Basic Structural Modeling

SACS
Systems

Section 1 Creating a Model File
In windows file explorer create a directory called “Training Project”, and a subdirectory called
“Structural Modeling”.
Launch SACS Executive and go to “SACS Settings\Units Settings” and set default units to
“Metric KN Force”. Then click on the “OK” button. See picture below.
Set current working directory to “Structural Modeling” and launch Precede program by clicking
on “Modeler” icon in “Interactive” window of Executive (See picture below).
Click here to launch Precede
Select “Create New Model” and click OK. Then select “Start blank model” and click OK. See
two pictures below.

Page 4 Topsides Structural Modeling
SACS Systems

Click here to create the

new model
Go to “Environment” → “Options” → “Seastate” and input:
 Water depth = 79.5m
 Mudline elevation -79.5m
 Water weight density 1.028 tonne/m^3
 Structure weight density 7.849 tonne/m^3

Select Update

SACS Systems

Section 2 Creating Cellar Deck Framing
Step 1 Joints
Go to “Joint/Add” and input X = 100m, Y= 100m and Z= 15.3m.
Label first deck staring with joint name “1000”
Go to “Display” → “Plane” and select XY Plan at Z=15.3m. Turn on the Joint and Group Label
from Toolbar icon.
Then go to “Joint” → “Add” → “Relative” and input the relative coordinates as shown on drawing
202 to define leg joints 1000, 1001, 1002 and 1003. See pictures below.

Step 2 Members
Go to “Member/Add” and use group label W01 for member 1000-1001 and 1002-1003, W02 for
member 1000-1002 and 1001-10003. Refer to drawing for member sizes.

SACS Systems

Use same feature to create joints 1004, 1005, 1006 and 1007 then connect with beam elements to
define the 4 meter North and South cantilever sections of the deck.
Step 3 Divide the member by length
The Member divide feature can be used to simplify modeling. Joint and group names should be
defined as shown in the model plot Plan at 15.3. The dimensions needed to build the model can
be found in Drawing 202. The functions recommended to build the frame model are:
“Member” → “Divide” → “Length”
“Member” → “Divide” → “Ratio”
“Member” → “Divide” → “Perpendicular”
The new created joints naming should start from 1008. All the distances and ratios can be found
in the drawing.
Joint 1008 and 1009 can be defined by using Divide by Distance.

SACS Systems

To create joint 1008, go to “Member” →
“Divide” → “Length” to get the dialog box
shown on the left.
Click to select member 1004-1007.
Enter 5.0m to “Length from Joint A”.
New Joint name should be 1008.
Keep “Use next available name” checked.
Leave others blank.
Joint 1009 can be added same way with
distance = 5.0m.
Continue adding Joints 1010, 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014, and 1015
Add members 1008-1010 and 1009-1011, 1011-1013, 1013-1015, 1012-1014. Group ID should
be “W01”.
Use “Member” → “Divide” → “Length” to create Joint 1016, 1017, 1018 and 1019. The
distances can be found in the drawing. See pictures below for adding Joint 1016 and 1018.

SACS Systems

Add Members 1016-1017 and 1018-1019 with Group ID W01.
Joint 1020, 1021, 1022, 1023 can be defined by using Divide by Distance based on the available
dimensions on Drawing 202.

SACS Systems

To create joint 1020, go to “Member” →
“Divide” → “Length” to get the dialog box
shown on the left.
Click to select member 1016-1017.
Enter 2.0m to “Length from Joint A”.
New Joint name should be 1020.
Keep “Use next available name” checked.
Leave others blank.
Joint 1022 and 1023 can be added same way
with distance = 4.0m.
Add member 1020-1021 and 1022-1023. Group ID should be “W01”

SACS Systems

Section 3 Creating Main Deck Framing
Go to “Joint” → “Actions” → “Translate/Rotate” and select all the deck joints. Enter Translation
Z=7.7, select “Duplicate Existing Joints”, “Use Automatic Naming”, enter First Joint Name=2000
and select “Duplicate Attached Structural Elements”. The main deck will be copied from the lower
deck.
Then go to “Joint” → “Add” → “Relative” and input the relative coordinates as shown on drawing
202 to define the 5m East cantilever deck and add members. Group ID should be W01.

SACS Systems

Section 4 Adding Deck Legs
Go to “Joint” → “Add” → “Relative to Line” → “Z coordinate”
Pick Joint A as 1000 and Joint B as 2000. Input Z coordinate to be 4.0m. Label new joint as 900.
Input Fixity as 111000 (pinned).
Repeat to add joints 901,902, & 903
Add DL6 and DL7: Go to “Member” → “Add” and label legs from Z elevation 4m to 15.3m to be
DL6 and from Z elevation 15.3m to 23m to be DL7
Save the file as sacinp.dat_01

SACS Systems

Section 5 Defining Member Groups
Go to “Property” → “Member Group”, choose undefined Group and select Add
Define the properties for group W01, W24x131, and W02, W24x162; the sections should be
selected from the AISC 9th edition Library.
Click to
select
Section
Select wide
from the
flange only
Library
The above three pictures is a sample of how to define W01 (From Left to Right). Repeat it to define
the properties for W02.
Define group DL6 & DL7, find the section dimensions from Drawing 101.
DL6 = 42”OD x 1.5” THK
DL7 = 42”OD x 1.5” THK
Fy = 34.5 kN/m2

Bentley Systems, Inc. Training for TGC
To define those non-segmented groups click the group ID from Undefined Group window and
then click on “Add” tab; enter the data and click “Apply”. The picture on the left shows the DL6
data.
The above groups have section type of Tubular, and both the geometry and material data can be
defined in Group Manage window.
Save as sacinp.dat_02
Deck member groups defined at this time shall look like the following:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GRUP
GRUP DL6 106.68 3.810 20.007.72234.50 1 1.001.00 0.500 7.8490
GRUP DL7 106.68 3.810 20.007.72234.50 1 1.001.00 0.500 7.8490
GRUP W01 W24X131 20.007.72224.80 1 1.001.00 7.8490
GRUP W02 W24X162 20.007.72224.80 1 1.001.00 7.8490
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 6 Define Deck Beam Offsets
Step 1 Define top of steel offsets for cellar deck
Go to “Display” → “Plan” and select XY plan at Z = 15.3m.
Go to “Member” → “Offsets…” and drag a window to pick all members in current view (Selected
members will be highlighted in red).
Change “Offset Type” to “Top of Steel”.
Click on “Apply” to create the offsets.
Refer to the picture below.
Note: The deck beam properties must be defined before you can define the offset type to “Top of
Steel”.
Step 2 Define top of steel offsets for main deck
Repeat the above step to define the offset for the beams at XY Plan @ EL (+) 23.00m.
Save the model to sacinp.dat_03. The structure is shown below.

Section 7 Define Loads Using Surface Weights
Step 1 Define deck surface weight
Using “Weight” → “Surface Definition”, input “CELLWT1” for Surface ID, pick up joint 1004,
1007, and 1006 for local coordinate joints. Input 0.5 for Tolerance, and pick up 1005, 1006, 1007
and 1004 by holding Ctrl key for Boundary joints. Select load direction to “Members in local Y”
and then click Apply to add the surface ID definition. See Below for reference.
Repeat the above to add the surface ID definition for the main deck.
Using “Weight” → “Surface Definition” input “MAINWT1” for Surface ID. Pick up joint 2004,
2008 and 2011 for local coordinate joints, input 0.5 for Tolerance, and pick 2005, 2011, 2008 and
2004 by holding CTRL key for Boundary joints. Select load direction to “Local Y” and then click
Apply to add this surface ID definition.

Step 2 Add weight groups
Using “Weight” → “Surface Weight” input AREA as Weight Group and AREAWT as Weight
ID, input weight pressure of 0.5 kN/m2 for the cellar deck and move CELLWT1 to “Included
Surface IDs” and click “Apply”. Then input a weight pressure of 0.75 kN/m2 for the main deck
and move MAINWT1 to “Included Surface IDs” and click “Apply”.


Repeat the same procedure to add the weights group LIVE.
Add weight group LIVE by using surface weight feature as in step 3. Weight ID MAINLIVE
includes the main deck weight pressure of 5.0 kN/m2 and ID CELLLIVE includes the cellar deck
weight pressure = 2.5 kN/m2.

Save as Sacinp.dat_04.
The added surface IDs and surface weights shall look like following:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
SURFID CELLWT1 LY 1004 1007 1006 0.500
SURFDR 1004 1007 1006 1005
SURFID MAINWT1 LY 2004 2008 2011 0.500
SURFDR 2004 2008 2011 2005
SURFWTAREA 0.500AREAWT 1.001.001.00CELLWT1
SURFWTAREA 0.750AREAWT 1.001.001.00MAINWT1
SURFWTLIVE 2.500CELLLIVE 1.001.001.00CELLWT1
SURFWTLIVE 5.000MAINLIVE 1.001.001.00MAINWT1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 8 Define equipment loads (Equipment load)
Step 1 Define Skid1
Use “Weight” → “Footprint Weight”
 Weight group is EQPT and Footprint ID is SKID1;
 Weight = 1112.05 kN;
 Footprint center (112.5, 107.0, 23.0);
 Relative weight center (0, 0, 3.0)
 Skid Length = 6 m; Skid Width = 3 m;
 2 skid beams in X direction (longitudinal)

Click Apply and the summation of forces will be shown on a pop-up window. To save the input
footprint weight select Keep.

Step 2 Define Skid2
 Weight group is EQPT and Footprint ID is SKID2
 Weight = 667.23 kN;
 Footprint center (102.5,98.0, 23.0);
 Skid Length = 6 m; Skid Width = 2.5 m;
 2 skid beams in X direction (longitudinal).


Step 3 Define Skid3
 Weight group is EQPT and Footprint weight ID is SKID3
 Weight = 444.82 kN;
 Skid Length = 5.32 m; Skid Width = 2.5 m;
 2 skid beams in X direction (longitudinal).

Step 4 Define Skid4
 Weight group ID is EQPT and Footprint ID is SKID4
 Weight = 155.587 kN;

 Skid Length = 6 m; Skid Width = 3 m;
 3 skid beams in X direction (longitudinal)

Save as sacinp.dat_05
The added EQPT footprint weights shall looks like following:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WGTFP EQPT1112.05SKID1 112.50107.0023.000R 3.0006.0003.000 2
WGTFP2 1.001.001.00.152L
WGTFP EQPT667.230SKID2 102.5098.00023.000R 2.5006.0002.500 2
WGTFP2 1.001.001.00.152L
WGTFP EQPT155.587SKID4 117.50111.0023.000R 4.0006.0003.000 3
WGTFP2 1.001.001.00.152L
WGTFP EQPT444.820SKID3 112.84105.0015.300R 2.0005.3202.500 2
WGTFP2 1.001.001.00.152L
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 9 Define misc weights on the deck
Step 1 Add walkway weight on the deck

Go to “Weight” → “Member Weight” and
hold control key to select all members on the
east side of the main deck, and enter the
following data:
Weight group: Misc
Weight ID: Walkway
Weight Category: Distribute
Coordinate system: Global
Initial weight value: 2.773 kN/m
Final weight value: 2.773 kN/m
Load dir. factors: Defaults
Click on “Apply” and keep the weight. See
picture on the right

Step 2 Enter crane weight

Go to “Weight” → “Joint
Weight”, select the NE
deck leg joint on the main
deck, and enter the data:
Weight Group: Misc
Weight ID: Cranewt
Weight: 88.964kN
Load dir. Factors: Defaults
Click on “Apply” and keep
the weight. See pictures on
the right.

Step 3 Enter the Firewall weight
Go to “Weight” → “Member weight” and select the following members: 1001-1005, 1012-1014,
1013-1015, and then enter the following data:
 Weight Group: Misc
 Weight ID: Firewall
 Weight Cate: Concentrated
 Coord system: Global
 Concen. Weight: 15.0kN
 Distance: 1.5m
 Load factors: Defaults

Click on “Apply” and select to “Keep” the weight. See pictures below for details.

Save the model to Sacinp.dat_06

Section 10 Define Deck Loads
To create inertia loads from various weights defined on deck structure three steps need to be
performed:
Step 1 Define the center of Roll

Define the center of roll for all accelerations:
Go to “Weight” → “Center of Roll”, and

define center ID CEN1 at (107.5,105.0, 0.0)
location. Then select “Apply”.
Step 2 Create load conditions

Define the accelerations:
“Environmental” → “Loading” →
“Weight”: Check off Acceleration and
define 1.0g in Z direction for load condition
AREA, EQPT, LIVE and MISC. Input CEN1
for center ID.
Make sure to check “Do NOT include
structural weight for this acceleration”.
Picture on the right shows the sample of load
case AREA.
Create load conditions:
“Environmental” → “Loading” →
“Weight”: Check off Include weight group.
Select weight group AREA, EQPT, LIVE
and MISC to be included in load cases
AREA, EQPT, LIVE and MISC respectively.
Note: EQPT, LIVE, and MISC will already
have acceleration defined from above, but
included weight group needs to be added
also.

Weights defined on the jacket will be added to the environmental load conditions to account for
the possible buoyancy and possible wave loads.

The added inertia load cases shall look like following:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOADCNAREA
INCWGT AREA
ACCEL 1.00000 N CEN1
LOADCNEQPT
INCWGT EQPT
LOADCNLIVE
INCWGT LIVE
LOADCNMISC
INCWGT MISC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 11 Input Environmental Loading
Step 1 Input the dead load
The structural dead weight can be included using DEAD cards.
Environmental → Loading → Seastate:
 Input DEAD as the load condition name;
 Check Dead load to open the dead load tab;
 Input any overridden item, and then click Apply.
Step 2 Define wind loads
The topside structure could be subject wind loads from all directions.
Environmental → Loading → Seastate:
 Input P000 as the load condition name. The first wind load condition is for wind from 0
degree.
 Check Wind to open the wind load tab
 Input wind velocity as 25.72 m/sec., wind variation definition as 21AP
 If there is any wind area, click Wind II tab to include the wind areas.


Repeat the above steps to input operating storm winds in 45 degrees and 90 degrees.
The extreme storm winds can be defined similar as the operating storm winds, except 100-year
storm wind criteria are used to generate the environmental forces. The extreme wind velocity is
45.17 m/sec and winds will be applied on the structure from 0 degree, 45 degrees, and 90 degrees.
The wind load case lines shall look like following:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOADCNDEAD
DEAD
DEAD -Z M
LOADCNP000
WIND
WIND D 25.720 21AP
LOADCNP045
WIND
WIND D 25.720 45.0 21AP
LOADCNP090
WIND
WIND D 25.720 90.0 21AP
LOADCNS000
WIND
WIND D 45.170 21AP
LOADCNS045
WIND
WIND D 45.170 45.0 21AP
LOADCNS090
WIND
WIND D 45.170 90.0 21AP
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 12 Load combination and code check options
Step 1 Load combination
Six load combinations OPR1, OPR2, OPR3, STM1, STM2 and STM3 will be added into the
model. Three of them are corresponding to operating storms and the other three are corresponding
to extreme storms. Load factor of 1.1 will be used for environmental loads. The live load will be
included with a factor of 0.75 in extreme storm load combinations.
Go to “Load” → “Combine load conditions” to define the load combinations. The following
two pictures show the combinations of operating and extreme storm conditions.

The load combination lines shall look like following:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LCOMB
LCOMB OPR1 DEAD1.0000AREA1.0000EQPT1.0000LIVE1.0000MISC1.0000P0001.1000
LCOMB STM1 DEAD1.0000AREA1.0000EQPT1.0000LIVE0.7500MISC1.0000S0001.1000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Step 2 Analysis load case selection

Go to “Options”→ “Load condition
selection” to select all the load combinations
to analyze and report. The picture on the right
shows the input.

Step 3 Allowable stress modification factor (AMOD)
Allowables can be increased by 1/3 for combined extreme storm load cases based on API code,
and this should be entered using the AMOD line. Go to “Options” → “Allowable stress/
Material Factor” and enter the data as shown in the picture below.
Add unity check partition line (UCPART). Go to “Options” → “Unity Check Ranges” and enter
the data as shown in the picture below.
The LCSEL, UCPART and AMOD lines shall look like following:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LCSEL ST OPR1 ORP2 ORP3 STM1 STM2 STM3
UCPART 0.5000.5001.0001.000300.0
AMOD
AMOD STM1 1.330STM2 1.330STM3 1.330
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Basic Structural Modeling

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Basic Structural Modeling

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Basic Structural Modeling

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

SACS

Click here to create the

Go to “Environment” → “Options” → “Seastate” and input:

 Water depth = 79.5m

 Mudline elevation -79.5m

 Water weight density 1.028 tonne/m^3

 Structure weight density 7.849 tonne/m^3

Add Members 1016-1017 and 1018-1019 with Group ID W01.

Save the file as sacinp.dat_01

 Weight group is EQPT and Footprint ID is SKID1;

 Weight = 1112.05 kN;

 Footprint center (112.5, 107.0, 23.0);

 Relative weight center (0, 0, 3.0)

 Skid Length = 6 m; Skid Width = 3 m;

 2 skid beams in X direction (longitudinal)

 Weight = 667.23 kN;

 Footprint center (102.5,98.0, 23.0);

 Relative weight center (0, 0, 2.5)

 Skid Length = 6 m; Skid Width = 2.5 m;

 2 skid beams in X direction (longitudinal).

 Weight = 444.82 kN;

 Footprint center (112.84,105.0, 15.3);

 Relative weight center (0, 0, 2.0)

 Skid Length = 5.32 m; Skid Width = 2.5 m;

 2 skid beams in X direction (longitudinal).

 Weight = 155.587 kN;

 Relative weight center (0, 0, 4.0)

 Skid Length = 6 m; Skid Width = 3 m;

 3 skid beams in X direction (longitudinal)

 Weight Group: Misc

 Weight ID: Firewall

 Weight Cate: Concentrated

 Coord system: Global

 Concen. Weight: 15.0kN

 Load factors: Defaults

Go to “Weight” → “Center of Roll”, and

Save the model to Sacinp.dat_07

 Input DEAD as the load condition name;

 Check Dead load to open the dead load tab;

 Input any overridden item, and then click Apply.

 Check Wind to open the wind load tab

 Input wind velocity as 25.72 m/sec., wind variation definition as 21AP

Save the model to Sacinp.dat_09

You might also like