Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015 Example 8

Example 8. Geometrically nonlinear analysis of mast

In this lesson you will learn how to:

 generate design model of mast;
 simulate geometric nonlinearity.

Description:
Model of the mast and its boundary conditions are presented in Figure 8.1.
Steel mast of 40m height.

Sections of elements of the mast:

 mast – three pipes 133 x 5;
 guy ropes – cable, shape – 20.

The sate of design model is evaluated after 365 and 730 days.

Loads:
 load case 1 – dead weight; concentrated load P = 0.15 t/m applied to two upper nodes;
 load case 2 – wind load, II wind region, site type A.

Figure 8.1 Model of the mast

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 Example 8 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015

On the taskbar, click the Start button, and then point to All Programs. Point to the folder that contains
LIRA SAPR / LIRA-SAPR 2015 and then click LIRA-SAPR 2015.

Step 1. Creating new problem

On the FILE menu, click New (button on the toolbar).

In the Model type dialog box (see Figure 8.2) specify the following data:
problem name – Example8;
problem code (by default it coincides with the problem name);
model type – 2 – Three degrees of freedom per node (two translations and rotation) X0Z.

Click OK .

Figure 8.2 Model type dialog box

It is also possible to open the Model type dialog box with a pre-defined type of model. To do this, on
the LIRA-SAPR menu (Application menu), point to New and click Model type 2 (Three DOF per node)

command . One more way to do the same: on the Quick Access Toolbar, click New and in the drop-

down menu select Model type 2 (Three DOF per node) command . Then you should define only
problem name.

To save all output data files for the problem in certain directory, select appropriate check box. The
directory name will coincide with the name of the problem. This directory will appear in the directory for
files with analysis results. This is helpful if you have to find output data files for certain problem, then
transfer these files or review and evaluate them with the help of Windows Explorer or other file managers.

Step 2. Generating model geometry

On the Create and edit ribbon tab, on the Create panel, point to Create regular fragments and grids

drop-down list and click the Create frame command.

In the Create plane fragments and grids dialog box specify the following data:

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 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015 Example 8

spacing along the second axis:

L(ì) N
1 40
other parameters remain by default (see Figure 8.3).

Click Apply .

Figure 8.3 Create plane fragments and grids dialog box

To add nodes:
On the Create and edit ribbon tab, on the Create panel, point to Add node drop-down list and click the

Add node by coordinates command.

In the Add node dialog box (see Figure 8.4), define coordinates for the left bottom node:
Х(m) Y(m) Z(m)
-20 0 0.

Click Apply .

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 Example 8 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015

Figure 8.4 Add node dialog box

Then define coordinates for the right bottom node:

Х(m) Y(m) Z(m)
20 0 0.

Click Apply .

To present numbers of nodes on the screen:

On the Select toolbar (by default, it is displayed at the bottom of the screen), click Flags of drawing

button .
In the Display dialog box, select the Node numbers check box on the Nodes tab.

Click Redraw .

To add bar elements:

In the Add node dialog box (see Figure 8.5), click Divide into N equal parts tab and define N = 20.

In the same dialog box, select the Specify nodes with pointer and Join nodes with bars ( ) check
boxes.
Select with the pointer nodes No.42 and 32 and then No.43 and 32 in sequence (the rubber-band line is
automatically stretched between the nodes that you select).

Figure 8.5 Add node dialog box

The model that you will obtain is presented in Fig.8.6.

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 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015 Example 8

Figure 8.6 Design model with node numbers

To save data about design model:

On the LIRA-SAPR menu (Application menu), click Save command .

In the Save as dialog box specify the following data:
file name – Example8;
location where you want to save this file (Data folder is displayed by default).
Click Save.

Step 3. Defining boundary conditions

To select nodes No.42 and 43:

On the Select toolbar, point to Select nodes drop-down list and click Select nodes button .
Select nodes No.42 (left bottom node) and No.43 (right bottom node) with the pointer (the nodes will be
coloured red).

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 Example 8 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015

To define boundary conditions for nodes No.42 and 43:

On the Create and edit ribbon tab, on the Stiffness and restraints panel, click Restraints button .
In the Restraints on nodes dialog box (see Fig.8.7) specify directions along which displacements of
nodes are not allowed (X, Z). To do this, select appropriate check boxes.

Click Apply (the nodes will be coloured blue).

Figure 8.7 Restraints on nodes dialog box

To define boundary conditions for node No.1:

Select node No.1 with the pointer.
In the Restraints on nodes dialog box specify directions along which displacements of nodes are not
allowed (X, Z, UY). To do this, select appropriate check boxes.

Click Apply .

On the Select toolbar, point to Select nodes drop-down list and click Select nodes button in order
to make this command not active.

Step 4. Changing FE types

On the Select toolbar, point to Select elements drop-down list and click Select elements button .
Select all elements of the model with the pointer.

On the Advanced edit options ribbon tab, on the Model panel, click Change FE type .
In the Change FE type dialog box (see Fig.8.8), in the list of FE types, select FE type 310 -
geometrically nonlinear arbitrary 3D bar (cable).

Click Apply .

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 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015 Example 8

Figure 8.8 Change FE type dialog box

Step 5. Defining material properties

To create material data sets:

On the Create and edit ribbon tab, on the Stiffness and restraints panel, click Material properties

button .
In the Stiffness and materials dialog box (see Fig.8.9a), click Add. The dialog box expands to display
the library of stiffness parameters. In the Add stiffness dialog box (see Fig.8.9b), select the Database of
steel sections tab (the second tab).

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 Example 8 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015

a b
Figure 8.9 Dialog boxes: a – Stiffness and materials, b – Add stiffness

Double-click the Three pipes icon in the list. The Steel cross-section dialog box opens. In this dialog
box you can define material properties for selected type of the section.
In the Steel cross-section dialog box, select branch and specify the following parameters for Three
pipes section (see Fig.8.10):
in the Profile box, click ;
in the Shape box, click 133 x 5.
Click Coupling.

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 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015 Example 8

Figure 8.10 Steel cross-section dialog box

In the Coupling dialog box (see Fig.8.11) specify Y = 100 cm (if the Equilateral triangle check box is
selected, then Z value will be calculated automatically).
Click OK.

Figure 8.11 Coupling dialog box

In the Steel cross-section dialog box, click OK.

In the Stiffness of elements dialog box, click the tab with numerical description of stiffness (the third
tab).
Double-click FE 310 (cable) icon.
In the Numerical description for FE 310 (cable) dialog box (see Fig.8.12), select the Wire rope option.

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 Example 8 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015

Figure 8.12 Numerical description for FE 310 (cable) dialog box

In the Steel cross-section dialog box (see Fig.8.13), specify parameters for Cable section:
in the Profile box, click ;
in the Shape box, click 20.

Click OK .

Axial stiffness (EF) and weight per unit length (q) will be calculated automatically and displayed in the
appropriate fields of the Numerical description for FE 310 (cable) dialog box.

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 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015 Example 8

Figure 8.13 Steel cross-section dialog box

Click OK in the Numerical description for FE 310 (cable) dialog box.

To hide library of stiffness properties, in the Stiffness of elements dialog box click Add unfold button.

To assign material properties to elements of the mast:

On the Select toolbar, point to Select elements drop-down list and click Select elements button .
Select all elements of the model with the pointer.

In the Stiffness and materials dialog box, click Apply .

Then, in the same dialog box, in the List of stiffness types, select the stiffness type ‘1.Three pipes’.
Click Set as current type. In this case selected type will be displayed in the Stiffness box in the Assign
to elements of the model area. To assign current type of stiffness, you could also double-click
appropriate row in the list.

On the Select menu, click Select vertical elements (button on the toolbar).
Select all vertical elements of the model with the pointer.

In the Stiffness and materials dialog box, click Apply .

The Warning box is displayed (see Fig.8.14). Click OK.

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 Example 8 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015

Figure 8.14 Warning box

Step 6. Applying loads

To create load case No.1:

To define load from dead weight of the slab, on the Create and edit ribbon tab, select the Loads panel

and click Add dead weight .

In the Add dead weight dialog box (see Fig.8.15), click All elements and specify Load factor as equal
to 1.05 (as in SRS-SAPR (Steel Tables) module the unit weight is specified as normative value, it should
be converted to design value).

Click Apply (uniformly distributed load equal to unit weight of elements is automatically applied to
all elements of the structure).

Figure 8.15 Add dead weight dialog box

On the Select toolbar, point to Select nodes drop-down list and click Select nodes button .
Select nodes No.40 and 41 with the pointer.

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 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015 Example 8

On the Create and edit ribbon tab, select the Loads panel, then select Load on nodes command

from the Loads on nodes and elements drop-down list.

In the Define loads dialog box (see Fig.8.16), specify Global coordinate system and direction along the
Z-axis (default parameters).

Figure 8.16 Define loads dialog box

In the Load type area, click the Concentrated load button .

In the Load parameters dialog box specify P = 0.15t (see Fig.8.17).
Click OK.

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 Example 8 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015

Figure 8.17 Load parameters dialog box

In the Define loads dialog box, click Apply .

To present numbers of elements on the screen:

On the Select toolbar, click Flags of drawing button .

In the Display dialog box, select the Element numbers check box on the Elements tab.

Click Redraw .

To create load case No.2:

To change the number of the current load case, click the Next load case button located on the
Status bar or on the toolbar.

On the Select toolbar (by default, it is displayed at the bottom of the screen), click PolyFilter .
In the PolyFilter dialog box, select the Filter for elements tab (the second tab) (see Fig.8.18).
Select By FE numbers check box and specify the element numbers '1-10'.

Click Apply .

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 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015 Example 8

Figure 8.18 Filter for elements tab

In the Define loads dialog box, select the Load on bars tab (the third tab).
Specify direction of load along the X-axis (see Fig.8.19).

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 Example 8 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015

Figure 8.19 Define loads dialog box

In the Load type area, click Uniformly distributed load button .

In the Load parameters dialog box specify p = 0.1 t/m.

Click OK .

In the PolyFilter dialog box, select the Filter for elements tab (the second tab).
Select By FE numbers check box and specify the element numbers '11-20'.

Click Apply .

In the Load type area, click Trapezoidal load on group of bars button .
In the Non-uniformly distributed load dialog box (see Fig.8.20), specify P1 = 0.1 t/m, P2 = 0.12 t/m and
direction along which the load is changed (Z-axis).
Click OK.

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 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015 Example 8

Figure 8.20 Non-uniformly distributed load dialog box

In the PolyFilter dialog box, select the Filter for elements tab (the second tab).
Select By FE numbers check box and specify the element numbers '21-40'.

Click Apply .

In the Load type area, click Trapezoidal load on group of bars button .
In the Non-uniformly distributed load dialog box, specify P1 = 0.12 t/m, P2 = 0.15 t/m and direction
along which the load is changed (Z-axis).
Click OK.

In the Define loads dialog box, click Apply .

Step 7. Modelling nonlinear load cases with account of creep in concrete

On the Analysis ribbon tab, on the Nonlinearity panel, click Step-type method (button on the
toolbar).
In the Model nonlinear load cases of structure dialog box (see Figure 8.21), click the Add button

(in the left part of the dialog box, under History, the first load history is added and the row with load
case indicated with question mark will become selected automatically).
For the first load case define the following parameters:
load case No. – 1;
select Step (4) Assign step automatically for geometrically and physically nonlinear problems in
the Analysis method list box;
select Displacement and forces after every step in the Print results list box;
in the Display intermediate results list, select Display all option.

To add rows for parameters of the second load case, select the row for the first load case and then click

the Add button .

Select the row for the second load case and define the following parameters:
load case No. – 2;
select Step (4) Assign step automatically for geometrically and physically nonlinear problems in
the Analysis method list box;
select Displacement and forces after every step in the Print results list box;

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 Example 8 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015

in the Display intermediate results list, select Display all option.

Figure 8.21 Model nonlinear load cases of structure dialog box

To confirm the data, click Apply .

Step 8. Geometrically nonlinear analysis of mast

To carry out complete analysis, on the Analysis ribbon tab, select the Analysis panel and in the

Analyse drop-down list, click Complete analysis .

Step 9. Review and evaluation of static analysis results

When geometrically nonlinear analysis procedure is complete, to review and evaluate analysis
results, select the Results ribbon tab.

In the mode of analysis results visualization, by default design model is presented with account of nodal
displacements (see Fig.8.22). To display the model without nodal displacements, on the Results ribbon

tab, on the Deformations panel, click Initial model button .

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 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015 Example 8

Figure 8.22 Design model with account of nodal displacements

To present mosaic plots for displacements and forces:

To present mosaic plot of displacements along the X-axis, on the Results ribbon tab, on the
Deformations panel, select the Displacement mosaic plot in global coordinate system command

in the Displacement mosaic/contour plot drop-down list. Then click Displacements along X

button on the same panel.

To display mosaic plots N, on the Results tab, select Forces in bars panel and click Mosaic plot of

forces in bars command in the Force diagrams/Mosaic plots drop-down list.

To display information about certain node:

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 Example 8 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015

To preview information about displacements in a certain node, on the Select toolbar, click the

Information about nodes and elements button and then specify with the pointer certain node, e.g.
node No.41.
In the Information about node dialog box (see Fig. 8.23) you will see the following data: node No., load
case No., value of load on the node, nodal displacements in global coordinate system.
To preview intermediate results, use the Result box.

Figure 8.23 Information about node No.41 dialog box

To display information about certain element:

Specify with the pointer certain element, e.g. element No. 1. The Information about element dialog box
(see Fig. 8.24) will appear on the screen.

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 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015 Example 8

Figure 8.24 Information about element No.1 dialog box

The dialog box contains the following data:

- element No.;
- No. of its nodes on the model;
- check box to select the element on the model;
- No. of block where the element is included;
- stiffness type;
- FE type;
- number of design sections;
- length and coordinates of gravity centre of an element in global coordinate system;
- spin box with load case No., section No. and intermediate results.

The dialog box contains the following tabs:

- loads (this tab is active by default);
- subgrade moduli;
- offsets (for bars or plates);
- hinges (for bars);
- rotation angle for local axes;
- forces in the section of bar for the current load case.

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 Example 8 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015

To display diagrams of forces and deflections for the bar in the separate Navigation window, select the
Diagrams check box.
To show or hide certain diagram in the Navigation window, use appropriate buttons in the window.

To present diagrams of forces and displacements in the Navigation window (see Fig.8.25), select the
Diagrams check box.

Figure 8.25 Force diagrams dialog box

To generate and review tables of analysis results:

To present table with analysis protocol, on the Results ribbon tab, select Tables panel and click

Standard tables in the Documents drop-down list.

In the Standard tables dialog box (see Fig.8.26), select Analysis protocol in the list.
Click Apply.

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 Tutorial on LIRA-SAPR version 2015 Example 8

Figure 8.26 Standard tables dialog box

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