SAP2000 (V20) Truss Analysis Tutorial

The following is a step-by-step procedure for analyzing a two-dimensional truss structure using SAP2000
(v20). The order of some of these steps is not critical; however, all steps should be completed before
the execution of the analysis. If you have questions or find instructions unclear or inaccurate, please
contact Dr. Charles Camp.

The following tutorial will focus on determining the forces in each roof truss member shown below to
help students become familiar with some of the numerous aspects and features of SAP2000. Assume all
members are pin-connected.

When you start SAP2000 Version 20, you should see the following interface window:

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Step 1: New Model - To start a new problem, select New Model under the File menu.

The New Model window gives many different templates for general structures. In this example, we will
use the Grid Only template. To use the grid, determine the appropriate number of grid lines and
spacing to locate the truss joints.

On this menu, you can select the units for the problem; the default is lb, in, F. You can change the
unit when necessary, and SAP2000 will convert the values. In this example, the default units are
acceptable.

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When you select Grid Only on the menu, the Quick
Grid Lines window will appear (see the figure on the
right).

SAP2000 assumes that your two-dimensional structure

Define your grid system by entering data on

the Quick Grid Lines window. For the truss shown
above, the grid spacing in the x and z-directions is
240 in. The number of grid lines in the x and z-
directions are 5 and 2, respectively. Only one y-
direction grid line is necessary for 2D problems.

When you click OK, SAP2000 generates the grid lines

you have just defined and shows you the grid system
in the SAP2000 interface window.

By default, SAP2000 displays two views of your

problem, typically 3-D and x-y plane views. To adjust
the views, select a window and click the appropriate
view button along the interface window's top edge.

Click on the window label and delete the left-hand side window so that you have a general 3D view, and
then click on the xz button on the top bar to see a 2D view of the structure.

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Step 2: Locate Truss Joints - Select the Draw Special Joint button on the left side toolbar
to define the joint locations. Click on grid intersection lines to define joints. For this problem, the
joint locations are shown below:

Step 3: Draw Frame Elements - Select the Draw Frame Element button / on the left toolbar to
define each frame element. The Properties of Object window will appear. We can select a frame
object you want to draw or use the default and update the frame element properties later.

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In this example, we will just use the default properties. Close the Properties of Object window and
begin to draw frame objects. To define an element, click on a joint at the beginning of the element
and then on the joint at the end of the element. To end a series of element definitions, double-click on
the final joint. For this truss problem, the frame elements are shown below:

Step 4: Define Structural Supports - To define the location and type of structural support,
select the support location by clicking on the joint with the pointer. A blue "X" should appear at the
joint to indicate it is currently selected. Next, click on the Assign tab at the top of the SAP2000
interface, then click on Joint, and then the Restraints ... button on the bottom toolbar.

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The Assign Joint Restraints menu will appear as
shown on the right. Usually, the directions 1, 2,
and 3 listed on the menu correspond to the x, y,
and z directions. The Fast Restraints button may
be used for most problems when working on two-
dimensional structures. If the support conditions
for your problem are not listed in the Fast
Restraints section of the menu, you should select
the appropriate combination of restraints.

In the truss example, select the lower-left hand

joint with the pointer (an "X" should appear at

the joint), then click the pin button and

click OK.

Next, select the lower right-hand joint with the

pointer and Fast Restraints menu, select

the roller button and click OK.

After the supports have been defined, the truss problem should appear in the SAP2000 interface
window as follows:

Step 5: Apply Forces at Joints - To apply forces at a joint, select the joint with the pointer and
click on Assign, then Joint Loads, and then Forces. The following menu will appear:

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In this example, three 3,000 lb. forces are acting along the
bottom chord of the truss. Remember that the truss was
modeled in the x-z plane; therefore, the forces act in the
negative z-direction. Enter -3000 in the Forces Global Z input
field and click OK.

The forces should be displayed on the truss (proper direction

and magnitude) in the SAP2000 interface window.

Step 6: Set Analysis Options - This example models the truss structure in the x-z plane. To limit
analysis to variables in the x-z plane, click on the Analyze menu at the top of the SAP2000 interface
window and then click Set Analysis Options. The Analysis Options menu will appear as follows:

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To restrict SAP2000 to variables in the x-z plane, select the Plane Frame button, uncheck the RY box,
and click OK. The truss structure is now ready for analysis.

Step 7: Release Internal Moments at Joints - SAP2000 assumes all structures are frames.
Therefore, we should convert each joint from a fixed to a pin connection to analyze a truss structure.

To ensure every joint in the structure is pin-connected, select all the members by clicking the Select
All button on the left-side toolbar. Next, click on the Assign menu, select Frame,
then Releases/Partial Fixity..., and then an Assign Frame Releases and Partial Fixity window will
appear.

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In this example, the structure is a truss with no
moment capacity at each joint. Click the
checkboxes associated with Moment
22, Moment 33, and Torsion to release the
moment capacity. Torsion can only be released
at one end of the element, whereas the other
moment must be released at both
the Start and End of the element.

After the moments are released, the truss

structure should appear in the SAP2000
interface window as follows:

Step 8: Define Material Properties - SAP2000 assumes the loads acting on a structure, including
the weight of each element. In our truss analysis, we assume that each element is weightless. To
define the properties of a material, select the Define menu at the top of the SAP2000 interface
window and then click on Materials. The Define Materials window will appear as shown below:

On this menu, you can change the properties

of materials. Select the A992Fy50 (steel with
a yield stress of 50 ksi) material in this
example and click the Modify/Show
Material... button.

The Material Property Data window will

appear.

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Change the value in the Weight per unit Volume input field to zero. Click OK to return to the Define
Materials window, then click OK again. Now, we have a material named A992Fy50 with no weight per
volume. For this example problem, the default values for the Mass per unit Volume, Modulus of
elasticity, Poisson's ratio, and the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion can be used. For most linear elastic
statically loaded structures, only values for Weight per unit Volume and Modulus of Elasticity are
required.

Step 9: Define Frame Sections - To define the cross-section properties of a structural element,
click on the Define menu located at the top of the SAP2000 interface window, then click on Section
Properties, then Frame Sections..., and then the Frame Properties window will appear as shown
below:

The default Frame Section label is FSEC1. To change the properties of the frame section, click on
the Modify/Show Property... button. The I/Wide Flange Section window will appear.

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To define the material of this frame section, click on the Material pull-down menu and select our
weightless material A992Fy50. Click OK to return to the Frame Properties window, then
click OK again. If you are interested in computing deflections in the truss, you must define each frame
element's cross-sectional dimensions. In this example, we are interested only in the axial forces in a
determinate truss, so the values of the cross-sectional areas are not required.

Step 10: Assign Frame Sections - To assign the frame properties of a structural element, select
the element with the pointer and click on the Assign menu at the top of the SAP2000 interface
window, then click on Frame and then Frame Sections... You can assign the same section properties
to multiple elements by selecting all the elements that share the same properties. Choose the frame
element from the Assign Frame Sections window. The frame section name will appear next to each
element selected. After the frame sections have been assigned, the SAP2000 interface window will
appear as follows:

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Step 11: Run Analysis - To analyze the model, press the Run Analysis button . The
Set Load Cases to Run menu will appear as shown below:

By default, there are two load cases: DEAD and MODAL. More load cases can be added, but only
the DEAD load case is required for this example. Click on the Run Now button. If the analysis is
successful, the Analysis Complete window will appear and report that the analysis is
complete. Click OK, and the Save Model File As window will appear as shown below:

When you run a model, SAP2000 creates about 40 temporary files, so choosing a special folder to store
the SAP2000 files is beneficial. The Windows Desktop is not a good location. When a folder is selected,
name the SAP2000 model file. In this example, the file name is truss_example. SAP2000 will save the
model information in the file named truss_example.sdb in the folder selected.

The SAP2000 interface window will display an exaggerated deflected shape of the modeled structure.

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Step 12: Print Truss Forces - To get a quick feel for the relative magnitude of the forces in the
truss, click on the Show Forces/Stresses pull-down menu at the top of the SAP2000 interface,
select Frames/Cables/Tendons..., and the Display Frame Forces/Stresses menu will appear as
follows:

The default values will display the Axial Forces using

the Fill Diagram. If you click OK, the SAP2000 interface
window will display the relative magnitude of the axial
forces with compress forces in red and tension forces
in blue.

Another way to display force information is to

unclick Fill Diagram and click on Show Values on
Diagram. In this case, the value of each axial force will
be displayed next to the member (see the figure
below).

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To print the results to a file, click on the File menu, select Print Tables..., and the following menu
will appear:

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In this example, all we require are the axial forces in the truss, so click on expand the Element
Output item under the ANALYSIS RESULTS section, expand the Frame Output item, and then click
on Tables: Element Forces - Frames. Also, click on the box Print to File and the TXT file button to
define the file format. Click OK and define the name and location of the TXT file.

There is an option for Spreadsheet Format if desired. The default location for the file is the same
directory as the problem files. A different location can be specified by clicking File Name and choosing
the desired file location and name.

Turn on the frame labels to correlate the results printed in the output file to frame elements in the
structure. Click the Show Undeformed Shape button / on the main interface to display the frame
element labels. Next, click on the Display Options button and under the Frame section of the
menu, click on Labels.

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The frame element numbers, or any other information displayed in the main SAP2000 interface can be
printed by clicking on the File menu and selecting Print Graphics (the image will be sent to the default
printer).

The results of the truss analysis presented in the output file are listed by frame element number.

Note that SAP2000 lists the variation of the internal forces and moments along the element. For truss
analysis, there are no bending moments and shear forces. The values listed in the "P" column are the
axial forces in the truss members.

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