SAP2000 Linear and Nonlinear Static and
SAP2000 Linear and Nonlinear Static and
SAP2000 Linear and Nonlinear Static and
INTRODUCTORY TUTORIAL
The computer program SAP2000 and all associated documentation are proprietary and
copyrighted products. Worldwide rights of ownership rest with Computers and
Structures, Inc. Unlicensed use of the program or reproduction of the documentation in
any form, without prior written authorization from Computers and Structures, Inc., is
explicitly prohibited.
1 Introduction
Using This Manual 1-1
2 An Introductory Tutorial
The Project 2-2
The Interface 2-2
Step 1 Begin a New Model 2-3
Define an Auto Select Section
List 2-6
Step 2 Add Frame Objects 2-10
Draw Frame Objects 2-10
Replicating Objects 2-11
Trimming Objects 2-14
Assigning Member End Releases 2-18
Save the Model 2-19
Step 3 Add Area Objects 2-19
Define the Area Sections 2-19
Draw the Area Object 2-20
Mesh the Area Object 2-22
Step 4 Add Restraints 2-23
i
Introductory Tutorial for SAP2000 Version 9
ii
1
Chapter 1
Introduction
We hope that you enjoy using this tutorial, and that you find it beneficial
as a starting point in your exploration of this powerful and comprehen-
sive version of SAP2000.
SAP2000 is object based, meaning that the models are created with
members that represent the physical reality. A beam with multiple mem-
bers framing into it is created as a single object, just as it exists in the
real world, and the subdividing needed to ensure that connectivity exists
with the other members is handled internally by the program. Results for
analysis and design are reported for the overall object, and not for each
sub-element that makes up the object, providing information that is both
easier to interpret and more consistent with the physical structure.
If you are viewing this tutorial manual as a .pdf file, we strongly recom-
mend that you print it out before starting the tutorial. It will not be prac-
tical to use the SAP2000 program while trying to read this manual on
your computer screen.
During the course of this tutorial, we will explore many of the basic fea-
tures of SAP2000. Prepare to spend at least one hour going through this
example, and if at any time you need to stop, save your model so that
you may continue at a later time.
Welcome to SAP2000.
Chapter 2
An Introductory Tutorial
This chapter provides step-by-step instructions for building a basic
SAP2000 model. Each step of the model creation process is identified,
and various model construction techniques are introduced. At the com-
pletion of this chapter, you will have built the model shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1
The Tutorial
Model
2-1
Introductory Tutorial for SAP2000 Version 9
The Project
The tutorial project is a five panel, sloped truss bridge. The bridge spans
60 feet, and has a width and height of 12 feet each. The supports are roll-
2 ers at one end, and pins at the other.
The Interface
The top menu line contains all of the commands and options available to
SAP2000, including Define, Draw, Select, Assign, Analyze, Display and
Design. These listed menus contain the commands that will be needed
most often when using SAP2000, and many of the most frequently used
commands are accessible as a single click button in the screen regions
surrounding the drawing areas. The availability of a button is indicated
in the main menus by the existence of an icon to the left of the command.
The lower right corner shows the current unit selection. Figure 2 shows
the layout of the interface.
Units
Figure 3
Model
Templates
B. The Model Template form allows for the quick generation of numer-
ous model types using parametric generation techniques. However,
in this tutorial the model will be started using only the grid genera-
tion. When laying out the grid, it is important that the geometry de-
fined accurately represents the major geometrical aspects of the
Figure 4
New Coord/Grid
System form
C. The New Coord/Grid System form is used to specify the grids and
spacing in the X, Y and Z direction. Set the number of grid lines to
11 for the X direction, and to 2 for the Y and Z directions. Type 6 ft
into the X direction spacing edit box and press the Enter key on your
keyboard. Note that the program automatically converts the 6 ft to
72 to be consistent with the default units of inches. Enter 12 ft or
144 for both the Y and Z direction spacing.
Global Axes
Figure 5
The SAP2000
windows
D. Click the OK button to accept the changes, and Figure 5 will appear.
The grids appear in two view windows tiled vertically, a X-Y “Plan”
View on the left and a 3-D View on the right, as shown above. The
number of view windows may be changed by selecting the Options
menu > Windows command.
Notice that the “Plan” view is active in Figure 5. When the window is ac-
tive, the display title bar is highlighted. Set a view active by clicking
anywhere in the view window.
Note that the Global Axes are displayed as well, and that Z positive is in
the “up” direction. When SAP2000 refers to the direction of gravity, this
is in the negative Z direction, or “down”.
For this particular tutorial, the program will analyze and design from a
set of double angles, which will be chosen from an auto select sections
list created now.
Figure 6
The Frame
Properties
form
B. Scroll down the sections listed under Properties to see if the list con-
tains 2L4X4’s, and if it does, skip ahead to Step D. Otherwise, pro-
ceed to Step C.
C. Click the drop-down box that reads “Import I/Wide Flange” in the
Choose Property Type to Add area of the form. Scroll down the list
of import options until you find Import Double Angle – see Figure 7. 2
Single click on it.
Figure 7
Import
Double
Angle
D. In the Click to area of the Frame Properties form, click the Add New
Property button, which will open the Section Property File form.
E. Select and open the file named SECTIONS.PRO from the Section
Property File form, as this file contains the properties of the double
angles to be used in the model. The Sections.pro sections list form
shown in Figure 8 appears.
F. Scroll down the list of double angles in the Sections Labels area until
you find the first 2L4X4. Click once on that member to highlight it.
G. Scroll further down the list until you find the last 2L4X4. Hold down
the Shift key on your keyboard and click once on the last
2L4X4X7/16X3/8 – all of the 2L4X4’s should now be highlighted.
H. Click the OK button, and then click the OK button in the Double
Angle Section form to add the angles selected to the list in the Prop-
erties area on the Frame Properties form.
Figure 8
Sections8.pro
sections
list
I. Click the drop-down box that reads “Add I/Wide Flange” in the
Choose Property Type to Add area of the Frame Properties form and
scroll down until you locate Add Auto Select. Single click on it.
J. In the Click To area of the Frame Properties form, click the Add
New Property button, which will open the Auto Selection Sections
form shown in Figure 9.
2
Figure 9
Auto
Selection
Sections
form
L. Scroll down the List of Sections to find the 2L4X4X1/2 double angle, and
click once to highlight it.
M. Continue down the list until you find the last double angle, 2L4X4X7/16X3/8,
and while holding down the shift key on the keyboard, click once on this sec-
tion. All of the 2L4X4’s should now be highlighted.
N. Click the Add button to move the selected list to the Auto Selections edit box
on the right side of the form.
O. Click the OK button and then click the OK button on the Frame Properties
form to accept your changes and add the TRUSS auto select list to the Prop-
erties edit box.
2. Type 0 into the Z= edit box to display the plan view at the lower
elevation, and click OK.
B. Click the Draw Frame/Cable button or use the Draw menu >
Draw Frame/Cable command. If you accessed the Draw
Frame/Cable command via the Draw menu, the Draw Frame/Cable
button will depress verifying your command selection. The Proper-
ties of Object pop-up box for frames will appear as shown in Figure
10.
Figure 10
Properties of
Object box
C. Click in the Property edit box on the Properties of Object form and
scroll down to TRUSS. Single click on it to assign the auto select list 2
TRUSS to the members you will draw.
D. To draw the first frame object, left click once in the X-Y Plane view
at the X-Y origin, and then click again at the far right end along the
same horizontal grid line (x=720, y=0). The cursor location is indi-
cated in the lower right-hand corner of the interface. A frame line
should appear in both views (plan and 3D). After clicking to define
the end point of the frame object, a right click will “lift the pen” so
you will no longer be actively drawing, but will leave the Draw
Frame/Cable command active so that you may add additional ele-
ments.
If you have made a mistake while drawing this object, click the Se-
lect Object button, to leave the Draw mode and go to the Select
mode. Then click the Edit menu > Undo Frame Add command,
and repeat Items B-D.
F. Left click at (x=0, y=0) and then at (x=0, y=144) to draw the first
transverse member.
G. Click on the Select Object button, or Press the Esc key on the
keyboard to exit the Draw Frame/Cable command.
Replicating Objects
Make sure that the program is in the Select mode.
2
Right to Left Window Select
Selects everything in contact with window
Figure 11
Graphical
Selection
Options
Direct Select
Left to Right Window Select Selects only single object
Selects everything within the window
B. Click the Edit menu > Replicate command to bring up the form
shown in Figure 12.
Figure 12
Replicate
box
E. Click the OK button. Note that transverse members have been gen-
erated at every other grid line.
2
F. Left click once on each of the longitudinal chord members to select
them.
Figure 13
Assign
Automatic
Frame
Subdivide
form
H. Click the Select All button or use the Select menu > Select > All
command to select all of the objects currently in the model.
I. Click the Edit menu > Replicate command to bring up the Replicate
form.
1. Type 72 into the dx edit box, 0 into the dy box, and 144 into the
2 dz box.
The framing at the bottom plan will be replicated at the top level
with a shift of 72 inches in the X direction.
Trimming Objects
Make sure that the program is in the select mode, and that the X-Y view
is active.
4. Type 144 into the Z= edit box to display the plan view at the up-
per elevation, and click OK.
C. Click on both top chords, the next to last transverse member to the
right, and the two point objects at the far right ends of both chords,
as shown in Figure 14. The selected objects should be shown as
dashed lines.
Figure 14
Select 2
mode for Click Click
Trim
Click Click
Selecting the Trim Frames option will trim the two top chords be-
yond the next to last transverse member. To trim a Frame member,
select the member, select a member to be used as the trim location,
and select a point object on the side to be trimmed.
F. Make sure that the plan view is active and click the XZ View
button.
Figure 15
Model after
2 frame ob-
jects have
been added
in plan
G. Click the Draw Frame/Cable button or use the Draw menu >
Draw Frame/Cable command. The Properties of Object pop-up box
for frames will appear.
H. Make sure that the Property item on the Properties of Object form is
set to TRUSS.
I. To draw the first diagonal, left click once in the X-Z Plane view at
the X-Z origin, and then click again at the nearest end of the top
chord (x=72, z=144). Without clicking on the right mouse button,
add a second diagonal by doing a left click at point (x=144, z=0).
J. Right click and then click on the Select Object button, or Press
the Esc key on the keyboard to exit the Draw Frame/Cable com-
mand.
K. Draw a Selection Box from Right to Left across the two diagonals
just drawn to select both diagonals. See figure 11 for selection op-
tions.
L. Click the Edit > Replicate command to bring up the Replicate form.
1. Type 144 into the dx edit box, 0 into the dy box, and 0 into the
dz box.
M. Draw a Selection Box from Right to Left across all of the diagonals.
N. Click the Edit > Replicate command to bring up the Replicate form.
1. On the Linear tab, type 0 into the dx edit box, 144 into the dy
box, and 0 into the dz box.
Figure 16
Model after
all frame
objects have
been added
Figure 17
Assign Frame
Releases
form
D. Click the View menu > Set 2D View command. In the Set 2D View
form click on the X-Z plane option and type 144 into the Y= edit box
to display the second elevation view. Alternatively, use the Move Up
in List button to toggle to the other elevation.
E. Draw a Selection Box from Right to Left across all of the diagonals.
A. Click the File menu > Save command, or the Save button, to
save your model. Specify the directory in which you want to save
the model and, for this tutorial, specify the file name Truss.
B. Click the Define menu > Area Sections command. The Area Sec-
tions form will appear.
C. Click the Add New Section button in the Click to area of the form.
The Area Section Data form shown in Figure 18 appears.
3. Click the OK button and then click the OK button in the Area
2 Sections form to accept your changes.
Figure 18
Area Section Data
form
A. Click the Draw Quad Area button, or go to the Draw menu >
Draw Quad Area command. The Properties of Object pop-up box
for areas will appear as shown in Figure 19.
Make sure that the Property item in this box is set to DECK. If it is 2
not, click once in the edit box opposite the Property item to activate
the drop-down menu and select DECK from the list.
Figure 19
Properties of
Object box
D. Click on the Select Object button, or Press the Esc key on the
keyboard to exit the Draw Quad Area command.
E. To better view the deck addition, click the Set Display Options
button. When the form appears, check the Fill Objects check box
and the Apply to All Windows check box, as shown in Figure 20.
Figure 20
Display Options
for Active Win-
dows form
Figure 21
Model after the area
object has been drawn
A. Draw a Selection Box from Left to Right around each of the bottom
chords to select all of the points on each of these frame objects.
B. Click anywhere on the area object to select the deck. Items currently
selected are indicated in the lower left corner of the interface.
C. Click the Edit menu > Mesh Areas command to bring up the Mesh
Selected Shells form.
The area object representing the deck was drawn as a single object,
but needs to be re-meshed into additional objects so that there will be 2
connectivity between the deck and the intermediate points along the
chord elements. Meshing creates new objects – subdividing does not.
D. Click on the Mesh using selected Joints on edges option, and then
click OK.
A. Click on the two joints marking the right ends of the two bottom
chords.
B. Click on the Assign menu > Joint > Restraints command to bring
up the Joint Restraints form as shown in Figure 22.
Figure 22
Joint
Restraints
form
D. Click on the two joints marking the left ends of the two bottom
2 chords. The lower left-hand corner of the interface should indicate
“2 Points selected”.
E. Click on the Assign menu > Joint > Restraints command to bring
up the Joint Restraints form.
F. Click the File menu > Save command, or the Save button, to
save your model.
For this example, assume that the dead consists of the self-weight of the
bridge plus an additional 10 pounds per square foot (psf) applied to the
concrete deck. The live load is taken to be 100 psf applied to the deck.
A. Click the Define menu > Load Cases command to bring up the De-
fine Loads form shown in Figure 23. Note there is only a single de-
fault load case defined, which is a dead load case with self-weight
(DEAD).
Note that the self-weight multiplier is set to 1 for the default case.
This indicates that this load case will automatically include 1.0 times
the self-weight of all members.
In SAP2000, both Load Cases and Analysis Cases exist, and they
may be different. However, the program automatically creates a cor-
responding analysis case when a load case is defined, and the analy-
sis cases are available for review at the time the analysis is run.
Figure 23
Define Loads form
B. Click in the edit box for the Load Name column. Type the name of
the new load, LIVE. Select a Type of load from the pull down menu;
in this case, select LIVE. Make sure that the Self Weight Multiplier is
set to zero. Click the Add New Load button to add the LIVE load to
the load list.
The Define Loads form should now appear as shown in Figure 24.
Click the OK button in that form to accept all of the newly defined
static load cases.
Figure 24
The Define Loads form after
all load cases have been defined
A. Draw a Selection Box from Right to Left across the entire deck to se-
lect all of the deck objects. The status bar in the lower left-hand cor-
ner should show “5 Areas Selected”. If you make a mistake in select-
ing, press the Clear Selection button, and try again.
B. Click the Assign menu > Area Loads > Uniform (Shell) command.
This brings up the Area Uniform Loads form. Select DEAD from the
Load Case Name drop-down box as shown in Figure 25.
Figure 25
Area Uniform
Loads form
C. Draw a Selection Box from Right to Left across the entire deck, or
click Select menu > Get Previous Selection command, or click the
D. Click the Assign menu > Area Loads > Uniform (Shell) command.
This brings up the Area Uniform Loads form. Select LIVE from the 2
Load Case Name drop-down box.
2. Type 100 in the Load edit box in the Uniform Load area.
A. Draw a Selection Box from Right to Left across the entire deck, or
click Select menu > Get Previous Selection command, or click the
Get Previous Selection button. These actions select all of the
deck objects.
B. Click the Assign menu > Area > Area Stiffness Modifiers com-
mand to bring up the Property/Stiffness Modification Factors form
shown in Figure 26.
2
Figure 26
Property/Stiffness
Modification
Factors form
These actions will prohibit the deck objects from carrying in-
plane axial loads.
D. Make the 3-D View active by clicking anywhere in the window, and
click the View menu > Show Grid command. This will shut off the
grid lines in the 3-D View providing a less cluttered image of the
model.
E. Click the File menu > Save command, or the Save button, to
save your model.
A. Click the Analyze menu > Run Analysis command or the Run 2
Analysis button, to bring up the Set Analysis Cases to Run form
as shown in Figure 27.
Figure 27
Set
Analysis
Cases
to Run
form
2. Click the Run/Do Not Run Case button to set the action for
MODAL to Do Not Run, as we intend to run only a static analy-
sis.
The program will create the analysis model from your object-based
SAP2000 model, and will soon display an "Analyzing, Please Wait"
window. Data will scroll in this window as the program runs the
A. Make sure that the X-Y Plane @ Z=0 view is active. Then click on
the XZ View button to reset the view to an elevation.
Figure 28
Member Force
Diagram for
Frames form
Figure 29
Axial force diagram in
an elevation view
C. Right click on the top chord member in the X-Z view to bring up the
Diagram for Frame Object form shown in Figure 30.
Note that the program displays the force diagrams for the entire top
chord object just as it was drawn, even though the program has
automatically subdivided the frame object into smaller elements for
analysis.
1. Click the Scroll for Values option and you may obtain the values
at any location by moving the mouse over the diagrams with the
left button held down.
Figure 30
Force details
obtained by
right-clicking
top chord of
truss in the ele-
vation view in
Figure 29
D. Make sure that the X-Z View is active and then click the Display
menu > Show Deformed Shape command or the Show Deformed
Shape button, to bring up the Deformed Shape form shown in
Figure 31.
Figure 31
Deformed
Shape form
Figure 32
Deformed Shape in an elevation view
E. Right click on the middle joint on the top chord object in Figure 32
to display the Joint Displacements results form shown in Figure 33.
Figure 33
Joint Displacements
obtained by right-
clicking a joint shown
in the elevation view in
Figure 32
A. Click the Options menu > Preferences > Steel Frame Design
command. The Steel Frame Design Preferences form shown in Fig-
ure 34 appears.
Figure 34
Steel Frame Design
Preferences form
1. Click in the Design Code Values edit box to see the available de-
sign codes. Select the AISC-ASD89 code.
B. Click the Design menu > Steel Frame Design > Start De-
sign/Check of Structure command or the Start Steel Design/Check
of Structure button, to start the steel frame design process. The
program designs the steel members, selecting the optimum member
size from the TRUSS auto select section list assigned to them when
they were drawn.
When the design is complete, the selected sizes are displayed on the
model. The model appears as shown in Figure 35.
Figure 35
Model after the initial steel frame design
C. Click the Design menu > Steel Frame Design > Verify Analysis vs
Design Section command. A message similar to the one in Figure 36
appears. Click the No button to close the form.
Figure 36
Analysis vs Design
Section warning
message
In the initial analysis (Step 8), the program used the median section
by weight from the TRUSS auto select section list. During design
(this Step), the program selected different sections than those that
were used in the analysis. The message in Figure 36 indicates that
2 the analysis and design sections are different.
The goal is to repeat the analysis and design process until the analy-
sis and design sections are all the same. Note that when the bridge is
reanalyzed, SAP2000 will use the current design sections (i.e., those
selected in Step 10) as new analysis sections for the next analysis
run.
D. Right click on one of the truss top chord member in the X-Z view
shown in Figure 35. The Steel Stress Check Information form shown
in Figure 37 appears. Note that the reported analysis and design sec-
tions are different.
The main body of the form lists the design stress ratios obtained at
various stations along the frame object for each design load combi-
nation. Note that the program automatically created code-specific de-
sign load combinations for this steel frame design.
Also note that the program designed the chord as a single physical
member, just as it was drawn as a single object, even though the pro-
gram has automatically subdivided the frame object into smaller
elements for analysis.
Figure 37
Steel Stress Check Information form
Click the Details button on the Steel Stress Check Information form.
The Steel Stress Check Information AISC-ASD89 form shown in
Figure 38 appears. Note that you can print this information using the
File menu on the form.
Figure 38
Steel Stress
Check Infor-
mation AISC-
ASD89 form
Click the X in the upper right-hand corner of the Steel Stress Check
Information AISC-ASD89 form to close it.
Click the Cancel Button to close the Steel Stress Check Information
2 form.
E. To rerun the analysis with the new analysis sections, click the Ana-
lyze menu > Run Analysis command or the Run Analysis but-
ton, and then click the Run Now button on the Set Analysis Cases to
Run form.
G. When the design is complete, click the Design menu > Steel Frame
Design > Verify Analysis vs Design Section command. A message
similar to the one in Figure 39 appears.
Figure 39
Analysis vs Design
Section message
H. When the analysis and design sections are the same, click the Design
menu > Steel Frame Design > Verify all Members Passed com-
mand. A form similar to that shown in Figure 40 should appear indi-
cating that all members passed.
Figure 40
Stress/capacity
check message
2
I. Click the File menu > Save command, or the Save button, to
save your model.