Plate continuously supported on another plate

[cardoso7]

Hello dear experts!

Is there some way in SAP2000 to model one plate continuously supported on another plate? Maybe using links? Is there some tutorial out there with how to model it?

I need it to model the following problem:

It's a concrete slab, supported on a few piles. Upon this slab, there's a layer of thermal insulation, and on its top there's another concrete slab. I've drawn a detail, which is attached. This structure will be used in the cold room of a slaughterhouse.

On the top slab, some point loads will be applied, caused by steel columns. I'm particularly worried with the displacements beneath said steel columns. It's common practice here to use Polyurethane panels beneath point loads, but I still have to analyze the displacements and member forces of this structure, to safely design it.

If someone could kindly help I would be grateful!

 

[Shz713]

When you say continuously supported, you mean like continuous beam or one of them laid over another one?
You'd better use link to simulate such conditions. Each link has 6DOF, if it's rigid connections then all DOS are fixed (you may release other DOF to see outcome).
Refer to CSI Reference Manual for detailed description on link types.
For slab, I Suggest to use membrane for slab.
Regarding displacements, if there's any predefined values, you can assign it to the respective joints; otherwise see what's the displacement within safety margin or not.

Cheers