Analysis of Huge Steel Structure

What is the suitable way (or suitable program) to analyze a steel structure having about 1000 frame elements and 31 separate case of loadings giving more than 8000 (eight thousands)combinations. I tried SAP2000 but it can not deal with this huge number of combinations.

 

[ishvaaag]

You can portrait the different combinations in different runs of the model separately stored. Of course you cannot anymore directly use the automatical design features.

RISA 3D that I have is limited to 1000 combinations...all other I think owuld deal with. And only elastic + RSA, nor time history etc

 

[austim]

Can you explain how you get to 8000 combinations? It sounds to me that you need to do some clear thinking and get rid of most of them.

 

[ffaha]

TO Austim,
Actually, this case is a big industrial factory with heavy cranes. I have 4-bays frame with 4-different cranes (their vertical and lateral forces -in two directions- are considered) In addition to dead loads ,live loads (separately considered for the four bays)and wind loadings in the two directions, so I have 31 separate cases of loadings with some conditions to minimize number of combinations (as to take lateral shock of all cranes considered in a certain combination together)I get more than 8000 combinations.

 

[ffaha]

I got the solution by running the program SAP2000 for the separate cases of loadings (31 cases for this problem), then developing a software generating all the possible combinations from the SAP2000 output results. This developed program presented also the maximum straining actions (with their correspondings)and the enveolp for all members. These results are then linked to a spreadsheet for frame element design based on local code of design.

 

[ishvaaag]

Great, an in-your-house post-processor of basic load cases output of SAP 2000 and member design. Good idea, it may be done for any elastic solution output that give tabulated spreadsheets that are exportable.