FRAME
3D 1.0 ®
Frame 3D
is a powerful three (3)
dimensional structural engineering software to design or analyze various types
of structure from first principles.
Frame 3D allows the designer to set up structural models ranging from 2D
simple beams to complex 3D frames or trusses.
Frame 3D carries out a stiffness matrix analysis to determine the forces,
moments and displacements in the structure. Shear Forces, Axial forces, Bending
Moments, Torsional Moments, Displacements and Deflections are computed.
Frame 3D provides a range of numeric and graphic results reporting
capabilities.
Frame 3D displays tables and diagrams of numerical results in the Frame
Results window while the deformed structure may be viewed in the Frame View
window.
Frame 3D gives the option to select the input data and results to be
printed. These may be viewed and examined in the Preview Form window before
printing. Same features applies to the structural model.
Frame 3D uses two (2) coordinates
systems for defining geometry and loading. The global coordinate system is a
right handed coordinate system with y always running vertically and x and z
running horizontally. Each joint in the structure is defined relative to the
global coordinate system. Each member in the structure is defined by its two (2)
end joints. The local coordinate system is also a right handed x, y, z system
with the x axis running along the members from joint 1 to joint 2. Joint 1 is
the start joint while joint 2 is the end joint.
Frame 3D uses six (6) degrees of freedom at each joint when performing calculations.These comprise three (3) displacements along the axes and three (3) rotations about the axes at each joint.
STRUCTURE DEFINITION
Materials : The mechanical
properties of the structural material is selected in the Materials window.
Each row of the window’s grid represents a structural
material. Columns represent the following mechanical properties :
- Material Name
- Specific weight
- E (Elastic modulus)
- G (Shear modulus)
- YS (Yield strength)
- BS (Breaking strength)
- PR (Poisson’s ratio)
Structural Shapes : The geometric
properties of the sections are defined in the Section Properties window. Each
row of the window’s grid represents a shape type. Columns represent the
following section properties :
- Shape name
- Special section (Built up section)
- A (Total Area)
- SAx (Shear area about x-x axis)
- Sx (Elastic section modulus relative to x axis)
- Rx (Radius of gyration about x axis) (Optional)
- SAy (Shear area about y axis)
- Iy (Moment of inertia about y axis)
- Sy (Elastic section modulus about y axis)
- Ry (Radius of gyration about y axis) (Optional)
- J (St. Venant’s torsion constant)
Member Joints : Joints are defined in the
Joints window. Each row of the grid represents a
joint. Columns represent the following data :
- ID (Joint Identification Number)
- X (Global X coordinate)
- Y (Global Y coordinate)
- Z (Global Z coordinate) (if frame type is 3D)
Members : The members are defined in the
Members window. Each
row of the window`s grid represents a specific member. Columns represent the
following data :
- ID (Joint Identification Number)
- Desc (Member description) (Optional)
- J1 (Start joint of the member)
- J2 (End joint of the member)
- Orient (Angle about local y axis)
- Section (Shape selected)
- J1r (Connection rigidity at start joint, 0<=J1r<=1)
- J2r (Connection rigidity at end joint, 0<=J2r<=1)
- Length (Computed length of
member)
A connection rigidity = 0 represents a frictionless hinged connection which
cannot transmit moments. A connection rigidity = 1 represents a rigid connection
which transmit all moments to the adjacent members.
Restraints : The Joints are restrained
against movement in one or more directions i.e. x, y, z. The restraints are
specified in the Restraints window. Each row of the window’s grid represents a joint support. Columns represent
the following data :
- ID (Supported Joint Identification Number)
- X (Translation about global X axis)
- Y (Translation about global Y axis)
- Z (Translation about global Z axis) (For 3D frame)
- Rx (Rotation around global X axis) (For 3D frame)
- Ry (Rotation around global Y axis) (For 3D frame)
- Rz (Rotation around global Z axis)
GLOBAL LOADS
Global loads are applied to joints relative to the global coordinate system.
Joint Loads : The loads applied at the
joints in a structure are defined in the Joint Loads window. Joint loads can be
either forces or moments which are applied relative to the global coordinate
system. Each
row of the window`s grid represents a global joint load. Columns represent the
following data :
- ID (Joint at which the load is applied)
- Desc (Load description) (Optional)
- Fx (Force in the global X direction)
- Fy (Force in the global Y direction)
- Fz (Force in the global Z direction) (For 3D frame)
- Mx (Moment around global X axis) (For 3D frame)
- My (Moment around global Y axis) (For 3D frame)
- Mz (Moment around global Z axis) (For 3d frame)
LOCAL LOADS
Local loads are applied to members relative to the local coordinate system.
Point Loads : Concentrated loads acting
on members are defined in the Point Loads window. Each row of the grid represents a point load.
Columns represent the following data :
- ID (Member no. on which load is
applied)
- Desc (Load description) (Optional)
- Coor (Local coordinate system)
- Axis (Axis of force direction)
- X (X coordinate of application point from start joint)
- F (Force amplitude, -ve or +ve)
Moments : Moments acting on members
are specified in the Member Moments window. Each row
of the window`s grid represents a moment. Columns represent the following data :
- ID (Member on which the moment is applied)
- Desc (Moment description) (Optional)
- Axis (Moment acting around this axis)
- X (Moment X coordinate on the member)
- M (Moment amplitude)
Distributed Loads : These loads are distributed
along all or part of a member and are acting in a direction either normal
(shear) or tangential (axial) to the members. They are defined in the
Distributed Loads window. Each row of the grid
represents a distributed load. Columns represent the following data :
- ID (Member on which the load is applied)
- Desc ( Load description) (Optional)
- Coor. Sys. (Local coordinate system)
- Axis (Force direction)
- X1 (Local X coordinate of the start point)
- w1 (Force amplitude at X1)
- X2 (Local X coordinate of the end point)
- w1 (Force amplitude at X2, -ve or +ve)
METHOD OF ANALYSIS
Frame 3D uses the matrix stiffness method
of elastic analysis for solving a system of simultaneous equations to determine
the forces, moments and displacements in a structure. Shear Forces and Stresses,
Axial Forces and Stresses, Bending Moments and Stresses, Torsional Moments and
Stresses, Joints Displacements and Deflections are computed.
VIEWING RESULTS
Frame 3D
produces seven (7) tables of numerical results which are displayed in the Frame
Results window. These are a table of members maximum stresses and deflections, a
table of joint reactions, a table of members minimum sections properties to meet
user`s specified allowable stresses, a table of members
internal loads and deflections, a table of members stress diagrams, a table of
joint displacements and a table of members end loads.
These tables can be displayed one at a time by selecting one of the following selection tabs in the Frame Results window which is automatically displayed once computations are completed.
1 - Maximum Stresses and Deflections tab
2 - Reactions tab
3 - Minimum Section Properties tab
4 - Loads and Deflections Diagrams tab
5 - Stresses Diagrams tab
6 - Joint Displacements tab
7 - Member End Loads tab
The displayed results table can be saved by clicking on the Save Table button.
For each member in the structure, the following diagrams can be displayed at the bottom of the "Loads and Deflections Diagram" results table :
- Nx (Axial Load) diagram
- Vy, Vz (Shear Forces) diagrams
- My, Mz (Bending Moments) diagrams
- Tx (Torsional moment) diagram
- dy, dz (Deflections) diagrams
For each member in the structure, the following diagrams can be displayed at the bottom of the "Stresses Diagram" results table :
- AS (Axial Stress) diagram
- SSy, SSz (Shear Stresses) diagrams
- BSy, BSz (Bending Stresses) diagrams
- CS (Von Miss Combined Stress) diagrams
Each stress value exceeding the allowable stress level is indicated in red. You can switch between Frame Results and Frame View windows or display the two windows at the same time. Windows display can be arranged according to the Tile or Cascade mode or to suit the user own taste.
The Frame 3D files, can be open in Microsoft Excel, Corel Quattro Pro or other spreadsheets for further calculations.
PRINTING RESULTS
Frame 3D offers a number of options for controlling the output of data or results to a printer. Text, numbers and graphics can be printed.
Results Examination :
Input data and
results to be printed must be first selected in the Print Preview dialog box.
The user can restrict the ouput of results to one, several or all members. The
ouput of results can also be restricted to one or more type of results (e.g.
reactions & displacements, or stresses only, or ....). The selected
information can then be viewed and examined in the Preview Form window using
different display format (e.g. full page, page width, 100%, 75%, ...). The user
can move to the next page, the previous page, the first page or the last page by
clicking on the appropriate button on the toolbar.
Printer Setup : Paper size and
orientation, printing margins, fonts type and default printer can be defined in
the Preview Form window.
Printing Reports : Summary or full
reports can be printed by clicking on the print button in the Preview Form
window. The user can enter header and footer titles including company name,
designer name, project number and job description. Frame 3D prints the page
numbers, the date, the type of units used and the structure type (2D or 3D).
Printing Structural Model : The structure
can be printed exactly in the same way used to print reports.
Printing Diagrams : Forces, moments,
stresses and deflections diagrams can be printed for each members in a
structure. The diagram displayed in the Frame Results window can be printed by
simply clicking on the Print Diagram button.
ENVIRONMENT OPTIONS
Frame 3D allows the user to select the color for the background, structural model components and loads. Text font, color and size can also be selected. Zoom in, zoom out, zoom extent, zoom window, pan, redraw and view orientation functions are also available in the Frame View window.