Non-interactive installation overview

Most RAM and STAAD products are now packaged as Microsoft Installer Packages. This installer type allows network administrators to install a product on multiple machines without running the interactive installer on each one by hand. Following are instructions for installing a product in a non-interactive manner which can be automated.

All products downloaded from Bentley's MySELECT CD software service are packaged as either an InstallShield Wizard extractor or a Win32 Cabinet extractor:

• To expand InstallWizard extractors, open it, and expand the files to a specified location (C:\BentleyDownloads by default). Then cancel the interactive installer that automatically starts. Finally navigate to C:\BentleyDownloads and locate the MSI installer for the product.
• To expand Win32 Cabinet extractors, execute the following command from a Command Prompt or the Run window:
  "name of extractor" /c /t:"extraction directory"
  Note: When specifying the extraction directory, be sure to specify a directory that is empty or that doesn't exist yet. Once the files have been extracted, navigate to the extraction directory, and locate the MSI installer for the product.

To install a product without any graphical feedback, known as a silent or quiet installation, run the following command as an administrator:

msiexec /i "path to MSI installer" /quiet

Windows Vista and 7 users must explicitly run the Command Prompt as an administrator, or the quiet installation will silently fail.

Determining the progress of a quiet installation can be difficult since there is no feedback. To install a product with only the display of a progress indicator, known as an unattended or passive installation, run the following command:

msiexec /i "path to MSI installer" /passive

Windows Vista and 7 users must explicitly run the Command Prompt as an administrator, or the unattended installation will prompt for administrator access before continuing.

Prerequisites for structural products

The following Microsoft components must also be installed if not already present either via Windows Update or via the links below:

Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=AB99342F-5D1A-413D-8319-81DA479AB0D7&displaylang=en 

Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30653

Following are specific instructions for non-interactive installations of RAM and STAAD products.

RAM Structural System V8i

To uninstall previous versions of RAM Structural System and install 14.03.xx along with any dependencies, run the installer with the "/q:a" flag like below:

rss14030000en.exe /q:a

If a RamIS.ini file does not exist, the RAM Structural System installer will use default locations for all directories. Otherwise, it will use the locations specified in the INI file. The INI file resides in one of two locations depending on the operating system:

Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System
Windows Vista /7 - C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System

The INI file outlines the directory structure of the program, which the program uses to find program files, tables, reports, etc. It also is the file where user defaults are saved. It is common to push a common INI file to all machines during the installation process, so all users use the same defaults. If this is done, it is important to check the following:

1. Beginning with v14.06.00, RAM Structural System can be installed as a 32-bit or 64-bit program. The program files for the 32-bit version are saved in C:\Program Files (x86). The program files for the 64-bit version are saved in C:\Program Files. If an INI file for a 32-bit installation is saved on a machine on which the 64-bit version is installed, the program will search for the program files in the wrong location and the program will not function. Be sure that the lines in bold correspond to the locations where the 32-bit or 64-bit version files will be placed.

[Directories]
tutorial=C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Data\Tutorial\
cimsteel=C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\CimSteel\
data=C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Data\
tables=C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Tables\
reports=C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Reports\
dxf=C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\DXF\
manuals=C:\Program Files\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\manuals\
program=C:\Program Files\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Prog\
root=C:\Program Files\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\
working=C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Data\Working

2. The INI files defines the location of the working directory. The sole purpose of this directory is to serve as a temporary save location for component files of the .rss file when the file is in use. It is strongly recommend that the default paths below be used for the working directory. The working directory should never be saved on a network drive, and .rss files should never be saved in this directory. Problems can also occur if the working directory is saved to the C:\Program Files or a user directory.

Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Data\Working
Windows Vista /7 - C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Data\Working

3. If an INI file is not found on the machine and one is created during the installation, the user will be asked to define the path of the working directory the first time the program is launched. If this is the case, it is important that the same recommendations for the working directory location discussed in Point 2 above are followed when setting the location.

RAM Concept V8i

Microsoft DirectX 9 or later must be installed for this program to function properly.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=2DA43D38-DB71-4C1B-BC6A-9B6652CD92A3&displaylang=en

An installer for DirectX is included with the RAM Concept installer.

For RAM Concept CONNECT Edition (English) 32-bit   06.00.xx.xx, please use the following commands:

To display help, run

rct06000106en.exe /?

To install with no UI, run

rct06000106en.exe /install /passive

STAAD.Pro V8i

A non-interactive installation of this program creates a program shortcut on the desktop, but no shortcuts for the program and supporting files in the Windows Start menu. To create the STAAD.Pro V8i folder in the Windows Start menu, copy the shortcut folder from a workstation that used the interactive installer.

STAAD(X) V8i

This program provides a prerequisite pack containing a number of Microsoft components that must be installed first. The prerequisite pack contains the following Microsoft components that must be installed:

Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Language Pack (for non-English versions only)
http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/details.aspx?familyid=39C8B63B-F64B-4B68-A774-B64ED0C32AE7

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition (also known as version 3.5)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=%2085E0C3CE-3FA1-453A-8CE9-AF6CA20946C3&displaylang=en

Microsoft DirectX 9 or later
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=2DA43D38-DB71-4C1B-BC6A-9B6652CD92A3&displaylang=en

I want to analyze my model for a response spectrum in X, Y and Z directions. I am specifying all the 3 direction factors as 1.0.

SPECTRUM SRSS X 1 Y 1 Z 1 ACC SCALE 32.2 DAMP 0.05

0 0.375; 0.881 0.375; 0.9 0.3375; 1 0.328; 1.1 0.3; 1.2 0.27; 1.3 0.2475

1.4 0.24; 1.5 0.2325; 1.592 0.2175

Is my correct approach correct?

If the direction factors for X, Y and z are all specified as 1, it indicates an earthquake of full intensity in all 3 directions simultaneously. This is an unlikely scenario. An earthquake which is occurring at its full intensity along X cannot act with full intensity in Y and Z also at the same time.

Instead, you ought to have 3 separate load cases, with the spectrum applied in each of those 3, and the direction factors being X=1,Y=0,Z=0 for the first case, X=0,Y=1,Z=0 for the second case, and X=0,Y=0 and Z=1 for the third case, as shown below.


LOAD 4 SPECTRUM IN X-DIRECTION
SELFWEIGHT X 1.0
SELFWEIGHT Y 1.0
SELFWEIGHT Z 1.0
JOINT LOAD
10 FX 17.5
10 FY 17.5
10 FZ 17.5
SPECTRUM SRSS X 1.0 ACC SCALE 32.2
0 0.375; 0.881 0.375; 0.9 0.3375; 1 0.328; 1.1 0.3; 1.2 0.27; 1.3 0.2475
1.4 0.24; 1.5 0.2325; 1.592 0.2175


LOAD 5 SPECTRUM IN Y-DIRECTION
SPECTRUM SRSS Y 1.0 ACC SCALE 32.2
0 0.375; 0.881 0.375; 0.9 0.3375; 1 0.328; 1.1 0.3; 1.2 0.27; 1.3 0.2475
1.4 0.24; 1.5 0.2325; 1.592 0.2175


LOAD 6 SPECTRUM IN Z-DIRECTION
SPECTRUM SRSS Z 1.0 ACC SCALE 32.2
0 0.375; 0.881 0.375; 0.9 0.3375; 1 0.328; 1.1 0.3; 1.2 0.27; 1.3 0.2475
1.4 0.24; 1.5 0.2325; 1.592 0.2175

Go to Help - Contents - Technical Reference - Commands and Input Instructions - Loading Specification - Dynamic Loading Specification - Response Spectrum Specification for more details.

This is a question dealing with response spectrum analysis. I know that if a force is applied in the response spectrum load case, it will be converted to a mass that will in turn affect the modal response. My question is, will that input force still be applied as a static force in the analysis? Or, would I have to apply the force in a different load case to account for it?

Response spectrum analysis is a dynamic analysis based on ground motion spectral acceleration. The acceleration usually varies with the period. Since there is no direct input for masses, what you are entering as forces are weights, and STAAD extracts masses from those weights. Hence, the same weight value should be entered in all 3 global directions for general space structures in order to get the natural modes and frequencies correctly.

However this weight input or mass input is going to be used for the seismic load case only and one still needs to define the dead and the live loads separately.

If static loading results needs to be combined with spectrum results, then load combinations maybe used.

What is a Reference Load Case?

Reference Load is an array of load data. It is not a primary load case and STAAD will not analyze the Reference Load Case. The Reference Load Case can be used to define primary load cases and masses.

The advantage of using the reference load case in models having non-linear analysis like a P-Delta or Member Tension/Compression is that it can be used to make the program analyze the combinations directly without analysing the individual component cases specified as Reference Load Cases. This can result in significant saving of time and computer resources.

Does STAAD Foundation Advanced perform Overturning and Sliding checks for MAT foundations ?

No. As of now, STAAD Foundation Advanced does not perform sliding or overturning checks for mat foundations. It does not do the bearing capacity checks either. However there is an indirect way of doing that using STAAD.Pro.  When a mat foundation is analyzed in STAAD Foundation Advanced, it creates a STAAD.Pro model for the mat in the background. This file can be located as explained next

For STAAD Foundation Advanced Connect Edition ( ver 08.00.01.33 and up )

A folder by the same name as the STAAD Foundation Advanced (SFA) model name gets created at the same folder location where the SFA model is. That folder would contain a .std file with the same name as the SFA model name.

For versions prior to version 08.00.01.33

Within the installation folder of the software, there would be an Analysis folder ( example C:\Staad Foundation Advanced CONNECT Edition\Analysis ) which would contain a file named FoundationAnalysis.std.

The .std file mentioned above can be copied to a different folder and one can follow the procedure listed next to carry out the serviceability checks using STAAD.Pro

Note : All these checks are automatically carried out by STAAD Foundation Advanced for isolated footings or combined footings.

Problem Description

Warning message saying 'Warning, Design code license is not activated. Please activate the license in order to use the code' when trying to add a design parameter or design command for many other codes like ACI, AITC, EN 1993-1-1:2005, Aluminum etc.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Go to Design page inside Modeling Mode.
2. Select Steel and choose EN 1993-1-1:2005 as Current Code
3. Click on Define Parameters
4. Select any parameter and click on Add

The same issue has been observed for some other country codes as well.

Workaround

While adding the first design parameter, select the last defined command from the tree structure. Click on the Define Parameters or Commands button as appropriate and check the box 'After Current' before clicking on the Add button. The design parameter/command can then be added. Subsequently all other design parameters or design commands can be added as usual without any errors.

In case you still get the same error message, please open up the input command file ( can be accessed from the top menu Edit > Edit Input Command File ) and add a couple of design related commands that you would normally define to start the design for concrete/steel. Once you are done, save and close the editor. Subsequently you would be able to add as many design parameters you need to using the graphic user interface and carry out the design. A couple of samples, one for concrete and another one for steel, are shown below for reference. The commands in bold are the ones added using the editor

Sample command for concrete design as per ACI code

...
PDELTA 20 ANALYSIS
START CONCRETE DESIGN
CODE ACI
...

Sample command for steel design as per AISC 360-10 code
...
PDELTA 20 ANALYSIS
PARAMETER 1
CODE AISC UNIFIED 2010
...

Solution

Will be addressed in the STAAD.Pro Connect Edition expected in early 2017

See Also

Error Description

When running the framing tables in the Steel Beam module the warning, "Report Viewer Control has not been registered on this computer" may appear:

Explanation

This error typically happens when the user switches to another application while the steel beam framing tables and/or design is being performed. To reproduce the problem, open RAM Steel beam and click the option to design all after framing. Then switch to another application while the framing tables are running.

Avoidance

If the operating system focus remains on RAM Steel beam during this process the error will not occur.

The user has to click OK to the message to proceed. 

Alternative Cause

The error can also happen if the report viewer control is registered in the wrong location,

To reregister the report viewer control, follow these steps.

1. Locate the file VPECTRL3.ocx, it is most likely here:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Bentley\Engineering\VPEControl\VPECTRL.OCX

2. Go to the Windows Start button or pearl any type "run" without the quotes and hit enter

3. On the command prompt that appear type

regsvr32 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Bentley\Engineering\VPEControl\VPECTRL.OCX"

or change the path if the file is in another location

4. you should get a message that the registration succeeded.

Note, if more than one copy of the file is located first unregister all other copies using a similar command but with /u after regsvr32, before registering the good copy like so:

regsvr32 /u "C:\Path to other copy\VPECTRL.OCX"

In at least two cases repairing the installation also solved the problem.

It's worth noting that with RAM Structural System, only one version can be installed at a time. Users who try to install both the 32 and 64 bit versions might also encounter this (and other) problems.

Error or Warning Message

Message "Catastrophic Failure” is being reported while opening STAAD.Pro:

Explanation

This error usually is reported if the older version of ProjectWise is installed on the machine than ProjectWise V8i.

How to Avoid

In order to avoid this error message, either ProjectWise should be removed from the machine or ProjectWise V8i or greater version should be installed on the machine were STAAD.Pro is running.

NOTE: this error message does not have any impact on the analysis or design results of STAAD.Pro.

Spurious Degrees of Freedom

There are a few ways of creating RAM Connection Reports in the STAAD.Pro:

Option 1:

The user has to double click on the connection line in the RAM Connection Input table:

The RAM Connection window will appear. In the opened window click on Data button (to get the report of the input data) or Results button (to get the design report):

In the opened report window the user can click on the Generate RTF button in order to export the report into MS Word:

Option 2:

The user can also include the RAM Connection report in the STAAD.Pro report and then print it or export into the PDF format (using a third party application). The procedure of including RAM Connection Report in STAAD.Pro is explained in the chapter Add Connection Designs to Your Report in the Graphical Interface manual which can be found by going to Help -> Contents in STAAD.Pro:

See Also

RAM Connection TechNotes and FAQs

Error or Warning Message

Message "Unable to set application resource” is being reported while opening STAAD.Pro:

Explanation

Usually this message indicates that some settings in the registries are not correct and require some modifications.

How to Avoid

Option 1:

1) Log in as an Administrator.
2) Click on Windows Start button and then click on Run (on Windows XP) or click on Start button and go to the Search field (on Windows 7).
3) Type in "Regedit".
4) Click on "OK".
5) Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT > StaadPro > 2007 > Language.
6) Click on "Language" so that the key is highlighted in blue.
7) On the right window pane there should be a string value called "CurrentLanguage".
8) Is the data set to "USEnglish"? If not, double click on that string value to change the value data to "USEnglish". Please note that the value data is case sensitive.

Option 2:

If that string is missing, uninstall STAAD.Pro and then install it by running as administrator. Please note that even if you are logged in as administrator, the installer of STAAD.Pro still has to be run as administrator (right click on the installation file and select option 'Run As Administrator') on Windows 7/8 operating systems.

I have modeled a mat using plates in STAAD.Pro. How can I get the mat transferred to STAAD.foundation Advanced (SFA) and design it ?

The steps are listed next

1 Open your STAAD.pro model and run the analysis.  Once the analysis is complete, close STAAD.pro completely.
2.Launch STAAD Foundation Advanced.
3.Click the “Import STAAD.pro” button, shown below:

4.Locate your STAAD.pro file, select it, and click “Open”.
5.You will see the following dialog box appear.  Make sure the “Import Plates” option is selected and then specify the desired code/units:

6.Click “Import”.  You will see your mat appear on screen.
7.You must define a boundary in order for the design to work.  Change the view so you are looking at the mat from a top perspective and click on the “Add Rectangular Boundary” button under the Tools menu at the top of the screen:

If your mat boundary is irregular, you may use the Add Polygonal Boundary option.

8.Click on the upper left hand corner of your mat and then drag down to the lower right hand corner, then release.  You will see the boundary outline appear, as shown next: Actually it does not matter if the boundary does not exactly match your mat as you are not going to generate any meshing in SFA. You just need a boundary to exist for SFA to carry out the design.

9.Go to Mat Foundation Job -> Mesh Generation -> Meshing Setup on the left hand side of the screen:

10.You will see the “Meshing Setup” dialog box appear to the right.  Click on the boundary to select it (it will turn red), then give the region a name and click “Add”:

11.Now you are ready to proceed with the design.  You can commence with the moment envelope generation as you normally would for a mat foundation job type.

A few points to note here are, the analysis of the mat is carried out in STAAD.Pro and the results of the analysis are directly imported in STAAD Foundation Advanced. That is why no further meshing or analysis are needed in STAAD Foundation Advanced. Also a mat foundation job is created automatically with a slab import and hence that step is not required to be carried out inside STAAD Foundation Advanced. It is also worth mentioning that punching shear checks are not carried out as of now for mats imported directly from STAAD.Pro.

See Also

[[Structural Product TechNotes And FAQs]]

The Structural Analysis and Design TechNotes and FAQs are now organized by Application in the navigation tree at the left. The links on this page are maintained for faster navigation. 

General (Licensing and Installation)

STAAD.pro  

STAAD Foundation Advanced

Ram Structural System  

Ram Elements  

Ram Connection  

Ram Concept

ISM Revit Plug-in

Microstran , Limcon, and MStower

What Rigid End Zone setting should I use in RAM Frame?

In Ram Frame within Criteria General, the user can choose to consider a rigid end zone or ignore it.

The program help defines this attribute as follows:

Rigid end zones in RAM Concrete analysis can also be considered, but with solid concrete sections the assumptions are usually different.

See Also

[[Rigid End Zones, Offsets and Hinges]]  

I have recently purchased a license for Structural Enterprise; what are the products I need to download?

In August 2016 we released the Structural Enterprise Setup Wizard to make it easier to identify the products in the SEL License and to aid in the downloading and installation of the products needed. For details see:  

Structural Enterprise Setup Wizard

The installations for each of the products comprising Structural Enterprise can be run separately. It is not required to install all of the products, and the order of installation should not matter.

A list of the installers to be run is listed below:

1 ) RAM Structural System V8i (English) x64 (or CONNECT edition)

Comments: This is one installer that installs the entire RAM Structural System suite: RAM Modeler, RAM Steel, RAM Frame, RAM Concrete, and RAM Foundation.

2) RAM Concept V8i (English) x64 (or CONNECT edition)

Comments: This is one installer that installs both RAM Concept and the Post-Tension module.

3) RAM Connection V8i (English) x86 (or CONNECT edition)

Comments: This will install both the standalone version of RAM Connection as well as the version that can be used within RAM.

4) RAM Elements V8i (English) x86

5) STAAD.Pro V8i (English) x86

Comments: This installer includes all design codes, the advanced analysis module, Sectionwizard and STAAD.beava.

6) STAAD Foundation Advanced V8i (English) x86 (or CONNECT edition)

7) Microstran (English) x86

Comments: This installer includes all tiers (basic, Pro, Advanced) and design codes.

8) Limcon (English) x86

Comments: This installer includes all design codes. 

9) Structural Synchronizer V8i (English) x64 (or CONNECT edition)

Comments: This is also known as ISM; it must be installed for ISM interoperability to be available in other products.

Note, make sure to download the dependencies as well. In any case where the dependency has both x86 (32 bit) & x64 (64 bit) architecture for the same file, download the one matching your system architecture. 

The Structural Enterprise license works with either V8i or CONNECT generation products and you can mix and match, but we generally recommend using the latest CONNECT edition where available. 

See Also

Structural Enterprise Setup Wizard

Software Download Instructions

Structural Enterprise 3D Analysis and Design Software Suite 

What Is Imported?

Members  

• All concrete members including slabs, beams, columns (above and below slab), and walls (above and below slab).
• Slab openings.
• Member sizes.
• Concrete material properties.
• Column fixity.

Loads

• Surface loads, point loads, and line loads on members. Labels for loadings in elevated slab models will match the label in the RAM Structural System model. Labels for loadings in mat foundation models will be imported into a loading with “(Transfer)” appended to the load case name.
• Point loads on members.
• Line loads on members.
• Slab and beam self-weight are always considered in RAM Concept. It is recommended to always consider slab/deck and beam self-weight in the RAM Structural System model.
• All live loads; Reducible, Unreducible, Storage, Roof (and partition loads in Ram Concept version 5.0 and later).

• Note, in Ram Concept, in order for Live Load reduction to occur the loads need to be of a reducible type and the Ram Concept - Criteria - Calc option setting for Live Load Reduction Code must be set (see below). Reducible live loads on Mat Foundations are the exception to this rule. Those loads come into Ram Concept already reduced. Reducible transfer loads for elevated slabs that are imported into RAM Concept are not reduced.

• Wind and Seismic Load are imported as point loads at walls and columns as part of a Lateral Self Equilibrium load case (see Figure 1) . Please see RAM Concept Lateral Self Equilibrium for more information.

Figure 1. Imported Lateral Self Equilibrium Load Case.

• In RAM Structural System v14.06.00 and earlier, all wind loads are imported as service type loadings and all load combinations are generated assuming this loading type. In RAM Structural System, wind loads that are generated using ASCE7-10 are ultimate loads, however. In models with ASCE7-10 wind loads, the loading type should be changed to ultimate loads after importing into RAM Concept (Criteria - Loadings) and, then, the load combinations should be rebuilt (Criteria - Rebuild Load Combos).

What Is Not Imported?

Members

• Members defined with steel or other type materials in RAM Structural System. For mat foundations, if columns are modeled as steel or other-type columns, they will not be imported.
• Composite Concrete Flat Slabs. For elevated slabs, the slab must be defined as a concrete deck in RAM Structural System. If the deck is modeled as a composite flat slab, the slab area will not be imported into RAM Concept.
• Sloping Concrete Slabs. Sloped slabs modeled in RAM Structural System will be imported as flat slabs into RAM Concept.
• Beam fixity. Full fixity of beams is always assumed and beams are uncracked (though treated as no-torsion beams by default).
• Wall fixity. Wall fixity is always assumed pinned near and far.

Loads 

• Snow loads.
• Reactions from steel beams that transfer load to concrete slabs or beams.
• Construction Live Loads.
• Lateral story forces from a Rigid Diaphragm analysis.
• Lateral nodal forces from a Pseudo Flexible or Semi-rigid Diaphragm analysis.
• Dynamic Response Spectrum load cases (or Eigensolution)
• Notional load cases.
• Center of Rigidity load case.
• Virtual Work load cases are not imported.
• Negative point loads (In RAM Concept v3.4 and earlier).

More Information

Please see RAM Concept-RAM Structural System Integration for additional help links.

Problem Description

After making changes to a model such as moving a column or grid, or converting a lateral beam into a gravity beams there may be a vertical brace member that no longer appear in the elevation view and hence cannot be deleted normally. The brace still appears in the 3D view and may cause problems in the Ram Frame analysis.

Solution

There are two ways to remove these rogue braces that are no longer in an elevation view that can be selected.

1. If the braces do not connect to any frame members at either end, then an integrated data check can be performed and the following message will appear: "Some Braces do not attach to Nodes. Do you want them deleted?". Click "Yes" to have them removed. Note – if the brace is connected to a lateral member at one end, but not the other, this message will not appear, so you may need to make some supporting beams or column gravity temporarily.
2. Delete and re-enter the story data for this particular level. This will remove all braces at that level, but has the side effect of also removing any wall openings and resetting the Ram Frame diaphragm numbering which requires reentering mass combinations and user story forces.

1. I have modeled a floor grid in STAADPRO. How do I calculate the natural frequency of the floor?
2. The mass participation factors table only gives results for the first six modes (even if there are more than six modes). Is it possible to get it to display more than six factors?
3. How can I get the Mode Shapes to be displayed on the screen? Also, how can I export the mode shape drawings to MS Word?
4. How do I use the CUT OFF MODE command?

See Also

STAAD.Pro Dynamic Analysis

Seismic Analysis Solutions

I am running STAAD.Pro. In the TRACK 2 output for the American LRFD code, I find some terms that I am not familiar with. Can you tell me what those are?

The terms reported in the TRACK 2 output for American LRFD are :

AX = Cross section Area.
AY : Area used in computing shear stresses along local Y axis.
AZ : Area used in computing shear stresses along local Z axis.
PY : Plastic Section modulus about local Y axis.
PZ : Plastic Section modulus about local Z axis.
RY : Radius of gyration about local Y axis.
RZ : Radius of gyration about local Z axis.

PNC : Axial compression capacity.

pnc : Axial compressive force used in critical condition.

PNT : Axial tensile capacity.

pnt : Axial tensile force used in critical condition.

MNZ : Nominal bending capacity about local Z axis.

mnz : Bending moment about local Z axis, used in critical condition.

MNY : Nominal bending capacity about local Y axis.

mny : Bending moment about local Y axis, used in critical condition.

VN : Shear capacity.

vn : Shear force associated with critical load case and section location.

DFF : Permissible limit for checking length to deflection ratio.

dff : Actual length to deflection ratio.

I am running STAAD.Pro. In the TRACK 2 output for the AISC ASD code, I find some terms that I am not familiar with. Can you tell me what those are?

The terms reported in the TRACK 2 output for AISC ASD are :

AX = Cross section Area
AY : Area used in computing shear stresses along local Y axis
AZ : Area used in computing shear stresses along local Z axis
SY : Elastic Section modulus about local Y axis
SZ : Elastic Section modulus about local Z axis
RY : Radius of gyration about local Y axis
RZ : Radius of gyration about local Z axis

FA : Allowable axial stress. If failure condition involves axial tension, this is the allowable axial tensile stress. If failure condition involves axial compression, this is the allowable axial compressive stress.

fa : Actual axial stress.

FCZ : Allowable bending compressive stress about local Z axis.

FTZ : Allowable bending tensile stress about local Z axis.

FCY : Allowable bending compressive stress about local Y axis

FTY : Allowable bending tensile stress about local Y axis.

fbz : Actual bending stress about local Z axis, used in the design condition

fby : Actual bending stress about local Y axis, used in the design condition.

FV : Allowable shear stress.

Fey : Euler stress for buckling about local Y axis.

Fez : Euler stress for buckling about local Z axis.

DFF : Permissible limit for checking length to deflection ratio.

dff : Actual length to deflection ratio.