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5 Structure Geometry and Coordinate Systems

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1.5 Structure Geometry and Coordinate Systems

A structure is an assembly of individual components such as beams, columns, slabs,
plates etc.. In STAAD, frame elements and plate elements may be used to model the
structural components. Typically, modeling of the structure geometry consists of two
steps:
A. Identification and description of joints or nodes.
B. Modeling of members or elements through specification of connectivity
(incidences) between joints.
In general, the term MEMBER will be used to refer to frame elements and the term
ELEMENT will be used to refer to plate/shell and solid elements. Connectivity for
MEMBERs may be provided through the MEMBER INCIDENCE command while
connectivity for ELEMENTs may be provided through the ELEMENT INCIDENCE
command.
STAAD uses two types of coordinate systems to define the structure geometry and
loading patterns. The GLOBAL coordinate system is an arbitrary coordinate system in
space which is utilized to specify the overall geometry & loading pattern of the
structure. A LOCAL coordinate system is associated with each member (or element)
and is utilized in MEMBER END FORCE output or local load specification.

1.5.1 Global Coordinate System

1.5.2 Local Coordinate System
1.5.3 Relationship Between Global & Local Coordinates

Reference Materials
5.11 Joint Coordinates Specification
5.12 Member Incidences Specification
5.14.1 Element Mesh Generation
5.16.1 Listing of Entities by Specification of Groups
5.17 Rotation of Structure Geometry
5.26.1 Define Material

1.5.1 Global Coordinate System

The following coordinate systems are available for specification of the structure
geometry.
Conventional Cartesian Coordinate System
This coordinate system is a rectangular coordinate system (X, Y, Z) which

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follows the orthogonal right hand rule. This coordinate system may be used to
define the joint locations and loading directions. The translational degrees of
freedom are denoted by u , u , u and the rotational degrees of freedom are
1 2 3
denoted by u , u & u .
4 5
6
Figure 12: Cartesian (Rectangular) Coordinate System

Cylindrical Coordinate System

In this coordinate system, the X and Y coordinates of the conventional Cartesian
system are replaced by R (radius) and (angle in degrees). The Z coordinate is
identical to the Z coordinate of the Cartesian system and its positive direction is
determined by the right hand rule.
Figure 13: Cylindrical Coordinate System

Reverse Cylindrical Coordinate System

This is a cylindrical type coordinate system where the R plane corresponds to
the XZ plane of the Cartesian system. The right hand rule is followed to
determine the positive direction of the Y axis.
Figure 14: Reverse Cylindrical Coordinate System

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Reference Materials
5.11 Joint Coordinates Specification
5.12 Member Incidences Specification
5.14.1 Element Mesh Generation
5.16.1 Listing of Entities by Specification of Groups
5.17 Rotation of Structure Geometry
5.26.1 Define Material

1.5.2 Local Coordinate System

A local coordinate system is associated with each member. Each axis of the local
orthogonal coordinate system is also based on the right hand rule. Fig. 1.5 shows a
beam member with start joint 'i' and end joint 'j'. The positive direction of the local x
axis is determined by joining 'i' to 'j' and projecting it in the same direction. The right
hand rule may be applied to obtain the positive directions of the local y and z axes.
The local y and zaxes coincide with the axes of the two principal moments of inertia.
Note that the local coordinate system is always rectangular.
A wide range of crosssectional shapes may be specified for analysis. These include
rolled steel shapes, user specified prismatic shapes etc.. Fig. 1.6 shows local axis system
(s) for these shapes.
Figure 15: When GlobalY is Vertical

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Figure 16: When GlobalZ is Vertical (that is, SET Z UP is specified)

Table 11: Local axis system for various cross sections when
global Y axis is vertical

Wide Flange ST

Wide Flange TB

Wide Flange
CM

Angle LD
(Long legs back

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Angle ST

toback)

Angle RA

Angle SD
(Short legs backto
back)

Channel D

Wide Flange T

Channel ST

Prismatic

Tube ST

Figure 17: Local axis system for a single angle as defined in standard publications, which differs
from the local axis of STAAD Angle ST or Angle RA sections.

Table 12: Local axis system for various cross sections when global Z axis is
vertical (SET Z UP is specified).

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Wide Flange ST

Wide Flange TB

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Wide Flange CM

Angle SD
Angle LD
Channel ST

Wide Flange T

Channel D

Prismatic

Angle RA
Tube ST

Angle ST

The local xaxis of the above sections is going into the paper

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Reference Materials
5.11 Joint Coordinates Specification
5.12 Member Incidences Specification
5.14.1 Element Mesh Generation
5.16.1 Listing of Entities by Specification of Groups
5.17 Rotation of Structure Geometry
5.26.1 Define Material

1.5.3 Relationship Between Global & Local Coordinates

Since the input for member loads can be provided in the local and global coordinate
system and the output for memberendforces is printed in the local coordinate
system, it is important to know the relationship between the local and global
coordinate systems. This relationship is defined by an angle measured in the following
specified way. This angle will be defined as the beta () angle. For offset members the
beta angle/reference point specifications are based on the offset position of the local
axis, not the joint positions.

Beta Angle
When the local xaxis is parallel to the global Vertical axis, as in the case of a column
in a structure, the beta angle is the angle through which the local zaxis (or local Y for
SET Z UP) has been rotated about the local xaxis from a position of being parallel
and in the same positive direction of the global Zaxis (global Y axis for SET Z UP).
When the local xaxis is not parallel to the global Vertical axis, the beta angle is the
angle through which the local coordinate system has been rotated about the local x
axis from a position of having the local zaxis (or local Y for SET Z UP) parallel to the
global XZ plane (or global XY plane for SET Z UP)and the local yaxis (or local z for
SET Z UP) in the same positive direction as the global vertical axis. Figure 1.7 details
the positions for beta equals 0 degrees or 90 degrees. When providing member loads
in the local member axis, it is helpful to refer to this figure for a quick determination
of the local axis system.

Reference Point
An alternative to providing the member orientation is to input the coordinates (or a
joint number) which will be a reference point located in the member xy plane (xz
plane for SET Z UP) but not on the axis of the member. From the location of the
reference point, the program automatically calculates the orientation of the member
xy plane (xz plane for SET Z UP).
Figure 18: Relationship between Global and Local axes

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Reference Vector
This is yet another way to specify the member orientation. In the reference point
method described above, the X,Y,Z coordinates of the point are in the global axis
system. In a reference vector, the X,Y,Z coordinates are specified with respect to the
local axis system of the member corresponding to the BETA 0 condition.
A direction vector is created by the program as explained in section 5.26.2 of this
manual. The program then calculates the Beta Angle using this vector.
Figure 19: Beta rotation of equal & unequal legged 'ST' angles

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The order of the joint numbers in the MEMBER INCIDENCES command

determines the direction of the member's local xaxis.
Figure 110: Beta rotation of equal & unequal legged 'RA' angles

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Figure 111: Member orientation for various Beta angles when GlobalY axis is vertical

Figure 112: Member orientation for various Beta angles when GlobalZ axis is vertical (that is, SET
Z UP is specified)

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Figure 113: Member orientation for various Beta angles when GlobalY axis is vertical

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Reference Materials
5.11 Joint Coordinates Specification
5.12 Member Incidences Specification
5.14.1 Element Mesh Generation
5.16.1 Listing of Entities by Specification of Groups
5.17 Rotation of Structure Geometry
5.26.1 Define Material
5.26.2 Specifying Constants for Members and Elements
5.20.8 Curved Member Specification

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