Date of Award

5-1992

Document Type

Graduate Project

Degree Name

Master of Engineering (ME)

Abstract

The Energy and Environmental Research Center(EERC) on the campus of the University of North Dakota conducts coal combustion research in a seven-story steel framed structure called the Tower. The need for an updated structural analysis of the Tower was due to modifications in the interior framing without a complete analysis since design in 1978. A personal computer platform structural analysis and design program was needed that could maintain a database for updating future changes in the structure, provide a current analysis picture, and generate as-built drawings.

The program selected was STAAD III/ ISDS used in conjunction with Autostaad, a pre- and post-processing program that functions in an Autocad environment, both produced by Research Engineers, Incorporated. A model was generated in Autostaad, checked and revised for accuracy, and analyzed with STAAD III.

A classical analysis solution was performed on selected sections in the Tower as an accuracy check for the STAAD III solution. Results indicated that the STAAD III generated solutions were comparable to the classical results, with two differences; 1) STAAD III did not reflect the result of concentrated moment when analyzing columns due to the column base connection used in the model, and 2) a fixed connection in the structural model generated a larger member bending stress than obtained traditionally, due to inclusion of resultant joint rotations and displacements that are not usually considered in a classical analysis. The structural model was considered sufficiently accurate to use for layout and design purposes for future projects and met the goal of providing an updated analysis picture.

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