Static Analysis and Design

of
2D Transmission Tower
Table of Content
Objective ......................................................................................................................................................... 3

Problem ........................................................................................................................................................... 3

Step by Step..................................................................................................................................................... 5

1. Start Model with Template................................................................................................................. 5

Static Analysis and Design 2. Modify Model .................................................................................................................................... 7

3. Define Material Properties ................................................................................................................. 8

of 4. Import Angle Members and Define Auto Selection Member ............................................................ 9

2D Transmission Tower 5.

6.
Assign Frame Member ..................................................................................................................... 11

Define Load Case ............................................................................................................................. 12

7. Assign “WIND” Load Case ............................................................................................................. 13

Using SAP2000 8. Assign Groups .................................................................................................................................. 14
(Metric Units)
9. Analysis the Model........................................................................................................................... 18
ACECOMS, AIT
10. Design Steel Members ..................................................................................................................... 19

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Objective

To demonstrate and practice step-by-step on the modeling, static analysis

and design of 2D transmission tower.

Problem
Find the suitable steel angle members for 2D transmission tower by using
AISC-LRFD93 design code with the following details

Material Properties (Steel)

Young Modulus of Steel (Ec) = 2,000,000 kg/cm2

Unit Weight of Steel = 7,800 kg/m3

Yield Stress of Steel (Fy) = 2,400 kg/cm2

Tensile Stress of Steel (Fu) = 4,000 kg/cm2

Load Case

Load Name Load Type Details

Self Weight: Calculate automatically using Self

DEAD Dead Load
Weight Multiplier in SAP2000

WIND Wind Load See in Elevation View

Load Combination for Pushover Analysis

Name Details

DSTL1 1.4 DEAD

DSTL2 1.2 DEAD +1.6 LIVE

DSTL3 1.2 DEAD + 0.5 LIVE + 1.3 WIND

DSTL4 1.2 DEAD - 0.5 LIVE + 1.3 WIND

DSTL5 0.9 DEAD + 1.3 WIND

DSTL6 0.9 DEAD - 1.3 WIND

Note: No LIVE load case in this example

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Step by Step
1. Start Model with Template

Step 1-3: Specify Geometry Properties

Specify two “Braced Frame” geometry properties as shown in above figure.

Step 1-1: Select Working Unit and Start New Model with Template
Start up screen of SAP2000, select working unit to be “kg-m” at drop-down menu on
the bottom-right of screen and click on to start new model with template

Step 1-4: Create Model

2 bays tower has been created from parameters that specified from previous steps.
The left bay will be deleted in the next step. Close left window by clicking on .

Step 1-2: Select Template Type

Select “Braced Frame” from template list

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2. Modify Model 3. Define Material Properties

All leg and horizontal members will be deleted in this step.

Step 3-1: Change Working Unit and Select Material

Change working unit to “kg, cm”, go to Define > Material, select “STEEL” and click
Step 2-1: Select Leg Members in Left Bay on “Modify/ Show Material” button.
Click on to change to selecting mode and draw rectangular selection to cover leg
member in left bay as shown in above figure.

Step 3-2: Specify Steel Material Properties

Specify material properties as shown in above figure.

Step 2-2: Select Horizontal Members

Click on to change to “Select using Intersecting Line” and draw selecting line to
pass all horizontal members in left bay as shown in above figure. Press “Delete” to
delete all selecting members.

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4. Import Angle Members and Define Auto Selection Member

All angle member properties will be imported from built-in database first
and define all imported L-Shaped member to the list of section (“AUTO1”)
for auto member selection in design step.

Step 4-3: Select All Angle Members

Select all angle members by clicking on first member and clicking on the last
member by holding “shift” button and click on “Ok” button in “Angle Section”
dialogue.

Step 4-1: Import Angle

Go to Define > Frame/Cable Section, select “Import Angle” from first drop-down
menu as shown in above figure and click on “Add New Property” button

Step 4-4: Define Auto Selection Member

Back to “Frame Properties” dialogue, shows all angle members have been imported
to the properties list at left column. Select “Add Auto Select” from second drop-down
menu and click on “Add New Property” button.

Step 4-2: Specify Steel Member Database

Go to folder that SAP2000 has been installed (normally should be “C:\Program
Files\Computers and Structures\SAP2000 8”) and select database name
“AISC3.PRO”.

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Step 4-5: Select Section Properties for Auto Selection Member

Select all angle members (same method as previous step) and click on “Add->” Step 5-2: Assign Frame Selection
button to move all angle members from list (left column) to auto selection list (right Go to Assign >> Frame/Cable >> Sections, select “AUTO1” and click “OK” button.
column).

6. Define Load Case

5. Assign Frame Member

Step 5-1: Select all Members

Step 6-1: Add “WIND” Load Case
Click on to select all members in model. Go to Define >> Load Case, specify “WIND” load case as shown in above figure
and click on “Add New Load” button.

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7. Assign “WIND” Load Case

Step 7-3: Assign Windward Pressure Coefficients

Step 7-1: Select Nodes
Select 5 nodes from top by selecting
desired nodes as shown in above figure.
Repeat step 7-1 and step 7-2 to assign nodal force to the remaining nodes
and drawing rectangular line to cover
8. Assign Groups
3 member groups are required in this example (Leg, Horizontal and Brace)
for steel design.

Step 7-2: Assign “WIND” Load Case

Go to Assign >> Joint Load >> Forces, select load case and specify “Force Step 8-1: Select Leg Members
GlobalX” as shown in above figure. Click on and draw 2 selection rectangular to cover all leg members as shown in
above figure.

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Step 8-4: Select Horizontal Members

Draw selection rectangular to cover all horizontal members one by one. To check all
Step 8-2: Add New Group horizontal members are selected or not by selecting View >> Show Selection Only
Go to Assign >> Assign to Group and click on “Add New Group” button. to view only selected members

Step 8-3: Assign “LEG” Group Step 8-5: Assign “HORIZONTAL” Group
Specify “LEG” group name and click “OK”. Go to Assign >> Assign to Group and repeat step 8-2 and 8-3 to assign
“HORIZONTAL” group.

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Step 8-6: Select Bracing Members

To show all members, go to View >> Show All. Clicking on and draw selection
line to pass all members as shows in figure. This selection will select all horizontal
and bracing members. Step 8-8: Assign “BRACING” Group
Go to Assign >> Assign to Group and repeat step 8-2 and 8-3 to assign “BRACING”
group.

9. Analysis the Model

Step 8-7: Deselect Horizontal Members

Go to Select >> Deselect >> Groups and select. Only bracing members are
selected now. That can be checked from View >> View Selection Only.

Step 9-1: Start Analysis

Go to Analyze >> Run Analysis, and click on “Run Now” button.

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Step 10-2: Select Design Group

Go to Design >> Steel Frame Design >> Steel Design Group and select all 3
groups as shown in above figure by selecting and clicking “Add - >” button.
Step 9-2: Check Error Message
Check error message after analysis status show “ANALYSIS COMPLETE”.

10. Design Steel Members

Step 10-3: Select Design Load Combination

Go to Design >>Steel Frame Design >> Steel Design Combo, all design
combination according to specified design code are added in the list. To view detail
of each combination, select one of them and click on “Show”

Step 10-1: Select Design Code

Go to Options >> Preference >> Steel Frame Design and select “AISC-LRFD93”
from design code

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Step 10-4: Assign Effective Length Factor Step 10-6: Check Analysis and Design Section
Select all members by clicking on , go to Design >> Steel Frame Design >> Go to Design >>Steel Frame Design >> Verify Analysis vs Design Sections, to
View/Revise Overwrites and change parameters as shown in above figure. see number of difference sections between analysis and design. Click on “OK”
button.

Step 10-7: Reanalysis

Go to Analyze >> Run Analysis, and click on “Run Now” button

Step 10-5: Start Design

Go to Design >>Steel Frame Design >> Start Design/ Check of Structures and
wait until SAP2000 show the design output.

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Step 10-8: Redesign and Reanalysis

Repeat Step 10-5 to Step 10-7 until there is no difference between analysis and
design member.

Step 10-9: View Design Member

Go to Design >> Steel Frame Design >> Display Design Info and select second
drop-down menu and select “Design Sections” as shown in above figure.

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