MODELING IN AUTOCAD & IMPORTING TO STAAD PRO

This method is useful for AutoCAD Professional to prepare 2D or 3D

Geometry in AutoCAD into STAAD Model.
The following steps will help to import DXF files into STAAD.Pro. Always make a
backup copy of your DXF file before proceeding with the following steps.
For Stage 1:
1. Remove all the text, dimension lines, and unwanted views.
2. Need to draw a stick line diagram using simple line elements in the CAD package.
If you are drawing a stick model on top of an existing model make sure to use a
different layer on top of the existing view in the dxf file. For example, you will
need to draw a line representing the centerline of the HSS section.
3. Remove the original elevation not the newly created centerline diagram. Use the
Layer on/off feature to delete the elements under the unwanted layer.
4. As a result of steps 1-3, you will be left with a simple stick model of the structure
5. Scale the model to match the import unit system (may or may not be necessary)
6. Save the file as a dxf file and close it. Close the CAD package.
7. Open STAAD.Pro and create a new project.
8. Click on File->Import command menu and select the 3D-DXF option in the
Import dialog box.
9. Click on the Import button.
10. Select the dxf file and click on the Open button.
11. The DXF Import dialog box will appear. The axis system in your CAD package
will be different from the axis system used in the STAAD.Pro model. The Y-Axis
usually is the axis of gravity in STAAD.Pro the Z-Axis is usually the axis of
gravity in the CAD products. Hence you need to specify which axis is the axis of
gravity in your STAAD.Pro model. If the axis system is the same in the
STAAD.Pro model and the dxf file, then select the No Change option. If the YAxis is the axis of gravity in the STAAD.Pro model and Z-Axis is the axis of
gravity for the CAD model, select the Y Up option button.

For Stage 2:
1. Remove all the text, dimension lines, and unwanted views. You will be left with a
simple stick model of the structure
2. Scale the model to match the import unit system (may or may not be necessary)

3. Save the dxf file and close it. Close the CAD package.
4. Open STAAD.Pro and create a new project.
5. Click on File->Import command menu and select the 3D-DXF option in the
Import dialog box.
6. Click on the Import button.
7. Select the dxf file and click on the Open button.
8. The DXF Import dialog box will appear. The axis system in your CAD package will
be different from the axis system used in the STAAD.Pro model. The Y-Axis
usually is the axis of gravity in STAAD.Pro the Z-Axis is usually the axis of gravity
in the CAD products. Hence you need to specify which axis is the axis of gravity
in your STAAD.Pro model. If the axis system is the same in the STAAD.Pro
model and the dxf file, then select the No Change option. If the Y-Axis is the
axis of gravity in the STAAD.Pro model and Z-Axis is the axis of gravity for the
CAD model, select the Y
Up option button.

After you import the dxf file into STAAD.Pro, you will need to do some clean-up on
the std file. For example;
1. Remove unnecessary lines or objects
2. Click on Geometry->Intersect Selected Members->Highlight menu
command.
Hint: Try a 1 in search radius.
3. Click on the Tools menu command and go through all the checks. (e.g. check for
structural integrity, check for duplicate nodes and beams etc.)
Using the above steps make sure the model is ok from an analysis point of view.
Plate elements have to be drawn as 3D Faces in the dxf file. Before importing a
Model into STAAD.Pro pay attention to the node coordinates in your dxf file.
Solid objects cannot be created in STAAD.Pro using the dxf format. One could
create the outline of a solid object using simple line elements. Once the lines are
imported into STAAD.Pro, he/she can draw the solid object using the line
elements as grid lines.
Engineers in the bridge industry place bridge decks in real world GPS coordinates
in the dxf file. These deck coordinates will be imported as they are in the
STAAD.Pro model. GPS coordinates are very big numbers in the order of
100,000s. If these node coordinates are used as they are in the STAAD.Pro
analysis, the accuracy of the results are affected due to round off errors. It is a
good idea to move these models to the origin using the move command in the
CAD package that is being used.

Problem 1: Truss :
1. Create a Truss in AutoCAD and save it as DXF format and name it as
TrussDXF.out.

Fig 1 Autocad TRUSS DXF Model

2. Go to STAAD Pro. Geometry Run Structure Wizard. From Model type select
Import CAD Models. Then open the DXF file of Truss stored in the particular
drive folder.
(OR) New Project Select Truss Units: Length =meters; Force=KN;
File Name=Truss Next. Select Add beam Finish.

Fig. 2 Open a new file in STAAD Pro

3. Main menu File Import 3D DXF Import.

4. Go to the particular AutoCAD drg folder and open the file TrussDXF.out.

Fig. 3 Choosing the particular TRUSS DXF file from Directory

5. Select No Change Ok.

Fig. 4

No change in direction

6. Choose Current input units Meters KN Ok.

Fig. 4 Choosing unit as in Autocad file

Now the AutoCAD Truss will be seen in the STAAD Pro screen.

Fig 5 Created Staad model from import of Autocad

7. All members are seen as one unit and there is no joint in between members.

Fig. 6 Intersecting Nodes for each separate member

To create nodes Click Geometry Select entire Truss.
Geometry Intersect Selected MembersIntersect. Enter Tolerances=0 Ok.
13 New Beams createdOk. Now the Geometry is created. You can proceed with
other steps in STAAD Pro for solving the problem.

Fig. 7 Final Staad Model Geometry

Problem 2: PLAN MODEL FOR BUILDING
4.00

1.20

6.00

3.50

3.50

3.50

1.50

COLUMN SIZES - 0.45 X 0.23

BEAM SIZES 0.45 X 0.23

PLAN

1.Create a PLAN of a Building in AutoCAD and save it as DXF format and name it
as PlanDXF.out.

Fig. 1 Auto cad PLAN DXF File

2. Start STAAD Pro New Project Select Space Units: Length =meters;
Force=KN; File Name=3D Plan Next. Select Add beam Finish.
3. File Import 3D DXF Import.

4. Choose the particular AutoCAD drg folder and choose the file PlanDXF.out.

Fig. 2 Choosing PLAN DXF file from Directory

5. Select Y Up Ok.

Fig. 2 Direction Up

6. Set Current input units Meters KN Ok.

Fig. 3

Choosing unit as in Autocad

7. Go to Plan view and see the Plan in STAAD Pro.

All members are seen as one unit and there is no joint in between members.

Fig. 4 Autocad drawing created in staad model

To create nodes:
Click Geometry Select entire Truss. Geometry Intersect Selected
MembersIntersect. Enter Tolerances=0 Ok.
5 New Beams createdOk.

Fig. 5 Intersect members to create joints

Fig. 6 Tolerance as 0

8. Click the Geometry & see the correct plan in STAAD Pro.

Fig. 7 Actual Staad model created

9. You select the nodes wherever the column is to be created.
Geometry Translational Repeat Y No. of steps=1
Default step spacing =-2.2m

Link steps Ok.

Fig. 8 To create Translational Repeat for structure

10. Switch of the grid. The Plan is unsymmetrical we have to orient plan such that
there should not be no negative coordinates. To do so:
Select origin (0,0). Draw a beam on the origin.

Fig. 9 To draw beam at origin

Select the bottom most left corner of first column node select origin.
GeometryMove origin by By Distance between
following two nodes: Node 1=21

Node 2=13 Ok. Now remove the beam

created on the origin Yes.

Fig. 10 To move the Node to origin

Now switch on the grid & see the structure is in the origin. Now all coordinates in
Geometry created will be +ve.

Fig. 11 Final Staad pro model created

Problem 3: Dome Structure

1. Draw a Dome in AutoCAD and save it DomeDXF.out.

Fig. 1 Autocad file of DomeDXF.out

2. File New Project Select Space Units: Length =meters; Force=KN;
File Name=Dome Next. Select Add beam Finish.
3. FileImport 3D DXF Import.

Fig. 2 Indicating Direction UP

4. Choose the particular AutoCAD drg folder and choose the file DomeDXF.out.
Open.

Fig. 3 Choosing DomeDXF file from directory

5. Set Current input units Meters KN Ok.

Fig. 4 Choosing unit as in autocad DXF file

5. Select whole structure. Main menu Geometry Intersect Selected
MembersIntersect. Enter Tolerances=0 Ok.

6. You can see the AutocAD drg. of dome in STAAD Pro screen. Now the
Geometry is created.

Fig. 5 Model of STAAD Pro

7.Right Click Labels Structure diagramCheck Fill with plates Ok. All are in
Red.

Fig 6 Rendering view of STAAD Model

8. In Normal plate strucrure colors are indicate as blue for the section outline and
Red for section inside. If you want you can change the colors. Delete the
Bottom beams.

Fig. 7 Deleting Beam portion of beams

9. Isometric view Click one end of the node Edit Copy Paste
Y=-7mOk.
Right Click Add Beam. Join the column of top & Bottom nodes.

Fig. 8 Adding column for the dome

10. Select the column member Right click Insert node Click Add mid
pointOk. Select the column Go to Geometry Circular Repeat
Node=161 Y Total angle=360
No. of steps=16 Tick Link steps
Open base Ok.

Fig. 9 3D Circular Repeat for creating other columns

11. Delete the bottom portion of Beam.

Fig. 10 Deleting Bottom Beam in the Model (OR Choose Check Box as Open Base
while creating 3D Circular Repat on column creation)