REPEAT LOAD is an instruction to the program to analyze a set of loading conditions as

though they act concurrently. It "always" provides a technically correct analysis of a

structure, because it considers all of the specificed forces acting together, as they do in
the real structure. For this reason, it will provide technically correct results in
situations that incorporate any non-linearities such as tension-only or compression-only
members, compression-only foundations, etc. It is also ESSENTIAL to combine load
effects with the REPEAT LOAD specification if a PDELTA analysis is being performed,
or else the analysis won't "see" the P at the same time that it predicts the Delta. So it
will be a meaningless analysis.
By comparison, LOAD COMB does not instruct the program to analyze the model as if
the loads acted concurrently. Instead, it is just an instruction to combine (in a variety of
possible ways) the results that were obtained from the independent analysis of the
constituent load cases. It is important to note that there are instances where LOAD
COMB is a perfectly legitimate method of obtaining combined results. If the model has
no non-linearities, and if an elastic (stiffness) analysis is being performed, and if
superposition is valid, then LOAD COMB provides an analytically efficient way to obtain
results without performing any unnecessary analysis.

P-Delta analysis n STAAD

Steps involved:

Step 1:
Primary deflections are calculated on the basis provided external loading input.

Step 2:
Combination of primary deflections with the originally applied loading to form the
input to secondary loadings.
Revision of load vector to include the secondary effects.

Step 3:
Based on revised load vector new stiffness analysis is carried out to generate new
deflections.

Step 4:
New deflections are used to calculate Element/Member forces and support reactions.
For refined analysis appropriate iteration can be carried out.

Syntax in STAAD

After the STAAD analysis is over.

Instead of giving Perform analysis command

Give the command P

-Delta analysis
You have the option of selecting

1 ) Use geometric stiffness Kg

2) Small Delta
STAAD performs P-Delta Analysis for first order linear analysis and obtains a set of joint
forces from member based on the large P-Delta effect. A second analysis is then performed on
this updated load vector for 5 to 10 iterations.

-P-Delta with KG analysis

In case of P-Delta with KGAnalysis, that is with the Kg option selected, the effect of
the axial stress after the first analysis is used to modify the stiffness of the member. A second
analysis is then performed using the original load vector. Large & small P-Delta effects are
always included (1 or 2 iterations will usually be sufficient)

A large P-Delta is a structure effect and a small P-Delta is a member effect.

-P-Delta with small Delta

With Small Delta option both the large & small P-Delta effects are included in calculating the
end forces, (5 to 10 iterations will usually be sufficient).

For modal analysis refer STAAD help menu.

Limitation of P-Delta in STAAD

-Limited to frame members only.

-Nonlinear analysis is restricted to structures where members carry the axial load from one

structure level to the next.

Links to the discussion in Bentley communities on P-Delta analysis in STAAD

http://communities.bentley.com/products/structural/structural_analysis___design/f/5932/t/58820.aspx

http://communities.bentley.com/products/structural/structural_analysis___design/f/5932/t/51551.aspx