SAP2000 NonPrismatic Pier Cap Beam

[FullBrightStr]

I have modeled a pier cap beam with non prismatic beams. When I see the extruded view it does not show how I wanted to model. In this case both top and bottom are tapered I just wanted the bottom to be tapered. Can anyone kindly suggest how I can model correctly? It is just that view is not working properly but the moment and shear values are just fine. I have attached the image file as well.

 

[Guest262653]

To taper the bottom only you can assign different offsets for the frame ends by playing with the insertion point feature.

 

[FullBrightStr]

I tried with insertion point but the loading is very different. The shape of the pier cap looks good but the dead load diagram is screwed up.

 

[stressed]

Fullbright, if you want assistance, it helps if you offer a more complete explanation than what you've given so far. For example, how exactly did you "try" to use insertion point assignment? And on what basis is the load diagram "screwed up"? It might help if you attached your SAP model in .sdb and .s2k formats.

 

[FullBrightStr]

Stressed, I have attached the screen shots and the s2k file with post.

 

[FullBrightStr]

SAP 2000 file

 

[stressed]

Fullbright, your model had no insertion point assignment at all. Select your cap beam, assign using cardinal insertion point "8" Top Center, with 2m in both I and J for local 2 direction (global Z), because the depth of your beam is 2m.

Attached are screenshots of your model with the correct insertion point assignment.

Top of your column is pin release which causes instabilities because both ends of the beam are unsupported. There were no assigned loads to the cap beam other than selfweight in the model that you attached.

Tutorial on CSI's Wikipedia Knowledge base website explains very well

https://wiki.csiamerica.com/display/tutorials/Concrete+bent+with+nonprismatic+cap+beam