GT STRUDL® Version 2020

User Guide

CAD Modeler
Getting Started Guide

Release Date: May 2020

ii
Notice
This CAD Modeler Getting Started Guide is applicable to GT STRUDL Version 2020 and later versions for use on PCs under the
Microsoft Windows operating systems.

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Table of Contents
NOTICES …………….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….…iii

Table of Contents ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…….v

1. Getting Started ...................................................................................................................... 10

1.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 10
1.2. Installing CAD Modeler under Windows 10 .................................................................. 10
2. Using CAD Modeler ............................................................................................................... 13
2.1. Overview of Using CAD Modeler and configuring AutoCAD/BricsCAD ......................... 13
2.2. Running CAD Modeler ................................................................................................... 13
2.3. Menu Bar and Ribbon Area ........................................................................................... 14
2.4. AutoCAD/BricsCAD Commands ..................................................................................... 15
2.5. AutoCAD/BricsCAD Drawing Units ................................................................................ 16
2.6. CAD Modeler Commands .............................................................................................. 17
2.6.1. Units....................................................................................................................... 17
2.6.2. Materials ................................................................................................................ 18
2.6.3. Levels ..................................................................................................................... 18
2.6.4. Grid ........................................................................................................................ 19
2.6.5. Creating Joints ....................................................................................................... 21
2.6.6. Finding Joints ......................................................................................................... 22
2.6.7. Joint Supports ........................................................................................................ 22
2.6.8. Joint Properties...................................................................................................... 22
2.6.9. Sections ................................................................................................................. 23
2.6.10. Creating Members ................................................................................................. 26
2.6.11. Finding Members ................................................................................................... 27
2.6.12. Splitting Members ................................................................................................. 28
2.6.13. Splitting to Crossing Members .............................................................................. 28
2.6.14. Merging Members ................................................................................................. 28
2.6.15. Member Properties ............................................................................................... 28
2.6.16. Member Filters ...................................................................................................... 32
2.6.17. Creating Shell Finite Elements ............................................................................... 33
2.6.18. Reverse Incidence Order ....................................................................................... 34
2.6.19. Finding Shells ......................................................................................................... 34

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2.6.20. Shell Properties...................................................................................................... 34
2.6.21. Joints Duplicates .................................................................................................... 35
2.6.22. Joints Floatings ...................................................................................................... 36
2.6.23. Joints Interference ................................................................................................. 36
2.6.24. Members Duplicates.............................................................................................. 37
2.6.25. Members Zero Length ........................................................................................... 37
2.6.26. Physical Members.................................................................................................. 37
2.6.27. Shells Duplicates .................................................................................................... 38
2.6.28. Names Duplicates .................................................................................................. 39
2.6.29. Renumber Names .................................................................................................. 39
2.6.30. Database Integrity ................................................................................................. 39
2.6.31. Meshing along a curve ........................................................................................... 40
2.6.32. Meshing between two lines .................................................................................. 42
2.6.33. Meshing between four lines .................................................................................. 42
2.6.34. Meshing inside a polyline ...................................................................................... 42
2.6.35. Meshing by extruding a polyline ........................................................................... 44
2.6.36. Meshing using 3 curves ......................................................................................... 44
2.6.37. Array 3D Advanced ................................................................................................ 45
2.6.38. Soil Springs............................................................................................................. 45
2.6.39. Export to CAESAR II................................................................................................ 46
2.6.40. Convert Lines/Polylines to Members/Shells ......................................................... 46
2.6.41. Model Wizard ........................................................................................................ 47
2.6.42. Groups ................................................................................................................... 48
2.6.43. Self - Weight .......................................................................................................... 49
2.6.44. Load Cases ............................................................................................................. 49
2.6.45. Joint Loads ............................................................................................................. 50
2.6.46. Member Loads ....................................................................................................... 51
2.6.47. Shell Loads ............................................................................................................. 53
2.6.48. Area Load ............................................................................................................... 53
2.6.49. Wind Load ASCE 705.............................................................................................. 55
2.6.50. Wind Load ASCE 710.............................................................................................. 57
2.6.51. Seismic Load .......................................................................................................... 59
2.6.52. Load Combinations ................................................................................................ 60

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2.6.53. Standardized Combinations .................................................................................. 61
2.6.54. Steel Design Parameters........................................................................................ 62
2.6.55. Create GTI .............................................................................................................. 63
2.6.56. Edit GTI .................................................................................................................. 64
2.6.57. Execute GT STRUDL ............................................................................................... 64
2.6.58. Read Analysis Results ............................................................................................ 65
2.6.59. Import GTI.............................................................................................................. 66
2.6.60. Set Views ............................................................................................................... 66
2.6.61. 3D or Wireframe View of the Structure ................................................................ 66
2.6.62. Analytical/Physical Member View ......................................................................... 67
2.6.63. Colors and Visible Elements .................................................................................. 67
2.6.64. Display Options ...................................................................................................... 69
2.6.65. Annotate ................................................................................................................ 70
2.6.66. Select CAD Modeler’s entities ............................................................................... 71
2.6.67. Display Member Local Axes ................................................................................... 72
2.6.68. Display Member Releases ..................................................................................... 72
2.6.69. Display Shell Planar Axes ....................................................................................... 72
2.6.70. Display Joint Supports ........................................................................................... 72
2.6.71. Display Joint Loads ................................................................................................ 73
2.6.72. Display Member Loads .......................................................................................... 73
2.6.73. Display Shell Loads ................................................................................................ 74
2.6.74. Display Area Loads................................................................................................. 75
2.6.75. Display Deformed Structure .................................................................................. 75
2.6.76. Annotate Joint Displacements ............................................................................... 76
2.6.77. Display Displacements ........................................................................................... 76
2.6.78. Display Member Diagrams .................................................................................... 77
2.6.79. Display Finite Element Results............................................................................... 78
2.6.80. Display Finite Element Selection Results ............................................................... 80
2.6.81. Display Member Code Check Results .................................................................... 80
2.6.82. Results Datasheets ................................................................................................ 81
2.6.83. Report Builder ....................................................................................................... 82
2.6.84. Clear Results Layer ................................................................................................ 82
2.6.85. Version ................................................................................................................... 82

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3. Tutorial Example #1 ............................................................................................................... 83
3.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 83
3.2. Open CAD Modeler and start working .......................................................................... 83
3.3. Define the basic geometry of the model ....................................................................... 84
3.4. Create the 1st floor......................................................................................................... 89
3.5. Create the 2nd floor ........................................................................................................ 99
3.6. Create the 3rd floor ...................................................................................................... 101
3.7. Create bracing ............................................................................................................. 104
3.8. Create girders .............................................................................................................. 109
3.9. Create an opening ....................................................................................................... 114
3.10. Create Supports ....................................................................................................... 115
3.11. Check the model ...................................................................................................... 116
3.12. Define Groups .......................................................................................................... 117
3.13. Define Loads ............................................................................................................ 120
3.14. GT STRUDL Input File ............................................................................................... 133
3.15. Display Results ......................................................................................................... 136
3.16. Results Datasheets .................................................................................................. 144
3.17. Report Builder ......................................................................................................... 146
4. Tutorial Example #2 ............................................................................................................. 148
4.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 148
4.2. Open CAD Modeler and start working ........................................................................ 149
4.3. Define the basic geometry of the model ..................................................................... 149
4.4. Create the bottom of the tank .................................................................................... 151
4.5. Create the walls of the tank ........................................................................................ 153
4.6. Create Supports ........................................................................................................... 160
4.7. Check the model .......................................................................................................... 162
4.8. Define Groups .............................................................................................................. 163
4.9. Define Loads ................................................................................................................ 166
4.10. Create GT STRUDL Input File ................................................................................... 171
4.11. Display Results ......................................................................................................... 175
4.12. Results Datasheets .................................................................................................. 181
4.13. Report Builder ......................................................................................................... 182
5. Tutorial Example #3 ............................................................................................................. 184

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 5.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 184
5.2. Open CAD Modeler and start working ........................................................................ 184
5.3. Define the basic geometry of the model ..................................................................... 185
5.4. Create Columns ........................................................................................................... 189
5.5. Create beams and girders............................................................................................ 192
5.6. Create girders .............................................................................................................. 198
5.7. Define supports ........................................................................................................... 218
5.8. Define Loads ................................................................................................................ 219
5.9. Perform analysis .......................................................................................................... 220
5.10. Read analysis results................................................................................................ 227
5.11. Display analysis results ............................................................................................ 227
6. Appendix – List of Commands ............................................................................................. 237

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GT STRUDL® CAD MODELER
Getting Started Guide
1. Getting Started
CAD Modeler is an add-on to AutoCAD® or BricsCAD®, which allows you to create GT STRUDL
Input Files (GTI) graphically using their powerful CAD tools and graphical display capabilities and
also graphically review GT STRUDL results from an analysis and steel code check. AutoCAD® or
BricsCAD® must be installed in your computer before installing and running CAD Modeler. It is
highly recommended that you have AutoCAD/BricsCAD experience before using CAD Modeler.

1.1. Introduction
This document contains information about:

- Installing CAD Modeler

- Configuring AutoCAD/BricsCAD and running CAD Modeler for first time
- List of CAD Modeler Functions with detailed explanation for each one
- Tutorial examples
- Summary of CAD Modeler commands

1.2. Installing CAD Modeler under Windows 10

In order to install CAD Modeler check the box “Install CAD Modeler” on the form shown on the
next page during the GT STRUDL main installation procedure.

An AutoCAD version (2012-2020) or a BricsCAD version (Platinum or Pro, 16.2.x, 17.1.x18.1.x,

19.x or 20.x) has to be installed in the computer prior to CAD Modeler installation.

CAD Modeler Installation can also be launched independently, after GT STRUDL installation, by
executing the file “CADM_setup.exe” which is in the CADModeler folder in the GTStrudl 2020
installation directory. The following steps are common regardless if the installation was
launched from the GT STRUDL main installation or independently.

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The first screen is a welcome dialog that prompts you to choose at least one version of the
AutoCAD or BricsCAD CAD Modeler Interface to be installed depending on the versions of
AutoCAD or BricsCAD that are currently installed in your computer.

The next screen summarizes your selection and by pressing “Install” the installation procedure
starts.

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CAD Modeler is installed in the same installation directory with GT STRUDL, under the sub-
directory “CADModeler”. For example,“C:\Program Files\GTSTRUDL\2020\CADModeler” is a
typical CADModeler installation directory.

When the copy process is completed, a new dialog named “Finalizing Setup” appears and you
are prompted to enter the corresponding AutoCAD and/or BricsCAD Installation Directories.

Press the browse “…” button to find and select the file “acad.exe” or “bricscad.exe”, in the
AutoCAD or BricsCAD installation directory, and press “Open”. The name of the directory is
copied to the corresponding edit box, and by pressing “End”, the installation is complete.

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2. Using CAD Modeler

2.1. Overview of Using CAD Modeler and configuring AutoCAD/BricsCAD

CAD Modeler can only be launched directly by GT STRUDL; by initializing an instance of AutoCAD
or BricsCAD and automatically loading CAD Modeler ARX/BRX Application (CADModeler) in the
same instance. CAD Modeler creates a separate AutoCAD/BricsCAD user profile, named
“CADModeler”, so the CAD Modeler menus, icons and ribbons do not affect your standard
AutoCAD or BricsCAD environment, or other applications running on the top of them.

CAD Modeler commands can be accessed from the menu, from the ribbon area, or by typing the
specific command in the command prompt.

- If AutoCAD/BricsCAD Menu is not turned ON, you have to type "MENUBAR" in the
command prompt, and then enter 1.
- If AutoCAD/BricsCAD Ribbon is not turned ON, you have to type "RIBBON" in the
command prompt.

All GT STRUDL structural data, which are created using CAD Modeler, are stored in two files: the
.dwg file which contains the AutoCAD/BricsCAD information, and the .db file which contains the
structural data. The two files have the same filename (only the extension is different) and they
are linked together by CAD Modeler.

CAD Modeler creates a GT STRUDL Input File (.gti) and is able to send this .gti file to the main
instance of GT STRUDL, which sits on the background. When analysis is performed in GT STRUDL
and results are available for reading, CAD Modeler is able to load them from GT STRUDL DBX
(data base exchange) files.

Since CAD Modeler is launched and licensed by the main GT STRUDL application you are not
allowed to close the main GT STRUDL window. If GT STRUDL is closed, CAD Modeler outputs a
warning and CAD Modeler commands are no longer functional.

2.2. Running CAD Modeler

CAD Modeler is launched from the GT STRUDL Welcome screen by selecting the “CAD Modeler”
icon in the Start a New Project group. A new instance of AutoCAD or BricsCAD, having CAD
Modeler automatically loaded, is created. You will be able to identify that CAD Modeler is
loaded successfully by having two additional menus (“GTS Modeling” and “GTS Display”) next to
the AutoCAD or BricsCAD main menus and the “GTS CAD Modeler” and “GTS Display” tabs in the
ribbon area.

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2.3. Menu Bar and Ribbon Area
CAD Modeler commands can be accessed from AutoCAD’s or BricsCAD’s Ribbon Area at the top
of the window by selecting the two tabs at the right: GTS CAD Modeler and GTS Display. CAD
Modeler now support BricsCAD version 20 including all new functionality and the dark scheme.

If the AutoCAD or BricsCAD menu is visible, then CAD Modeler commands can be accessed from
the Menu Area at the top of the window by selecting GTS Modeling or GTS Display.

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2.4. AutoCAD/BricsCAD Commands
You can use AutoCAD or BricsCAD commands, such as Move, Copy, Rotate, Mirror and Delete to
generate your model faster. The assumptions made in the use of each command are:

- Move: By moving a joint, the members and finite elements connected to the joint
“follow” this movement
- Copy: Joint, Member and Element Loads and Supports are not copied
- Mirror: Joint, Member and Element Loads and Supports are not copied or mirrored. The
Beta Angle of members is not mirrored. Element incidence order is mirrored so that
element’s orientation, that defines the Z Planar Axis, remains the same.

15
 - Delete: If a joint is deleted, there is a prompt that asks for confirmation since members
and elements connected to this joint will automatically be deleted as well.

2.5. AutoCAD/BricsCAD Drawing Units

It is recommended that you set the AutoCAD/BricsCAD drawing units to Decimal. This can be
done from the lower right corner of the main application window, as displayed in the next
image, or by typing the command UNITS.

As written in AutoCADs’ documentation “The Engineering and Architectural formats produce

feet-and-inches displays and assume that each drawing unit represents one inch. The other
formats can represent any real-world unit”. Therefore, if you select Engineering or Architectural
formats you have to set CAD Modeler Length Units to Inches. (see Units Command)

16
2.6. CAD Modeler Commands

2.6.1. Units
The following form is used to define the active units, either from ribbon command or
from the menu “GTS Modeling>Units” or by typing GTSUnits at the command prompt.

You can change the Units any time during working in CAD Modeler. Moreover, you can choose if
the non-structural AutoCAD/BricsCAD entities, such as grids, structural lines, curves, polylines,
etc will be scaled together with the structure whenever you change the length units.

As noted in 2.5, if the Drawing Units are in Engineering or Architectural format then you have to
set the CAD Modelers’ Length Units to Inches (in) using this Dialog.

The current units appear at the top of the main CAD Modeler window:

Note: Some Edit Boxes appear in yellow background and green fonts, like the one at the picture
below. You can use mixed units in the yellow edit boxes. For more information about Mixed
Units and the valid syntax, please read GT STRUDL GT Menu Guide.

17
2.6.2. Materials
The following form is used to modify existing material properties or create new materials. You
can select this command either from the ribbon command or from the menu “GTS
Modeling>Materials” or by typing GTSMaterials at the command prompt.

2.6.3. Levels
It is optional to define Levels (stories) in your structure. However, it is recommended that you
do so when modeling industrial or other building-like structures as this will save you time during
the creation of your model. You can access the level properties dialog from the ribbon icon

or from the menu “GTS Modeling>Levels” or by typing GTSLevels at the command

prompt.

Using the Level Properties form you can:

- Set the Height for each level, in current length units
- Define the visible status of each level: if Visible or not
- Add Levels to the model
- Delete Levels from the model
- Detect Levels Automatically using an algorithm to detect levels along the height of the
structure by identifying locations having at least four horizontal members.
- Merge Levels, by selecting two or more levels and merging them to one.
- Define if the Vertical Axis is the global Z or global Y.

18
 - Update Levels for All Entities, in order to assign the correct Level to each entity (joint,
member or finite element) depending on its coordinates along the height of the
structure.

After defining Levels, you can switch between levels by either using the “Visible” check boxes
from the Level Properties form, or using the and icons in the
ribbon area. You can also type GTSLevelUp and GTSLevelDown at the command prompt.

Moreover, you can define a grid system and/or generate vertical members (Columns) with a
single click. These commands will be explained below.

Finally, the current level, if defined, appears at the top of CAD Modeler window, next to the
Current Units.

2.6.4. Grid
A Grid system can be defined and used as a pattern for entering beams and columns. In order to
be able to enter a Grid, you must first specify Levels in your structure (see the Levels command
above). You can access the Grid dialog by expanding the “Levels” tab from the ribbon icon

19
 , or from the menu “GTS Modeling>Grid>Create” or by typing GTSGrid at the command
prompt.

Using the Grid form you can:

- Set different parameters for the Horizontal and Sidelong directions of the grid.
- Define and control the spacing in each direction, by entering the desired spacing –
Distance of the new grid line and pressing Add button. Later on you can edit a specified
spacing or delete it, using the corresponding buttons Edit and Delete.
- Define the Angle between the Grid X-Axis and the global X-axis
- The Angle between the Horizontal and Sidelong lines (default equal to 90 degrees)
- Control the Height of fonts
- Control the Position of the labels
- Control the Type of identification to be either Number or Letters
- Control the Starting From item, which can be a number or letter depending on the Type.
- Select the levels that this grid will be applied to. You can apply the grid to more than
one levels and/or have multiple grids per level.

By pressing OK, you are prompted to enter the Insert Point of the grid, meaning the coordinates
of the lower left corner of the grid. The grid lines are then created as shown in the figure on the
next page.

20
You can also change the properties of an existing grid from the menu “GTS
Modeling>Grid>Change” or by typing GTSGridChange at the command prompt, and then
selecting the Grid to be edited.

2.6.5. Creating Joints

You can generate individual joints from the ribbon command or from the menu
“GTS Modeling>Joint>Generate Joint” or by typing GTSJoint at the command prompt. You
then must enter the X,Y,Z coordinates (separated by comma) or click at the corresponding point
at the screen. However, for frame structures, it is recommended to start generating members
(and joints will be automatically generated at their ends).

If you have already defined Levels at the structure, you can generate individual joints at the
current lever from the ribbon command or from the menu “GTS
Modeling>Joint>Generate Joint at Level” or by typing GTSJointLevel at the command
prompt. You then have to enter only X and Y coordinate (Z will be calculated using the current
Level’s Elevation).

21
2.6.6. Finding Joints
You can find an individual joint from the ribbon command or from the menu “GTS
Modeling>Joint>Find” or by typing GTSFJID at the command prompt and enter the name of
the Joint. If the joint name exists, the joint will be selected (by clicking on “change”, you can
modify it without making a new selection).

2.6.7. Joint Supports

You can find an individual joint from the ribbon command or from the menu “GTS
Modeling>Joint>Support” or by typing GTSJointSupport at the command prompt and
select the joint or the joints to be supported. The Joint Properties form then appears, where you
can define which degrees of freedom are fixed and also enter a spring value in case of elastic
supports. Using the Quick Selection, you can quickly define a Fixed, Pinned or Free Joint (by
default all joints are free)

2.6.8. Joint Properties

You can change the properties of a joint from the ribbon command or from the
menu “GTS Modeling>Joint>Change” or by typing GTSJointChange at the command
prompt and select the joint or the joints to be edited or by double-clicking on an existing joint.

22
The “Joint Properties” form appears, and at the “Model” tab you can enter the Name of the Joint
(up to 8 characters) the Level that the joint belongs (optional), the theta rotation angles for
rotated support joints, the Groups that the joints belongs to, the coordinates of the joint in the
current unit system, the restraints of the joint and the spring values.

If you select more than one joint, then “Multiple Selection” appears at the top of the Joint
Properties form, and all data entered in the form will be applied to all selected joints.

2.6.9. Sections
For models which contain frame members, you should select the cross sections to be added to
your project either from the default cross section library or by creating user defined prismatic
cross-sections or by importing user defined cross sections that have been created in GT STRUDL.

Prismatic cross sections can be created from the Menu “GTS Modeling >Cross
Sections>Prismatic” or by typing GTSPrismatic at the command prompt.
In the dialog shown below, you enter the cross-section properties in the current unit system.

23
You can access the existing cross section library (GT STRUDL tables) from the ribbon command

, or from the Menu “GTS Modeling>Cross Sections>Table” or by typing GTSParams at

the command prompt.

Using the following form, where all GT STRUDL built-in TABLES are available, you select the cross
sections for your project by double clicking on them, at the right part of the screen. The list of
selected cross-section profiles appears at the left part of the screen and the selected profiles
have a large black dot in front of them.

User defined cross sections, that have been created in GT STRUDL, can be imported in CAD
Modeler from the Menu “GTS Modeling >Cross Sections>Import from User Dataset” or by typing
GTSOpenDS at the command prompt. Using the “Select User Dataset DS File” dialog you can
select the dataset file (*.ds) that includes the user defined cross sections to be imported. By
pressing “Open”, the cross sections of the selected .ds file are added to the available built-in
TABLES, presented in the previous paragraph.

24
Moreover, you get a notification at the
command prompt, regarding the number of
tables that exist in the dataset. For example:
“Number of tables in ds = 5”.

Next time you select the command

you will be able to see the user defined
sections at the bottom of the list.

Note: Whenever you import a TABLE of sections that has been previously imported in CAD
Modeler, all new data will overwrite previous TABLE section data.

Note: Whenever you use a User Defined Section in CAD Modeler, you must manually open the
corresponding .ds file in GT STRUDL prior to the “Execute GTSTRUDL” Command.

25
2.6.10. Creating Members

You can generate individual members from the ribbon command or from the menu
“GTS Modeling>Members>Generate Beam Members” or by typing GTSBeam at the command
prompt. You must then enter the X,Y,Z coordinates (separated by commas or click at the
corresponding point at the screen) of the member start and then of the member end. Joints are
automatically generated at both member ends, unless a joint already exists at the specific point.
If so, the member is connected to the existing joint(s).
If you have already defined Levels at the structure, you can generate vertical members

(columns) at the current lever from the ribbon command or from the menu “GTS
Modeling>Member>Generate Vertical Member” or by typing GTSColumn at the command
prompt. You then have to enter only one point (starting top point) in the floor plan. The ending
bottom point will be automatically calculated, having the same X and Y coordinates, and Z
coordinate will be calculated by the current level’s height.
After giving the command the “Place Member” form appears, where you define the properties
of the member.

Note: Each time you create a member, the orientation of the cross section will appear in the
middle of the element, unless you clear it with command “Clear” (see 2.6.84).

26
 You can select:
- A Table Section from the list of
available sections in the
project, or give the dimensions
of the typical shapes available
or match the section properties
of one existing member to save
time typing the values.
- The Material from the list of
available materials in the
project
- Common Member
Releases configuration
- Beta angle (in degrees)
- To split intersecting members,
along new member’s length,
including the new member
- To split ending members, if the
member starting and/or ending
joints are placed along existing
members.
- To place a physical member
together with the analytical
members. If the new physical
member is crossing other
physical members, the new
physical member will be split
into more parts.

Then, you must click on the “Place

Member(s) >>” button and start placing
members.

You can change the properties while

the command is active, and the next
member(s) will be placed using the new
values.

When you are done, press ESC to exit from the command. The form is hidden automatically.

2.6.11. Finding Members

You can find an individual member from the ribbon command or from the
menu “GTS Modeling>Member>Find” or by typing GTSFMID at the command prompt and
enter the name of the Member. If member name exists, the member will be selected (by clicking
on “change” you can modify it without making a new selection).

27
2.6.12. Splitting Members

You can split a member into two or more parts from the ribbon command or from the
menu “GTS Modeling>Member>Split Member” or by typing GTSSplitMember at the
command prompt and select the Member to be split. You then define “Distance for splitting the
member or the number of equal parts (negative number)”, entering:
- the position of the split, meaning the length of the 1st part starting from starting joints,
or
- the number of equal parts that will be generated after the split, by typing a negative
number. For instance, entering -3 means to split the original member into 3 equal parts.

2.6.13. Splitting to Crossing Members

You can Split Members to Crossing Members, after being placed. You select the member to be
spit and if there are any crossing members the selected member is split automatically at their
intersections. You can split a member into crossing members, from the ribbon command

or from the menu “GTS Modeling>Member>Split to Crossing Members” or

by typing GTSSplitToMembers at the command prompt and select the Member to be split.

2.6.14. Merging Members

You can merge two members to one member from the ribbon command or from the
menu “GTS Modeling>Member>Merge Members” or by typing GTSMergeMembers at the
command prompt and select two members. The two members must have a common joint
(middle). After merging the middle joint is NOT deleted and you have to delete it manually. This
joint can be removed manually, using AutoCAD’s/BricsCAD’s erase command, or by using CAD
Modeler’s “Remove Floating Joints” Command.

2.6.15. Member Properties

You can change the properties of a member from the ribbon command or
from the menu “GTS Modeling>Member>Change” or by typing GTSBeamChange at the
command prompt and select the member or the members to be edited or by double-clicking on
an existing member.

The “Member Properties” form appears, and at the “Model” tab you can enter the Name of the
Member (up to 8 characters), the Level that the member belongs to (optional), the Type of the
Member (Space Frame or Space Truss), Starting and Ending Joints, Beta Angle, the Groups that
the member belongs to, the Cross-Section applied to this member and the corresponding
section properties, the Material of the member, member releases and elastic end connection
spring values, End Sizes and global Member Eccentricities.

28
Using the “Section Properties” tab, you can define typical concrete shapes or other shapes that
appear in the next image. Shapes having the identifier “Concrete” should be used for thick
sections.

Rectangle (Concrete) Circle (Concrete)

29
 Pipe Right L (Concrete)

Left L (Concrete) T Shape (Concrete)

Cross (Concrete) Polygon

30
 I Shape Channel

If you select more than one member, then “Multiple Selection” appears at the top of the
Member Properties form, and all data entered in the form will be applied to all selected
members.

If you select a physical member, then “Physical Member Properties” appears at the top of the
Member Properties form, and you can modify the properties of the Physical Member. You can
only modify the Name, Beta Angle, Section Properties, Releases and Eccentricities. Any
modification applies to all analytical members, except Releases and Eccentricities that apply only
to the start of the first analytical member and to the end of the last analytical member.

31
Moreover, you can see the list of labels of the Analytical members that are part of this Physical
Member.
If you apply any loads to the physical member, the load parameters are copied to each analytical
member belonging to it.

2.6.16. Member Filters

You can select members of the structure, that fulfill several criteria, using the icon or
from the menu “GTS Modeling>Member>Filter” or by typing GTSFilterMembers at the
command prompt.

Members can be filtered forming queries of three different categories:

- Their Properties, that can be: Name, Level, Section, Material, Beta Angle, Group,
Release Statues, Kf values, Eccentricities and End Sizes
- Their Loading Data, that can be: Load Case, Load Type, Load Direction, Load Values and
Location.
- Their Analysis Results, that can be: Load Case, Member Forces Fx – Fy – Fz – Mx – My –
Mz for both ends and section forces Fx - Fy – Fz - Mx – My – Mz.

You can set multiple (up to 5) conditions of the same category using logical expressions (AND,
OR). For example, filter members that their section is IPE330 AND they belong to level < 3 AND
their beta angle is greater than or equal to 90.

After the query is formed, your press “Execute >>” and the IDs of the members fulfilling the
criteria appear in the “Results” list.

Filtered members may be:

- Added to any Group
- Selected as AutoCAD’s/BricsCAD’s selection (to be edited, moved, copied, moved etc),
using the option “Keep Selected after closing form”
- Made the only visible entities of the structure, by hiding all other entities, using the
option “Make them the only visible”

32
2.6.17. Creating Shell Finite Elements
Shell finite elements are generated automatically using the meshing functions described below.
However, you can generate individual quadrilateral or triangle shell elements one by one.

Quadrilateral elements can be created using the icon or from the menu “GTS
Modeling>Shell>Generate quad at joints” or by typing GTSShell at the command prompt.
You must then enter the X,Y,Z coordinates (separated by commas or click at the corresponding
point at the screen) of the four corners of the quad element. Joints are automatically generated
unless a joint already exists at the specific point. If so, the element is connected to the existing
joint(s).
Triangular elements can be created using the icon or from the menu “GTS
Modeling>Shell>Generate triangle at joints” or by typing GTSShellT at the command
prompt. You must then enter the X,Y,Z coordinates (separated by commas or click at the
corresponding point at the screen) of the three corners of the triangular element. Joints are

33
automatically generated unless a joint already exists at the specific point. If so, the element is
connected to the existing joint(s).

2.6.18. Reverse Incidence Order

The Incidence Order (clockwise or counterclockwise) of selected shell elements can be reversed
using the icon or from the menu “GTS Modeling>Shell>Reverse Incidence Order” or
by typing GTSShellReverse at the command prompt. The Incidence Order defines the
orientation of the Element’s Planar Z and Local Z Axes which then also affects the Local and
Planar X and Y Axes.

2.6.19. Finding Shells

You can find an individual shell element from the icon or the menu “GTS
Modeling>Shell>Find” or by typing GTSFEID at the command prompt and enter the name of
the element. If the element name exists, the shell element will be selected (by clicking on
“change” you can modify it without making a new selection).

2.6.20. Shell Properties

You can change the properties of a shell finite element from the icon or the
menu “GTS Modeling>Shell>Change” or by typing GTSShellChange at the command
prompt and select the shell or the shells to be edited or by double-clicking on an existing shell
element.

The “Element Properties” form appears as shown below, and from the “Model” tab, you can
enter the Name of the Element (up to 8 characters), the Level that the element belongs to
(optional), the Type of the Element, Joint Incidences, the Thickness of the shell, the Groups that
the element belongs to and the Material of the element.

34
If you select more than one element, then “Multiple Selection” appears at the top of the
Element Properties form, and all data entered in the form will be applied to all selected
elements.

2.6.21. Joints Duplicates

In order to erase joints that have the same coordinates (one on the top of the other) that may
have been generated by mesh generation functions, you have to check the model for duplicate

joints from the ribbon command in the “Find/Change/Check” panel or select

“GTS Modeling>Checks>Joint Duplicates” from the menu or type
GTSCheckDuplicateJoints at the command prompt. You then must enter the desired
merge accuracy (Enter Merge Tolerance <0.001000>). If duplicate joints exist in the structure, a
new dialog appears having the full set of duplicate pairs, where you can select the joints to be
merged or not as shown on the next page:

35
2.6.22. Joints Floatings

Floating Joints are the joints that are not connected to any member or finite element, therefore
they may cause instability in the solution of the mathematical model. Use the ribbon command

in the “Find/Change/Check” panel or select “GTS Modeling>Checks>Joint

Floatings” from the Menu or type GTSCheckFloatingJoints at the command prompt,
floating joints are automatically identified, and using the corresponding dialog as shown below,
they can be deleted.

2.6.23. Joints Interference

In order to check in order to search for joints close to a member, not connected to it, you can

use the ribbon command in the “Find/Change/Check” panel or select

“GTS Modeling>Checks>Joints Interference” from the Menu or type
GTSCheckInteferenceJoints at the command prompt. You then must enter the desired
tolerance (Enter Check Tolerance <0.050800>).

36
2.6.24. Members Duplicates

In order to check if two members are one on the top of the other (having common joints in any
order), you must check the model for duplicate members from the ribbon command

in the “Find/Change/Check” panel or select “GTS

Modeling>Checks>Members Duplicates” from the menu or type
GTSCheckDuplicateMembers at the command prompt. If duplicate members exist in the
structure, a new dialog appears having the full set of duplicate pairs, where you can select the
members to be deleted or not as shown in the following figure. For all the selected pairs, one
member is deleted (the member first created is kept).

2.6.25. Members Zero Length

In order to check if a member has zero length, you can use the ribbon command

in the “Find/Change/Check” panel or select “GTS

Modeling>Checks>Members Zero Length” from the Menu or type
GTSCheckMembersZeroLength at the command prompt. Following the command
execution, you must enter the desired tolerance (Enter Check Tolerance <0.001000>) and then a
list of zero length members appears from where you can select which to delete.

2.6.26. Physical Members

Physical members in a frame model are consisted using two or more analytical members. In
order to check if physical members exist in the structural entities, you can use the ribbon

command in the “Find/Change/Check” panel or select “GTS

Modeling>Checks>Physical Members” from the Menu or type GTSCheckPhysicalMembers
at the command prompt. The five (5) checks that are performed with their corresponding errors
are as follows:

#1. Check that all members have the same Beta angle. If not, there is an error message:

37
 Physical Member %s: Member %s has inconsistent BETA angle

#2. Check that all members have the same cross section. If not, there is an error message:
Physical Member %s: Member %s has inconsistent CROSS
SECTION

#3. Checks that all member do not have internal releases. If not, there is an error messages:
Physical Member %s: Member %s has internal RELEASES
Physical Member %s: Starting Member %s has internal
RELEASES at its end
Physical Member %s: Ending Member %s has internal RELEASES
at its start

#4.Checks that there is a sequential order of members. If not, there is an error message:
Physical Member %s: Members %s (end) and %s (start) do not
have common joint (are not SEQUENTIAL)

#5.Check that all members form a straight line. . If not, there is an error message:
Physical Member %s: Member %s is not LINEAR with the
physical member

If all 5 checks are successful an informative message appears:

Physical Member %s: OK

2.6.27. Shells Duplicates

In order to erase shells that coincide (one on the top of the other) that may have been
generated by mesh generation functions, you have to check the model for duplicate shells from

the ribbon command in the “Find/Change/Check” panel or select “GTS

Modeling>Checks>Shells Duplicates” from the Menu or type GTSCheckDuplicateShells
at the command prompt. If duplicate shells exist in the structure, a new dialog appears having
the full set of duplicate pairs, where you can select the shells to be deleted or not as shown in
the following figure. For all the selected pairs, one shell is deleted (the shell first created is kept).

38
2.6.28. Names Duplicates

In order to check if two joints have the same name or two members have the same name or a
member and a shell have the same name, you can use the ribbon command

in the “Find/Change/Check” panel or select “GTS

Modeling>Checks>Names Duplicates” from the Menu or type GTSCheckNames at the
command prompt. If duplicate names exist in the structural elements, a message appears in the
command prompt as follows:

Joints 4 and 4 have the same Name

Joints 5 and 5 have the same Name
2 Duplicate Names Found

2.6.29. Renumber Names

It is often convenient to have continuous numbering (labeling) of joints members and elements.
In order to renumber the names of structural entities in ascending order (only if their name is an

integer), you can use the ribbon command in the “Find/Change/Check”

panel or select “GTS Modeling>Checks>Names Duplicates” from the Menu or type
GTSRenumber at the command prompt. Following the command execution, you mmust
decide whether or not you want to renumber joints and members/elements by typing yes or no
(y or n) to the following questions:

Renumber Joints? (Yes/No)

Renumber Members and Elements? (Yes/No)

2.6.30. Database Integrity

In order to check that all CADM entities in a DWG have a unique database record, you can use

the ribbon command in the “Find/Change/Check” panel or select “GTS

Modeling>Checks>Database Integrity” from the Menu or type GTSCheckDatabase at the
command prompt. There may be database records, without a dwg entity, or the opposite, dwg
entities without a database record. This may happen in very extreme cases (for example, a
power supply failure while saving, or out of disk space, etc). Entities/records with a problem are
deleted and you get an information message such as the one below:

Error Fixed: Joint %s deleted from DWG

Error: Joint %s does not exist in database

39
2.6.31. Meshing along a curve
You can create several members along any selected AutoCAD/BricsCAD linear entity, that can be

a Line, an Arc or a Circle, from the ribbon command or from the menu “GTS
Modeling>Mesh Generation>1D Along Line or Curve or Circle” or by typing GTSMesh1D at the
command prompt.

After selecting the AutoCAD/BricsCAD linear

entity the Mesh Properties dialog appears,
where you can define:

- The Material of the members to be

generated.
- The Type of the members (FRAME or
TRUSS)
- The Cross-Section of the members
from a list of previously selected
project sections.
- The Beta angle that defines the
orientation of the cross-section in 3D
space.
- The number of members, to be
generated, that can be equally
spaced (uniform) or may have
variable spacing.
- The Labeling (optional) of the joints
and members to be generated
(“Enter Labeling Rules” form), where
you can set the First ID for joints and
members and their labeling prefix.
- By clicking “Preview” you are able to
preview the members to be
generated (without creating any
entities).
- By clicking “Create” the members are
generated and the Mesh Properties
form is closed.

40
By selecting Variable spacing, the “U1-Curve Spacing” form appears, where you can enter the
Total Number of Spaces, and the Length of each part, either in absolute distance or as a
percentage of the line or curve’s total length using the dialog shownbelow:.

The “Enter Labeling Rules” form allows you to set the First ID for joints and members to be
created and their labeling prefix. Note that the total length of the label cannot be more than 8
characters. Element and member labels (IDs) must be unique – you can’t have a member and
element with the same label (ID).

41
2.6.32. Meshing between two lines
You can create Members or Finite Elements between two selected AutoCAD/BricsCAD linear

entities such as Lines or Arcs, from the ribbon command or from the menu “GTS
Modeling>Mesh Generation>2D Between 2 Lines or Curves” or by typing GTSMesh2D2L at the
command prompt. You are then asked to select two AutoCAD/BricsCAD curves that will define
the U and V boundaries of the Mesh.

The dialog has the same options as in the 1D mesh command and in addition you can also
define:
- Members or Elements to be generated (for Members the options are the same as in 1D)
- Type of Finite Elements, from the available GT STRUDL Finite Element library
- Thickness of Finite Elements
- Spacing in both the U and V directions

2.6.33. Meshing between four lines

You can create Members OR Finite Elements between four selected AutoCAD/BricsCAD linear

entities, that can be Lines or Arcs, from the ribbon command or from the menu “GTS
Modeling>Mesh Generation>2D Between 4 Lines or Curves” or by typing GTSMesh2D4L at the
command prompt. You are then asked to select four AutoCAD/BricsCAD curves that will define
the U1, U2, V1 and V2 boundaries of the Mesh as shown in the figure below with U2 opposite
U1 and V2 opposite V1:

The dialog has the same options as in the 2D mesh between two curves command.

2.6.34. Meshing inside a polyline

You can create Finite Elements inside an AutoCAD/BricsCAD closed curve, that can be a Polyline

or a Circle, from the ribbon command or from the menu “GTS Modeling>Mesh
Generation>Inside Polyline” or by typing GTSMesh2DPoly at the command prompt. You are
then prompted to select the closed AutoCAD/BricsCAD polyline or circular curve.

42
After selecting the AutoCAD/BricsCAD entity the Mesh Properties dialog appears, where you
define:
- The Material of the elements to be
generated
- Type of Finite Elements from the
available GT STRUDL Finite Element
library
- Thickness of Finite Elements
- The Maximum Edge Size along the
Boundary. CAD Modeler will generate
additional joints along the boundaries so
that there is no finite element edge,
along the boundary curve, longer than
the entered value.
- You can have the boundary curve to be
split in smaller parts than the Max, or
not. Additional splitting may be required
if you try to increase the quality of the
finite element mesh or if you try to
control the maximum area of the finite
elements.
- The maximum area of each finite
element.
- The quality of the triangles that are
going to be generated.
- Add one or multiple (MultiA) internal
closed boundaries (polylines or circles),
or open boundaries (arcs or lines). If a
closed internal boundary is selected
there is a question asking if you want
the elements inside the boundary to be
removed (treat it as a hole) or not.
Moreover, you will be asked a question
regarding the size of elements along the
internal boundary curve, that can be 0,
so as to follow the current value of the
“Boundary Maximum Edge Size”, or it
can be a positive number which defines
the maximum length along the internal
boundary, or it can be a negative integer
which defines the number of equal parts
that the internal boundary will be split.

43
 NOTE: Internal boundaries may intersect the external mesh curves, but it is
recommended that you manually spit the external curve at this point

- Add internal joints (points) that will be additional corners of the finite element mesh.

- Labeling, Preview and Create functions are identical to the ones of the previously
described meshing forms.

2.6.35. Meshing by extruding a polyline

You can create Finite Elements by extruding an AutoCAD/BricsCAD closed curve, that can be a

Polyline or a Circle, from the ribbon command or from the menu “GTS Modeling>Mesh
Generation>3D Extrude PolyLine” or by typing GTSExtrudePoly at the command prompt.
You are then prompted to select AutoCAD/BricsCAD curves, first the extruded curve, and then
the curve which defines the extrude direction which can be either a line or polyline. The finite
elements will be generated on the extruded surface.

The “Mesh Properties” form is similar to the “Meshing inside a polyline” properties form but you
must also define the “Spacing Extrude Direction”, meaning the parameters that control the size
of elements along the extrude direction. Uniform and Variable options are suitable if the
extrude entity is a line. “Defined by Curve, size” is suitable if the extrude entity is a polyline, so
that it is enforced that joints will be generated at the intermediate points of the polyline.
Labeling, Preview and Create functions are identical to the ones of the previously described
meshing forms.

2.6.36. Meshing using 3 curves

You can create Members OR Finite Elements between three selected AutoCAD/BricsCAD linear

entities, that can be Lines or Arcs, from the ribbon command or from the menu “GTS
Modeling>Mesh Generation>3D Between 3 Lines or Curves” or by typing GTSMesh3D3L at the
command prompt. You are then asked to select three AutoCAD/BricsCAD curves that will define
the U, V and W boundaries of the Mesh.

The dialog has the same options as in the 2D mesh command, between 2 lines, with the extra
parameters for the meshing in the W direction.

44
2.6.37. Array 3D Advanced

You can create copies along the vertical direction, similar to AutoCAD’s and BricsCAD’s ARRAY

commands from the ribbon command or by typing GTSMesh3D3 at the command

prompt. This optimized command is useful for large models, or for multiple copies, when the
default AutoCAD’s and BricsCAD’s command take a lot amount of time. It produces the same
result in significantly reduced time.

2.6.38. Soil Springs

You can create soil springs on individual/multiple shell element(s) from the icon or by
typing GTSFoundationSprings at the command prompt and select the corresponding shell
element(s). After selection the “Soil Springs” dialog appears, where you can:

- Define in-plane spring ratio of Ks value if the “in-plane (orthogonal) springs” option is
checked. The in-plane spring ratio will be applied to the two remaining directions, other
than the selected.
- Define the direction of springs (in global system).
- Append new spring values in case of keeping the existing ones and adding the new ones.
Else, the new values replace the existing ones
- Define the value of modulus of subgrade reaction Ks.

After pressing “Place Springs”, a legend appears showing the Ks values distribution on the shell
elements. By double clicking on each node, you can see the value of Ks in “Restraints and Spring
Values” section of the Model tab in the “Joint Properties” dialog box. Note that if the spring’s
degree of freedom is not restrained by the user then it is restrained automatically.

45
2.6.39. Export to CAESAR II

The current drawing can be exported into CAESAR II Modeler (str file) from the menu “GTS
Modeling>CAESAR II> Export STR” or by typing GTSExportSTR at the command prompt. You
select the members to be exported and an STR File is generated. Immediately after the log file
appears on the screen. A typical log file is:

GT STRUDL Version 2018.R1

GTS2CII Version 2018.R1.01
GTS2CII Binary Dir
C:\\Program Files (x86)\GTStrudl\2018R1\Utilities\GTS2CII\
Project Dir F:\\HexagonPPM\CaesarII\PlantStructure\
Total Number of Sections: 6
Total Number of Joints: 170
Total Number of Members: 233
The model will be saved in 1 STR file(s)
File
F:\\HexagonPPM\CaesarII\PlantStructure\\PStructure_0708_01.str
created

If the cross sections used in CAD Modeler (and GT STRUDL) are not available in CAESAR’s section
library you get a warning like this:

WARNING: Section L1x1x1/4 is not available in CII, please use another

one or edit
F:\\HexagonPPM\CaesarII\PlantStructure\\PStructure_0708_01.str file
manually

2.6.40. Convert Lines/Polylines to Members/Shells

Convert lines and polylines to members and shell elements through the utility “DXF converter”,

from the ribbon command or by typing GTSDXFRead at the

command prompt. This command is not limited to DXF Files, but you can create new lines and
polylines on the DWG that is currently open and convert them to structural members. Or open
an existing DXF or DWG, select some lines and polylines, and convert them to members and
elements.

46
2.6.41. Model Wizard
You can now use Model Wizard to create and import the model to CAD Modeler. This option is
very useful if you want to create a typical tank and further edit it in CAD Modeler, or append it
into an existing model. You can start the Model Wizard from the ribbon command

or by typing GTSModelWizard at the command prompt.

47
2.6.42. Groups
It is optional to define Groups in your model, but it is strongly advised to do so, since it will be
easier to control the display and modeling of parts of your structure. Each Group is defined as a
set of joints, members and finite elements. Each structural entity can belong in more than one
group. Moreover, Groups defined in CAD Modeler are exported to the GT STRUDL Input file
(.gti), meaning you can also use them in GT STRUDL analysis and design commands.

You have to first define the name of each group from the ribbon icon or from the menu
“GTS Modeling>Groups>Manage” or by typing GTSGroups at the command prompt.

Using the Groups Form you can:

- Set the Name of each Group (NOTE: not larger than 8 characters, due to a GT STRUDL
limitation)
- Add Groups to the model
- Delete Groups from the model
- Define if this Group is corresponding in a “Physical” member definition (used in Steel
Design commands).

After defining a group you can add joints, members and shell elements to it using the
commands:
ribbon icon, or “GTS Modeling>Groups>Add Joints” or by typing GTSGroupJoints
at the command prompt
ribbon icon, or “GTS Modeling>Groups>Add Members” or by typing
GTSGroupMembers at the command prompt
ribbon icon, or “GTS Modeling>Groups>Add Shells” or by typing GTSGroupShells
at the command prompt

48
2.6.43. Self - Weight
The Self-weight load of the structure can be created from the ribbon command
or from the menu “GTS Modeling>Loads>Self Weight” or by typing GTSSelfWeight at the
command prompt.

The “Self-Weight” form appears where you

can define:

- the global direction of the self-weight

- the load factor (default = 1.0) for the
self-weight
- if the self-weight of finite elements
will be taken into account or not

2.6.44. Load Cases

A new load case can be created from the ribbon command or from the menu
“GTS Modeling>Loads>Load Cases” or by typing GTSNewLoadCase at the command prompt.
The “Load Case” form appears as shown below where you can enter new load cases, modify
existing ones, or delete them.

49
Design variable associates the Load Case with the Design Load Variable. This information can be
used later on, when creating the standardized load combinations.

2.6.45. Joint Loads

A Joint Load can be entered from the ribbon command or from the menu “GTS
Modeling>Loads>Joint Load” or by typing GTSJointLoad at the command prompt. You then
have to select the joint or the joints that the load will be applied to.

At the “Joint Generalized Loads” tab you can apply joint loads or displacements. On the left part
of the form, you can see a list of all available load cases: Load cases having loads already applied
to the specific joint appear at the top list box. Load cases that do not have any loads applied to
the specific joint appear at the bottom list box. Next to the name of each load case there is a $
symbol followed by the total number of joints that are already loaded in the specific load case.

50
2.6.46. Member Loads
A Member Load can be entered from the ribbon command or from the menu “GTS
Modeling>Loads>Member Load” or by typing GTSBeamLoad at the command prompt. You
then have to select the member or the members that the load will be applied to.

At the “Member Loads” tab or the Member Properties form as shown below, you can apply
member loads. In the left part of the form you can see a list of all available load cases: Load
cases having loads already applied to the specific member appear in the top list box. Load cases
that do not have any loads applied to the specific member appear in the bottom list box. Next to
the name of each load case there is a $ symbol followed by the total number of members that
are already loaded in the specific load case. The load distribution can be Concentrated, Uniform,
Linear or Triangular and it can be applied in any local member or global direction. The Location
can be entered in fractional terms (0: start, 1: end) or absolute terms in current length units
measured from the start of the member.

Using the “Member Temperature Loads” tab, you can define Axial or Bending temperature
change along a part of the member, similar to the “Member Loads” tab as shown on the next
page.

Finally, using the “Member Distortions” tab, you can define concentrated of uniform distortion
of the member in any direction along the member as shown on the next page.

51
52
2.6.47. Shell Loads
A Shell Load can be entered from the ribbon command or from the menu “GTS
Modeling>Loads>Shell Load” or by typing GTSShellLoad at the command prompt. You then
have to select the shell or the shells that the load will be applied to.

Using the “Element Loads” tab of the Element Properties form, you can apply element loads. In
the left part of the form, you can see a list of all available load cases: Load cases having loads
already applied to the specific element appear in the top list box. Load cases that do not have
any loads applied to the specific element appear in the bottom list box. Next to the name of
each load case there is a $ symbol followed by the total number of elements that are already
loaded in the specific load case. The Force type can be Body, Surface or Edge, in any Local,
Planar, Global or Projected direction with uniform or variable values.

2.6.48. Area Load

An Area Load can be entered from the ribbon command or from the menu “GTS
Modeling>Loads>Area Load” or by typing GTSAreaLoad at the command prompt.

53
 Using the Area Load form you can
define:

- The Name of the Load (up to 8

characters)
- The description of the load
- The Loading Value in current
units (force/length2). A positive
value is applied in the negative
global DIRECTION.
- The Global direction of the
loading plane (X, Y or Z) and the
tolerance
- The position (Elevation) of the
plane, defined by a coordinate
or an existing Joint. All
members belonging to the
plane having this elevation are
located and loaded by GT
STRUDL.
- The Distribution of the load
(one way or two way)

Advanced Optional Features:

- Outline Region: Select the

members that form the closed
perimeter of the loaded area. If
an Outline Region is defined
then the area load is applied
ONLY to the selected area and
NOT to the whole plane having
the elevation defined above.
- Exclude Area: Internal openings
or islands not being loaded may
be specified by selecting the
members that define the
perimeter of the excluded area.

- Ignore Members: Select members that you do not want to be loaded (eg bracing
members)

By selecting “Display >>” you are able to graphically view the loaded area, marked with a
yellow hatch pattern.

54
2.6.49. Wind Load ASCE 705
You can define Wind Loads using a similar form with GT Shell. A Wind Load can be entered from

the ribbon command or from the menu “GTS Modeling>Loads>Wind

Load ASCE 705” or by typing GTSWindLoadsASCE705 at the command prompt.

55
In addition, you can select members (to apply loads) interactively with mouse picks in the CAD
environment.

56
2.6.50. Wind Load ASCE 710

A Wind Load can be entered from the ribbon command or from the
menu “GTS Modeling>Loads>Wind Load ASCE 710” or by typing GTSWindLoadsASCE710 at
the command prompt.

57
58
2.6.51. Seismic Load
You can define Seismic Loads using a similar form with GT Shell. Seismic Loads can be entered

from the ribbon command or from the menu “GTS Modeling>Loads>Seismic

Load” or by typing GTSSeismicLoading at the command prompt. In addition you can
select joints (to define story heights) interactively with mouse picks in the CAD environment.

59
2.6.52. Load Combinations
A new load combination can be created from the ribbon command or from the
menu “GTS Modeling>Loads>Load Combinations” or by typing GTSLoadCombination at the
command prompt. The “New Load Combination” form appears where you can enter new load
combinations. For each Load Case or Load Combination, that appears in the left list box, you
define a factor and using the “ADD>>” button the selected load case is added in the
combination.

When all load cases are added, press the “STORE” button to store the load combination.

Using the same form, you can also Edit an Existing Load Combination (remember to press
“STORE” after you are done with the modifications). You can also Delete an Existing Load
Combination using this form.

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2.6.53. Standardized Combinations
You can Create Standardized Combinations using exactly the same form with GT Shell.
Standardized combinations can be entered from the ribbon command

or from the menu “GTS Modeling>Loads>Standardized

Combinations” or by typing GTSLoadCombinationStandardized at the command
prompt.

61
2.6.54. Steel Design Parameters
You can specify steel design parameters for AISC14, EC3, IS800, CSA-2014 and all other codes.
Steel design parameters can be defined from the ribbon command or menu “GTS
Modeling>Steel Design Parameters” or by typing GTSSteelDesignParameters at the
command prompt. Parameters can be applied to ALL members or to specific members that can
be selected interactively with mouse picks in the CAD environment.

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2.6.55. Create GTI

A GT STRUDL Text Input file can be generated from the ribbon command or from the
menu “GTS Modeling>Create GT.STRUDL GTI” or by typing GTSExportGTI at the command
prompt. In the “Create GTSTRUDL Input File” dialog, you can enter the filename of the GTI File
and add additional commands to your GTI file, such as the Stiffness Analysis command to
perform a static analysis automatically and commands which control the analysis results data
that can be imported into CAD Modeler immediately after the analysis is complete.

63
Moreover, you can append additional GTI Files or Macros at the end of the GTI file of the model.
For example, additional GTI files may include static or dynamic analysis commands, result
output commands or member design commands. If you check “Copy Commands from GTI
Files/Macros (not CINPUT) then the above mentioned files or macros will be copied in your GTI
file. Otherwise, there will be a reference to them, with a CINPUT command.

2.6.56. Edit GTI

The GT STRUDL Text Input file can be edited from the ribbon command or from the
menu “GTS Modeling>Edit GT.STRUDL GTI” or by typing GTSEditGTI at the command
prompt. The previously created GTI is opened for editing using the default text editor.

2.6.57. Execute GT STRUDL

GTSTRUDL can be launched, to process the previously created GTI, from the ribbon command

or from the menu “GTS Modeling>Edit GT.STRUDL GTI” or by typing GTSExecuteGTI

at the command prompt.

64
2.6.58. Read Analysis Results

After performing the stiffness analysis in GT STRUDL, results can be read back to CAD Modeler,
from the ribbon command or from the menu “GTS Modeling>Read GTSTRUDL
Results” or by typing GTSResultsGTI at the command prompt.

“Read GTSTRUDL Results” form appears, where you can choose to import Displacements,
Member Forces, Section Forces, Section Displacements, Finite Element Results and Code Check
Results. Depending on your selection a set of GTI DBX commands are created in the edit boxes
shown below. If you have selected the same options in “Generate GTI” command, then the DBX
commands are already included in your GTI file. Else, they should be copied and pasted into GT
STRUDL main window. Do not press OK before the writing of the files in the GT STRUDL main
window has completed.

65
By pressing OK you will get the confirmation message “Results Loaded Successfully”
at the command prompt. Else, you will get an error message informing you about the type of
analysis results that are missing and the corresponding DBX full path file names.

2.6.59. Import GTI

An existing GTI file can be imported it into CAD Modeler from the menu “GTS Modeling>Import>
GT.STRUDL GTI” or by typing GTSGTIRead at the command prompt. Note that the GTI should
be generated by the command “File>Save>Text Input File…” from GT STRUDL main menu.

2.6.60. Set Views

You can switch between different 2D or 3D views of the structure from the ribbon command
or from the menu “GTS Display>Set View” or by typing GTSSetView at the
command prompt.

It is strongly recommended to use Z as the vertical axis, so as to be able to use all built-in
AutoCAD or BricsCAD functions for Views (Top, Bottom, Left, Right, Isometric, etc). However, if
you use Y as the vertical axis, you can use this form to have identical 2D and 3D views, as in
GTMenu.

2.6.61. 3D or Wireframe View of the Structure

You can switch between the 3D view or wireframe view of the structure.

You can view the 3D display of your model from the ribbon command or from the menu
“GTS Display>3D Sections” or by typing GTSSet3D at the command prompt. When 3D view is
selected, all members appear as solid cross sections and shell elements are displayed in 3D view
taking into account their thickness.

66
You can view the wireframe display of your model from the ribbon command or from
the menu “GTS Display>Frame” or by typing GTSSet1D at the command prompt. When the
wireframe view is selected, all members and shell edges are displayed as lines.

If some parts of the structure are hidden (i.e. using Level’s form) you can display the whole

structure from the menu “GTS Display>All Levels ON” or by typing

GTSSetAllVisible at the command prompt.

2.6.62. Analytical/Physical Member View

You can turn ON or OFF the physical member view of the structure. When Physical Member
view is turned ON, all analytical members belonging to a physical member are hidden and the
physical members are displayed instead, as single objects. You can use copy, edit and move
commands on the physical member objects and they apply to analytical members as well.

You can switch between the physical or analytical member view of your model from the ribbon
command or from the menu “GTS Display>Analytical/Physical” or by typing
GTSDisplayPhysicalMembers at the command prompt.

2.6.63. Colors and Visible Elements

You can control the color of each member or element, and its visibility from the ribbon
command or from the menu “GTS Display>Colors” or by typing GTSColorView at
the command prompt.

Using the tab “Sections” in the “Color Options” form shown below, you can assign a different
color for each cross-section profile and set its visibility to ON or OFF. By pressing “Reset Colors”,
all colors are set to defaults. By clicking on the color value cell a pop-up dialog appears, where
you can select the color that you want to be assigned to this section. If you select “BYLAYER” or
256 then the color is assigned by the color set at GTS Disaplay>Options , as
explained in 2.6.64.

67
Using the tab “Groups” in the “Color Options” form, you can assign a different color for each
group and set its visibility to ON or OFF. Moreover, you can set a color for entities that do not
belong to any group (UnGrouped data). For entities belonging to more than one groups, the one
that appears last in the color list is the one that defines it’s color and visibility.

68
Note, that if the “Sections” tab is active when pressing “OK”, then the colors will be selected
according to the “Sections” tab. If the “Groups” tab is active when pressing “OK”, then the
colors will be selected according to the “Groups” tab.

2.6.64. Display Options

You can set the display options from the ribbon command or from the menu “GTS
Display>Options” or by typing GTSDisplay at the command prompt. Using the “Display
Options” form shown below, you can:

- set which objects will be visible or not

- set object colors
- set which labels will be visible or not
- set font sizes for labels. NOTE: Font sizes are defined in length units, except Annotation
fonts that are entered in Points.

69
 - set type of Annotation Format: Decimal, Exponential or Generic (automatic) and the
number of decimal places
- set object sizes
- set the shrink factor for finite elements and members. This option makes it is easier for
you to detect members that lie along finite element edges.
- Do Not Display Thickness in 3D. If you check this option, elements will be displayed as
being 2D instead of a 3D display which shows the thickness of the elements. This option
may increase the display speed in very large finite element models.
- Display Members as Analytical or Physical (see 2.6.62 )

2.6.65. Annotate
You can display information related to your model from the ribbon command or
by typing GTSAnnotate at the command prompt. The “Annotate” form appears where you

70
choose the type information needed, press the “Annotate” button and select the corresponding
entities.

The available inquire options are:

- Coordinates of a specific Joint or

AutoCAD/BricsCAD Point. Immediately after
selecting this you have to select one Joint or
Point.
- Dimension/Distance between two Joints or
AutoCAD/BricsCAD points. Immediately after
selecting this you have to select two Joints or
Points.
- Joint Names to display the name of a specific
joint. Immediately after selecting this you
have to select one Joint.
- Member or Element Names. Immediately
after selecting this you have to select one
Member or Shell.
- You can also control the size of the fonts (in
points) and the arrowhead.

2.6.66. Select CAD Modeler’s entities

You can use all AutoCAD’s/BricsCAD’s selection functions (window, crossing, pick, etc) to select
CAD Modeler’s structural entities. In addition, there is a command to help you selecting entities,
having functionality similar to GTMENU. You can access this command from the ribbon
command or by typing GTSSelect at the command prompt. The “GTS Select”
form appears where you can set the selection options.

- Bounded Line Selection: All entities

that lie on a Line
- UnBounded Line Selection: All
entities that lie on a Line or its
extension
- Bounded Plane Selection: All entities
that lie on a Plane
- UnBounded Plane Selection: All
entities that lie on a Plane or its
extension
- Bounded Volume Selection: All
entities that are located inside a
Volume
- UnBounded Volume Selection: All
entities that are located inside a

71
 Volume or its extension

Moreover, you can choose to filter only Joint, Members and Elements during the selection.

2.6.67. Display Member Local Axes

You can view the local axes of all members from the icon (Ribbon GTS
Display) or from the menu “GTS Display>Member Local Axes” or by typing
GTSDisplayLocalAxes at the command prompt and immediately after you click at the
point where you want the legend to be displayed.

In the legend, the X axis is displayed in cyan, Y axis in red and Z axis in yellow. The size of the
arrow and its arrowhead is controlled by the value given at Display Options > Object Sizes > Load
Arrowhead and the size of the legend fonts is controlled by the value given at Display Options >
Label Settings – Font Sizes > Annotation (pts) (shown in 2.6.64).

2.6.68. Display Member Releases

You can view the member end releases of all members from the icon (Ribbon GTS
Display) or from the menu “GTS Display>Member Releases” or by typing
GTSDisplayReleases at the command prompt.

A text identifying the released degrees of freedom appears next to members having releases. No
text appears for members that do not have releases. The size of the legend fonts is controlled by
the value given at Display Options > Label Settings – Font Sizes > Annotation (pts) (shown in
2.6.64).

2.6.69. Display Shell Planar Axes

You can view the planar axes of all shell elements from the icon (Ribbon
GTS Display) or from the menu “GTS Display>Shell Planar Axes” or by typing
GTSDisplayPlanarAxes at the command prompt and immediately after you click at the
point where you want the legend to be displayed.

In the legend, the X axis is displayed in cyan, Y axis in red and Z axis in yellow. The size of the
arrow and its arrowhead is controlled by the value given at Display Options > Object Sizes > Load
Arrowhead and the size of the legend fonts is controlled by the value given at Display Options >
Label Settings – Font Sizes > Annotation (pts) (shown in 2.6.64).

2.6.70. Display Joint Supports

You can view the support status of each joint from the icon (Ribbon GTS
Display) or from the menu “GTS Display>Joint Supports” or by typing GTSDisplaySupports
at the command prompt.

A red arrow is displayed for the translational restrained degrees of freedom and a yellow arrow
is displayed for the rotational restrained degrees of freedom. The size of the arrow and its

72
arrowhead is controlled by the value given at Display Options > Object Sizes > Load Arrowhead
and the size of the legend fonts is controlled by the value given at Display Options > Label
Settings – Font Sizes > Annotation (pts) (shown in 2.6.64).

2.6.71. Display Joint Loads

You can view the joint loads applied in the structure from the icon (Ribbon GTS
Display) or from the menu “GTS Display>Joint Loads” or by typing GTSDisplayJointLoads
at the command prompt.

The “Display Loads” form appears where you

can select the desired Load Case, the Scale
Factor for Joint Loads, Arrowhead Size and
the Font Size. The “Show” button displays the
load arrows, and the “Clear” button erases
them.

2.6.72. Display Member Loads

You can view the member loads applied in the structure from the icon (Ribbon GTS
Display) or from the menu “GTS Display>Member Loads” or by typing
GTSDisplayMemberLoads at the command prompt.

73
 The “Display Loads” form appears where you
can select the desired Load Case, the Scale
factor for Concentrated or Distributed
Member Loads, Arrowhead Size and the Font
Size. The “Show” button displays the load
arrow, and the “Clear” button erases them.

2.6.73. Display Shell Loads

You can view the finite element loads applied in the structure from the icon (Ribbon
GTS Display) or from the menu “GTS Display>Shell Loads” or by typing
GTSDisplayElementLoads at the command prompt.

74
 The “Display Loads” form appears where you
can select the desired Load Case, the Scale
factor for Concentrated or Distributed
Member Loads, Arrowhead Size and the Font
Size. The “Show” button displays the load
arrow, and the “Clear” button erases them.

2.6.74. Display Area Loads

You can view the area loads applied in the structure from the icon (Ribbon GTS
Display) or from the menu “GTS Display>Area Loads” or by typing GTSDisplayAreaLoads
at the command prompt. Loaded areas appear in yellow solid hatch. If you want to display only
one area load, you can use the area load command (2.6.48) to bring up the area load dialog,
select the specific area load and click “Display >>”.

2.6.75. Display Deformed Structure

You can view the deformed shape of the structure from the icon (Ribbon GTS
Display) or from the menu “GTS Display>Deformed Structure” or by typing
GTSDisplayJointDisplacements at the command prompt. You must then immediately
select the load case, press ENTER, and then give the desired scale factor.

You can switch back to original view from the icon (Ribbon GTS Display) or from
the menu “GTS Display>Undeformed Structure” or by typing
GTSResetJointDisplacements at the command prompt.

75
Note that Deformed Structure can be displayed in both 3D and Wireframe views of your model
and that you can also switch between levels using the Levels Form or the Upper Lever, Lower
Level icons.

2.6.76. Annotate Joint Displacements

At the deformed state, you can annotate joint displacements of the structure from the icon
(Ribbon GTS Display) or by typing
GTSAnnotateJointDisplacements at the command prompt. This command is valid
when the deformed shape of the structure is visible, where you select a joint and then a point in
screen for annotation position.

2.6.77. Display Displacements

You can view the displacements of the model (including a member’s deformation between
joints) from the icon (Ribbon GTS Display) or from the menu “GTS
Display>Displacements” or by typing GTSDisplaySectionDisplacements at the
command prompt.

76
 The “Displacement” form appears where you
can select:

- The desired Load Case or

Combination
- The Scale factor
- The Font Size (in pts) for Annotations
and the Annotation Format.
- Choose to display the model or Hide
it, so that the deformed shape is
clearer.
- The “Display >>” button displays the
deformed shape for the visible
members and elements. If there are
any hidden members or elements
their deformed shapes are not
displayed.
- The “Annotate >” button allows you
to annotate any value on the
deformed shape by fist clicking on
the deformed shape curve and then
at the position that annotation will
be placed.
- The “Legend >” button allows you to
place a legend on screen, having
information about the load case.
- The “Generate Animation Frames”
button creates the animation frames
that can then be played in a loop by
using the “Animate>>” button.

2.6.78. Display Member Diagrams

You can view the force and moment diagrams from the icon (Ribbon GTS Display)
or from the menu “GTS Display>Member Diagrams” or by typing
GTSDisplayMemberForces at the command prompt.

77
 The “Member Diagrams” form appears where
you can select:

- The desired Load Case or

Combination
- The Envelope option and the load
cases that form the envelope.
- The Forces or Moments to be
displayed (FX, FY, FZ, MX, MY, MZ)
- The Scale factor
- The Font Size (in pts) for Annotations
and the Annotation Format.
- Automatically Label Maximum and
Minimum values for each diagram
- Choose the direction of the diagrams
by switching the Positive Sign.
- The “Display >>” button creates the
diagram for the visible members. If
there are any hidden members their
diagrams are not displayed.
- The “Annotate >” button allows you
to annotate any value of the diagram
by first clicking on the member
diagram curve and then at the
position that annotation will be
placed.

- The “Legend >” button allows you to place a legend on the screen, having information
about the load case and member diagram.

2.6.79. Display Finite Element Results

You can view the finite element results from the icon (Ribbon GTS Display) or from
the menu “GTS Display>Element Results” or by typing GTSDisplayElementResults at
the command prompt.

NOTE: Hardware graphics accelaration may cause AutoCAD to incorrectly display the colors of
the contour. In such a case it is recomemded that you turn OFF Hardware Accelartion, during
displaying the stress contours, by typing the command GRAPHICSCONFIG. You can turn it
back ON afterwards.

78
The “Element Results” form appears where
you can select:

- The desired Load Case

- The desired item to be displayed:
Stress, Strain, Resultants, Principal
Stress, Principal Strain, Principal
Membrane Resultant, Principal
Bending Resultant, Von Misses
- The component of the desired item to
be displayed, i.e. Sxx, Syy, Szz
- The Location: Top, Middle or Bottom
surface of the element which is
defined by the local or planar z axes of
the shell element. The top surface is
in the positive z direction.
- The “Annotate >” button allows you to
annotate any value of the diagram by
fist clicking on a joint and then at the
position that annotation will be
placed.
- The “Display >>” button creates the
contour and a popup legend showing
the limits of each color.
- The “Annotate >” button allows you to
annotate any value of the diagram by
first clicking on the member diagram
curve and then at the position that
annotation will be placed
- The “Generate Animation Frames”
button creates the animation frames
(contours and displacements) that can
then be played in a loop by using the
“Animate>>” button.

79
2.6.80. Display Finite Element Selection Results

You can view the finite element results of selected elements from the icon
(Ribbon GTS Display) or from the menu “GTS Display>Element Results Selection” or by typing
GTSDisplayElementResultsSel at the command prompt.

This command is similar to the “Display Finite Element Results” of the previous paragraph. The
only difference is that you have to give a selection of members for the contours. This is useful in
cases where you want to examine only one surface of the structure, so display the limits of the
specific area. Or, if you do not want to take into account stresses from elements not belonging
to a specific plane.

NOTE: An “Execute GTI” command, including stiffness analysis, must be given prior to this
command.

2.6.81. Display Member Code Check Results

You can view the pass/fail result of a Steel Code check or design from the icon
(Ribbon GTS Display) or from the menu “GTS Display>Member Code Check Results” or by typing
GTSColorCodeCheck at the command prompt. You must then select the members to be
displayed (or “ALL” for all of them).

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 The “Code Check Results” form appears
where you can select:

- The text to be displayed for each

member, giving additional
information such as stress ratios,
controlling provisions and KL/r ratios.
- The Font Size (in pts)
- Limits for the Values to be displayed
(in example All of them, or Greater
Than a given value, or Less Than a
given value).
- The “Display >>” button regenerates
the view and members which passed
the code check will appear in blue,
those that fail the code check will
appear in red and those that were
not included in the code check will
appear in white
- The “Legend >” button allows you to
place a legend on screen, having
information about the colors used.

When you press the clear button,

member colors remain blue and red for
your convenience. If you want to change
them go to GTS Display > Colors.

2.6.82. Results Datasheets

In addition to the graphical display of results, you can also view the results in datasheets from
item “Results Datasheets” of the menu or ribbon tab “GTS Display”. In the table below, you can
find all the available results that can be viewed in datasheets and the corresponding command.

Description Menu Item Command

GTS Display>Results
Displacements GTSDataSheetJointDisp
Datasheets> Displacements
GTS Display>Results
Member Forces GTSDataSheetMemberForces
Datasheets> Member Forces
GTS Display>Results
Section Forces GTSDataSheetMemberForces
Datasheets> Section Forces
GTS Display>Results
Reactions GTSDataSheetReactions
Datasheets> Reactions
GTS Display>Results
Stresses GTSDataSheetStresses
Datasheets> Stresses
GTS Display>Results
Code Check GTSDataSheetCodeCheck
Datasheets> Code Check

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For example, click on the icon (Ribbon GTS Display) or from the menu “GTS
Display>Results Datasheets>Displacements” or by typing GTSDataSheetsJointDisp and
the “GTSTRUDL – Joint Displacement Datasheet” dialog appears where you can filter, sort, write
results to text file or change results units as shown in figure below:

2.6.83. Report Builder

You can generate your reports by calling Report Builder from the icon (Ribbon GTS
Display) or by typing GTSReportBuilder at the command prompt. GT STRUDL Report
Builder is self-contained software, which allows you to generate reports graphically from DBX GT
STRUDL database files on the top of GT STRUDL software. CAD Modeler automatically generates
the necessary DBX files and launches Report Builder. You can find more information on how
creating your report in the GT STRUDL® Report Builder Getting Started Guide.

2.6.84. Clear Results Layer

You can clear the displayed output (Display Model, Display Loads, Display Results), hide the
Legend form of the contours and return to model from the icon (Ribbon GTS Display)
or from the menu “GTS Display>Clear Results Layer” or by typing
GTSDisplayResultsClear at the command prompt. This command should be given after
any of the previous “display” commands.

2.6.85. Version

The current version of CAD Modeler can be displayed by selecting from the menu “GTS
Display>Version” or by typing GTSVersion at the command prompt. The current version will
be displayed at the command line: The current version of CAD Modeler is
xxxx

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3. Tutorial Example #1

3.1. Introduction
The modeling of a three story building using CAD Modeler shown below is demonstrated in a
step-by-step process.

3.2. Open CAD Modeler and start working

Step #1. Launch GT STRUDL by selecting the icon “CAD Modeler” in the Welcome to GT STRUDL
dialog shown below. The version of AutoCAD/BricsCAD selected during the installation will be
automatically launched, together with CAD Modeler’s menus and ribbons.

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Step #2. Make sure that CAD Modeler’s ribbons and menus are visible.

If AutoCAD’s/BricsCAD’s menu is not visible, type MENUBAR at AutoCAD’s/BricsCAD’s

command prompt, then 1 and press <ENTER>.

If AutoCAD’s/BricsCAD’s ribbon area is not visible, type RIBBON and press <ENTER>.

Ribbon commands will be used in this tutorial example. However, since all ribbon commands
appear in the menu area, you can use the menu bar as well.

3.3. Define the basic geometry of the model

Step #3. Define the correct Units by pressing the icon and select Meters (m) and
KiloNewtons in the Units Form.

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Step #4. Enter the cross-section profiles that will be used at the model by pressing the icon

. Click on the European list and then on the HEB table of profiles. Select the profile
HE320B that will be used for the columns, by double clicking on it.

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The profile is added to the project and it appears in the left list-
box having a black dot in front of it.

Using the same procedure, add 3 additional profiles: IPE330, for

beams, IPE120 for the girders from table IPE and 60x60x5 for
the bracing from the table BSEQANGL. Press OK to close the
form.

Note: You can add additional profiles at any time by following

this procedure and also view the full list of profiles used in your
model and add more profiles if needed.

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Step #5. Define the 3 levels of the model by pressing the icon . Press the Add Level button
st
3 times to add 3 levels to your model. Modify the height of the 1 level by selecting the Height
cell of the 1st Level and entering 4.

Note: Some Edit Boxes appear in yellow background and green fonts, like the one at the Level
Heights. You can use mixed units in the yellow edit boxes. For more information about Mixed
Units and the valid syntax please read GT STRUDL GT Menu Guide

Make sure that Z Vertical Axis option is checked and press OK to close the form.

Step #6. Enter a Grid that will help you enter the columns quickly by clicking on the icon .
The grid is going to have 3 spaces (6m, 5m, 6m) in the horizontal direction (X) and 1 space (5m)
in the sidelong direction (Y). Enter 6 in the Distance text box and press the Add button. Repeat
by entering 5 and Add, and 6 and Add.

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 Then, click on Sidelong in the Placement area
to enter the spacing in the Y direction, and
enter 5 and Add.

By pressing OK you are prompted (command

prompt) to enter the Insert Point for the grid.
Type 0,0,0 and press <ENTER>.

The grid is created, having its upper left corner A-1 at the point 0,0,0.

You will be able to view the grid by pressing the Top Icon in
AutoCAD’s View Cube or BricsCAD’s Chair Icon, or preferably by
typing Z (for Zoom), E (for Extents) and press <ENTER>.

Note: In order to be able to snap at the intersection of the grid lines, while placing columns,
make sure that the AutoCAD’s/BricsCAD’s Object Snap is ON, and the Intersection mode is
enabled. Type OSNAP in both AutoCAD and BricsCAD to set the various snap settings. Shown
below is the ObjectSnap tab in AutoCAD’s Drafting settings dialog.

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 AutoCAD’s Snap Setting BricsCAD’s Snap Settings

3.4. Create the 1st floor

Step #7. Start entering the columns by clicking on the icon . The dialog Place Member
appears that helps you to quickly select properties for the members that are going to be
entered.

Select HEB320B as the cross section for the

columns. Make sure that Material is set to
Steel, Releases to Fix-Fix and the Beta angle is
0. There is no need to close this dialog
manually.

Press the “Place Member(s) >>” button.

Click at the intersection point between line A

and line 1 (point A-1) and the column will be
placed at this position.

Repeat the same procedure by clicking at the

points B-1, C-1, D-1, A-2, B-2, C-2 and D-2.

When you are done, press ESC to exit the

Vertical column command. The Place
Member form is automatically hidden.

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 Note: Each time you create a member the
orientation of the cross section will appear in
the middle of the element, unless you clear it
with command “Clear” (see 2.6.84).

Step #8. You can easily change to an isometric view of the structure by pressing the small house
icon in AutoCAD’s View Cube or the small arrow “Top Front Left” of the following image in
BricsCAD’s View Chair. As you can see in the isometric view below, column members 1 to 8 were
created together with joints 1 to 16 at their ends. Each column is 4.00m long, as defined in Level
Properties (height of the first floor).

AutoCAD’s View Cube for Isometric View BricsCAD’s View Cube for Isometric View

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91
Step #9. Start entering the beams, along X axis, by clicking on the icon . The Place
Member form appears.

Select IPE330 as the cross section and

make sure that Material is set to Steel,
Releases to Fix-Fix and the Beta angle is
90. You have to set the Beta angle equal
to 90 degrees in order to orientate the
local Y axis of the IPE cross section along
the Z global axis. Moreover, make sure
that the option Split Intersecting
Members is checked and then uncheck
Split Ending Members.

Press “Place Member(s) >>” button.

Starting Point (x,y,z) message appears,

asking you to enter the coordinates or
click on a specific point on screen. Click
on Joint 2 at the top joint of column 1 at
position A-1.

Then you have to define the Ending Point (x,y,z) so click on joint 8, as shown in the picture
below.

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Members 9, 10 and 11 will be created.

All three beams along X axis were generated with only two clicks of the mouse: at joints 2 and 8.
The beam from joint 2 to joint 8, was split into three parts, between joints 2, 4, 6 and 8, since
joints 4 and 6 (columns at positions B-1 and C-1) intersect this member.

Since the command is still active, you are prompted to enter the Starting Point (x,y,z), repeat the
same procedure by clicking on joint 10 (top of column at position A-2), and then click at joint 16
(top of column at position D-2). Members 12, 13 and 14 will be created.

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Step #10. Enter the beams, along Y axis. The command Generate Beams should be still active,

else you can call it again by clicking again on the icon . Keep the same settings at the
Place Member Form, as in the previous step, regarding the cross section and Beta angle, but do
NOT click on Split Intersecting Members. Press the “Place Member(s) >>” button.

The prompt message Starting Point (x,y,z) appears, asking you to enter the coordinates or click
on a specific point on screen. Click on the Joint 2, that is the top of column at position A-1. In
order to define the Ending Point (x,y,z) click at joint 10 (top of column at position A-2). Member
15 is generated.

Repeat the same procedure by clicking on the joints 4 and 12 to generate member 16, joints 6
and 14 to generate member 17 and joints 8 and 16 to generate member 18. Then, press ESC to
terminate the command.

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Step #11. Create an arc on the right side of the structure:

Type ARC and

- in order to Specify start point of arc or

[Center]: click on joint 8,
- to Specify second point of arc or
[Center/End]: type @2,-2 and press
<ENTER> and
- to define the end point of arc: click on joint
16.

Step #12. Generate Members along the Arc: Click on the icon and when the prompt
message Select Curve (Line or Arc) appears, click on the Arc that you have created in the
previous step.

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 The Select Mesh Properties form appears
where you enter:

- Material : Steel
- Beta Angle: 90
- Section: IPE330
- Spacing U Direction: Uniform 8

This command is going to generate 8 linear

members equally spaced along the arc.

You can press the Preview button to see the

members as they will be generated.

Press the Create button and 8 members,

named 19 to 26, were created and 9 joints,
named 17 to 25 were created along the arc.

Note that joints 17 and 25 are created on

the top of joints 16 and 8 correspondingly.
Later on, they are going to be merged
together by deleting duplicate joints.

Step #13. Hide Grid: Since the Grid is no longer needed it can be hidden using
AutoCAD/BricsCAD commands to freeze the layer GRID_LAYER. This can be done by clicking on
the Home Tab and then selecting the GRID_LAYER from the drop down list of layers and clicking
on its freeze icon.

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Step #14. Turn OFF labeling:

Click on the icon in the ribbon bar and

then uncheck the Visible Labels option for Joints,
Members and 2D Elements.

Now labeling is turned off and it is easier and faster to

view and control the model.

Note: You can also delete or hide the Arc line as it is no longer needed. It can be deleted by
selecting it with the mouse, and then presssing the keyboard button <Delete>. Be carefull not to
select any members or joints, but only the Arc line.

Step #15. Mirror the structure: Switch to a floor pan view, by pressing the TOP of AutoCAD’s
View Cube or BricsCAD’s View Chair.

Then, type MIRROR and when you get the notification Maintain incidence order (Yes/No). Press
Yes to maintain the local coordinate system when mirroring.

NOTE: This option is very useful when mirroring structures having shell finite elements and the
mirror line lies along the element’s XY plane. If you choose to maintain the incidence order, then
after the mirroring the local Z axis of the source and copied finite elements have the same
orientation.

You are then immediately prompted to Select objects: (AutoCAD) or Select entities to mirror:
(BricsCAD) select the right part of the structure, but not the members and joints that are on the
mirror line. In order to make this selection, make the 1st and the 2nd click of the mouse at the
points 1 and 2 as shown in the picture below and press <ENTER>. You will get a confirmation
that 44 objects were found (or 45 if you still have the arc).

When you get the message Specify first point of mirror line (AutoCAD) or Start of mirror line
(BricsCAD): click on the joint at points 3 and then Specify second point of mirror line (AutoCAD)
or End of mirror line (BricsCAD): click on the joint at point 4 as shown in the picture above.

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Then, press <ENTER> and reply to the question Erase source objects? [Yes/No] <N> (AutoCAD)
or Delete the original entities? [Yes-Delete entities(Yes)/No-Keep entities(No)] <No-Keep entities>
(BricsCAD) so as not to delete the right part of the structure. The structure after the mirror
command will look like the following picture:

Step #16. Switch to 3D View: Press the house (AutoCAD) or chair (BricsCAD) icon to change the

view to Isometric, and type Z and E (Zoom, Extents). Click on the icon to set different
colors for each profile.

Press OK to close the Color Options Dialog. Each cross section will now have a different color.

Press the icon to display the 3D solid view of the model, replacing the wireframe view:

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Press the icon to switch back to wireframe view to be able to process CAD Modeler’s
and AutoCAD’s/BricsCAD’s commands faster.

Step #17. Save your Model: In order to save your model just use AutoCAD’s or BricsCAD’s save
command and store the DWG using any filename that you want.

3.5. Create the 2nd floor

Step #18. Copy the members and joints of the 1st floor to the 2nd: Type the command COPY and
when asked to Select objects: type ALL, so that everything is selected. You will get a verification
with the number of objects/entities selected and then press <ENTER>.

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In order to Enter base point or [Displacement/mOde] <Displacement>, click at the base of any
column such as point 1 in the picture above.

In order to Enter second point : click at the top of the same column such as point 2 of the picture
and then press ESC in order to terminate the copy function.

All entities of floor 1 are now copied to floor 2.

Step #19. Correct the Z coordinates of the 2nd floor: The copied columns are 4.00m long, since
they were copied from the 1st floor. In addition, the Z coordinate of the beams is equal to 8.00m
instead of 7.00m. Therefore, all copied joints that have Z coordinate equal to 8.00m should be
moved 1.00m lower.

Switch to FRONT View, by clicking on AutoCAD’s view cube or BricsCAD’s view chair and make
sure that you are in the World UCS by typing UCS and W.

Type MOVE in order to initiate AutoCAD’s/BricsCAD’s move command and when asked to Select
objects (or entities), click on points 1 and 2, as shown in the picture below, selecting all the
entities that belong to the top of the 2nd floor. You will get a notification about the selected
entities and press <ENTER>.

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In order to Enter base point or [Displacement] <Displacement>: click ANYWHERE on the screen.
It makes no difference where you click since relative coordinates will be use to define the
displacement.

In order to Enter second point: type @0,0,-1 and press <ENTER>.

Now the height of the 2nd floor is correct and equal to 3.00 meters.

Note that you can reach the same result by switching to the 2nd Level using the icon

and start entering the columns one-by-one, as you did in the 1st Level. Columns
will then have the correct height (3.00m), since the height of the second Level is defined equal
to 3.00m when the levels were defined in a previous step. Then, copy only the beams from the
1st Level to the correct position. However, it is somewhat faster to copy everything and then fix
the Z coordinate with a simple MOVE command as you did in the previous steps.

3.6. Create the 3rd floor

Step #20. Copy the members and joints of the 2nd floor to the 3rd : Type the command COPY and
when asked to Select objects/entites: click on the similar two points that were used in the
previous MOVE command as shown in the following figure.

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Since this is a crossing window, the columns are automaticallly selected. You will get a
notification about the selected entities and press <ENTER>.

In order to Enter base point: click ANYWHERE on the screen. It makes no difference where you
click since relative coordinates will be used to define the displacement.

In order to Enter second point: type @0,0,3 and press ESC.

Now the 2nd floor is copied to the 3rd one. There is no need to correct the Z coordinates as was
done when the 2nd floor was moved since the second and third levels have the same height.
Press the ESC button to exit the Copy command.

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Step #21. Assign Level Properties:

Since all members were created from Level 1 using COPY

commands, all of them belong to level 1 and their correct
Level property should be assigned.

Click at icon , check the option Update Levels for

All Entities and press OK.

Now every Member or Joint has the correct Level

property depending on its Z coordinate.

You can switch between the levels of the model using the
and icons. The current
level appears in the top caption of AutoCAD’s screen.

You can make whole structure visible by clicking at the

icon .

Step #22. View and Save your model: Press the house icon to change the view to Isometric, and
type Z and E (Zoom, Extents).

Press the icon to display the 3D solid view of the model, replacing the wireframe view as
shown in the following figure:

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Save your model, using a different file name (Save As…). By saving your model with a different
name each time, it is easier to back up to a previous state of the model.

3.7. Create bracing

Step #23. Place bracing members at the front:

Press the icon to switch back to wireframe view to be able to process CAD Modeler’s
and AutoCAD’s/BricsCAD’s commands faster.

Click at icon , check the

visible property for level 1 and
uncheck it for all other levels and
press OK.

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Make sure that “Level :1” appears at the top of CAD window, else use the and
icons to move to Level 1.

Now only Level 1 is visible and it is easier to add the bracing members. Click on the icon
and the Place Member form appears.

Select 60x60x5 as the cross section and

make sure that Material is set to Steel,
Releases to Fix-Fix and Beta angle is 0.

Press the “Place Member(s)>>” button.

Click on the joint located at Point 1 of the

following image.

Click on joint located at Point 2 and the

first bracing member is created.

Click again on joint located at Point 2 and

then on the joint located at Point 3 and
the second bracing member is created

Click on the joint located at Point 4, click on the joint located at Point 5 and the third bracing
member is created.

Click again on the joint located at Point 5, click on the joint located at Point 6 and the fourth
bracing member is created.

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Press ESC to terminate the Generate Beam command.

Step #24. Change the properties of the Bracing Members: Click on the icon
in the Find/Change/Check panel and when asked to Select objects: click on the 4 bracing
members created in a previous Step and press <ENTER>.

The Member Properties [Multiple Selection] form is displayed. Now, change the type to SPACE
TRUSS and press OK.

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This modification applies to all selected members.

Step #25. Copy bracing member to the back: Type COPY and when asked to Select
objects/entities: click on the 4 bracing members created in a previous Step and press <ENTER>.

In order to Enter base point: click on the Joint at Point 1 of the following image.

In order to Enter second point: click on the Joint at Point 2 inf the image on the next page.

Press ESC to terminate the COPY command.

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Step #26. View and Save your model: Press the icon to display the 3D solid view and then

the icon and OK. The model looks like as shown in the following image:

108
Save your model, using a different file name (Save As…).

Make the entire structure visible by clicking at the icon .

Click on the icon to switch back to the wireframe view.

3.8. Create girders

Step #27. Split the beam members at the top level: Clicking on the icon move to
level 3. The current level is displayed at the top caption of AutoCAD/BricsCAD:

Click on the icon and click on the members A and B as shown at the following image, and
then press <ENTER>.

In order to define the Distance for spliting the member or the number of parts (negative
number), enter -8 , so that the beams A and B will be split into 8 equal parts.

Click again on the icon and click on the members C and D as shown at the following
image, and then press <ENTER>.

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In order to define the Distance for spliting the member or the number of parts (negative
number), enter -4 , so that the beams C and D will be split into 4 equal parts.

Step #28. Place girder members at the top level: Click on the icon and Place Member
form appears.

Select IPE120 as the cross section and make

sure that Material is set to Steel, Releases to
Fix-Fix and Beta angle is 90.

Press the “Place Member >>” button.

Click on the joint located at the point 1 of the

following image. Click on the joint at point 2
and the girder member is generated.

Having the command still active, click on the

joints at points 3 and 4 and another girder
member is generated.

Continue by clicking on joints at points 5 and

6 and another girder member is generated.

Continue by clicking on joints at points 7 and

8 and another girder member is generated.

110
Continue by clicking on joints at points 9 and 10 and another girder member is generated.

Continue by clicking on joints at points 11 and 12 and another girder member is generated.

Continue by clicking on joints at points 13 and 14 and another girder member is generated.

Make sure that the option “Split Intersecting Members” is ON, so that common joints will be
created along the previously created X-direction girders. Click on the joint located at point 15
and then click on joint at point 16 and the girder member is generated. Existing girders are split.

Repeat the procedure:

Click on the joint located at point 17 and then click on the joint at point 18 and the girder
member is generated. Existing girders are split.

Click on the joint located at point 19 and then click on the joint at point 20 and the girder
member is generated. Existing girders are split.

Press ESC to terminate the Generate Beam Command.

111
Step #29. Add eccentricities to the Girders: Press the icon to display the 3D solid view and

then the icon and OK. The model looks like:

Click on the Top Icon on AutoCAD’s View Cube or BricsCAD’s View Chair to switch to the top
view in order to be able to select girder members easily.

Click on the icon and when asked to Select objects: click on the 2 Points of
the following image, to select all girder members, and press <ENTER>.

112
The Member Properties [Multiple Selection] form is displayed so you may now specify member
eccentricities.

Note: Some Edit Boxes appear in yellow

background and green fonts, like
Eccentricities. You can use mixed units in the
yellow edit boxes. To understand this feature
enter 0.25 for the Z Starting Eccentricity and
25cm as the Z Ending Eccentricity.

Press OK.

Now the deformable axis of the girder

members has been moved 0.25m up in the Z
direction.

Switch back to the isometric view by clicking on the House icon on AutoCAD’s Cube or
BricsCAD’s Top Front Left at view Chair to see the result. The girder members now sit on the
upper flange of the beam members.

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3.9. Create an opening
Step #30. Delete a joint to create an opening: Select the Joint Located in Point A of the image
above and press the DEL key.

Warning: All structural entities (members, elements, etc) connected to this Joint will also be
deleted? (Yes/No) appears and continue by pressing Y and <ENTER>.

The Joint is deleted together with all members connected to the joint.

114
3.10. Create Supports
Step #31. Support the joints at the base of the model:

Make the entire structure visible by clicking at the icon and press Z and E (Zoom
Extents).

Switch to the FRONT View, by clicking on Front on AutoCAD’s cube or BricsCAD’s chair.

Click on the icon and select the window by clicking at points 1 and 2 in the following
image. All the bottom joints are selected and press OK to finish the selection.

115
 The Joint Properties [Multiple Selection] form
appears.

Select Pin using Quick Selection, and Fx, Fy

and Fz are automatically checked.

Press OK.

All the bottom joints are now pinned and

have an orange color instead of green to
indicate that they are supported.

3.11. Check the model

Step #32. Check for duplicate joints: In order to check for joints having the same coordinates,

click on the icon , under the “Check” Drop Button, located in Find/Change/Check
at Ribbon Area.

For the Merge Tolerance <0.001000>, just press <ENTER> to accept the default value.

The Merge Joints form appears where you can see the list of joints having the same coordinates.
Make sure that Merge option is checked for all pairs and press OK.

116
By entering the same command again, for the 2nd time, you should get the notification that 0
duplicate joints found .

Step #33. Check for floating joints: In order to check for joints not connected to the model, click
on the icon , under the “Check” Drop Button, located in Find/Change/Check at
Ribbon Area. If your model was created as described so far, you should get a notification 0
floating joints found.

Note: You can also run all other checks of the same drop list, to check for Interference Joints,
Duplicate Members, Zero Length Members, Duplicate Names and Database Integrity. You should
not get any errors or warnings.

3.12. Define Groups

Step #34. Create Group Names: It is optional to define Groups in your model but it is strongly
recomended to do so since it will be easier to control the display and selection for parts of your
structure.

Click on the icon in the Groups panel and the Group dialog appears.

Press the Add Group button and enter Columns as Name of the group.

Press the Add Group button and enter Beams as Name of the group.

Press the Add Group button and enter Girders as Name of the group.

117
Press the Add Group button and enter Bracing as Name of the group.

Press OK to close the form.

Step #35. Add Columns to their Group.

Click on the icon

and make only profiles
HE320B visible by
unckecking all others.

Press OK.

Click on the icon in the Groups

panel and make sure that the Group Columns
is selected as the active group.

Select everything on the screen in a full

window and press the Enter key.

To verify that the group is applied correctly,

you can double click on a column and in the
Member Properties form, you will be able to
see its Group definition.

Step #36. Add Beams to their Group:

Click on the icon

and make only profiles
IPE330 visible by unckecking
all others.

Press OK.

118
 Click on the icon and make
sure that the Group Beams is selected as the
active group.

Select everything on the screen in a full

window and press the Enter key.

Step #37. Add Girders to their Group:

Click on the icon

and make only profiles
IPE120 visible by
unckecking all others.

Press OK.

Click on the icon and make

sure that the Group Girders is selected as
the active group.

Select everything on the screen in a full

window and press the Enter key.

Step #38. Add Bracing to their Group:

Click on the icon

and make only profiles
60x60x5 to be visible by
unckecking all others.

Press OK.

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 Click on the icon and make
sure that the Group Bracing is selected as the
active group.

Select everything on the screen in a full

window and press the Enter key.

3.13. Define Loads

Step #39. Define Self Weight: Click on the icon and the Self Weight dialog
appears. Enter:

- SW as Name
- Self Weight as the Load Description
- Negative Z as the Global Axis for the direction of the load
- 1.0 as Factor
- Check Include finite elements

and press Create New to create the new loading and then OK to close the dialog.

120
Step #40. Define Load Cases: Click on the icon and the Load dialog appears.

Enter:

- LL as Name
- Live Load as the Load Description
- L as Design variable

and press Create New.

Enter:

- PL as Name
- Point Load as the Load Description

and press Create New.

Press Exit to close the dialog.

Step #41. Apply Live Loads: Live Loads will be applied only to Beam Members, therefore click on
the icon . Select the 2nd Tab in order to colorize members by their group and make
only the Group Beams visible and press OK.

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Click on the icon . Using a full window, select all entities that appear on screen and
press <ENTER> to finish with the selection.

The Member Properties [Multiple Selection] form appears having the tab “Member Loads”
active.

Click on LL at the “Empty Load Cases” list box and then enter

- Uniform as the Load Distribution

- Force as Load Type
- Z Global as Direction
- -5 as V1
- Fractional as Location
- 0.0 as L1
- 1.0 as L2

Press Create New and the number 125 appears next to the $ symbol the Empty Load Cases list
box. This is a notification that 125 members are loaded in Load Case LL.

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Press OK to close the dialog. Member Loads appear in red arrows. To clear the arrows select
from the GTS Display Ribbon Tab.

By double clicking on one beam and then selecting the Member Loads tab and clicking on LL at
the Applied Load Cases List Box, you will be able to view and edit the existing loading values of
the specific beam.

Click on the icon , select the 1st Tab in order to colorize members by their section and
then select everything to be visible and press OK.

Step #42. View Live Loads: Click at the icon to switch to the wireframe view.

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On the Menu Bar, click on GTS Display>Display>Member Loads and the Display Loads form
appears:

Select LL as the Load case and leave the other

display options at their default values.

Press Show and the loading arrows are

displayed.

Click on Clear when you are done and Close

to exit from the dialog.

124
Click at the icon to display the 3D solid view.

Step #43. Apply Joint Load: A Joint load will be applied to the Joint located at Point A of the
following image.

125
Zoom closer to the specific point using AutoCAD’s/BricsCAD’s zooming functions.

Click on the icon , click on the joint at A and press <ENTER> to finish with the selection.

The Joint Properties form appears having the tab “Joint Generalized Loads” active.

Click on PL in the “Empty Load Cases” list box and then enter -3 for Force Z as shown in the Joint
Properties form on the next page.

Press Create New, and the number 1 appears next to the $ symbol in the Load Cases list box.
This is a notification that 1 joint is loaded under the Load Case PL.

126
Step #44. View Joint Load: Click at the icon to switch to wireframe view.

On the Menu Bar, click on GTS Display>Jont Loads and the Display Loads form appears:

127
 Select PL as the Load case and leave the
other display options at their default values.

Press Show and the loading arrows are

displayed.

Click on Clear when you are done and Close

to exit from the dialog.

Click at the icon to display the 3D solid view.

Step #45. Define Area Load for Level 1: An area load equal to 1.0kN/m2 along the vertical
direction will be applied to whole level. Switch to Level 1 by clicking on the icon
untill “Level 1” is displayed.

Click on the icon in the Loads panel of the ribbon.

128
 Type:

- AL1 as Name
- Area Load Level 1 as Description
- 1.0 as Load Value
- Z as Global Direction
- 4.0 as Elevation (the elevation of
level 1)
- Two way as Distribution

Press Display >> and the loaded areas that

were automaticaly detected are displayed in
yellow solid hatch, as shown below.

Press Clear to remove the solid hatch pattern and then OK to store the area load AL1.

129
Step #46. Define Area Load for Level 3: An area load equal to 1.0kN/m2 along the vertical
direction will be applied only to the two middle openings. Switch to Level 3 by clicking on the

icon untill “Level 3” is displayed.

Click on the icon in the Loads panel of the ribbon.

Type:

- AL3 as Name
- Area Load Level 3 as Description
- 1.0 as Load Value
- Z as Global Direction
- 10.0 as Elevation (the elevation of
level 3)
- Two way as Distribution

Press “Define Outline Region >>” and you are

prompted to select the members that define
the outline region of the area load. Click on
the 6 members at the perimeter of the two
middle openings, as shown at the image
below.

130
Press Display >> and the loaded area will be displayed in yellow solid hatch, as shown below.

Press Clear to remove the solid hatch pattern and then OK to store the area load AL3.

131
Step #47. Define Load Combinations: Click on the icon and the Load
Combination dialog appears. Enter:

- CB1 as Name
- Load Combination 1 for the Description of the Load Combination
- Click on SW, Enter 1.35 as the factor and press ADD>>
- Click on LL, Enter 1.5 as the factor and press ADD>>
- Click on PL, Enter 1.5 as the factor and press ADD>>
- Press Store
- Press Done to close the dialog.

132
3.14. GT STRUDL Input File

Step #48. Create GTI: Save your model as “Tutorial_Example_1.dwg” and click on the icon
and the Create GT STRUDL Input file dialog appears. Keep the default GTI filename, check all
options except “Read Finite Element Results” as shown in the following image and press OK.

Step #49. View/Edit GTI: Click on the icon and the GTI file created in the previous
step will be opened by the system’s default text editor.

133
Step #50. Execute GT STRUDL: Click on the icon and the GTI file created in the previous
step will be sent to GT STRUDL main program that is waiting in the background.

Stiffness analysis is automaticaly performed and DBX result files are automaticaly created.

In order to demonstrate the use of the command that reads back design results, add the
following commands into GT STRUDL main window (note that the steel design Parameters are
incomplete)
PARAMETERS
CODE EC3 ALL MEMBERS
CHECK ALL MEMBERS AS BEAM
DBX BINARY 'Tutorial_Example_1.25' REPLACE
WRITE REPLACE CODE 'Tutorial_Example_1.25' MEMBERS EXISTING

The result of the CHECK ALL MEMBERS command shown above is that members 148 149
150 151 152 153 154 155 FAILED CODE CHECKS

In addition, you can enter GTMenu to view the model and the results as described in the
GTMenu User Guide. After selecting the View button and checking Z-Up, and then selecting
View 1, the structure is displayed in GTMenu as shown below.

134
Step #51. Read Results from GT STRUDL: In CAD Modeler, click on the icon and
the Read GT.STRUDL Results dialog appears. Check all options except “Read Finite Element
Results” as shown below and press OK.

135
Note: You should get an information message “Results Loaded Successfully”

3.15. Display Results

Step #52. Display Deformed Model: on the Menu Bar, click on (ribbon tab “GTS
Display”) and then select SW as load Case and press ENTER twice. The deformed structure will
be drawn as shown below.

136
Repeat and select PL as the Load Case and the deformed structure appears as shown in the
following image:

137
Note: You can Annotate the Joint displacements by clicking on the icon,

that is located under the in the ribbon and the selecting a joint and annotation
possition.

Click on (ribbon tab “GTS Display”) to return to the original undeformed position
of the model.

Step #53. Display Section Displacements: Click on the icon to switch back to the
wireframe view. Click on (ribbon tab “GTS Display”).

Select:
- SW as Load Case

138
 - 0.1 as Scale Factor
- 10.00 as Font Size (default)
- Annotation Format: Exponential
- Check Hide Model

Press “Display >>” and zoom at the upper left

end of the structure as shown in the image
below.

Press “Annotate >” and click on any part of

the deformed shape curve and then at the
position that you want the annotation to be
displayed.

Press on “Legend >” and click at any part of

the screen to place the legend of the
diagram.

139
In order to display the animation press “Generate Animation Frames” and then “Animate >>”.
To terminate the animation press “Stop” button.

In order to exit the command, uncheck “Hide Model”, press “Clear” Button and “Close”.

Step #54. Display Member Diagrams: Click on (ribbon tab “GTS Display”).

140
 Select:
- SW as Load Case
- MZ Moment as Value to be displayed
- 0.1 as Scale Factor
- 10.00 as Font Size (default)

Press “Display >>” and zoom at the upper left

end of the structure as shown in the image
below.

Press “Annotate >” and click on any part of

the yellow MZ Moment curve and then at the
position that you want the annotation to be
displayed.

Press on “Legend >” and click at any part of

the screen to place the legend of the
diagram.

141
In order to exit the command, press the “Clear” Button and then the “Close” button.

Step #55. Display Code Check Results: Click on (ribbon tab “GTS Display”) and
select all mebers by typing ALL and pressing <Enter> twice.

142
 Select:
- Display Text: Actual/Allowable Stress
Ratios
- All Values
- 4 as Font Size

Press “Display >>” and the following image is

drawn with the bracing members that failed
the check (149 to 155) appearing in red and
members that passed the check appearing in
blue.

In order to exit the command, click the

“Clear” Button and “Close”.

143
3.16. Results Datasheets
Step #56. Except from the graphical display of results there is an option to view them in
datasheets from the item “Results Datasheets” of the menu/ribbon tab “GTS Display”.

Click on the icon and the “GTSTRUDL – Joint Displacement Datasheet” dialog
appears where you can filter, sort, write results to text file or change results units as shown in
figure below.

144
Click on the icon and the “GTSTRUDL – Reactions Datasheet” dialog appears
where you can filter, sort, write results to text file or change results units as shown in figure
below.

145
Click on the icon Results Datasheets > and the GT STRUDL Code Check Results”
dialog appears

3.17. Report Builder

Step #57. Click on the icon to generate the report of this structure by calling Report
Builder. Report Builder is launched in a separate window. You can find more information on how
creating your report in the GT STRUDL® Report Builder Getting Started Guide (Help Icon on the
right top corner on Report Builders’ window).

146
147
4. Tutorial Example #2

4.1. Introduction
The modeling and analysis of the tank shown below is demonstrated in a step-by-step process
using CAD Modeler and GT STRUDL finite element analysis.

148
4.2. Open CAD Modeler and start working
Step #1. Launch GT STRUDL by selecting the icon “CAD Modeler” in the Welcome to GT STRUDL
dialog shown below. The version of AutoCAD/BricsCAD selected during the installation will be
automatically launched, together with CAD Modeler’s menus and ribbon bar.

4.3. Define the basic geometry of the model

Step #2. Define the correct Units by pressing the icon and select Meters (m) and
KiloNewtons in the Units Form.

149
Step #3. Create an AutoCAD/BricsCAD Polyline that will describe the outline of the tank. Type
the following commands at the command prompt (each command is followed by an <ENTER>):
PLINE
0,0,0
@10,0
ARC
@4,4
@-4,4
LINE
@-10,0
CLOSE

The polyline shown in the picture below is created after entering Zoom and Extents at the
command prompt.

Step #4. Create a Line along the height of the tank: Switch to the isometric view of the structure
by pressing the small house icon in AutoCAD’s Cube or BricsCAD’s Chair.

150
 Type the following commands at the command prompt
(each command is followed by an <ENTER>):

LINE
0,0,0
@0,0,4
<ENTER>

The line shown at the picture below is created.

Click on the TOP icon of the AutoCAD’s Cube / BricsCAD’s

Chair in order to switch back to floor plan view.

4.4. Create the bottom of the tank

Step #5. Generate the Finite Elements inside the polyline, at the bottom of the Tank: Click on

the icon , under the “2D” Drop Button, located in Meshing at Ribbon Area, and

151
when the prompt message Poly Select Boundary Polyline or Circle appears, click on the Polyline
that you have created in the previous step.

The Select Mesh Properties form appears

where you have to enter:

- Material : Concrete
- Type: SBHT6, meaning triangular
elements having 6 degrees of
freedom per node
- Thickness: 0.20
- Boundary Maximum Edge Size: 0.50
- Mesh Quality: High

You can press the Preview button to see the

finite elements as they will be generated.

Press the Create button to create the finite

elements and joints on the bottom of the
tank.

152
Step #6. Turn OFF labeling and view mesh:

Click on the icon in the ribbon bar and

then uncheck the Visible Labels option for Joints,
Members and 2D Elements.

Now labeling is turned off and it is easier and faster to

control the model.

The finite element mesh, without labeling, is shown in the image below.

4.5. Create the walls of the tank

Step #7. Generate the finite elements that will model the Wall of the Tank by extruding the

polyline: Switch to Isometric view and click on the icon , under the “2D” Drop
Button, located in Meshing at Ribbon Area (Note: the display of joints and elements previously
created is automatically turned off to make selection of the polyline and extrude line easier).
When the prompt message Select Line, Arc, Circle or PolyLine to be Extruded appears, click on
the Polyline that you have created in a previous step, as shown in the following picture (Click
#1).

153
When the prompt message Select Extrude Direction Curve (Line or Arc)appears, click on the line
that you have created in a previous step, as shown in the picture below (Click #2).

154
 The Select Mesh Properties form appears
where you have to enter:

- Material : Concrete
- Type: SBHQ6, meaning quad
elements having 6 degrees of
freedom per node
- Thickness: 0.2
- Boundary Maximum Edge Size: 0.5
(Note: This must be the same as
when the mesh in the bottom of the
tank was created so the mesh will be
the same along the polyline)
- Spacing Extrude Direction: Uniform
and select 8 spaces in the pulldown

You can press the Preview button to see the

finite elements as they will be generated.

Press the Create button to generate the

finite elements and joints on the wall of the
tank

The finite element mesh is presented in the

following image.

155
Step #8. Check for duplicate joints: Since both meshing functions described above generated
joints along the polyline, pairs of joints having the same coordinates exist in the model and they
have to be merged together. In order to check for joints having the same coordinates, click on

the icon , under the “Check” Drop Button, located in Find/Change/Check at

Ribbon Area.

For the Merge Tolerance <0.001000>, just press <ENTER> to accept the default value.

The Duplicate Joints form appears where you can see the list of joints having the same
coordinates. Make sure that Merge option is checked for all joint pairs and press OK.

156
By entering the same command again for the 2nd time, you should get the notification that 0
duplicate joints found .

Step #9. Switch to 3D View: Press the house icon (AutoCAD cube) or Top Front Left (BricsCAD
chair) to change the view to Isometric, and type Z and E (Zoom, Extents). Click on the icon
to set a different color for 2D finite elements. When the Display Options form
appears, click on the white button next to “2D Element”, to define a different color. Using this
form you can also define Object Sizes in the current length units.

157
 Select Color (AutoCAD) Select Color (BricsCAD)

Press OK to close the Color Options Dialog. The elements will now have the color that you
selected.

Press the icon (and then type Shade) to display the 3D solid view of the model, replacing
the wireframe view:

158
159
Press the icon to switch back to wireframe view to be able to process CAD Modeler’s
and AutoCAD’s/BricsCAD’s commands faster.

Step #10. Save your Model: In order to save your model, use AutoCAD’s/BricsCAD’s save
command and store the DWG using any filename that you want.

4.6. Create Supports

Step #11. Support the joints at the base of the model:

Switch to the FRONT View, by clicking on Front on AutoCAD’s cube or BricsCAD’s chair.

Click on the icon and select the window by clicking at points 1 and 2 in the following
image. All the bottom joints are selected and press ENTER to finish the selection.

160
 The Joint Properties [Multiple Selection] form
appears.

Using the Quick Selection, select Pin and note

that Fx, Fy and Fz are automatically checked.

Press OK.

Press the Isometric (Top Front Left) icon to

change the view to Isometric, and type Z and
E (Zoom, Extents).

All the bottom joints are now pinned and have an orange color instead of green to indicate that
they are supported.

161
4.7. Check the model
Step #12. Check for duplicate joints: In order to check for joints having the same coordinates,

click on the icon , under the “Check” Drop Button, located in Find/Change/Check
at Ribbon Area.

For the Merge Tolerance <0.001000>, just press <ENTER> to accept the default value.

You should get the notification that 0 duplicate joints found .

Step #13. Check for floating joints: In order to check for joints not connected to the model, click

on the icon , under the “Check” Drop Button, located in Find/Change/Check at

Ribbon Area. If your model was created as described so far, you should get a notification that 0
floating joints found.

Note: You can also run all other checks of the same drop list, to check for Interference Joints,
Duplicate Shells, Duplicate Names and Database Integrity. You should not get any errors or
warnings.

162
Step #14. View Planar Axes for Finite Elements: In order to check the direction of the planar axes

of the Finite elements, click on the icon in the “GTS Display” Ribbon area
and then Enter Legend Coordinates(x,y,z): or click at the point where you want the legend to be
displayed.

In the legend, the X axis is displayed in cyan, Y axis in red and Z axis in yellow (AutoCAD) or
orange (BricsCAD). The size of the arrow and its arrowhead is controlled by the value given in
Display Options > Object Sizes > Load Arrowhead and the size of the legend font is controlled by
the value given in Display Options > Label Settings – Font Sizes > Annotation (pts) (shown in
2.6.64).

To clear the arrows select from the GTS Display Ribbon Tab.

4.8. Define Groups

Step #15. Create Group Names: It is optional to define Groups in your model but it is strongly
recomended to do so since it will be easier to control the display and selection for parts of your
structure.

163
In the Groups panel of GTS CAD Modeler ribbon, click on the icon and the Group dialog
appears.

Press the Add Group button and enter Bottom as Name of the group.

Press the Add Group button and enter Wall as Name of the group.

Press OK to close the form.

Step #16. Add the elements in the bottom of the tank to the Group Bottom:

Switch to the FRONT View, by clicking on Front on AutoCAD’s cube or BricsCAD’s chair.

Click on the icon in the Group

panel and make sure that the Group Bottom
is selected as the active group.

Make a selection by clicking at the points 1

and 2 of the following image and press the
Enter key.

164
All the shell elements located in the bottom of the tank are now selected and added to group
“Bottom”.

Step #17. Add the elements in the tank wall to the Group Wall.

Click on the icon and make sure

that the Group Wall is selected as the active
group.

Make a selection by clicking at the points 1

and 2 of the following image and press the
Enter key.

All shell elements located in the wall of the

tank are now selected and added to group
“Wall”.

To verify that the group is applied correctly,

you can double click on a element in the wall
and in the Shell Properties form, you will be
able to see its Group definition in the Shell
Properties form.

Press the house icon to change the view to Isometric, and type Z and E (Zoom, Extents).

Click at the icon to display the 3D solid view as shown in the following image and save your
model.

165
4.9. Define Loads
Step #18. Define Self Weight: Click on the icon and the Self Weight dialog
appears. Enter:

- SW as Name
- Self Weight as the Load Description
- Negative Z as the Global Axis for the direction of the load
- 1.0 as Factor
- Check Include finite elements

and press OK to create the new loading and close the dialog.

166
Step #19. Define Load Cases: Click on the icon and the Load dialog appears.

Enter:

- LL as Name
- Live Load as the Load Description
- L as Design Variable

and press Create New.

Enter:

- PL as Name
- Pressure Load as the Load Description

and press Create New.

167
Press Exit to close the dialog.

Step #20. Apply Live Loads: Live Loads will be applied only to the bottom of the tank , therefore

click on the icon . Select the 2nd Tab in order to colorize elements by their group and
make only the Group Bottom visible and press OK.

Click on the icon in the Loads Panel. Using a full window, select all entities that appear
on screen and press <ENTER> to finish with the selection.

The Element Properties [Multiple Selection] form appears having the tab “Element Loads”
active.

Click on LL at the “Empty Load Cases” list box and then enter:

- Surface as the Force Type

- Z as Direction
- Global as System
- Uniform as Load Distribution
- -40 as v1

Press Create New and the number 476 appears next to the $ symbol the Empty Load Cases list
box. This is a notification that 476 elements are loaded in Load Case LL.

168
Press OK to close the dialog.

By double clicking on one element and then selecting the Element Loads tab and clicking on LL
at the Applied Load Cases List Box, you will be able to view and edit the existing loading values
of the specific shell.

To clear the arrows select from the GTS Display Ribbon Tab.

Step #21. Apply Pressure Load: Pressure Load will be applied only to elements in the Group

Wall, therefore click on the icon . Select the 2nd Tab in order to colorize elements by
their group and make only the Group Wall visible and press OK.

Click on the icon in the Loads Panel. Using a full window, select all entities that appear
on screen and press <ENTER> to finish with the selection.

169
The Shell Properties [Multiple Selection] form appears having the tab “Element Loads” active.

Click on PL at the “Empty Load Cases” list box and then enter:

- Surface as the Force Type

- Z as Direction
- Local as System
- Uniform as Load Distribution
- 5 as v1

Press Create New and the number 656 appears next to the $ symbol the Empty Load Cases list
box. This is a notification that 656 elements are loaded in Load Case PL.

Press OK to close the dialog.

To clear the arrows select from the GTS Display Ribbon Tab.

Click on the icon . Select the 2nd Tab and make everything visible.

Step #22. Define a Load Combination: Click on the icon and the Load
Combination dialog appears. Enter:

- CB1 as Name
- Load Combination 1 for the Description of the Load Combination
- Click on SW, Enter 1.3 as the factor and press ADD>>
- Click on LL, Enter 1.5 as the factor and press ADD>>

170
 - Click on PL, Enter 1.1 as the factor and press ADD>>
- Press Store
- Press Done to close the dialog.

4.10. Create GT STRUDL Input File

Step #23. Create GTI: Click on the icon and the Create GT STRUDL Input file dialog appears.
Keep the default GTI filename, check the options “Perform Stiffness Analysis”, “Read Joint
Displacements” and “Read Finite Element Results” as shown in the following image and press
OK.

171
Step #24. View/Edit GTI: Click on the icon and the GTI file created in the previous
step will be opened by the system’s default text editor.

Step #25. Execute GT STRUDL: Click on the icon and the GTI file created in the previous
step will be sent to GT STRUDL main program that is waiting in the background.

Stiffness analysis is automaticaly performed and DBX result files are automaticaly created.

In addition, you can enter GTMENU to view the solid model and the results as described in the
GTMENU User Guide. You can also click on Results > Finite Element Results > Contour Sresses,

172
Strains, Displacement and display MXX Bending Resultants for load case PL as shown in the
figures on the next page:

173
Step #26. Read Results from GT STRUDL: Click on the icon and the Read
GT.STRUDL Results dialog appears. Check the options “Read Joint Displacements” and “Read
Finite Element Results” as shown below and press OK.

174
If you get the following error message at the command prompt:
ERROR Loading Results: The following DBX files cannot be found:
STDBX34 - Strains
STDBX37 - Principal Strains

This message informs you that no Strain results are available to be loaded. You can ignore this
message, since the elements used (SBHQ6) do not give strains as output results.

4.11. Display Results

Step #27. Show Displacements: On the Menu Bar, click on (ribbon tab “GTS
Display”) and then select PL as the load Case and press ENTER twice. The deformed structure
will be drawn as shown below.

175
Note: You can Annotate the Joint displacements by clicking on the icon,

that is located under the in the ribbon and the selecting a joint and annotation
possition.

Click on (ribbon tab “GTS Display”) to return to the original undeformed position
of the model.

Another alternative is to click on (ribbon tab “GTS Display”).

176
 Select:
- PL as Load Case
- 0.1 as Scale Factor
- 10.00 as Font Size (default)
- Annotation Format: Exponential
- Check Hide Model

Press “Display >>” to view the deformed

shape.

Press “Annotate >” and click on any part of

the deformed shape curve and then at the
position that you want the annotation to be
displayed.

Press on “Legend >” and click at any part of

the screen to place the legend of the
diagram.

177
In order to display the animation press “Generate Animation Frames” and then “Animate >>”.
To terminate the animation press “Stop” button.

In order to exit the command, uncheck “Hide Model”, press “Clear” Button and “Close”.

Step #28. Show Finite Element Results: Click on (ribbon tab “GTS Display”) and the
Element Results Form appears.

178
 Select:
- PL as Load Case
- Resultants as the Type of element
result
- Mxx as the Moment Resultant to
display
- Middle as position (Resultants are
only available for the middle surface
of a 2D finite element)
and press “Display >>”

You can also press the “Annotate >” button

and select joints to display the corresponding
values.

The multi-colored contour image of the structure is displayed and each color corresponds to a
range of Mxx values as shown in the Legend Form. Type Shade to view the contours in shaded
mode as shown on the next page.

NOTE: Hardware graphics accelaration may cause AutoCAD to incorrectly display the colors of
the contour. In such a case it is recomemded that you turn OFF Hardware Accelartion, during
displaying the stress contours, by typing the command GRAPHICSCONFIG. You can turn it
back ON afterwards.

179
In order to display the animation press “Generate Animation Frames” and then “Animate >>”.
To terminate the animation press “Stop” button.

To exit the command, uncheck “Hide Model”, press “Clear” Button and “Close”.

180
4.12. Results Datasheets
Step #29. In addition to the graphical display of results there is an option to view them in
datasheets from the item “Results Datasheets” of the menu/ribbon tab “GTS Display”.

Click on the icon and the “GTSTRUDL – Joint Displacement Datasheet” dialog
appears where you can filter, sort, write results to text file or change results units as shown in
figure below;

Click on the icon and the “GTSTRUDL – Average Stresses Datasheet” dialog appears
where you can filter, sort, write results to text file or change results units as shown in figure
below.

181
4.13. Report Builder

Step #57. Click on the icon to generate the report of this structure by calling Report
Builder. Report Builder is launched in a separate window. You can find more information on how
creating your report in the GT STRUDL® Report Builder Getting Started Guide (Help Icon on the
right top corner on Report Builders’ window).

182
183
5. Tutorial Example #3

5.1. Introduction
The modeling of a frame structure using CAD Modeler shown below is demonstrated in a step-
by-step process.

5.2. Open CAD Modeler and start working

Step #1. Launch GT STRUDL by selecting the icon “CAD Modeler” in the Welcome to GT STRUDL
dialog shown below. The version of AutoCAD/BricsCAD selected during the installation will be
automatically launched, together with CAD Modeler’s menus and ribbons.

184
Step #2. Make sure that CAD Modeler’s ribbons and menus are visible.

If AutoCAD’s/BricsCAD’s menu is not visible, type MENUBAR at AutoCAD’s/BricsCAD’s

command prompt, then 1 and press <ENTER>.

If AutoCAD’s/BricsCAD’s ribbon area is not visible, type RIBBON and press <ENTER>.

Ribbon commands will be used in this tutorial example. However, since all ribbon commands
appear in the menu area, you can use the menu bar as well.

5.3. Define the basic geometry of the model

Step #3. Define the correct Units by pressing the icon and select Feet (m) and Kips in
the Units Form.

Step #4. Define the one level of the model by pressing the icon . Press the Add Level
st
button one time to add a level to your model. Modify the height of the 1 level by selecting the
Height cell of the 1st Level and entering 15.

Note: Some Edit Boxes appear in yellow background and green fonts, like the one at the Level
Heights. You can use mixed units in the yellow edit boxes. For more information about Mixed
Units and the valid syntax please read GT STRUDL GT Menu Guide

Make sure that Z Vertical Axis option is checked and press OK to close the form.

185
Step #5. Enter a Grid that will help you enter the columns quickly by clicking on the icon .
The grid is going to have 2 (20.4167 ft) spaces in the horizontal direction (X) and 1 space (18 ft)
in the sidelong direction (Y). Enter 20ft-5in in the Distance text box and press the Add button
2 times. The program will automatically convert the distance of 20ft -5in to 20.4167 ft.

Then, click on Sidelong in the Placement

area to enter the spacing in the Y direction,
and enter 18 and Add.

By pressing OK you are prompted (command

prompt) to enter the Insert Point for the
grid. Type 0,0,0 and press <ENTER>.

The grid is created, having its upper left corner A-1 at the point 0,0,0.

186
You will be able to view the grid by pressing the Top Icon
in AutoCAD’s Cube or BricsCAD’s Chair, or preferably by
typing Z (for Zoom), E (for Extents) and press
<ENTER>.

Note: In order to be able to snap at the intersection of the grid lines, while placing columns,
make sure that the AutoCAD’s/BricsCAD’s Object Snap is ON, and the Intersection mode is
enabled. Type OSNAP for AutoCAD or right click on “ESNAP” setting for BricsCAD to set the
various snap settings. Shown below is the ObjectSnap tab in AutoCAD’s and BricsCAD’s Drafting
settings dialog.

AutoCAD’s Snap Setting BricsCAD’s Snap Settings

187
Step #6. Click at Top Front Right of the View Cube (AutoCAD) or Chair (BricsCAD) to change the
view of the model.

AutoCAD’s View Cube for Isometric View BricsCAD’s View Cube for Isometric View

Enter the cross-section profiles that will be used at the model by pressing the icon .
Click on the AISC 14th Edition 2011 list and then on the W-AISC14 table of profiles. Select the
profile W12x50 that will be used for the columns, by double clicking on it.

188
 The profile is added to the project and it appears in the left list-
box having a black dot in front of it.

Using the same procedure, add 2 additional profiles: W10x45,

for beams and WT6x15 for the bracing from the table
WTAISC14. Press OK to close the form.

Note: You can add additional profiles at any time by following

this procedure and also view the full list of profiles used in your
model and add more profiles if needed (left image).

5.4. Create Columns

Step #7. Start entering the columns by clicking on the icon . The dialog Place Member
appears that helps you to quickly select properties for the members that are going to be
entered.

189
 Select W12x50 as the cross section for the
columns. Make sure that Material is set to
Steel, Releases to Fix-Fix and the Beta angle is
90. There is no need to close this dialog
manually.

Press the “Place Member(s) >>” button.

Click at the intersection point between line A

and line 1 (point A-1) and the column will be
placed at this position.

Repeat the same procedure by clicking at the

points B-1, C-1, A-2, B-2 and C-2.

When you are done, press ESC to exit the

Vertical column command. The Place
Member form is automatically hidden.

190
Note: Each time you create a member, the orientation of the cross section will appear in the
middle of the element, unless you clear it with command “Clear” (see 2.6.84).

Step #8. As you can see in the isometric view below, column members 1 to 6 were created
together with joints 1 to 12 at their ends. Each column is 15 ft long, as defined in Level
Properties (height of the first floor).

191
5.5. Create beams and girders

Step #9. Start entering the beams, along X axis, by clicking on the icon . The Place
Member form appears.

Select W12x50 as the cross section and

make sure that Material is set to Steel,
Releases to Fix-Fix and the Beta angle is
90. You have to set the Beta angle equal
to 90 degrees in order to orientate the
local Y axis of the W12x50 cross section
along the Z global axis. Make sure that
the option Split Intersecting Members is
checked and then uncheck Split Ending
Members. Moreover, check the
“Physical Member” option, so that you
also define the physical member and not
only the analytical members.

Press “Place Member(s) >>” button.

Starting Point (x,y,z) message appears,

asking you to enter the coordinates or
click on a specific point on screen. Click
on Joint 2 at the top joint of column 1 at
position A-1.

Then you have to define the Ending Point (x,y,z) so click on Joint 6, as shown in the picture
below.

192
Members 7 and 8 will be created.

The two beams along X axis were generated with only two clicks of the mouse: at Joints 2 and 6.
The beam from Joint 2 to Joint 6, was split into two parts, between Joints 2, 4 and 6, since Joints
4 (column at positions B-1) intersect this member.

Since the command is still active, you are prompted to enter the Starting Point (x,y,z), repeat the
same procedure by clicking on Joint 8 (top of column at position A-2), and then click at Joint 12
(top of column at position C-2). Members 9 and 10 will be created.

193
Step #10. Enter the beams, along Y axis. The command Generate Beams should be still active,

else you can call it again by clicking again on the icon . Keep the same settings at the
Place Member Form, as in the previous step, regarding the cross section and Beta angle, but do
NOT click on Split Intersecting Members. Press the “Place Member(s) >>” button.

The prompt message Starting Point (x,y,z) appears, asking you to enter the coordinates or click
on a specific point on screen. Click on the Joint 8, that is the top of column at position A-2. In
order to define the Ending Point (x,y,z), click at Joint 2 (top of column at position A-1). Member
11 is generated.

Repeat the same procedure by clicking on the Joints 10 and 4 to generate Member 12, Joints 12
and 6 to generate Member 13. Then, press ESC to terminate the command.

194
Step #11. Hide Grid: Since the Grid is no longer needed it can be hidden using
AutoCAD/BricsCAD commands to freeze the layer GRID_LAYER. This can be done by clicking on
the Home Tab and then selecting the GRID_LAYER from the drop down list of layers and clicking
on its freeze icon.

195
Step #12. Split horizontal members: Click on the icon and click on the members 7, 8, 9
and 10, and then press <ENTER>.

In order to define the Distance for spliting the member or the number of parts (negative
number), enter -5 , so that the beams will be split into 5 equal parts.

196
Step #13. Turn OFF labeling:

Click on the icon in the ribbon

bar and then uncheck the Visible Labels
option for Joints and Members.

Now labeling is turned off and it is easier

and faster to view and control the model.

Press the icon to remove the informative cross section shapes in the middle of each
member:

197
5.6. Create girders

Step #14. Place girder members along Y axis: Click on the icon and Place Member form
appears.

Select W10x45 W-AISC14 14th

Edition 2011 as the cross section
and make sure that Material is set
to Steel, Releases to Pin-Pin and
Beta angle is 90. Uncheck Split
Intersecting Members, Uncheck
Split Ending Members and Check
Physical Member

Press the “Place Member >>”

button.

Click on the Joint located at the

point 1 of the following image.
Click on the joint at point 2 and
the girder member is generated.

Having the command still active,

click on the Joints at points 3 and 4
and another girder member is
generated.

198
Continue by clicking on Joints at points 5 and 6 and another girder member is generated.

Continue by clicking on Joints at points 7 and 8 and another girder member is generated.

Press ESC to terminate the Generate Beam Command.

199
Press the icon to remove the informative cross section shapes in the middle of each
member.

Step #15. Switch between analytical and physical view.

Turn ON labeling:

Click on the icon in the ribbon

bar and then check the Visible Labels
option for Members and press OK

The labels of all members are visible now.

Press the icon located in Display at Ribbon Area to switch from Analytical to
Physical View as displayed in the picture bellow.

Analytical View Physical View

Physical Members, with the prefix PM, were generated while placing the analytical member,
since the “Physical Member” option was checked. By double clicking on a Physical Member, in
example PM1, you are able to see its properties, including the set of analytical members that
define it. In example for PM1 the set is: 7,14,15,16,17,8,18,19,20,21 as created by placing the
beam, and splitting it afterwards.

200
Step #16. Copy Physical Members

Having the physical member view ON the last 4 physical members created will be copied. If the
COPY command is performed on physical members then the physical member is copied with its
set of analytical members. If the COPY command is performed on analytical members, then only
the analytical members are copied, without the physical member definition.

Type AutoCAD/BricsCAD COPY command and when asked to Select objects/entites: click on the
members PM6, PM7, PM8 and PM9. You will get a notification about the selected entities and
press <ENTER>.

In order to Enter base point: click on Point A of the following image.

In order to Enter second point: click on Point B of the following image.

201
Press ESC to exit from copy command. Another four girders, as physical members PM10, PM11,
PM12 and PM13, are generated.

Switch back to analytical view by pressing the icon and turn OFF member
labeling (as explained in Step #13).

Press the icon to remove the informative cross section shapes in the middle of each
member.

Step #17. Place bracing members.

202
Set ESNAP to Midpoint and not Intersection: Right-click at ESNAP at the bottom of the screen
and deselect “Intersection” and select “Midpoint” option.

Click on the icon and Place Member form appears.

203
 Select W16x15 WTAISC14 14th
Edition 2011 as the cross section
and make sure that Material is set
to Steel, Releases to Pin-Pin and
Beta angle is 0.

Make sure that the option “Split

Intersecting Members” is ON, so
that common joints will be created
along the previously created Y-
direction girders. Uncheck Physical
Member option.

Press the “Place Member >>”

button.

Click on the Joint located at the

point 1 of the following image.
Click on point 3, that will snap to
the middle of the member, and the
bracing member is generated.

Having the command still active, click on the Joints at points 2 and 3 and another member is
generated.

Continue by clicking on Joint at point 4 and midpoint 6 and another member is generated.

Continue by clicking on Joints at points 5 and 6 and another member is generated.

Continue by clicking on Joint at point 7 and midpoint 8 and another member is generated.

Continue by clicking on Joints at points 4 and 8 and another member is generated.

Continue by clicking on Joint at point 9 and midpoint 10 and another member is generated.

Continue by clicking on Joints at points 5 and 10 and another member is generated.

204
Press ESC to terminate the Generate Beam Command and click on the icon to remove
the informative cross section shapes in the middle of each member.

Step #18. Split Girders

205
Click on the icon and click on the members marked as A, B and C, and then press
<ENTER>. In order to define the Distance for spliting the member or the number of parts
(negative number), enter 5, so that the beams will be split at location 5 ft (current length units)
from the start of the members.

Note: Spit command can be used in two different ways. If you enter a negative value (eg. -5), the
member is spit into equal parts (eg. 5 equal parts). The value (absolute part) that you entered is
used to set the number of equal parts. If you enter a positive value (eg 5), then the member is
always spit at two parts, at the point that is 5ft (current length uints) from the start of the
member. The value that you entered is used to set the distance from start.

206
Select member marked in D and delete it, by pressing DEL key and then and click on the icon
to remove the informative cross section shapes in the middle of each member.

Step #19. Add additional members along X

Click on the icon and Place Member form appears.

207
 Select W10x45 W-AISC14 14th Edition
2011 as the cross section and make sure
that Material is set to Steel, Releases to
Pin-Pin and Beta angle is 90.

Make sure that the option “Split

Intersecting Members” is ON, so that
common joints will be created along the
previously created Y-direction girders.
Check Physical Member option.

Press the “Place Member >>” button.

Click on the Joint located at the point 1

of the following image. Click on the Joint
at point 2 and two members are
generated along X axis.

Press ESC to terminate the Generate

Beam Command.

208
Step #20. Split Girders: Click on the icon and click on the member marked in A (of the
following image) and then press <ENTER>.

In order to define the Distance for spliting the member or the number of parts (negative
number), enter 4.5, so that the beam will be split at the location 4.5ft from the start of the
member (see Notes of Step #18 for more information about the split command).

209
Again, click on the icon and click on the member B (of the previous image) and then
press <ENTER>. In order to define the Distance for spliting the member or the number of parts
(negative number), enter 9, so that the beam will be split at the location 9ft from the start of the
member (see Notes of Step #18 for more information about the split command).

Click on the icon to remove the informative cross section shapes in the middle of each
member.

Step #21. Create additional braces: Click on the icon and Place Member form appears.

210
 Select WT16x15 WTAISC14 14th
Edition 2011 as the cross section
and make sure that Material is set
to Steel, Releases to Pin-Pin and
Beta angle is 0.

Make sure that the option “Split

Intersecting Members” is ON and
“Split Ending Members is also ON.
Uncheck Physical Member option.

Press the “Place Member >>”

button.

Click on the Joint located at the

point 1 of the previous image. Click
on the Joint at point 2 and the
brace member is generated.

Having the command still active,

click on the Joint at point 2 and
midpoint 3 and another brace
member is generated.

Repeat the same procedure to generate two more members from points 3 to 4 and 4 to 5.

Press ESC to terminate the Generate Beam Command and click on the icon to remove
the informative cross section shapes in the middle of each member. The created model is
displayed in the following image.

211
Step #22. Switch to 3D View

Click on the icon to set different colors for each profile.

Press OK to close the Color Options Dialog. Each cross section will now have a different color.

212
Press the icon to display the 3D solid view of the model, replacing the wireframe view:

Press the icon to switch back to wireframe view to be able to process CAD Modeler’s
and AutoCAD’s/BricsCAD’s commands faster.

Step #23. Save your Model: In order to save your model just use AutoCAD’s or BricsCAD’s save
command and store the DWG using any filename that you want.

213
Step #24. Change member releases: Press the icon (in GTS Display Tab of the
ribbon) to show releases for each member.

Click on the icon to clear the annotations and zoom at the area of the following image.

Again, press the icon to show releases for each member. Click on the icon
to clear annotations.

214
Select member marked in A by double clicking on it and uncheck the My and Mz Releases of the
member at its End. Note that this member belongs to Physical Member PM14.

By pressing OK, you get an error message, saying that the Physical Member PM14, has its
analytical member 54 (is the member marked in B in the image above) with internal releases at
its start. Physical members are now allowed to have internal releases at their internal joints but
only at their starting and ending joints.

Note: This error can also be located using the Check Physical Member command as well, as
explained in 2.6.26 and this command will be used in a following step.

In order to fix the physical member PM14, select member marked in B by double clicking on it
and uncheck the My and Mz Releases of the member at its Start and press OK.

215
No errors are reported now.

Select member marked in C by double clicking on it and check the My and Mz Releases of the
member at its Start. Note that this member does not belong to any Physical Member. It was
belonging to PM7, but when a part of it was deleted (Step #18) the PM7 definition was deleted
as well. Press OK to close the properties form.

216
Press the icon to show releases for each member.

Click on the icon to clear annotations.

217
5.7. Define supports

Step #25. Create supports: Use AutoCAD’s Cube or BricsCAD’s’ Chair to change the view to
Front. Press the icon (in GTS Modeling Tab of the ribbon), select all Joints at the
bottom, by clicking at points A and B of the following image, and press ENTER.

At the Joint Properties [Multiple Selection] dialog box select Fx, Fy, Fz and Mz as supports for the
selected joints and press OK.

218
Switch the view to Top Front Right (as in Step #6), and press the icon (in GTS
Display Tab of the ribbon) to view Joints supports.

Click on the icon to clear annotations and symbols.

5.8. Define Loads

Step #26. Change UCS: At the command

window, type UCS and then give w, to
change to World UCS.

219
Step #27. Define self-weight: Click on the
icon to define self-weight
load case. Give a Name and a Description.
Select Negative Z.

Make sure that the option “Include Finite

Elements” is ON.

5.9. Perform analysis

Step #28. Overview the model and run checks.

Check for duplicate joints: Click on the icon , under the “Check” Drop Button,
located in Find/Change/Check at Ribbon Area. For the Merge Tolerance <0.001000>, just press
<ENTER> to accept the default value. You should get the verification that:
0 duplicate joints found

Check for floating joints: In order to check for joints not connected to the model, click on the

icon , under the “Check” Drop Button, located in Find/Change/Check at Ribbon

Area. If your model was created as described so far, you should get a notification:
0 floating joints found

Check Physical Members: Click on the icon , under the “Check” Drop
Button, located in Find/Change/Check at Ribbon Area. ). This check applies to Physical Members
having two or more analytical members. The output should be (press F2 to extend the command
line height and see all of it.
Physical Member PM1: OK
Physical Member PM2: OK
Physical Member PM3: OK
Physical Member PM5: OK
Physical Member PM6: OK
Physical Member PM8: OK
Physical Member PM10: OK

220
Physical Member PM14: OK
0 Errors Found

Note: You can also run all other checks of the same drop list, to check for Interference Joints,
Duplicate Members, Zero Length Members, Duplicate Names and Database Integrity. You should
not get any errors or warnings.

View physical members: Click on the icon in the ribbon bar and in the Display
Options Form check Visible Labels for Members, set Font Size for Members equal to 0.5, Set
Shrink Factor to 0.9 and display members as “Physical”.

Press OK to close the form and to see the physical members in wireframe view.

221
Click on the icon and select the 2nd Tab in order to colorize members by their group.
Member do not belonging to any Physical Member are in the “Ungrouped data”. Their default
color is BYLAYER (256), meaning use the color from Display Options Form, but you can set any
other color. Press OK to close the Color Options Form.

Now each physical member has a different color and you can also press icon to display the
3D solid view, as in the image bellow.

222
By clicking on the icon , you can switch between physical view (image above)
and analytical view (image below). Note the difference between the physical view, where each
physical member is a single object, and the analytical view, where you can control each
analytical member individually.

223
Click on the icon and turn off labels for members, set shrink factor back to 1.0,
display members as “Analytical” and press OK.

Also cick on the icon and select the 1st Tab in order to colorize members by their
section and press OK.

Press the icon to switch back to wireframe view.

Step #29. Create input file: Click on the icon to create GTI input file. At the dialog box
“Create GT.STRUDL Input File” check the following and click OK.

• Perform Stiffness Analysis

• Read Joint Displacements
• Read Member Forces
• Read Section Forces
• Read Section Displacements

224
Step #30. View/edit input file: Click on the icon to view/edit GTI input file.

225
Step #31. Execute GT.STRUDL: Click on the icon to perform the stiffness analysis.
GT.STRUDL window will appear with information about analysis.

226
5.10. Read analysis results
Step #32. Read GT.STRUDL results: Click on the icon to read GT.STRUDL results.

5.11. Display analysis results

Step #33. Graphical display of analysis results: Click on the icon , under the
“Deformation” Drop Button, located in “Display Results” at Ribbon Area, to display deformed
shape of the model for Self Weight load case and press ENTER two times.

227
Step #34. Annotate displacements: Click on the icon , under the
“Deformation” Drop Button, located in “Display Results” at Ribbon Area, to annotate
displacements of the deformed model at specific Joints of interest.

228
Click on the icon to clear additional generated symbols. Click on the icon

to display undeformed model again.

Step #35. Display Section Displacements: Click on (ribbon tab “GTS Display”).

229
 Select:
- 1 as Load Case
- 0.1 as Scale Factor
- 10.00 as Font Size (default)
- Annotation Format: Exponential
- Check Hide Model

Press “Display >>” and zoom at the upper left

end of the structure as shown in the image
below.

Press “Annotate >” and click on any part of

the deformed shape curve and then at the
position that you want the annotation to be
displayed.

Press on “Legend >” and click at any part of

the screen to place the legend of the
diagram.

230
In order to display the animation, press “Generate Animation Frames” and then “Animate >>”.
To terminate the animation press “Stop” button.

In order to exit the command, uncheck “Hide Model”, press “Clear” Button and “Close”.

Step #36. View member diagrams: Click on the icon to view member diagrams. In
the dialog box “Member Diagrams”, select MZ Moment as Values, 2 as Decimal Places and click
on “Display”.

231
You can also annotate moments at specific Joints by clicking “Annotate” in the dialog box
“Member Diagrams” and select the desired precision (decimal places) as well as the annotation
format (decimal, exponential, generic).

232
Select “Clear” and “Close” to clear the diagram/annotations and terminate the command.

Step #37. Display results in datasheets: Click on the icon , on Results

Datasheets area, to view analysis results in datasheets.

233
Click on the icon to view member forces results in datasheets.

Click on the icon to view section forces results in datasheets.

234
Click on the icon to view reaction results in datasheets.

Step #37. Display results in Report Builder: Click on the icon to view results in Report
Builder.

235
236
 6. Appendix – List of Commands

Command Icon Menu Command Prompt Link

Units GTS Modeling>Units GTSUnits 2.6.1

Materials GTS Modeling>Materials GTSMaterials 2.6.2

Sections GTS Modeling>Cross GTSParams 2.6.9

Sections>Table

Prismatic Sections GTS Modeling>Cross GTSPrismatic 2.6.9

-
Sections>Prismatic

Levels GTS Modeling>Levels GTSLevels 2.6.3

Higher Level - GTSLevelUp 2.6.3

Lower Level - GTSLevelDown 2.6.3

All Levels ON GTS Display>All Levels ON GTSSetAllVisible 2.6.3

Grid GTS Modeling>Grid>Create GTSGrid 2.6.4

Change Grid GTS Modeling>Grid>Change GTSGridChange 2.6.4

Generate Joint GTS GTSJoint 2.6.5

Modeling>Joint>Generate
Joint

At Level (Joint) GTS GTSJointLevel 2.6.5

Modeling>Joint>Generate
Joint at Level

Find (Joint) GTS Modeling>Joint>Find GTSFJID 2.6.6

Support GTS Modeling>Joint>Support GTSJointSupport 2.6.7

Change (Joint) GTS Modeling>Joint>Change GTSJointChange 2.6.8

Generate GTS Modeling> GTSBeam 2.6.10

(Member) Members>Generate Beam
Members

237
Vertical (Member) GTS Modeling> GTSColumn 2.6.10
Member>Generate Vertical
Member

Find (Member) GTS GTSFMID 2.6.11

Modeling>Member>Find

Split (Member) GTS GTSSplitMember 2.6.12

Modeling>Member>Split
Member

Split to Crossing GTS GTSSplitToMembers 2.6.13

Members Modeling>Member>Split to
Crossing Members

Merge (Member) GTS Modeling> GTSMergeMembers 2.6.14

Member>Merge Members

Change (Member) GTS Modeling> GTSBeamChange 2.6.15

Member>Change

Filter (Members) GTS Modeling> GTSFilterMembers 2.6.16

Member>Filter

Generate Quad GTS GTSShell 2.6.17

Modeling>Shell>Generate
quad at joints

Generate Triangle GTS GTSShellT 2.6.17

Modeling>Shell>Generate
triangle at joints

Reverse Incidence GTS Modeling>Shell> GTSShellReverse 2.6.18

Order Reverse Incidence Order

Find (Shell) GTS Modeling>Shell>Find GTSFeid 2.6.19

Change (Shell) GTS GTSShellChange 2.6.20

Modeling>Shell>Generate
triangle at joints

Locate Duplicates GTS Modeling>Checks>Joints GTSCheckDuplicateJoints 2.6.21

Duplicates

Locate Floating GTS Modeling>Checks>Joints GTSCheckFloatingJoints 2.6.22

Floatings

Joints GTS Modeling>Checks>Joints GTSCheckInteferenceJoints 2.6.23

Interference Interference

Members GTS GTSCheckDuplicateMembers 2.6.24

Duplicates Modeling>Checks>Members
Duplicates

Members Zero GTS GTSCheckMembersZeroLength 2.6.25

Length Modeling>Checks>Members
Zero Length

238
Physical Members GTS GTSCheckPhysicalMembers 2.6.26
Modeling>Checks>Physical
Members

Shells Duplicates GTS Modeling>Checks>Shells GTSCheckDuplicateShells 2.6.27

Duplicates

Names Duplicates GTS GTSCheckNames 2.6.28

Modeling>Checks>Names
Duplicates

Renumber Names GTS GTSRenumber 2.6.29

Modeling>Checks>Renumber
Names

Database Integrity GTS GTSCheckDatabase 2.6.30

Modeling>Checks>Database
Integrity

1D Curve GTS Modeling>Mesh GTSMesh1D 2.6.31

(Meshing) Generation>1D Along Line or
Curve or Circle

2D 2Curves GTS Modeling>Mesh GTSMesh2D2L 2.6.32

(Meshing) Generation>2D Between 2
Lines or Curves

2D 4Curves GTS Modeling>Mesh GTSMesh2D4L 2.6.33

(Meshing) Generation>2D Between 4
Lines or Curves

2D Area (Meshing) GTS Modeling>Mesh GTSMesh2DPoly 2.6.34

Generation>2D Between 4
Lines or Curves

3D Extrude GTS Modeling>Mesh GTSExtrudePoly 2.6.35

(Meshing) Generation>3D Extrude
PolyLine

2D 3Curves GTS Modeling>Mesh GTSMesh3D3L 2.6.36

(Meshing) Generation>3D Between 3
Lines or Curves

Array 3D - GTSArray3D 2.6.37

Advanced

Soil Springs GTS Modeling>Soil Springs GTSFoundationSprings 2.6.38

Export STR GTS Modeling> CAESAR GTSExportSTR 2.6.39

II>Export STR

Convert GTS Modeling> Convert GTSDXFRead 2.6.40

Lines/Polylines to Lines/Polylines to
Members/Shells Members/Shells

239
Model Wizard GTS Modeling>Model GTSModelWizard 2.6.41
Wizard

List (Group) GTS GTSGroups 2.6.42

Modeling>Groups>Manage

+Joints (Group) GTS Modeling>Groups>Add GTSGroupJoints 2.6.42

Joints

+Members GTS Modeling>Groups>Add GTSGroupMembers 2.6.42

(Group) Members

+Shells (Group) GTS Modeling>Groups>Add GTSGroupShells 2.6.42

Shells

Self Weight GTS Modeling>Loads>Self GTSSelfWeight 2.6.43

Weight

Load Cases GTS Modeling>Loads>Load GTSNewLoadCase 2.6.44

Cases

Load GTS Modeling>Loads>Load GTSLoadCombination 2.6.52

Combinations Combinations

Standardized GTS GTSLoadCombinationStandardized 2.6.53

Combinations Modeling>Loads>Standardiz
ed Combinations

Joint Load GTS Modeling>Loads>Joint GTSJointLoad 2.6.45

Load

Member Load GTS GTSBeamLoad 2.6.46

Modeling>Loads>Member
Load

Shell Load GTS Modeling>Loads>Shell GTSShellLoad 2.6.47

Load

Area Load GTS Modeling>Loads>Area GTSAreaLoad 2.6.48

Load

Wind Load ASCE GTS Modeling>Loads>Wind GTSWindLoadsASCE705 2.6.49

705 Load ASCE 705

Wind Load ASCE GTS Modeling>Loads>Wind GTSWindLoadsASCE710 2.6.50

710 Load ASCE 710

Seismic Load GTS GTSSeismicLoading 2.6.51

Modeling>Loads>Seismic
Load

Steel Design GTS Modeling>Steel Design GTSSteelDesignParameters 2.6.54

Parameters Parameters

Create Input File GTS Modeling>Create Input GTSExportGTI 2.6.55

File

Edit GTI GTS Modeling>Edit GTI GTSEditGTI 2.6.56

240
Execute GT GTS Modeling>Execute GTSExecuteGTI 2.6.57
STRUDL

Read Results GTS Modeling>Read Results GTSResultsGTI 2.6.58

Import GTI GTSGTIRead 2.6.59

Set View GTS Display>Set View GTSSetView 2.6.60

3D View GTS Display>3D Sections GTSSet3D 2.6.61

Analytical/Physical GTS GTSDisplayPhysicalMembers 2.6.62

Display>Analytical/Physical

Frame View GTS Display>Frame GTSSet1D 2.6.61

Options (View) GTS Display>Options GTSDisplay 2.6.64

Colors GTS Display>Colors GTSColorView 2.6.63

Annotate GTS Display>Annotate GTSAnnotate 2.6.65

Select - GTSSelect 2.6.66

Display Member GTS Display>Member Local GTSDisplayLocalAxes 2.6.67

Local Axes Axes

Display Member GTS Display> Member GTSDisplayReleases 2.6.68

Releases Releases

Display Shell GTS Display> Shell Planar GTSDisplayPlanarAxes 2.6.69

Planar Axes Axes

Display Joint GTS Display> Joint Supports GTSDisplaySupports 2.6.70

Supports

Display Joint GTS Display>Joint Loads GTSDisplayJointLoads 2.6.71

Loads

Display Member GTS Display>Member Loads GTSDisplayMemberLoads 2.6.72

Loads

Display Shell GTS Display>Shell Loads GTSDisplayElementLoads 2.6.73

Loads

Display Area GTS Display>Area Loads GTSDisplayAreaLoads 2.6.74

Loads

Deformed GTS Display>Deformed GTSDisplayJointDisplacements 2.6.75

Structure Structure

Undeformed GTS Display> Udeformed GTSDisplayJointDisplacements 2.6.75

Structure Structure

Annotate GTSAnnotateJointDisplacements 2.6.76

Joint
Displacements

241
Displacements GTS Display> Displacements GTSDisplaySectionDisplacements 2.6.77

Member Diagrams GTS Display>Member GTSDisplayMemberForces 2.6.78

Diagrams

Finite Element GTS Display>Element Results GTSDisplayElementResults 2.6.79

Results

Finite Element GTS Display>Element Results GTSDisplayElementResultsSel 2.6.80

Results Selection Selection

Member Code GTS Display>Member Code GTSColorCodeCheck 2.6.81

Check Results Check Results

Displacements GTS Display>Results GTSDataSheetJointDisp 2.6.82

Datasheets Datasheets> Displacements

Member Forces GTS Display>Results GTSDataSheetMemberForces 2.6.82

Datasheets Datasheets> Displacements

Section Forces GTS Display>Results GTSDataSheetSectionForces 2.6.82

Datasheets Datasheets> Displacements

Reactions GTS Display>Results GTSDataSheetReactions 2.6.82

Datasheets Datasheets> Displacements

Stresses GTS Display>Results GTSDataSheetStresses 2.6.82

Datasheets Datasheets> Displacements

Code Check GTS Display>Results GTSDataSheetCodeCheck 2.6.82

Datasheets Datasheets> Displacements

Report Builder - GTSReportBuilder 2.6.83

Clear Results GTS Display>Clear Results GTSDisplayResultsClear 2.6.84

Layer

Current Version - GTS Display>Version GTSVersion 2.6.85

242