Comparison of CYPECAD, Metal 3D and STAAD

CYPECAD, unlike other programs takes into account the size of the elements of the
structure (beams, columns, slabsetc). Therefore, if a beam reaches a column
eccentrically, this will cause moments to arise even though the intersection node
consists of a pinned connection. The influence of this eccentricity on the results
obtained can be seen in the practical example described below.
Example 1.
Two frames consisting of two 0.50x0.50m columns and a 0.25x0.50m simply supported
beam. The beam is placed centrally with respect to the columns in one case and
displaced in the other.
Both frames have an applied line load of
20 kN/m (live load). Once the analysis has
concluded, the reactions at the columns
differ; the columns with the eccentric beam
have an My > 0 kNm. If this moment is
analysed, it can be seen that it is due to the
eccentricity of the load transmitted by the
beam to the column.

The live load applied on the beam equals 20 kN/m. The beam measures 5m, hence the
load on each column (without applying safety factors) is 20 x 5/2 50kN. The
eccentricity of the other beam with respect to the column is 0.5/2 - 0.25/2 = 0.125m.
Therefore the moment due to the eccentric beam is:
My = 50 x 0.125 = 6.25kNm.
CYPECAD undertakes a series of considerations when discretising and generating the
structures self weight. Beam lengths correspond to the lengths between the internal
faces of columns, hence if the beams are wider than the columns, the weight of the
beam surpassing the internal face of the columns is not considered. As for the columns,
the program considers the free height of the column as the column height; the part of the
column intersecting with the beam is taken as being a rigid and non-deformable node.
The discretisation carried out by the program can be seen with the following option:
Results tab > Envelopes > 3D Model. Here the user can consult the physical properties
of each bar the program has taken into account for the analysis.

In the case of Example 1, the 0.25x0.5m beam has a free span of 4.5m, and so the
weight transmitted to the columns is:

Wbeam = 4.5m x 0.25m x 0.5m x 24.525kN/m3 Wbeam = 13.795kN

Wcolumn = 2.5m x 0.5m x 0.5m x 24.525kN/m3 Wcolumn = 15.328kN
Wnode = 0.5m x 0.5m x 0.5m x 24.525kN/m3 Wnode = 3.066kN
Dead load reactions:
N= 0.5 x Wbeam+ Wnode + Wcolumn N = 25.29kN
The X moment due to the dead loads is equal to the shear of the beam multiplied by the
eccentricity (half the width of the column), minus the axial force of the beam multiplied
by the distance to the total height of the column.
Mx = -0.5 x Wbeam x 0.25m + 0.83kN x 3m Mx = 0.76 kNm
Example 2 (10x10-1)
This example consists of four 0.6x0.6m separated 10m in both directions, with a
0.3x0.75m perimeter beam spanning between them. Spanning between the beams is a
0.3m deep flat slab. The floor height is set at 4m. No additional loads have been
applied; only its self weight is present.
Analysis using CYPECAD
As was seen in the previous example, as the perimeter beams have been adjusted to the
external faces of the columns, an eccentricity of 0.15m with respect to the columns is
present.
The program transforms the slab into a mesh composed of bars separated at a distance
of 0.25m so to discretise it. The self weight of the slab corresponds to the slab surface
surrounded by the beams. This surface can be consulted at Groups Information
about the group surface.

Wslab = 99.64m2 x 0.3m x 24.525kN/m3 Wslab = 733.10kN

Wbeam = 0.75m x 0.3m x 9.4m x 24.525kN/m3 Wbeam = 51.87kN
Wcolumn = 0.6m x 0.6m x 4m x 24.525kN/m3 Wcolumn = 35.316 kN
As the structure is symmetrical, the load distribution after the analysis is also
symmetrical. Therefore the axial load descending the column can be taken as:
Ncolumn = 0.25 x Wslab + Wbeam + Wcolumn Ncolumn = 0.25 x 733.1 + 51.87 + 35.316
Ncolumn = 270.46kN
This is identical to the load descending the columns in CYPECAD.
Regarding moments, CYPECAD automatically assigns a coefficient equal to 0.3 at the
top of the column. If STAAD uses a coefficient equal to 1, the results provided by the
programs will not match. This coefficient has to be modified using the option: Fixity
coefficient at last floor. The Axial stiffness coefficient, which CYPECAD provides with
a default value set at 2, also has to be modified otherwise the column shortening will not
coincide with STAAD.

The default torsional stiffness reduction coefficients and Negative moment

redistribution coefficients must also be modified as these values have been reduced in
CYPECAD and can provide differences with STAAD.

Analysis using Metal 3D

The same example is analysed using a program similar to STAAD i.e. one which uses
nodes and bars to model the structure with which the results can be compared. The
program in question is Metal 3D: a bar and node program used to analyse steel,
concrete, timber and aluminium structures.
A similar discretisation model as to what was used in CYPECAD is introduced. To
check the generated discretisation model in CYPECAD, click on Envelopes > 3D
Model.

In the model generated by CYPECAD, it can be appreciated that the program discretises
the slab by generating a mesh with bars with a separation of 0.25m with the following
physical properties:

The physical properties of the beams and columns are as follows:

When generating the bars, the program makes the slab bars that reach the column longer
than the rest to ensure that these bars are fixed within the column and no force
distortions arise in the rest of the bars which pass near the columns.

The bars of the slab are linked to the columns and beams at the geometric position at
which they intersect. To simulate this link with Metal 3D, generic bars (link bars) with
great stiffness will be used.
Discretisation used:
Now the model in Metal 3D can be introduced. The beams and columns are to be
introduced as concrete bars measuring 30x75cm and 60x60cm respectively. The slab
bars and link bars, between the beams and columns, shall be introduced as generic bars
with the following properties:
Mechanical characteristics
Material
A
Avy
Avz
Iyy
Izz
It
Ref.
Description
(cm)
(cm)
(cm)
(cm4)
(cm4)
(cm4)
Type Designation
Concrete f'c=200
1 60 cm x 60 cm, (Rectangular) 3600.00 3000.00 3000.00 1080000.00
1080000.00
1814400.00
2 30 cm x 75 cm, (Rectangular) 2250.00 1875.00 1875.00 1054687.50
168750.00
498150.00
Generic
3 Link bars
3600.00 3600.00 3600.00 100000000.00 100000000.00 100000000.00
4 Slab
750.00 750.00 750.00
58600.00
39062.00
112500.00
Notation:
Ref.: Reference
A: Area of the transverse section
Avy: Shear area of the section in the local 'Y' axis
Avz: Shear area of the section in the local 'Z' axis
Iyy: Inertia of the section about the local 'Y' axis
Izz: Inertia of the section about the local 'Z' axis
It: Torsional inertia
The mechanical characteristics of the elements correspond to those of their cross section at their mid-point.

The discretisation applied to the bars of the slab will be the same as the bar generation
carried out by CYPECAD and introduced at an elevation of 4m. The beams are
introduced at their exact position, i.e. with their axis displaced 15cm towards the outside
of the slab and span between the external face of the columns; linking to the columns by

means of a bar with great stiffness. The columns start at an elevation of 0m and reach
elevation +3.25m, i.e. up to the bottom face of the beams. A bar with great stiffness is
introduced from the top of the column to the beam intersection node to simulate the
complete node.

Loads considered in the model

As the density of the bars has been ignored, so not to duplicate the load, point loads are
to be introduced on all the nodes of the slab equal to a 25x25cm segment of the slab:
Wslabnode = 0.25 x 0.25 x 0.3 x 24.525 = 0.46kN
Half of this load is applied at those nodes which are in contact with the edge beams, as
the other half corresponds to the self weight of the beam.
Introduce a load at the top of the columns corresponding to the part of the column at the
node:
Wcolumnnode = 0.6 x 0.6 x 0.75 x 24.525 = 6.62kN
Analysis using STAAD
The same model that has been introduced in Metal 3D is introduced in STAAD.
Beams and columns are introduced as 0.75x0.3m and 0.6x0.6m concrete bars
respectively. For the slab bars, rectangular 0.3x0.25m bars are introduced, associated to
the material Losa which has the same properties as concrete however its density has
not been considered. For the bars with great stiffness, a generic bar, associated to the
material RIGINF, and has been defined with the following properties:

The materials used and their properties are shown below:

Defined loads:
A loadcase associated to dead loads has been created, for which 4 types of loads have
been defined.
The first load is the self weight of the columns and beams of the model. The second is a
node load of 0.46kN in the Y axis, introduced for all the nodes of the slab. The third is
a load of 0.23kN applied to all the perimeter nodes of the slab. The fourth and final
load is another nodal load of 6.62kN introduced at the top nodes of the column bars.

Results

Force
N
Mx
My
Vx
Vy

Forces at column starts

CYPECAD
Metal 3D
270.46
270.36
112.03
115.34
112.03
115.34
91.98
95.128
91.98
95.128

Forces at the top of the columns

Force
CYPECAD
Metal 3D
N
241.77
241.66
Mx
-186.90
-193.91
My
-186.90
-193.91
Vx
91.98
95.128
Vy
91.98
95.128

Left end
Mid-span
Right end

Force
M
M
M

STAAD
266.985
111.733
111.733
92.324
92.324
STAAD
239.41
-188.32
-188.32
92.324
92.324

Beam forces
CYPECAD
-146.41
113.10
-146.41

Metal 3D
-135.93
110.20
-135.93

STAAD
138.76
-109.98
138.76

Conclusion:
It can be seen that the differences between the results provided by the programs are
minimal as long as the data introduced is similar for all three cases. It has also been
verified that the vertical load reaction obtained by CYPECAD is identical to that
calculated manually. On the other hand, the small differences in the results can be
because CYPECAD considers the rigid diaphragm hypothesis which can alter the force
results of the beams. However, when a slab is present, this hypothesis is closer to what
happens in reality.