn from bottom to top, and all beams drawn from
left to right.
 Select a starting point and ending point with the cursor.
The data for the member is displayed at the bottom of
the Model View and the Project Manager will show the
member properties. You can change the material and
select a Shape Type from the Database (or add a
Custom Blob). All members drawn after making a
selection will have the same material and shape but can
be changed.
 Continue to add members if the beam continues across
supports or does not have the supports at the ends. If
you need to make a node for a support on a member,
select it and with the right-click menu choose Split Members.
 The geometry can be set precisely by selecting the joint and defining the Location in the
Project Manager window with the Modify tab.
 Member ends can snap to grid points or to other points (with care).
 The geometry can be set precisely by selecting the beam member, bringing up the
specific menu (right click), choosing Member Properties to set the length. In addition,
the Data menu can be used to enter coordinates.

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 To support a node, chose the node, and in the Modify

tab of the Project Manager choose from the Support
sub-item. There are four support types (no roller). A
pinned support will fix all the displacements (DX, DY,
DZ). A rigid support will fix the displacements and all
rotations (RX, RY, RZ). The individual restraints can
be chose as well.
 If a hinge connection needs to be included between
members, you will need to change the member
Connections Type to Simple-Rigid, or Rigid-Simple
depending on where the node with the hinge is. Be
careful to make just one member end at the hinge
Simple.
 Because a pin support will allow rotation out of plane,
there must be rotation restriction out of plane. At least
one support needs to have RX fixed.

NOTE: The support forces will be determined in the analysis.

Do not add loads at these
nodes.

4. The frame geometry is complete, and we need to put on

loads. We also might need to tell Visual Analysis that there
will be “weightless” members by choosing the Loading tab
that shows the service case is “D”.
 Choose Edit Load Case and under the Self Weight Type
and choose No Self Weight.

5. The loads that can be applied in the Loading

menu are grayed out until the node or
member or other element are chosen. If the
loads need to be assigned to types, there are
defined Service Case types including wind
and which direction of the load (ex. W+X).
The Load Case manager tool has Load
Combinations by building codes.
 Choose the member or node to be loaded
and select the load type (here shown for
member loading)

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 Chose the Load Type. Choose the direction.

Enter any other load information required
 Enter the magnitude of the force. A negative
value is opposite of the positive global direction.
 To display the load value, the load
graphic must be selected first.
Under the Model Filter tab of the
Project Manager, select the options
under the Show or Hide sub-item.

 If the force units are not what you

want, you must exit the loading
dialog and manage the units first.

NOTE: Do not put support reactions as

applied loads. The analysis will determine
the reaction values.

6. To run the linear analysis after the geometry, member

properties, and loading have been defined, make certain
that the Modify tab of the Project Manager shows under
the Analysis sub-item that the Static Method is First
Order.
 Choose the Results View tab.

7. If the analysis is successful, there will not be any error

message displayed. To see the specific results, choose
the Results Filter tab in the Project Manager.
 To show the axial force results, choose. the Result
Type of Fx, axial force. To show the shear results,
choose the Result Type of Vy, shear force. To show
the bending moment results choose the Result Type
of Mz, bending moment.
 With the Graphics option of Colors, tensile members
will have positive values, while compression members will have negative values.

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 With the Graphics option of Diagram, the relative sizes for the Result Type chosen will
appear as colored bars over the length of the members.
 To show the undeflected diagram, choose the Overlay Undisplaced box under the Results
sub-item.
 To show the forces at the supported nodes, choose Show Reactions under the Nodal
Reactions sub-item.
 To animate the deflection diagram, in the Results View tab, choose Choose Animate
Results from the right-click menu.
 To see exact values of member forces, connection forces, and displacements of a
member, chose the member and choose the Member Graph tab. Hover over the point on
the plot and the value will be displayed next to the hand pointer icon.

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8. The Report View tab allows for a variety of tables to be included by dragging the item onto
the place needed in the report view. To include the images from the Model or Results View,
use Ctrl+C for copying and Ctrl+V to paste into the report.

9. To save the file choose Save or Save Project from the File menu.

10. To load an existing file choose Open Project from the File menu.

11. To print a plot choose Print or Print Preview Window from the File menu. There is a Page
Setup command under the File menu.

12. To print a plot Choose Print Window... from the File menu. As an alternative, you may copy
the plot (Ctrl+c) and paste it in a word processing document (Ctrl+v).

Example of Combined Stresses:

for member COL004: Mmax = -75.7946 k-ft, P = 6.4226 k

knowing A = 9.13 in2, I = 375 in4, c = 7.95 in
6.4226k 75.7946k  ft  7.95in 12in
f max     0.703ksi  19.282ksi  19.985ksi
9.13in2 375in4 ft

For 3D Frames:

 There is detailed documentation and tutorials available in the Help menu of the software by
choosing Table of Contents. Sketching in 2D is recommended, along with the ordering of
beam ends
 It is helpful to move the grid. The cube can be used, or if you have a mouse
with a wheel, you can use Ctrl with the wheel to rotate the grid.

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 The Create Tab of the Project Manager shows other objects and systems that can be created.
(Hovering over the menu gives instructions.)
 The other frame
members can be
drawn or a set can
be selected, and the
Generate Copies
menu can be used to
create a copy offset
in one of the major
axis directions.

 If you wish to have additional beams supported by the beams of your frame, choose the beam
and use the Split Members menu from a left-click. This will make additional nodes, but keep
the segments together. Or, alternatively, draw members where you would like them to be,
and nodes will be generated if your grid is oriented to allow for it.

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 To support a node, chose the node, and in the Modify tab of the Project Manager choose
from the Support sub-item. There are four support types (no roller). A pinned support
will fix all the displacements (DX, DY, DZ). A rigid support will fix the displacements
and all rotations (RX, RY, RZ). The individual restraints can be chose as well.
 If a hinge connection needs to be included between members, you will need to change the
member Connections Type to Simple-Rigid, or Rigid-Simple depending on where the
nodes with the hinge is. Be careful to make just one member end at the hinge Simple.
 Because a pin support will allow rotation out of plane, there must be rotation restriction
out of plane. At least one support needs to have RX fixed.
13. If there is an area that has a uniformly distributed load (and load tracing is NOT required),
plates and area loads can be defined in the Structure tab, with Model View using Draw
Plates, however they can only be analyzed in the full version of Visual Analysis. Create a 3
sided or 4 sided plate by drawing the ends of one side of the plate and then choosing each
corner. End the plate segment by double clicking.
 The plate must be split into a mesh to distribute the loading. Choose the plate, and select
Split Plates from the Structure tab or the right-click menu. Using a finer mesh produces
better results.
 To specify the support conditions of the selected plate, use the Releases submenu under
the Modify tab. To make a simple support, check the M boxes to
 To load the plate, create an area and use the Apply Area Load menu, or use the Apply
Plate load menu.

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