University of Central Florida

Department of Civil and Environmental

Engineering

CES 6116 Finite Element Analysis

SAP2000 Tutorial

Instructor:
Dr. F. Necati Catbas
Assisted by former students:
Jos J Perez
Swapnil Chogle

SAP2000 Tutorial

CES 6116 Finite Element Analysis

CEE-UCF

Problem # 1 (Example 5.7, pg 219 of Textbook)

Determine the joint displacements, member end forces, and support reactions for the beam
shown in fig 5.18 (a), using the matrix stiffness method.

Fig 5.18

Solution:
Analytical model: See fig 5.18 (b). The beam has four degree of freedom (numbered 1 to 4)
and four restrained coordinates (numbered 5 to 8)
Procedure to model a structure in SAP2000 Nonlinear
Phase I) Pre-processing
Phase II) Analysis
Phase III) Post-processing
Phase I) Pre-processing
Setting up the model Geometry
o Choose units: KN-m
o File > New Model > Coordinate System Definition > Cartesian > Number of grid >
Grid Spacing > Ok.
o Draw > Edit Grid (to change the grid) > Ok.
o Select the Snap icon to snap to point, midpoint, etc.
o Draw > Draw frame element
o Select All > Edit > Change Label > Re-label Selected items > Ok.

Define Material
o Choose units: N-mm
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SAP2000 Tutorial

CES 6116 Finite Element Analysis

CEE-UCF

o Concrete > Click Modify>Type of Material>Isotropic>Analysis Property data >Ok.

Define Frame Section

o Choose units: KN-mm
o Add Rectangular Section > Dimensions > Depth > Width > Section properties >
Moment of inertia about 3 > Ok > Ok > Ok.
o Repeat the above step if Moment of Inertia is varying (as in problem 1).
o Select the member > Assign > frame > Section.
o View > Set Element.

o
o
o
o
o

Assign Joint Restrains

Select joints to which you want to assign restrains.
J1 > Fast Restrains > Fixed
J2 > U2, R1, R3
J3, J5 > U2, U3, R1, R3
J4 > Fast Restrains > Free

Assign Loads
o Select members (frame) to which you want to assign loads.
o Select M1 > Assign > Frame Static Load > Trapezoidal > Load Case Name > Load
1 > Force Type and Direction > Forces > Gravity > Trapezoidal Load > Input load
value > Options > Ok.
o Select J2 > Assign > Joint Static Load > Forces > Load Case Name > Load 1 >
Force Global Z > Input load value (-ve force in downward direction) > Ok.
o Repeat the above step for 150 KN concentrated force at Joint J4.
o Select J3 > Assign > Joint Static Load > Forces > Load Case Name > Load 1 >
Moment Global YY > Input load value (+ ve Moment Clockwise) > Ok.

Phase II) Analysis

Analyze > Run.

o Analysis Complete > Check for Error / Warning > Ok
Phase III) Post-Processing

Check deflected shape > Ok.

o Display > Show Deformed Shape
o Display > Show Element forces / stresses > Joints > Joint Reaction Forces > Load 1
Load Case > Reactions > Ok > 3D (to view the moments at supports)
o Display > Show Element forces / stresses > Frames > Member Force Diagram for
Frames > Load 1 Load Case > Shear 2-2 > Scaling > Auto > Show values on
Diagram > Ok
o Display > Show Element forces / stresses > Frames > Member Force Diagram for
Frames > Load 1 Load Case > Moment 3-3 > Scaling > Auto > Show values on
Diagram > Ok
To view the output table
o File > Print Output Table > Type of Analysis Result > Select Load Case > Print to
File > File Name > Ok (it will create output as a text file)
o Option > Windows > Four (all results)

3/13

SAP2000 Tutorial

CES 6116 Finite Element Analysis

Problem # 1 (KN-m)

Joint displacement
4/13

CEE-UCF

SAP2000 Tutorial

CES 6116 Finite Element Analysis

CEE-UCF

PROBLEM # 1 (INPUT DATA)

(KN-m UNITS)

STATIC LOAD CASES

STATIC
CASE

CASE
TYPE

SELF WT
FACTOR

LOAD1

DEAD

1.0000

JOINT DATA
JOINT

GLOBAL-X

GLOBAL-Y

J1
J2
J3
J4
J5

0.00000
6.00000
10.00000
15.00000
20.00000

0.50000
0.50000
0.50000
0.50000
0.50000

GLOBAL-Z

RESTRAINTS ANGLE-A ANGLE-B ANGLE-C

0.00000
0.00000
0.00000
0.00000
0.00000

111111
010101
011101
000000
011101

0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000

0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000

0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000

FRAME ELEMENT DATA

FRAME JNT-1 JNT-2 SECTION
M1
M2
M3
M4

J1
J2
J3
J4

J2
J3
J4
J5

ANGLE RELEASES SEGMENTS

CONCA
CONCB
CONCB
CONCB

0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000

000000
000000
000000
000000

4
4
4
4

R1

R2 FACTOR LENGTH

0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000

0.000
0.000
0.000
0.000

1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000

6.000
4.000
5.000
5.000

MATERIAL PROPERTY DATA

MAT
LABEL

MODULUS OF
ELASTICITY

CONC

28000000.0

POISSON'S
RATIO
0.200

THERMAL WEIGHT PER

COEFF
UNIT VOL
0.000

MASS PER
UNIT VOL

0.000

0.000

FRAME SECTION PROPERTY DATA

SECTION
FLANGE
LABEL

MAT

SECTION

LABEL

TYPE

CONCA
CONCB

CONC
CONC

DEPTH

FLANGE

FLANGE

0.685
0.600

WIDTH
TOP
0.325
0.325

THICK
TOP
0.000
0.000

WEB
THICK
0.000
0.000

FLANGE
WIDTH
BOTTOM
0.000
0.000

THICK
BOTTOM
0.000
0.000

FRAME SECTION PROPERTY DATA

SECTION
LABEL

AREA

TORSIONAL
INERTIA

CONCA
CONCB

0.223
0.195

5.505E-03
4.540E-03

MOMENTS OF INERTIA
I33
I22
8.705E-03
5.850E-03

1.960E-03
1.716E-03

SHEAR AREAS
A2
A3
0.186
0.163

0.186
0.163

FRAME SECTION PROPERTY DATA

SECTION
LABEL
CONCA
CONCB

SECTION MODULII
S33
S22
2.542E-02
1.950E-02

1.206E-02
1.056E-02

PLASTIC MODULII
Z33
Z22
3.812E-02
2.925E-02

5/13

1.809E-02
1.584E-02

RADII OF GYRATION
R33
R22
0.198
0.173

9.382E-02
9.382E-02

SAP2000 Tutorial

CES 6116 Finite Element Analysis

CEE-UCF

FRAME SECTION PROPERTY DATA

SECTION
LABEL

TOTAL
WEIGHT

TOTAL
MASS

CONCA
CONCB

0.000
0.000

0.000
0.000

SHELL SECTION PROPERTY DATA

SECTION
LABEL

MAT
LABEL

SSEC1

CONC

SHELL
TYPE

MEMBRANE
THICK

BENDING
THICK

4 1.000E-03

MATERIAL
ANGLE

1.000E-03

0.000

SHELL SECTION PROPERTY DATA

SECTION
TOTAL
LABEL WEIGHT
SSEC1

0.000

TOTAL
MASS
0.000

J O I N T F O R C E S Load Case LOAD1

JOINT GLOBAL-X GLOBAL-Y
J3

0.000

0.000

GLOBAL-Z GLOBAL-XX GLOBAL-YY GLOBAL-ZZ

0.000

0.000

90.000

0.000

F R A M E S P A N D I S T R I B U T E D L O A D S Load Case LOAD1

FRAME

TYPE

DIRECTION

DISTANCE-A

VALUE-A

DISTANCE-B

M1
M1
M1

FORCE
FORCE
FORCE

GLOBAL-Z
GLOBAL-Z
GLOBAL-Z

0.0000
0.2500
0.7500

-30.0000
-22.5000
-7.5000

0.2500
0.7500
1.0000

F R A M E S P A N P O I N T L O A D S Load Case LOAD1

FRAME

TYPE

DIRECTION

DISTANCE

VALUE

M2
M3

FORCE
FORCE

GLOBAL-Z
GLOBAL-Z

0.0000
1.0000

-200.0000
-150.0000

6/13

VALUE-B
-22.5000
-7.5000
0.0000

SAP2000 Tutorial

CES 6116 Finite Element Analysis

CEE-UCF

PROBLEM #1 (RESULTS)
(KN-mm Units)
JOINT DISPLACEMENTS
JOINT LOAD

U1

U2

U3

R1

R2

R3

J1 LOAD1

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

J2 LOAD1

0.0000

0.0000

-4.7375

0.0000 -5.544E-04

0.0000

J3 LOAD1

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000 6.745E-04

0.0000

J4 LOAD1

0.0000

0.0000

-9.8336

0.0000 6.164E-04

0.0000

J5 LOAD1

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000 -3.219E-03

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

JOINT REACTIONS
JOINT LOAD

F1

F2

F3

M1

J1 LOAD1

0.0000

0.0000 146.4303

J2 LOAD1

0.0000

0.0000

J3 LOAD1

0.0000

0.0000 243.3161

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

J5 LOAD1

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

M2

M3

0.0000 -281767.375
0.0000

50.2536

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

FRAME ELEMENT FORCES

FRAME LOAD

LOC

V2

V3

M2

M3

M1 LOAD1
0.00
1500.00
3000.00
4500.00
6000.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

-146.43
-107.06
-78.93
-62.06
-56.43

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

-281767.38
-93059.41
45023.58
149356.56
236814.56

M2 LOAD1
0.00
1000.00
2000.00
3000.00
4000.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

-56.43
143.57
143.57
143.57
143.57

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

236814.56
93244.88
-50324.80
-193894.47
-337464.16

M3 LOAD1
0.00
1250.00
2500.00
3750.00
5000.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

-99.75
-99.75
-99.75
-99.75
50.25

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

-247464.14
-122781.13
1901.89
126584.91
251267.92

M4 LOAD1
0.00
1250.00
2500.00
3750.00
5000.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

50.25
50.25
50.25
50.25
50.25

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

251267.92
188450.94
125633.96
62816.98
0.00

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SAP2000 Tutorial

CES 6116 Finite Element Analysis

CEE-UCF

Problem # 2 & # 3 (Example 6.6, pg 300 & Example 7.4, pg 380 of Textbook)
Determine the joint displacements, member end forces, and support reactions for the plane
frame shown in fig 7.10 (a), due to the combined effect of the loading shown and
settlement of 1 in of the left support. Use the matrix stiffness method.

Fig 7.10
Solution:
Analytical model: See fig 7.10 (b). The frame has three degrees of freedom the
translations in the X and Y directions, and the rotation, of joint 2 which are numbered 1,
2, and 3, respectively. The six restrained coordinates of the frame are identified by numbers
4 through 9, as shown in fig 7.10 (b)
Procedure to model a structure in SAP2000 Nonlinear
Phase I) Pre-processing
Phase II) Analysis
Phase III) Post-processing
Phase I) Pre-processing
Setting up the model Geometry
o Choose units: kip-ft
o File > New Model > Coordinate System Definition > Cartesian > Number of grid >
Grid Spacing > Ok.
o Draw > Edit Grid (to change the grid) > Ok.
o Select the Snap icon to snap to point, midpoint, etc.
o Draw > Draw frame element
o Select All > Edit > Change Label > Re-label Selected items > Ok.

Define Material
o Choose units: kip-in
o Concrete > Click Modify>Type of Material>Isotropic>Analysis Property data >Ok.

Define Frame Section

o Choose units: kip-in

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SAP2000 Tutorial

CES 6116 Finite Element Analysis

CEE-UCF

o Define > Frame Section > Import I section > c:\sap200n\sections.pro > choose
W12x40 > Check section property > Moment of inertia about 3 > Check material,
Steel >> Ok.
o Repeat the above step if Moment of Inertia is varying (as in problem 1).
o Select the member > Assign > frame > Section.
o View > Set Element.

Assign Joint Restrains

o Select joints to which you want to assign restrains.
o J1, J3 > Fast Restrains > Fixed
o J2 > Fast Restrains > Free

Assign Loads
o Choose units: kip-ft
o Select members (frame) to which you want to assign loads.
o Select M1 > Assign > Frame Static Load > Point and uniform > Load Case Name >
Load 1 > Load Type and Direction > Forces > Gravity > Point Load > Distance 0.5
> Input load value > Options > Ok.
o Select M2 > Assign > Frame Static Load > Point and uniform > Load Case Name >
Load 1 > Load Type and Direction > Forces > Gravity > Uniform Load > Input
load value > Ok.
o Select J2 > Assign > Joint Static Load > Forces > Load Case Name > Load 1 >
Moment Global YY > Input load value (+ ve Moment Clockwise) > Ok.
To settlement of 1 in at joint J1 (only for problem # 7.4)
o Choose units: kip-in
o Select J1 > Assign joint spring > Ok
o Assign > Joint Static Loads > Displacement > Ground Displacement > Input > Ok

Phase II) Analysis

Analyze > Run.

o Analysis Complete > Check for Error / Warning > Ok
Phase III) Post-Processing

Check deflected shape > Ok.

o Display > Show Deformed Shape
o Display > Show Element forces / stresses > Joints > Joint Reaction Forces > Load 1
Load Case > Reactions > Ok > 3D (to view the moments at supports)
o Display > Show Element forces / stresses > Frames > Member Force Diagram for
Frames > Load 1 Load Case > Shear 2-2 > Scaling > Auto > Show values on
Diagram > Ok
o Display > Show Element forces / stresses > Frames > Member Force Diagram for
Frames > Load 1 Load Case > Moment 3-3 > Scaling > Auto > Show values on
Diagram > Ok
To view the output table
o File > Print Output Table > Type of Analysis Result > Select Load Case > Print to
File > File Name > Ok (it will create output as a text file)
o Option > Windows > Four (all results)

9/13

SAP2000 Tutorial

CES 6116 Finite Element Analysis

Problem # 2 (kip-in)

Joint Displacement

10/13

CEE-UCF

SAP2000 Tutorial

CES 6116 Finite Element Analysis

Problem # 3 kip-in)

Joint displacement

11/13

CEE-UCF

SAP2000 Tutorial

CES 6116 Finite Element Analysis

CEE-UCF

PROBLEM # 2 (RESULTS)
(KIP-in UNITS)
JOINT DISPLACEMENTS
JOINT LOAD

U1

U2

U3

R1

R2

R3

J1 LOAD1

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

J2 LOAD1

0.0212

0.0000

-0.0671

0.0000 2.658E-03

0.0000

J3 LOAD1

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

F2

F3

0.0000

JOINT REACTIONS
JOINT LOAD

F1

M1

M2

M3

J1 LOAD1

30.2943

0.0000 102.1244

0.0000

-1211.0766

0.0000

J3 LOAD1

-30.2943

0.0000

17.8756

0.0000

845.5204

0.0000

V2

V3

-104.92
-24.36
-24.36

-18.40
21.71
21.71

0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00 -1211.08
0.00 1254.97
0.00 -1655.38

-30.29
-30.29
-30.29
-30.29
-30.29

-12.12
-4.62
2.88
10.38
17.88

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

FRAME ELEMENT FORCES

FRAME
M1

LOAD LOC

M2

M3

LOAD1
0.00
134.03
268.05

M2

LOAD1
0.00
60.00
120.00
180.00
240.00

12/13

-155.38
347.08
399.55
2.01
-845.52

SAP2000 Tutorial

CES 6116 Finite Element Analysis

CEE-UCF

PROBLEM # 3 (RESULTS)
(KIP-in UNITS)

JOINT DISPLACEMENTS
JOINT LOAD

U1

U2

U3

R1

R2

R3

J1 LOAD1

0.0000

0.0000

-1.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

J2 LOAD1

0.0179

0.0000

-1.0603

0.0000 -6.061E-04

0.0000

J3 LOAD1

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

0.0000

JOINT REACTIONS
JOINT LOAD

F1

F2

F3

M1

M2

M3

J1 LOAD1

25.5745

0.0000

97.6440

0.0000 -1419.4026

0.0000

J3 LOAD1

-25.5745

0.0000

22.3560

0.0000 1505.4177

0.0000

V2

V3

M2

M3

0.00
134.16
268.33

-98.77
-18.27
-18.27

-20.79
19.46
19.46

0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00
0.00

-1419.40
1370.31
-1239.99

0.00
60.00
120.00
180.00
240.00

-25.57
-7.64
-25.57 -1.440E-01
-25.57
7.36
-25.57
14.86
-25.57
22.36

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

260.01
493.66
277.30
-389.06
-1505.42

FRAME ELEMENT FORCES

FRAME

LOAD

M1

LOAD1

M2

LOC

LOAD1

13/13