Axis VM Step by Step

Step by step
1.
BEAM MODEL..........................................................................................................................2
2.
FRAME MODEL...................................................................................................................19
3.
PLATE MODEL....................................................................................................................48
4.
MEMBRANE MODEL..........................................................................................................75
4.1.
4.2.
5.
Preprocessing with surface elements................................................................................75

Preprocessing with domains ............................................................................................84
SHELL MODEL....................................................................................................................99
1. BEAM MODEL
Start
Start AxisVM by double-clicking the AxisVM icon in the

AxisVM folder, found on the Desktop, or in the Start, Programs
Menu.
New
Create a new model with the New Icon. In the dialogue window
that pops up, replace the Model Filename with Beam.
Select the Design Code. Click OK to close the dialog window.

Objective
The objective of the analysis is to determine the internal forces,

longitudinal reinforcement and vertical stirrups in the three way
supported, reinforced concrete beams illustrated below. The
loads on the beams will be presented subsequently.
The analysis will be done according to the Eurocode. The crosssection of the beam is will be a 400mm x 600mm rectangle. The
left beam is 12m in length and the right beam is 10m.
Coordinate
System
In the lower left corner of the graphics area is the global

coordinate system symbol. The positive direction is marked by
the corresponding capital letter (X, Y, Z). The default coordinate
system of a new model is the X-Z coordinate system. It is
important to note that unless changed the gravity acts along the
Z direction.
In a new model, the global coordinate default location of the
cursor is the bottom left corner of the graphic area, and is set to
X=0, Y=0, Z=0.
You can change to the relative coordinate values by pressing the
d labeled button on the left of the Coordinate Window. ( Hint :
In the right column of the coordinate window you can specify
points in cylindrical or spherical coordinate systems). The origin

of the relative coordinate system is marked by a thick blue X.
Geometry
The first step is to create the geometry of structure.

Select the Geometry tab to bring up the Geometry Toolbar.
Line
Hold down the left mouse button while the cursor is on Line
Tool Icon brings up the Line Icons Selection Menu:
Polygon
Lets click on the Polygon icon, which is the second from left to
specify the axis of the two beams. When the Polygon is chosen,
the Relative coordinate system automatically changes to the
local system (d prefix)
The polygon coordinates can be drawn with the mouse, or by
typing in their numerical values. Set the first point ( node) of the
line by typing in these entries:
X=0
Y=0
Z=0
Finish specifying the first line point by pressing Enter. The first
node of the beam model is now also the global coordinates origin
point.
Relative
Coordinate
System
To enter the next two nodes for our beam model type in the
following sequence:
X=12
Y=0
Z=0, Enter
X=10
Y=0
Z=0, Enter
Press ESC twice to exit from polygon drawing function.
Zoom
To bring up the Zoom Icon Bar, move the mouse on the Zoom
Icon in the left side of the desktop window. It contains six icons.
Lets choose the third icon (Zoom to fit) from the Zoom Icon Bar,
or press Ctrl-W, which has the same effect. An alternative way
of zooming is to press the + or keys on your numerical keypad.
The following picture appears:
Geometry
Check
Click the Geometry Check Icon on the top of the desktop, to

check for geometric ambiguities. The program will ask for the
maximum tolerance (distance) for merging points.
After the geometry check a summary of actions appears.
Elements
The next step is to specify the finite elements. Click on the

Elements tab to bring up the Finite Elements Toolbar.
Line Elements
Press the Line Elements Icon,
then on the appearing selection icon bar use the asterisk (All)
command, then click OK. The Line Elements dialog window
appears. Select Define or Modify if you are correcting an earlier
parameter.
Material
Library Import
Press the Material Library Import icon to select the material.
In the dialog window that appears select Concrete C25/30 in the

Materials column, then click OK.
New Cross
Section
Click on the New Cross Section Icon (the rightmost in the

sections line) to create a new cross-section.
Rectangle
Define a rectangular cross section by clicking on the

Rectangular Icon.
Modify the offered height (h) to 600 [mm]. Click the Place
Button to select the new cross-section. You should see
something similar with the following picture.
Finish the cross-section definition by clicking on the Ok

button.
Enter a name for the newly created cross-section. Type in

400x600, and then press OK.
Leaving the Local x Reference on Auto, the orientation of the
local x axis of the beam will be along the x axis of the element,
and the local z axis will be in a vertical plane passing through the
x axis.
Perspective
Lets check the structure in space! Click the Perspective Icon in

the left side of the application. You can pan or rotate the
structure using the mouse.
By closing the floating window the last view remains on the

screen.
Display
Options
The local systems, the node numbering and other useful

graphical symbols can be switched on/off by clicking the
Display Options Icon in the left side of the application. (Hint: the
same dialog window can be displayed by selecting the Display
Options item after a right click in the Graphics Area). Check
the Beam box in the Symbols/Local Systems panel, then select
the Labels tab to check the Cross-Section Name box.
Exit from the dialog window with OK. The local system of the
beams and the name of the cross-sections will be displayed.
Move the cursor on the axis of the beam to bring up an info label
showing relevant information about the beam.
Because the Elements tab is selected, the tag number, length,
material name, cross-section name, self-weight and local
reference of the beam is displayed:
Finally switch from perspective view to Z-X plane.

Zoom to Fit
In order to have a good overview, use the Zoom To Fit

command.
Nodal Support
Click the Nodal Support Icon and select the middle support. A
dialog window appears, where you can set the translational
and/or rotational stiffness of the node. Select the global
direction, and specify the stiffness values.

The first three entries are for the translational stiffness, measured
in [kN/m]. The default value is 1e+10 [kN/m], meaning a full
restriction of the translation, while the value 0 [kN/m] would
mean a free translation.
The next three entries are for the rotational stiffness, measured in
[kN/rad]. The default value of 1e+10 [kN/rad] means a fully
restricted rotation, while the value 0 [kN/rad] means a free
rotation. Set all rotational stiffness to zero, and restrict the
translation along X and Z direction. Use the settings in the
following box:
Finish the support definition with OK

Select the two exterior supports and make them horizontally free
(X, Y axis) supports in a similar way:
On the screen, restricted translations are shown as yellow

stripes, restricted rotations as orange stripes to their rotational
axis.
Nodal DOF
Click the Nodal DOF (Degrees of Freedom) Icon, and select

all nodes with the All command. In the Nodal Degrees of
Freedom dialog window select Frame in Plane X-Z from the
predefined settings. After closing this window with OK, all the
nodes will change their color to blue.
This setting selects the nodes of the beams only in translation in

plane X-Z with the rotation around the Y-axis.
Loads
The next step is to apply the loads.

Click the Loads tab.
Load Cases
It is useful to separate the loads into load cases. Click the Load
Cases Icon to create the load cases. The following dialog
window appears.
10
In the left tree view you can see the first load case, created
automatically by the program. Its name is ST1. Click on the
ST1 to change the name of the load case, and overwrite it with
SELF-WEIGHT. Click OK to return to the graphics area. The
active load case will be SELF-WEIGHT. You can see it on the
Info Window.
Display
Options
In the Display Options window select the cross-section name

under the Labels tab, and the cross-section shape and local
system under the Symbols tab, leaving the rest of the default
settings.
Self Weight
Click the Self-Weight Icon, and select all elements with the
All command. When the selection is finished by pressing Ok,
two blue dotted lines will show near the beams axis that their
dead load is placed on them (It will act by default along the Z
direction, with the gravitational acceleration taken as g=9.81
m/s2).
Load
Cases/Groups
Click the Load Cases Icon again, and create three more load
cases by clicking repeatedly the Static Button in the New Case
panel. Name them VARIABLE1, VARIABLE2 and SUPPORT
DISPLACEMENT. Make VARIABLE1 the active load case
by clicking on it, and press OK.
11
Line Load
Click the Line Load Icon and select the left beam. After
finishing the selection with Ok the following dialog window
appears:
As the load intensity type -17.5 in the pz1, pz2 edit boxes, then
press Ok.
Load
Cases/Groups
Click on the downward pointing triangle on the right of the

Load Cases Icon and the following menu will pop up.
It shows all load cases, a black dot marking the active one. Click
on VARIABLE2 to make it the active load case.
Apply on both beams a -17.5 kN/m uniform linear load acting
in Z direction in the same way as before.
Forced Support Finally select the SUPPORT DISPLACEMENT load case.
Displacement
Click the Forced Support Displacement Icon, select the
middle support and press Ok. This brings up the following
dialog window.
12
Type in 20 [mm] in the ez edit box.
Load
Combination
New
Case
Click the Load Combination Icon, which will open the Table
Browser.
Load Click the New Icon to create an empty load combination. You
must specify a combination factor for each load case. For now
type in the following factors (press enter after input into each
cell)
Selfweight- 1.2
Variable1- 1.4
Variable2- 0
Support displacements- 1.0
Make another load combination, this time with the following
factors:
Selfweight 1.2
Variable1- 0
Variable2- 1.40
Support Displacement- 1.0
Finish the creation of load combinations by pressing Ok.
Static
The next step is the analysis and post processing.
13
Linear
Analysis
Click the Static tab, then the Linear Icon to start the analysis.
If the application prompts for saving, save the model on a local

hard disk. After saving, the analysis will start.
Analysis
Click the Details button to view the details of calculation.

Static
When the analysis has finished, press Ok. By default the

postprocessor will start with the ez displacement of the first load
case, which is now SELF-WEIGHT. The display mode will be
iso surfaces. You will see the displacements from the dead load
in global Z direction.
Result Display
Parameters
Click the Result Display Parameters Icon and set the

parameters according to the picture below.
In the Case Selector combo box select the SELF-WEIGHT

load case. If you leave the Undeformed radio button checked in
the Display Shape panel, then the various results will be drawn
on the undeformed shape of the structure. In the Component
combo box select ez from displacements. Set the Display Mode
to diagram. In the Write Values To Panel check Nodes and
Lines. Close the dialog window with Ok. You should see the
following picture:
14
Check the displacement diagrams of various load cases whether

they comply with the expected result. To do this, click on the
combo box next to the Result Display Parameters Icon, and
select desired load case. This time select the first load
combination (Co. #1).
Min,
Value
Max Click on the Min-Max Value Icon to obtain the location and
value of the maximum and minimum displacements. The
following dialog window appears:
Select the eZ displacement component, and press OK. The

location and value of the negative maximum displacement pops
up in a window. Pressing OK closes it, and the positive
maximum displacement window pops up. Press OK to close it
too.
The various internal force and stress results can be selected

through the second combo box. First view the My bending
moment in the first and second load case (Co#1, Co#2), which is
accessible by clicking on the Beam Internal Forces.
15
R.C. Design
Click the R.C. Design tab to find out the area of longitudinal
reinforcement and vertical stirrups.
Beam
Reinforcement
Design
Click the Beam Reinforcement Design Icon, then select all

beams with the All command (the asterisk), then press Ok. The
following window appears.
16
The topmost diagram is the statical layout of the beam, below it

is the My moment diagram and the Qz shear force diagram.
Beam
Parameters
In the Beam Reinforcement Window, Click the Beam

parameters Icon to set the properties of the beam. It brings up
the following dialog window:
Set the longitudinal rebar and stirrup material property to

B500A.
Close the dialog window with Ok and the following window

will appear:
17
Note that alongside the original My moment diagram (thin line),

the diagram shifted according to code (thick line) is also present.
Below the My moment diagram is the As diagram, below the Qz
diagram is the s diagram.
As is the area of the necessary longitudinal reinforcement of
the beam, while s is the required maximal distance of the
stirrups. The longitudinal reinforcement in tension is shown in
blue, the compressed in red. The area 342 mm2 on the As
diagram is the minimum area of the tensioned longitudinal
reinforcement, while the value 228 mm on the s diagram is the
maximum stirrup distance.
Click Ok to close this reinforcement window.
18
2. FRAME MODEL
Start

Menu.
New
Create a new model with the New Icon. In the dialog window
that pops up, replace the Model Filename with Frame, and in
the Design Code panel select Eurocode.
Objective
The objective of the analysis is to determine the internal forces

of the following frame, and to verify column A1.
Lets use for cross-section of horizontal elements I360, for

vertical ones I400, and for inclined ones O 190.0x5.0 SV. The
material of the structure is Steel FE 360, and the design
verification will be according to Eurocode-3.
By default the Z-axis of the global coordinate system points
upward. It has relevance for the direction of gravity, this will be
detailed later.
19
Coordinate
System

Z direction.
X=0, Y=0, Z=0.
d labeled button on the left of the Coordinate Window. (Hint:
Geometry
The first step is to create the geometry of the structure.

Click the Geometry tab, below the menu bar. The Geometry
Toolbar appears below the tabs. The geometry of the structure
will be created with the Line Tool.
Line
Hold down the left mouse button while the cursor is on the
Line Tool Icon will bring up the following Line Type icon bar:
Polygon
Lets click on the Polygon icon, which is the second from left.
When the Polygon is chosen, the Relative coordinate system
automatically changes to the local system (d prefix)
The polygon coordinates for the frame model can be drawn with
the mouse, or by typing in their numerical values.
Set the first point (node) of the line by typing in these entries:
X=0
Y=0
Z=0
Finish specifying the first line point by pressing Enter. The first
node of the frame model is now also the global coordinates
origin point.
20
To enter the first line (node) of the frame model, enter the
following values:
X=0
Y=0
Z=3.5, Enter
To define the second line of the frame model, enter the
following values:
X=6
Y=0
Z=0, Enter
To define the third line of the frame model, enter the following
values:
X=0
Y=0
Z=-3.5, Enter (Note: Negative value)
Exit from the Polygon command by pressing Esc twice.
The following picture is obtained:
Translate
Copy the structure vertically upward with the Translate Icon.

For this click the Translate Icon, select the horizontal line and
finish the selection with Enter. In the Translate dialog window
select Spread by Distance, in the d [m]= edit box type 3.5,
and in the Nodes To Connect panel select All.
21
Close the dialog window with Ok, then click on an arbitrary

place in the graphics area and draw upward a vertical line,
which is longer than 3.5 m.
22
The following picture is obtained:
Coordinate
System
Switch to Z-Y plane.

You should see this picture:
23
Translate
Select the Translate Icon so you can Copy this part of the
model geometry structure. In the Selection Icon bar use the All
command (the asterisk). The selected elements color will
change:
Finishing the selection with Ok, in the dialog window select the
Consecutive method, then in the Nodes to Connect panel select
the Double Selected option.
Close this dialog window with Ok. Now you must select the
nodes to connect. Use a selection window according to the
picture below on the left. The picture on the right shows the
result of your selection:
24
Specify the first displacement vector by entering the following

values:
X=0
Y=5
Z=0, enter.
Enter the second vector:
X=0
Y=5
Z=0, enter.
Enter the third vector:
X=0
Y=5
Z=0, enter.
Esc twice to exit from the command. The following picture will
be seen:
25
Coordinate
System
Switch to perspective View. The colums should be on the

vertical Z-axis. Use the pan function as needed to bring the
model to this perspective.
When you close the dialog bar this settings will remain active.
Polygon
26
Click the Polygon Icon. Draw a segment from the bottom of

A1 column to the middle of the beam in Y direction:
Continue with a segment to the bottom of the middle column:
Press Esc twice to exit from the command.

Translate
Click the Translate Icon, select the two inclined bars then
finish the selection with Ok. In the dialog window select the
Consecutive method, and set the Nodes to Connect to None.
After closing the dialog window with Ok, click on the bottom
node of the A1 column, then on the middle node of the A1
column. This will copy the two inclined bars to the upper story.
Copy the bars on the other side of the structure as well. To exit
from translate press Esc. The following picture appears:
Geometry
Check
Check the geometry of the structure with the Geometry Check

Icon, which is toward the end of Geometry Toolbar:
27
In the dialog window you can set the maximum tolerance for
merging nodes, and you can specify whether to search or not for
unattached nodes or lines.
When the check is finished a summary will appear.
Elements
The next step is to create the finite elements. For this click on
the Elements tab.
Line Elements
To create the finite elements for beams or columns use the Line
Elements Icon. To define the materials for the Columns, Click
the icon, then select the the vertical lines ( all columns) by
clicking them or by selection windows as in the picture.
28
Finish the selection with Ok, and the following dialog window
appears:
Material
Library
Import
Click the Browse Material Library Icon in the row labeled

Material. The following dialog window appears:
Select Steel Fe360 as the active material.

Cross-Section
Library Import
Click Cross-Section Library Import Icon. The following

dialog window appears :
Select from the Cross-Section Tables I Hungarian Beams, then

29
from the Cross-Section List I-400. Close the dialog window with
Ok.
The default value for the Local z Reference is Auto. This means
that local x reference of the beam will be along the axis of the
element, while local z reference will be parallel with global Z.
Finish the creation of column (beam) elements with Ok.
Define the material for the horizontal beams in a similar way,
but use I-360 for their cross-section.
Next, define the material for the diagonal braces and use
Hungarian Pipes O194.0 x 5.0 SV as cross-section.
Zoom to Fit
30
For a better overlook lets click the Zoom to Fit Icon on the
Zoom Icon bar.
Nodal Support
Click the Nodal Support Icon, select all 6 columns bottom node
and finish the selection with Ok. The following dialog window
appears:
In this dialog window you can set the node support conditions.
Lets assume pinned supports in all these nodes, so set the
rotational stiffness Rxx, Ryy, Rzz to 0.
31
Finish the creation of nodal supports with Ok, and the support
symbols will appear.
Loads
The next step is to apply the loads. Click the Loads tab.
Load Cases &

Load Groups
It is useful to separate the loads into load cases. Click the Load
Cases & Load Groups Icon to create the load cases. The
32
Click on the ST1 (the first static load case) in the upper left
corner, and rename it to VARIABLE1. Close the dialog window
with Ok, and VARIABLE1 will be the current load case. You
can see in the Info Window the name of the current load case:
Line Load
Lets apply loads on the horizontal beams. Apply on the lower

beams 50 kN/m, on the upper beams 25 kN/m. For this click the
Line Load Icon, then select the upper beams with a selection
window.
33
appears:
Type -25 in the pz1, pz2 edit boxes, then close the dialog
window with Ok. The following picture appears:
Display
Options
34
Click the Display Options Icon in the Icons Menu. The

Select the Labels tab, then check the Load Value box:
Close the dialog window with Ok, and the load values will
appear in the graphics area.
35
Line Load
Click the Line Load Icon, and select the lower horizontal beams:
Finish the selection with Ok, then type -50 in the pz1, pz2 edit
boxes. Close the dialog window with Ok and the following
picture results:
36
Load Cases &

Load Groups
Click the Load Cases & Load Groups Icon.
New Load
Case Static
In the New Case panel click the Static Icon and name the load
case WIND. Close the dialog window with OK. All previous
loads disappeared, and the current load cases name in the Info
Window is WIND.
Coordinate
System
Switch to Y-X plane (top view). The following picture appears:
37
Line Load
Click the Line Load Icon, and define on the upper left columns
a load of intensity 6 kN/m in x direction. From the top view
select the upper left node with a selection windows (thus
selecting everything inside the selection window, including the
two columns). Finish the selection with Ok, then type a load
intensity value of 6 in px1, px2 edit boxes and close the dialog
window. Repeat the above step for the bottom left node.
Repeat the above step for the middle left column, except type a
load intensity value of 12.
Coordinate
System
Switch to Perspective View. The following picture appears:
Load
Combinations
Lets create a load combination. Click the Load Combinations

Icon, and the Table Browser will appear.
38
New Row
Use the New Row Icon to add a new load combination. You
have to specify a factor for each load case in a load combination.
Lets assume the following factors. Type in these factors in
their columns:
VARIABLE1
1.2, Enter
WIND
1.2, Enter
Accept the new load combination(s) by closing the Table
Browser with Ok.
Now the preprocessing part of the example is finished.
Display
Options
Click the Display Options Icon, and uncheck the Node, CrossSection Shape, Load boxes in the Symbols tab, andthe Load
Value box in the Labels tab.
Static
The next step is the analysis and post processing. Click the
Static tab. Here you can start the analysis and visualize the
results.
Linear Static
Analysis
Click on the Linear Static Analysis Icon.
A Model Save Dialog will appear if you havent already

assigned a name for the model. Accept save and a Save dialog
window appears, where you can specify the model filename and
path.
During the analysis the following window appears:
Details
If you click the details button to view details of computation,

the topmost label shows the current computation step, the upper
bar shows its progress. The lower bar shows the global progress
of computation. The estimated memory requirement shows the
estimated virtual memory demand. If the virtual memory of the
computer is set to a lower value, an error message will appear.
When the computation has finished, the two progress bars will
disappear. Close the window with Ok.
39
Static
By default the postprocessor will start with the ez displacement

of the first load case, which is now VARIABLE1. The display
mode will be iso surface. Change to isoline display. You will
see the displacements from the VARIABLE1 load case in global
Z direction. To view the results from the load combination select
Co. #1 in the Case Selector combo box.
Switch from Isoline to Diagram by Clicking the Result Display

Parameters Icon and select Diagram in the Display Mode menu
box:
Coordinate
System
Switch to Z-X plane. The following picture appears.
Parts
Click the Parts Icon on the left Icons Menu. The following
dialog window appears.
40
Click the New Button, which brings up a window where you

can specify the name of the part.
Type in 1 and close this window with Ok.
You have to select the entities which will make up the part
named 1. Select the right columns with a selection window
according to the following picture.
Finish the selection with Ok. The dialog window will reappear
as in the picture below.
41
Close the dialog window with Ok, and part 1 will be accepted.
Coordinate
System
Switch to Z-Y plane.
Result Display
Parameters
Click the Result Display Parameters Icon, and check Nodes

and Lines in the Write Values to box.
Click OK to close the dialog window, and the following picture

appears.
42
Min/Max
Values
Click the Minimum and Maximum Values Icon to find out the
location of maximum displacement. The following dialog box
will appear:
Here you can select one displacement component. Leave it on ez

and click Ok. First the location and value of the negative
minimum displacement appears.
Click Ok, and the location and value of positive maximum

displacement will appear.
Select from the Result Component combo box Nx from the

43
Beam Internal Forces. Click the Result Display Parameters

Icon, Change display to section line.
The Nx force diagram will appear.
View the My moment diagram in a similar way.
Now view the Rz Nodal Support Internal Force diagram.
44
Steel Design
Click the Steel Design tab to start the checking of column A1.
Design
Parameters
Click the Design Parameters Icon, then select column A1 and

finish the selection with Ok. The following dialog window
appears:
Overwrite Kyy with 1.25, and then close the dialog window
with Ok.
Axial ForceBending-Shear
Lets view the N-M-V diagram.
45
Buckling
46
Now view the N-M-Flx Buckling diagram:
Choose the efficiency diagram. The following picture appears:
If you click column A1 then all of its checks will appear.
Click Ok to close this window.
47
3. PLATE MODEL
Start

Menu.
New
that pops up, replace the Model Filename with Frame, and in
the Design Code panel select Eurocode.
Objective
The objective of the analysis is to determine the maximum

deflection, bending moments and required reinforcement of the
following plate.
Lets suppose the plate thickness is 20 cm, the concrete is of

C20/25, and the reinforcement is computed according to
Eurocode-2.
Coordinate
System
48

Z direction.

X=0, Y=0, Z=0.
The location of the cursor is defined as a relative coordinate.
Geometry
If not already selected, activate the Geometry tab. Under it

appears the Geometry Toolbar.
View
Click the Y-X view from the View Icon Bar.
Line
Create the geometry of plate using the Rectangle command.

Holding down the left mouse button on the Line Icon can
access it.
Rectangle
Note: When the a line type is chosen, the Relative coordinate

system automatically changes to the local system (d prefix)
The corners of the rectangle can be specified graphically or by
entering the coordinates. Lets enter them with coordinates:
Set the first corner (node) of the rectangle by typing in these
entries:
X=0
Y=0
Z=0
Finish specifying the first corner point by pressing Enter. The
first node of the plate model is now also the global coordinates
origin point.
Relative
Coordinates
Lets specify the relative coordinates of the next corner. Type in

the following sequence of keys:
X=8.4
Y=6.8
Z=0
49
Finish specifying the second corner point by pressing Enter.

(Note: If the decimal separator on the computer is set to comma,
then instead of the dot you have to uses the comma.)
Lets move the relative origin to the lower left corner of the
rectangle. For this move the cursor over the lower left node and
left Click.
Node Icon
Elements
Domain
50
Exit from rectangle line command by pressing Esc.

Click the Node Icon, then type in the following sequence:
X=6.4
Y=2.2, Enter
X=0
Y=2.4, Enter
These nodes have added columns to support the plate. Exit from
the Node command with Esc.
The next step is to define the finite elements. Click the
Elements tab.
Click the Domain Icon, then click on one line and the whole
rectangle will be selected. Finish the selection with Ok, and the
following dialog window appears.
Material
Library Import
Click the Material Library Import Icon in the row of

Material, and the following dialog window appears:
Choose C20/25 from Materials List Box, using the scroll bar if
necessary. Close the Material Library Import dialog window
with Ok.
Thickness
Type in the thickness combo box the value 200 [mm], then close
the dialog window with Ok. The following picture appears:
Note the red line on the inner contour of the domain
This is the symbol of a (plate) domain. If you move the mouse

on this contour, the properties of the domain will appear in a hint
window.
51
Zoom to Fit
For a better view lets click the Zoom to Fit Icon on the Zoom
Icon bar.
Domain
Meshing
Click the Domain Meshing Icon. Use the select All command
(the asterisk) and finish the selection with OK. The following
dialog window appears:
Type in the Average Mesh Element Size edit box the value 0.66
[m], then press Ok. An automatic mesh generation will start. Its
progress is showed in the following window.
When the mesh generation finishes, the following picture

appears:
52
The surface element symbol is a solid red square in the center of

the element. If you move the cursor over it, the properties of the
element appear in an info window.
Refinement
Let's refine the mesh around the two nodal supports. Depress
the left mouse button over the Refinement Icon, and click the
Refinement by BiSection Icon that appears.
Uniform
Refinement
Select the surface elements around the nodal supports with a

selection box, according to the picture below:
Finish the selection with Ok and accept the offered Maximum

Side Length. The result of the refinement is shown in the
following picture:
Display
Options
Let's view the local coordinate system of the surface elements.

Click the Display Options Icon in the Icons Menu (left side).
53
Activate the Symbols tab, then on the Local System Panel

check the Surface box.
Close the dialog window with Ok.
A red line shows the local -x direction, a yellow line the local -y
direction and a green line the local -z direction:
Display
Options
54
Select Display Options Icon to switch off the Surface box on

the Local System panel.
Nodal Support
Let's specify the supports of the structure. Click on the Nodal

Support command then select the two nodes in the center of the
columns and finish the selection with Ok. The Nodal Support
Window appears.
Calculations
Click the Calculations button. The following dialog window

appears:
In this dialog window you can specify the support stiffness for
the column type support.
New Cross
Section
Click the New Cross Section Icon. The following dialog

window appears:
55
Rectangle
Shape
Click the Rectangular Shape Icon. The following dialog

window appears:
Type 300 [mm] in the upper two edit boxes, as the dimensions
of cross section, and click Place. Click in the Cross Section
Editor Drawing Area to place the rectangle. The location where
the rectangle is placed is unimportant.
56
A following picture appears:
Close the Cross Section Editor with Ok. A dialog window asks
for the name of the new cross-section.
Type in 300x300, then close the dialog window with Ok. The
Global Node Support Calculation dialog windows stiffness
values will take into account this cross-section's properties.
Accepting the remaining settings click Ok. The stiffness values
displayed in the Global Node Support Calculation dialog
window will be copied in the Nodal Support dialog window.
Close the dialog window with Ok, and the two supports are
created.
57
Line Support
Let's create the line supports on the contour of the domain. Click
the Line Support Icon, and select the four contour lines of the
domain. They represent walls on the edges of the plate.
appears.
Calculation
58
Click the Calculation button. Here you can calculate the line
support stiffness due to a wall support. Type in the thickness of
wall edit box 300 [mm]. You can see that the height of the wall
is 3.0m, and the wall stiffness is also shwon in this dialog box.
Depress both the upper and lower End Release Icons. Close
with Ok the dialog windows.
Nodal DOF
Click the Nodal DOF Icon. Select all nodes with the All
command (the asterisk), then finish the selection with Ok. In the
Nodal Degrees Of Freedom dialog box select Plate in X-Y from
the list.
Accepting this will constrain the degree of freedom to vertical

displacements and rotations about axes in the plane of the plate.
59
Loads
The next step is to apply the loads. Click the Loads tab.
Load Cases &

Load Groups
It is useful to group the loads into load cases. To manage the

load cases click the Load Cases & Load Groups Icon. The
ST1 in the upper left corner of the window is the first load case
(created by default). Click it and rename it to Self-Weight.
Closing the dialog window it will be the active load case. It can
be seen on the Info Window:
Self Weight
60
Click the Self Weight Icon, and select all elements with the All
command. Finish the selection with Ok, and the self-weight load
will be applied to all elements. This can be seen by the red
dashed lines on the contour of elements.
New Load
Case
Click the Load Cases & Load Groups Icon again, and create a
new load case with the Static Icon. Name it Permanent Load.
This load case contains the dead loads on the plate. Let's assume
it is 2.5 kN/m2 distributed load.
Distributed
Surface Load
Click the Distributed Surface Load Icon and select all

elements with the All command. Finish the selection and type in
the -pz input box the value -2.5 kN/m2. The negative value
means a load acting in opposite direction to the local z-axis of
the surface element. This is a load on the surfaces of the plate.
New Load
Case
Create a new load case and name it Live Load. It will contain
the variable loads. Click the Distributed Surface Load Icon
and select all elements with the All command. Finish the
selection and type in
-pz=-1.5 kN/m2.
Load
Combinations
Now, that all loads have been applied to the structure, the load
combinations can be created. There will be only one load
combination, containing all load cases. Click the Load
Combinations Icon. The following dialog window appears:
61
New Row
Create a new load combination by using the New Row

command. You can apply load factors to load cases by using a
load combination. In this example the factors of the Eurocode2
will be used:
Self Weight
1.35
Dead Load
1.35
Variable
1.50
Type in these values in their columns. You can move to the next
column by pressing Enter. When finished press Ok, and the new
load combination is created.
Now all the model data is available for the analysis.
Static
The next step is the analysis and postprocessing. Click the

Static tab. Here you can start the static analysis and visualize
the results.
Linear Static
Analysis
Click the Linear Static Analysis Icon. If till this point the
model wasn't saved, the program will ask to save. Accept Save,
and a Save dialog window appears, where you can specify the
model file name and path.
The analysis process will start.
During the analysis the following window appears:
If you click the details button, the topmost bar shows the
progress of the current computation step. The bar below it shows
the global analysis progress. The estimated memory requirement
is the amount of virtual memory that must be available. If the
size of the operating systems virtual memory is limited to a
lower value, an error message will appear, showing the required
virtual memory. When the analysis has finished, the progress
bars will disappear.
Static
62
Closing the Linear Analysis window with Ok the postprocessor

will start by default with the first load case (Self-Weight in this
case), the result component is ez displacement and the display
mode is isosurface 2D. This shows the vertical displacements
from the first load case.
Click the Case Selector combo box, and select Co.#1 to view the
results from the load combination.
The Color Legend Window shows that the displacements are

negative, because they are in an opposite direction with the local
z-axis of the elements. This is the top view of a surface load.
Display
Options
Click the Display Options Icon on the Icons Menu in the left
side. Under the Symbols tab, in the Graphics Symbols Panel
switch off the Load and Surface Center options.
Min/Max
Values
Lets find the maximal displacements. Click the Min, Max

Values Icon. The following dialog window appears:
Here you can select the displacement component extremities.

Accept ez, and a window pops up, showing the location and
value of maximum negative displacement
Click Ok, and another window pops up, showing the location
and value of maximum positive displacement.
63
Color Legend
The Color Legend Window shows the color ranges. You can
change the number of colors by dragging the handle beside the
level number edit box or entering a new value.
Lets find the ranges with a displacement larger than 10 mm.

Click on the values in the Color Legend Window. In the Color
Legend Setup dialog window check Auto Interpolate, then
click on the bottom value in the left column, and replace -11.4
with -10.
64
Close the dialog window with OK, and the new ranges will be
applied.
The ranges with a displacement larger than 10 mm are shown by

the inclined hatching.
Display Mode
Let's view the displacement in isoline display mode too. Click

the Display Mode combo box (the one which is displaying
Isosurface 2D), and select Isoline from the list.
65
Perspective
View
Let's view the results in perspective. Click the Perspective

View Icon from the View Icon Bar.
Accept the perspective display values in the dialog window by

closing it with Close Icon.
Result Display
Parameters
Click the Result Display Parameters Icon to view the

deformed shape. In the Display Shape Panel select Deformed.
When the dialog window is closed the deformed shape of the
structure is shown.
Rendered
Click the Rendered Icon in the Display Mode Icon Bar, and the
deformed shape of the structure will be rendered.
66
Click the Wireframe Icon and return to the Isoline display

mode.
Let's switch to X-Y Plane.
After studying the deformed shape lets look at the internal
forces. Click the Result Component combo box (the one which
displays ez), and the following list appears:
Open the Surface Internal Forces by clicking on it, then select

mx. The isoline display of the mx internal moments appears on
the screen. This is the moment that is taken by the reinforcement
in the -x direction. The my, mxy internal moments and the qxz,
qyz shear forces can be viewed in a similar way.
Open in the Result Component combo box the Nodal Support
Internal Forces, and select Rz. This way you will be able to see
the compressive force acting on the columns.
67
Result Display For this click the Result Display Parameters Icon.
Parameters
The following dialog window appears:
In the Write Values To Panel check the Nodes box, and

uncheck the Min, Max. only. Close the dialog window with Ok
and the value of the axial forces in the columns appears near the
nodes.
The reactions from the line supports can be viewed in a similar

way. In Result Display Parameters check only Lines in the
Write Values to Panel. Select Line Support Internal Forces
and value Rz.
68
R.C. Design
Let's switch to R.C. Design tab.
Here the reinforcement areas from the internal forces can be

obtained.
Reinforcement
Parameters
Click the Reinforcement Parameters Icon, and select all

surface elements with the All command. Finish the selection
with Ok, and the following dialog windows appear:
The characteristics of the concrete are already known from the

creation of domain. Select B500B for the type of the
reinforcement:
69
Type in 1.5 for the depth of concrete cover in -x direction, and

2.5 for the -y direction.
When the dialog window is closed, the axb diagram appears,

which is the isosurface diagram of the bottom steel area in -x
direction. In the Result Component combo box you can select
the top or bottom -x or -y direction of the steel reinforcement.
By changing the number of levels and the top and bottom values
in the Color Legend Window, it is easy to see variations in the
required reinforcement needed.
In this case let's study the reinforcement at the top in -x
direction. Switch to axt in the Result Component combo box.
Min/Max
Values
Find the maximal amount of steel reinforcement using the Min,

Max. Values command. Clicking on its icon the following
dialog window appears:
Continue with Ok, and a dialog window appears with the

location and area of maximum reinforcement.
Let's use as minimal reinforcement (0.3%) fi12/18, whose area is

628 mm2/m, and for actual reinforcement fi12/9, whose area is
1257 mm2/m.
70
It can be seen that the area for actual reinforcement is greater

than the maximum area of calculated reinforcement, so it can be
applied over the whole plate.
To separate reinforcement regions set the number of levels to 3
in the Color Legend Window.
Activate the Color Legend Setup by clicking on a value, then
type 1257 in the top row, 628 under it and 0 in the last row.
The regions that require the minimum or maximum

reinforcement are displayed.
It can be seen that in the middle region of the plate no top

reinforcement in -x direction is required from calculation, near
71
the edges the minimal reinforcement is enough and in the area

around the columns, the maximum reinforcement is required.
To view the reinforcement needed in the area around the
columns Click the Static tab. In Result Component combo box
select Surface Internal Forces and click on -mxy. Set the
display to Isosurface. .
Section Lines
Click the Section Lines Icon on the Left Icon Bar.
Click the New Section Plane button, and name the section
plane Column1 in the dialog window that appears:
Accept the name and specify the section plane on the drawing.
Select one of the column support nodes, then the other column
support node.
72
The following dialog window returns:
Accept it with Ok. The display should be set to the Section

Line.
Coordinate
System
Switch to Z-Y plane, Select Surface Internal Forces m1 and

the moment diagram section across the columns is obtained.
Let's switch off the display of section. Click the Section Lines
Icon uncheck the box before Column1 and close the dialog
window with Ok.
73
Result Display
Parameters
Click the Result Display Parameter Icon, and uncheck the

boxes in the Write Values To panel.
Switch to perspective view, then set the display mode to

Isosurface 3d. The Color Legend window should be set to 10
max value.
The following picture appears, which shows the internal
moments in the -x direction.
74
4. MEMBRANE MODEL
4.1.
Preprocessing with surface elements
Start

Menu.
New
that pops up, replace the Model Filename with Membrane 1.
Select the Design Code. Click Ok.
Objective

and reinforcements of the following wall structure.
Assume the wall thickness is 200 mm, the concrete is of C20/25,

and the reinforcement is B500A computed according to
Eurocode-2.
Coordinate
System
In the lower left corner of the graphics area is, in blue color, the
coordinate system beginning point marked with a blue X. The
coordinate system view can be changed from the Icons Menu
with the Views Icon. Move the cursor over that icon and the
following icon bar is displayed:
75
The vertical upward direction is taken as the positive Z direction.

It has relevance for the direction of gravitational force.
If the view is not already in Z-X plane, switch to it.
Geometry
If not already selected, activate the Geometry tab, under which

the Geometry Toolbar is displayed.
Quad/Triangle
Division
The geometry of the wall is created with the Quad/Triangle

Division Icon. Hold down the left mouse button to display the
sub-menu. Click on the first Icon on the left and the following
dialog window is displayed:
To create the upper part enter N1=20, N2=8.
Close the dialog window with Ok. Now you have to specify the
corners of the Quad. They can be specified graphically or by
entering the coordinates. Lets enter them with coordinates :
To enter the first corner, Type in the following sequence of
keys:
X=0 Y=0 Z=3, Enter
Specify the relative coordinates of the next corners in a similar
way. Type in the following sequence of keys :
X=12 Y=0 Z=0, Enter
X=0 Y=0 Z=3, Enter
X=-12 Y=0 Z=0, Enter
76
Exit from drawing quads by pressing Esc.

The following Drawing is displayed:
Quad/Triangle
Division
The pillars are created in a similar way. Click the

Quad/Triangle Divison Icon. Enter the following values:
N1=3, N2=6
Close the dialog window with Ok. Now you have to specify the
corners of the Quad.
Type in the following sequence of keys :

X=0 Y=0 Z=-6, Enter
X=1 Y=0 Z=0, Enter
X=0.8 Y=0 Z=3, Enter
X=-1.8 Y=0 Z=0, Enter
Exit from drawing quads by pressing Esc.
The following drawing is displayed:
Mirror
Create the other pillar by mirroring the first one with respect to
the center of structure (X=6). Click the Mirror Icon.
The Selection Icon Bar is displayed:
77
Select with a selection window all nodes of the pillar.
The selected elements will be highlighted.
Finish the selection with Ok and the following dialog window

will be displayed:
Set Mirror: Copy, Nodes to connect: None, Copy: All. Now

you have to specify the mirror plane. First select the middle
point of the bottom line of the upper part, then select any point
vertically above it.
78
The geometry of the wall has been successfully created.

Zoom
Let's zoom to the structure. Move the cursor over the Zoom
Icon on the Icons Menu. The Zoom Icon Bar pops up.
Fit in Window
Click the Fit In Window Icon.
Geometry
Check
In the top icon bar, Click the Geometry Check Icon to check
for possible duplicate entries. In the dialog window displayed the
tolerance for merging the nodes can be specified. If the distance
between two nodes is less than the value you enter they
respective nodes will be merged. Enter .001.
79
Click OK and a check summary is displayed when completed.
Elements
The next step is to create the finite elements. Activate the

Elements tab.
Surface
Elements
Click the Surface Elements Icon. After selecting All elements

the following dialog window is displayed:
Set the type of the element to Membrane(plane stress).

Material
Library Import
Click the Material Library Import Icon. The following dialog

window is displayed:
Select C25/30 from the Materials list, then accept it with Ok.
Thickness
80
Enter(type) in the Thickness edit box 200 [mm], then close the
dialog window with Ok.
Display
Options
The surface elements have been created.

To view the local coordinate system of the surface elements
click on the Display Options Icon on the Icons Menu in the left
side. The following dialog window is displayed:
Check the Surface box in the Local Systems panel.
Accept the change with Ok.

If the Mesh, Node, Surface Center is switched on among the
Graphics Symbols, it is visible that the program uses 9-node
membrane elements. These 9 nodes are the corners, middpoints
and center point of surface element. If you move the cursor on
the surface center symbol (a filled square), a hint window is
displayed with the property of the surface element: its tag,
material, thickness, mass and references, as shown in the next
drawing:
81
The red line shows the x axis of the local coordinate system, the
yellow one the y axis and the green one the z axis.
Line Support
To create the supports click on the Line Support Icon and

select the bottom lines of the pillars with a selection box.
Finish the selection with Ok. The following dialog window is

displayed:
82
To create a pinned support use the following settings:
Nodal DOF
Click the Nodal DOF Icon, select all nodes with the All
command and accept the selection. In the dialog window scroll
to Membrane in Plane X-Z and apply it.
83
4.2.
Preprocessing with domains
Start

AxisVM folder, found on the Deskto, or in the Start, Programs
Menu.
New
that pops up, replace the Model Filename with Membrane-2.
Objective

and reinforcements of the following wall structure:
Assume that the wall thickness is 200 mm, the concrete is of

C25/30, and the reinforcement is B500A, computed according to
Eurocode-2.
Coordinate
System
84

Z direction.

cursor is the bottom left corner of the graphic area, and is preset
to X=0, Y=0, Z=0.
The location of the cursor is defined as a relative coordinate.
Geometry
If not already selected, activate the Geometry tab. The

Geometry Toolbar is displayed:
Line
Press down the left mouse button while the mouse is on the Line
Icon. (Note: Icons default display is to the last icon selection)
The following icon sub-menu is displayed:
Note: When the a line type is chosen, the Relative coordinate

system automatically changes to the local system (d prefix)
Polygon
Select the Polygon icon, which is the second from left. When
the Polygon is chosen, the Relative coordinate system
automatically changes to the local system (d prefix)
The polygon coordinates for the frame model can be drawn with
the mouse, or by typing in their numerical values.
Set the first point (node) of the polygon by typing in these
entries:
X=0 Y=0 Z=3
Finish specifying the first line point by pressing Enter.
To enter the remaining nodes of the polygon membrane model,
enter the following sequence of values:
X=1 Y=0 Z=0, Enter
X=0.8 Y=0 Z=-3, Enter
85
X=1 Y=0 Z=0, Enter

X=0 Y=0 Z=6, Enter
X=-12 Y=0 Z=0, Enter
X=0 Y=0 Z=-6, Enter
Exit from the command by clicking Esc twice.

Translate
Click the Translate Icon. Select the top horizontal line and
finish the selection with Ok. Choose Incremental from the
Method panel, N=1, Nodes to Connect: None, then close the
dialog window with Ok. Now you must specify the translation
vector. Click any empty place in the Graphics Area, then type
in the following sequence:
X=0 Y=0 Z= -0.75, Enter
The following drawing results:
Elements
The next step is to create the finite elements. Click the

Elements tab.
Domain
Click the Domain Icon, then select All. Accept the selection
with Ok and the following dialog window is displayed:
86
Material
Library Import
Set the type of the element to Membrane (plane stress).

Click the Material Library Import Icon and the following
dialog window is displayed:
Select C25/30 from the materials list, and close the dialog
window with Ok.
Thickness
Enter(Type in) 200 [mm] as the thickness of wall
,
then close the dialog window with Ok.
87
It is easy to observe the symbol of the domain - a blue line on the

inner contour of the domain. Moving the cursor over it a hint
window is displayed with the properties of the domain:
Domain
Meshing
Click the Domain Meshing Icon. Select the domain with the
All command (the asterisk) and finish the selection with Ok. The
following dialog window is displayed:
Type in 0.75 [m] for the average mesh element size. After
closing this dialog window with Ok the automatic mesh
generation is started. The progress of mesh generation is shown
in a window.
88
After the mesh generation is completed, the following drawing is

displayed:
If you move the cursor on the surface center symbol (a filled

square), a hint window is displayed with the property of the
surface element : it's tag, material, thickness, mass and
references as shown in the next drawing.
Line Support
The next step is to specify the supports. Click the Line support
Icon. Select the bottom lines with a selection box.
Accept the selection with Ok. The following dialog window is

displayed:
89
To create pinned support set the dialog window as shown

below:
Close the dialog window with Ok, and the following drawing is
displayed:
Nodal DOF
90
The next (optional) step is to set the nodal degrees of freedom.

Click the Nodal DOF Icon. Select all nodes with the All
command, finish the selection with Ok, and in the dialog
window select Membrane in plane X-Z.
The finite elements have now been created.

The next step is to apply the loads.
Load
Click the Loads tab.
Surface Edge
Load
Assume a 50kN/m vertical distributed load. Click on the

Surface Edge Load Icon, then select the line you have created
with the translate command (the second black line from top):
Finish the selection with Ok, and enter(type) in: py 50 [kn/m]:
91
Press Ok and the load is applied.

Static
The next step is the analysis and postprocessing. Click the

Static tab.
Linear Static
Analysis
Click the Linear Static Analysis Icon. The model will be saved
with it's current name (which is Membrane 2 in this case).
A Model Save Dialog will appear if you havent already

assigned a name for the model. Accept save and a Save dialog
window appears, where you can specify the model filename and
path.
Calculation
92
During the calculation the following window is visible:
Click the Details button to view the details of calculation:

The topmost label shows the current computation step, and the
bar below it shows its progress. The second bar shows the global
progress of computation. The estimated memory requirement
shows the estimated virtual memory needed. If the virtual
memory of the computer is set to a lower value than the needed
value, an error message is displayed. When the computation has
finished, the progress bars will disappear.
Postprocessor
Close the window with Ok. By default the postprocessor will

start with the ez displacement, the display mode will be isoline.
You will see the vertical displacements.
Display
Options
For a clearer view, switch off the display of Loads. Click the
Display Options Icon, and uncheck the Load box.
Fit in Window
Click on the Fit in Window Icon.
Click the Result Component combo box (the one showing

ez[mm] and select nx from Surface Internal Forces.
93
Min/Max
Value
To find the location of maximum internal force. Click the Min,

Max Value Icon. The following dialog window is displayed:
Here you can select the component you are interested in. Accept
nx by clicking Ok. A dialog window will show the value and
location of the negative maximum.
Click Ok and another window is displayed showing the location

and value of positive maximum.
94
The color regions are delimited by the values in the Color

Legend Window. You can change the number of colors by
dragging the handle beside the level number edit box or entering
a new value.
Color Legend
Setup Window
To find the ranges with a normal force larger than -100 kN/m,
Click on the values in the Color Legend Window. In the Color
Legend Setup dialog window check Auto Interpolate, then
click on the bottom value in the left column, and replace
331.62 with -100.
Close the dialog window with OK, and the new ranges will be
applied.
95
The regions with a normal force greater then -100 are hatched.
Isoline
View the internal forces in Isoline display mode. Click the

Display Mode combo box (the one which displays Isosurface
2D) and select Isoline from the list.
The isoline drawing is shown below:
View the internal forces of the supports. Select rz from Line

Support Internal Forces in the Result Component combo box.
Result Display
Parameters
96
Click the Result Display Parameters Icon, and the following

dialog window is displayed. Check the Lines box in the Write
Values To panel and set the Display Mode to Diagram
Close the dialog window with Ok and the values of support

forces is displayed on the screen:
R.C. Design
The next step is to calculate the reinforcement. Click the R.C.

Design tab:
Click on the Reinforcement Parameters Icon, and select all

surface elements with the All command. Complete the selection
with OK, and the following dialog window is displayed:
97
Close the dialog window with OK and the axb diagram is

displayed:
The area of reinforcement in the x direction is the sum of the axt

and axb values.
98
5.
SHELL MODEL
Start
To run the program click AxisVM 8 icon in the AxisVM folder

on the Desktop.
New
Create a new model by clicking the New icon or File / New from
the menu. Enter Reservoir into the Model Filename field and
into the first line of the Page Header. Select Front View from
the left toolbar and select Eurocode as Design Code.:
Job definition
Determine the specific forces and the amount of reinforcement

for the following reservoir filled with water.
Thickness of the walls and the baseplate is 250 mm, ribs on the
upper edge are 30x60s. The structure is made of C25/30 concrete
and B500B rebars. Use Eurocode 2.
Settings
Use Settings / Options / Grid & Cursor to open the following

dialog:
99
Replace each value under Cursor Step by 0.2
to ensure that the mouse cursor moves in 0.2 m steps so you

avoid geometric imperfections while drawing the model.
Now you create the geometry using enhanced editing functions.
Geometry
Click the Geometry tab under the menu getting to the geometry
toolbar:
Polygon
The third icon from the left is Polygon.

Click the mouse left button on it to draw a
polygon.
First we draw the reservoir wall in X-Z
plane.
Choose the global origin as the origin of
the polygon. It is on the bottom left at the
intersection of a horizontal and a vertical
brown line representing the global X and Z
axes. The blue x shows the current origin
of the editing coordinate-system.
Relative
coordinate-
To enter further polygon vertices choose the relative coordinatesystem (relative to the blue x). Turn on relative coordinates by
100
system
clicking the d button. If this button is down the relative

coordinates are displayed and coordinates have a d prefix.
If this button is up global coordinates are displayed.

Move the mouse cursor to the following locations and click once
to enter each vertex: 11.0 right and 0.2 down, down 0.4, right
1.0, up 3.6, left 12.0, down 3.0 (or by keyboard: x 11 z 0,2
[Enter] z 0.4 [Enter] x 1 [Enter] z 3.6 [Enter] x 12 [Enter] z 3
[Enter]).
Double-click at the last vertex to quit the drawing function. Now
you have this:
Translation
Use the Translation icon on the Icon bar on the left to create the
geometry of the reservoir in space.
The Selection palette appears:
Select all lines by pressing the Gray* on the keyboard or the

fourth icon on the toolbar. Selected elements turn purple. Click
the OK button to accept the selection and you get to the
Translate dialog.
Select the Incremental method, N=1, and All nodes to connect.

Click OK to close the dialog.
101
Change view
Select the icon on the left from the toolbar and the X-Y plane or
press [Ctrl+2]
Now specify the translation vector. Its base point can be

anywhere and set its endpoint using relative coordinates to get to
this point:
Change view
Select the icon on the left from the toolbar

and click the Perspective view (or press
Ctrl+4):
The perspective palette appears:
The cursor changes to show that you can drag and rotate the model to
set a new perspective. Rotate it to get to the following settings or enter
these H, V, P values:
Close the palette by clicking any of the two small x button.

Fit in window
To see the entire structure click the Zoom icon on the left toolbar
and choose Fit in window:
Numbering
Move the cursor to the bottom right corner anf find the
Numbering icon among the speed buttons!
102
Here you can turn numbering on or off. Turn on the

check box before Node and node numbers appear
immediately.
Translation
(move)
To shape up the grip slope move the line between Node 3 and 4
down by 0.2 m. Drag a selection rectangle around Node 3 and 4:
All elements within the rectangle will be selected (Node 3, Node

4 and the line between them).
Move the cursor onto the selected line and start dragging it. Now
you have to specify the translation vector.
Select the Special constraints icon from
the Icon bar on the left and choose the
second icon from the flyout toolbar.
Click the vertical line
between Node 4 and 5. Now
you have applied a parallel
constraint: the translation
vector will be parallel to the
vertical line. Move the line
between Node 3 and 4 down.
To specify the exact distance
type Z to get to the dZ
coordiante edit field and type
0.2 [Enter].
Geometry Check
To check the model geometry use the Geometry

Check.
Here you can set the tolerance. If two nodes are
closer than this distance
they will automatically
be joined.
After clicking OK a
check report will appear:
Elements
Clicking the Elements tab you can specify the element types,
material properties, cross-sections and references determining
103
local systems of the elements.
Reference point
The local system of finite elements can be set by references. In

this example a reference point is used to define the orientation of
the local Z direction on the plane normal and a reference plane to
define the in-plane X and Y axes.
Click the reference point icon then click the midside point of the
line between Node 5 and 11. To locate the midside point move
the cursor along the line and check if the cursor shape changes
from / to .
Numbering
Move the cursor over the Numbering button on the

speed button toolbar. Turn on the Reference check
box. Now an R1 label appears beside the
reference symbol.
Reference plane
To set the local system of domains create a

reference plane. Click the icon on the
Elements toolbar. You need three points to
define the plane. Click Node 6, click
anywhere on the line between Node 1 and
2 then click Node 1.
You get this:
Domains
Define a domain to create structural surface elements. Click the

Domain icon. The Selection palette appears. Click on the
following lines to select domain contours:
6 6; 6 1; Rectangle 6 1 7 12 is automatically
selected
1 7; 7 8; 8 2; 2 1
11 10; 10 4; Rectangle 11 10 4 5 is automatically
selected
Click OK on the Selection palette. You get to the Domains
dialog.
104
Material
Import
Library
Click the Material Library Import button to select a material:
Select C25/30. The list on the right displays the material

properties. Click OK.
Thickness
Enter 250 into the edit field Thickness[mm].
Reference
Set the local x reference to R2:
Local z reference will be Auto. Click OK to close the dialog.

You will see a green contour along the domain boundary showing the
shape of the domain. The color depends on the element type. Shell
domains always have a green contour.
Local systems
Turn on the display of local systems clicking the Local systems

speed button in the bottom right toolbar.
Domains
Define another structural surface element the same way. Click

the Domain icon. The Selection palette appears. Click on the
following lines to select domain contour:
105
8 9; 9 3; Polygon 8 9 3 2 is automatically selected.

dialog.
Choose Shell as element type, 250 mm as Thickness, R2 as
Local x reference, R1 as Local z reference and click OK.
Domains
Define the remaining structural surface elements the same way.

Click the Domain icon. The Selection palette appears. Click on
the following lines to select domain contours:
11 10; 10 9; Polygon 11 10 9 8 7 12 is
automatically selected.
9 10; 10 4; 4 3; Rectangle 9 10 4 3 is
5 4; 4 3; 3 2; 2 1; Polygon 5 4 3 2 1 is
dialog.
Define a shell domain with a thickness of 250 mm but this time
with Auto references and click OK.
You get the following:
Speed buttons
Turn off Numbering / Node and Local systems using speed

buttons.
Line elements
To define ribs on the upper edges click Line elements on the

Elements toolbar. The Selection palette appears. Press the
[Shift] key and click on the 4 edges. Click OK on the Selection
palette. You get to the Line elements dialog.
106
Cross-section
Editor
A borda keresztmetszetnek megadshoz aktivljuk a Szelvny

felirat mellett jobbra elhelyezked Szelvnyszerkeszt funkcit!
A kvetkez ablak jelenik meg:
Rectangular
shape
To define a 30 x 60
rectangular shape
click the
Rectangular shape
icon on the toolbar.
Type 300 into the
b[mm] edit field
and 600 into
h[mm] then click
the Place button.
107
You get back to the main window. Click anywhere to place the shape.
The cross-section 1st and 2nd principal direction, center of

gravity and other cross-sectionn parameters are displayed within
the property info window. Click More parameters to see all
parameters calculated automatically by a finite element analysis
of the cross-section.
Click OK to close the
Cross-section Editor
then enter 30*60 as the
name of the crosssection. Click OK
again.
You get back to the Line Elements dialog. Enter 175 mm as
Eccentricity then click OK. Rib centerlines are displayed as blue
lines and a grey diagram shows the actual cross-section.
Move the cursor over a
rib and wait for the
tooltip to appear
displaying element
properties:
Rendered view
108
Move the cursor over the View mode icon

on the Icon bar on the left. A flyout toolbar
appears.
Select the rightmost icon to choose Rendered view. This way
you can check element definitions.
Rotate view
Click the Rotate view icon on the Zoom

toolbar at the bottom left corner of the
main window.
Drag the model to rotate it. A special
Rotation toolbar appears. You can
control the way view rotation works by
selecting from the options.
Press the [Esc] key or close the Rotation toolbar by clicking the
x button to quit view rotation.
View undo
Select View undo from the Zoom toolbar.
Fit in view
Click this icon to make the drawing fill the window.
Wireframe
Select Wireframe from the view mode flyout toolbar.
Surface support
To define supports for the structure click the Surface support

icon on the Elements toolbar. The Selection palette appears.
Click the two non-vertical domains. Click OK on the Selection
toolbar. You get to the support definition dialog. Set Rx and Ry
to 1E3 and click OK.
109
You get this:
Loads
To define loads click the Loads tab.
Load cases and

load groups
To define load cases and load groups click Load cases and load
groups icon on the Loads toolbar. You get to this dialog:
110
Click on the selected load case to rename it to Self Weight.

Self weight
To define self weight click the Self weight icon. On the

Selection palette click the Select all (asterisk) icon or press gray
* on the keyboard. Click OK to close the Selection palette.
Dashed lines along the domain contours represent the self
weight.
Moving the cursor to a
domain you get a
tooltip like this:
Static Load Case
To create another load case click the

Load cases and load groups icon on the
Loads toolbar and click the Static button
in the New Case group box.
Enter Water as the name of the new load case in the tree view.
Fluid loads
To define the water load click the Fluid loads icon. On the
Selection palette click the Select all (asterisk) icon or press gray
* on the keyboard. Click OK to close the Selection palette.
To define water level 30 cm under the top edge of the reservoir
change
Z1 [m]=3.000 to 2.7, and set the bottom pressure value to 35
(pressure is in the negative local z direction) and click OK:
111
You get this:
Load
combinations
To create laod combinations click the Load combinations icon.

You get to the load combinations table in the Table Browser.
New row
To create a new combination click the New row icon then enter 1.35
into the Self-Weight column and 1.00 into the Water column. Use [Tab]
or [Enter] to jump to the next cell. Click OK to close the dialog.
Speed buttons
Turn off the Load display using the speed button

and turn off Supports and Reference from the
Graphic symbols flyout.
Mesh generation
To create finite element mesh click the Mesh tab.
112
Click the Domain

meshing icon. On the
Selection palette click
the Select all (asterisk)
icon or press gray * on
the keyboard. Click OK
to close the Selection
palette.
Use Uniform mesh size
and set Average Mesh
Element Size to 0.600 m
and click OK to close the
dialog.
You get a visual

feedback on the meshing
process. After
completing you get the
following:
Green points at the center of surface elements is the symbol of

shell centerpoints. Moving the mouse over a centerpoint you get
a tooltip information on the element and the domain.
113
Static
Linear analysis
Now we entered all properties necessary to analyse the model.

To run the analysis and display the results click the Static tab.
Click Linear static analysis to run the linear analysis.

You get to the dialog which gives you a feedback on the process
of the analysis. Click Details to know more about it.
You can see the actual steps of the calculation. The first bar
shows the actual progress of the current step while the second
one displays the overall progress of the analysis.
The Estimated Memory Requirement shows the necessary
amount of memory to run the analysis. If this value is higher
than the available physical memory AxisVM uses the hard disk
to swap memory blocks during the calculation. If the system of
equations fits into the physical memory the calculation is
considerably faster.
At the end of the analysis you see the following
114
Click OK to close the dialog. You get to the Static tab,

displaying the Self Weight load case and eZ (i.e. vertical
displacements due to the self weight).
Numbering
Click the Numbering speed button and turn on

Write Values to Surfaces and Min./Max. only.
To see the result for the Water load case click
the dropdown button of the combo box
displaying Self Weight and select Water.
You can change the result component the similar way.

Parts
To hide the front wall of the reservoir create a part. Click the
Parts icon on the Icon bar on the left. You get to the Parts
dialog.
Define a part containing everything but the front wall.

Click New and specify the name as WithoutFront.
115
Change view
Select the X-Y view from the flyout

toolbar or press [Ctrl+2].
On the Selection palette click the
Select all (asterisk) icon or press gray
* on the keyboard. The first button of
the palette (Add entities to the
selection) comes up and the second
one (Remove entities from the
selection) goes down showing that the
selection mode has been changed.
Scroll the model left or zoom out a bit
(use the mouse wheel or [Grey -]) and
deselect the front wall.
Click OK to close the Selection palette
then click OK in the Parts dialog. The
Info Window shows that there is an
active part:
View Undo
116
Undo the view (or select Perspective view by [Ctrl+4]) and you will
see that now the front wall is hidden.
Min, max
To determine the extreme values of the

horizontal displacements click the Min,
max icon. You get to a dialog (on the
right).
Select eY and close the dialog.
First the minimum value of eY appears
near the selected node which is the
location where the extreme can be
found. If you click OK or press [Enter],
you get to the maximum eY location.
Display
Parameters
Select the load combination (Co. #1) and the eR resultant

displacement. Click the Display Parameters icon, set Display
Shape to Deformed, Display Mode to Diagram and Scale By to
2.
Rotation
Go to the bottom of the screen, turn the Mesh Display speed

button on, and change display mode on the Icon bar to Hidden
line removal.
Use the bottom left toolbar to activate the interactive rotation
and check the deformed shape.
117
Change view
Color Legend
Select the X-Z view from the flyout

toolbar or press [Ctrl+1].
In the Display Parameters dialog set
Display Shape to Undeformed,
Display Mode to Isosurface 2D and
Scale By to 1. Choose mx result
component from the Surface Internal
Forces category of the dropdown tree.
Go to the bottom of the screen, turn
the Mesh Display speed button off.
Test different number of color levels
by dragging the bottom of the Color
Legend window.
If we set 11 colors first then 29 we get
the following drawings:
Now choose my result component.

Section
118
To show this component in a section click the Section icon on

the Icon bar. To define a new section plane click the New section
plane button in the dialog and enter 1 as the name of the section
plane.
A section plane can be defined by two points in side, front of top

view. Being in front view click the rib at 6.000 m and enter the
second point somewhere under the first on a vertical line (e.g.
typing z 3 [Enter]).
You get back to the Section Lines dialog. Click OK.
Change view
Select the Y-Z side view from the flyout toolbar or press
[Ctrl+3].
Numbering
Click Numbering speed button and turn on Write Values to

Lines.
You get the following diagram:
119
Speed buttons
Turn off Sections clicking its speed button at the bottom.
Change view
Select the perspective view from the flyout toolbar or press

[Ctrl+4].
Choose Rz from Surface Support Internal Forces and set Isoline
display style with 22 levels. Turn on Write Values To Surfaces.
R. C. Design
To determine the required amount of reinforcement click the R.

C. Design tab
Vasalsi
paramterek
To define surface reinforcement parameters click the

Reinforcement parameters icon. On the Selection palette click
the Select all (asterisk) icon or press gray * on the keyboard.
Click OK to close the Selection palette.
In the Surface Reinforcement Parameters dialog set
Concrete to B500B
and change xtop and
xbottom to 45 mm.
Click OK to close
the dialog.
Gyorspaletta
Turn off Write Values To Line and Surface by clicking the Numbering
speed button. We get this for axb (required amount of reinforcement in
local x direction at the bottom of the elements (top and bottom are
defined by the local z coordinate)
120
Also check components in other directions and positions: axt, ayb, ayt.
Reinforced
Beam Design
To determine the required amount of reinforcement in concrete

beams click the Beam Reinforcement Calculation icon. The
Selection palette appears. Click one of the ribs on the longer
walls and click OK on the palette. You get a warning message:
Close the dialog and you get to the Beam Reinforcement

window displaying the structural model of the beam, the bending
moment, shear force and torsional force distribution.
121
Beam
Parameters
Click Beam Parameters to specify the design properties. Click the icon
of the rectangular cross-section and click OK.
You get the required amount of reinforcement and stirrup

distance.
122
123
Notes
124
Notes
125

Axis VM Step by Step

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Axis VM Step by Step

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Step by step

Preprocessing with surface elements................................................................................75

Start AxisVM by double-clicking the AxisVM icon in the

Select the Design Code. Click OK to close the dialog window.

The objective of the analysis is to determine the internal forces,

In the lower left corner of the graphics area is the global

points in cylindrical or spherical coordinate systems). The origin

The first step is to create the geometry of structure.

The following picture appears:

Click the Geometry Check Icon on the top of the desktop, to

After the geometry check a summary of actions appears.

The next step is to specify the finite elements. Click on the

Press the Line Elements Icon,

Press the Material Library Import icon to select the material.

In the dialog window that appears select Concrete C25/30 in the

Click on the New Cross Section Icon (the rightmost in the

Define a rectangular cross section by clicking on the

Finish the cross-section definition by clicking on the Ok

Enter a name for the newly created cross-section. Type in

Lets check the structure in space! Click the Perspective Icon in

By closing the floating window the last view remains on the

The local systems, the node numbering and other useful

Finally switch from perspective view to Z-X plane.

In order to have a good overview, use the Zoom To Fit

direction, and specify the stiffness values.

Finish the support definition with OK

On the screen, restricted translations are shown as yellow

Click the Nodal DOF (Degrees of Freedom) Icon, and select

This setting selects the nodes of the beams only in translation in

The next step is to apply the loads.

In the Display Options window select the cross-section name

Click on the downward pointing triangle on the right of the

Type in 20 [mm] in the ez edit box.

The next step is the analysis and post processing.

If the application prompts for saving, save the model on a local

Click the Details button to view the details of calculation.

When the analysis has finished, press Ok. By default the

Click the Result Display Parameters Icon and set the

In the Case Selector combo box select the SELF-WEIGHT

Check the displacement diagrams of various load cases whether

Select the eZ displacement component, and press OK. The

The various internal force and stress results can be selected

Click the Beam Reinforcement Design Icon, then select all

The topmost diagram is the statical layout of the beam, below it

In the Beam Reinforcement Window, Click the Beam

Set the longitudinal rebar and stirrup material property to

Close the dialog window with Ok and the following window

Note that alongside the original My moment diagram (thin line),

Start AxisVM by double-clicking the AxisVM icon in the

The objective of the analysis is to determine the internal forces

Lets use for cross-section of horizontal elements I360, for

In the lower left corner of the graphics area is the global

The first step is to create the geometry of the structure.

Copy the structure vertically upward with the Translate Icon.

Close the dialog window with Ok, then click on an arbitrary

The following picture is obtained:

Switch to Z-Y plane.

Specify the first displacement vector by entering the following

Switch to perspective View. The colums should be on the

Click the Polygon Icon. Draw a segment from the bottom of

Continue with a segment to the bottom of the middle column:

Press Esc twice to exit from the command.

Check the geometry of the structure with the Geometry Check