STAAD PRO V8i (Series-3.

3)

Er.V.M.RAJAN,M.E.(Struct),F.I.E.

Former CE(Civil),TANGEDCO, Chennai

MODELING IN AUTOCAD & IMPORTING TO STAAD PRO

This method is useful for AutoCAD Professional to prepare 2D or 3D

Geometry in AutoCAD into STAAD Model.
Problem 1: Truss :

Create a Truss in AutoCAD and save it as DXF format and name it as TrussDXF.out.

Go to STAAD Pro. GeometryRun Structure Wizard. From Model type select Import

CAD Models. Then open the DXF file of Truss stored in the particular drive folder.

(OR) New Project Select Truss Units: Length =meters; Force=KN;

File Name=Truss Next. Select Add beam Finish.

File Import 3D DXF Import.

Go to the particular AutoCAD drg folder and open the file TrussDXF.out.
Select No Change Ok.
Current input units Meters KN Ok. Now the AutoCAD Truss will be seen in the
STAAD Pro screen. All members are seen as one unit and there is no joint in
between members. To create nodes Click Geometry Select entire Truss.
Geometry Intersect Selected MembersIntersect. Enter Tolerances=0 Ok.
13 New Beams createdOk. Now the Geometry is created. You can proceed with
other steps in STAAD Pro for solving the problem.
Problem 2: PLAN MODEL
Create a PLAN of a Building in AutoCAD and save it as DXF format and name it as

PlanDXF.out. Start STAAD Pro New Project Select Space Units: Length

=meters; Force=KN; File Name=3D Plan Next. Select Add beam Finish.

File Import

3D DXF Import.
Choose the particular AutoCAD drg folder and choose the file PlanDXF.out.
Select Y Up Ok.

Set Current input units Meters KN Ok. Go to Plan view and see the Plan in
STAAD Pro. All members are seen as one unit and there is no joint in
between members. To create nodes Click Geometry Select entire Truss. Geometry
Intersect Selected MembersIntersect. Enter Tolerances=0 Ok. 5 New
Beams createdOk. Click the Geometry & see the correct plan in STAAD Pro. You
select the nodes wherever the column is to be created.
Geometry Translational Repeat Y No. of steps=1
Default step spacing =-2.2m Link steps Ok.
Switch of the grid. The Plan is unsymmetrical we have to orient plan such that
there should not be no negative coordinates. To do so:
Select origin (0,0). Draw a beam on the origin. Select the bottom most left corner of
first column node select origin. GeometryMove origin by By Distance between
following two nodes: Node 1=21 Node 2=13 Ok. Now remove the beam created
on the origin Yes.
Now switch on the grid & see the structure is in the origin. Now all coordinates in
Geometry created will be +ve.

Problem 3: Dome
Draw a Dome in AutoCAD and save it DomeDXF.out.
File New Project Select Space Units: Length =meters; Force=KN;
File Name=Dome Next. Select Add beam Finish.
FileImport 3D DXF Import.
Choose the particular AutoCAD drg folder and choose the file DomeDXF.out.
Open. You can see the AutocAD drg dome in STAAD Pro screen. Now the
Geometry is created. You can proceed with further in STAAD Pro.