STAAD - Foundation Manual

STAAD.
foundation
USERS MANUAL
a division of netGuru, Inc.

www.reiworld.com
www.reel.co.uk
STAAD.foundation is a proprietary computer program of Research Engineers,

International (REI), a division of netGuru, Inc.
The program and this document have been prepared in accord with established
industry engineering principles and guidelines. While believed to be accurate, the
information contained herein should never be utilized for any specific engineering
application without professional observance and authentication for accuracy,
suitability and applicability by a competent and licensed engineer, architect or other
professional. REI disclaims any liability arising from the unauthorized and/or
improper use of any information contained in this document, or as a result of the
usage of the program.
RELEASE 2004
Copyright
Research Engineers, International
A Division of netGuru, Inc.
Published August 2006
About STAAD. foundation

STAAD.foundation is a program from Research Engineers International, for the
analysis and design of various types of foundations, such as individual footings,
mats, pile caps and piles, etc.
Table of Contents
STAAD.foundation Users Manual
Section 1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
Introduction
Hardware Requirements
Installation
Copy Protection Device
Running STAAD.foundation
Section 2
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
Theoretical Basis
Introduction to Finite Element Analysis

Element Load Specification
Theoretical Basis
Element Local Coordinate System
Output of Element Forces
Sign Convention of Element Forces
STAAD.foundation Program Theory
Section 3
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
3.10
3.11
3.12
3.13
3.14
3.15
3.16
3.17
3.18
3.19
3.20
3.21
3.22
System Requirements, Installation and Start-up
Quick Tour
Introduction
Starting a New Project
Entering Support Coordinates
Defining the Loads
Using Jobs to Specify Design Constraints
Entering Design Parameters
Performing an Isolated Footing Design
Importing Structural Geometry and Analysis Results from STAAD.Pro
Creating a New Job for a Mat Foundation
Setting Up the Grid and Defining the Mat Boundary
Creating a Mesh
Specifying Slab Thickness
Defining Soil Properties
Analyzing the Slab
Slab Design
Pile Cap Example
Entering Pile Data
Entering Pile Cap Design Parameters
Performing Pile Cap Design and Viewing Results
Exporting Drawings to CAD
Local Footing Editing Features
Conclusion
1-1
1-2
1-4
1-5
1 - 10
1 - 11
2-1
2-2
2-6
2-7
2 - 11
2 - 12
2 - 14
2 - 18
3-1
3-2
3-3
3-8
3 - 10
3 - 19
3 - 23
3 - 25
3 - 30
3 - 33
3 - 35
3 - 42
3 - 46
3 - 50
3 - 52
3 - 61
3 - 72
3 - 73
3 - 78
3 - 80
3 - 86
3 - 87
3 - 89
Section 4
4.1
4.2
4.3
STAAD.foundation Graphical Environment
Introduction
STAAD.foundation Screen Organization
The Page Control
4.3.1 The Project Info Page
4.3.1.1 General Info
4.3.1.2 Review History
4.3.2 The Foundation Plan Page
4.3.2.1 Grid Setup
4.3.2.2 Column Positions
4.3.2.3 Column Dimensions
4.3.2.4 Pile for Mat Foundation
4.3.2.5 Physical Beams
4.3.3 The Loads and Factors Page
4.3.3.1 Load Description
4.3.3.2 New Load Case
4.3.3.3 Load Combination
4.3.3.4 Remove Load Case
4.3.3.5 Safety Factors
4.3.4 The Design Parameters Page
4.3.4.1 Concrete and Rebar
4.3.4.2 Cover and Soil
4.3.4.3 Geometry
4.3.5 The Pile Data Page
4.3.5.1 Pile Arrangement
4.3.5.2 Design Parameters
4.3.6 The Design Page
4.3.6.1 Design
4.3.6.2 Design Summary
4.3.6.3 Footing Layout
4.3.6.4 Detailed Drawing
4.3.6.5 Calculation Sheet
4.3.7 The Meshing Page
4.3.7.1 Meshing Grid
4.3.7.2 Meshing Setup
4.3.7.3 Create Mesh
4.3.8 The Property-Soil-Material Page
4.3.8.1 Beam Properties
4.3.8.2 Plate Thickness
4.3.8.3 Beam Offset
4.3.8.4 Soil Properties
4.3.9 The Analysis Page
4.3.9.1 Analyze
4.3.9.2 Displacements
4.3.9.3 Support Reactions
4.3.9.4 Plate Stresses
4.3.10 The Slab Design Page
4-1
4-2
4-3
4-7
4 - 10
4 - 11
4 - 13
4 - 15
4 - 16
4 - 25
4 - 26
4 - 27
4 - 28
4 - 29
4 - 30
4 - 39
4 - 41
4 - 44
4 - 45
4 - 46
4 - 47
4 - 49
4 - 50
4 - 54
4 - 55
4 - 62
4 - 64
4 - 65
4 - 68
4 - 69
4 - 73
4 - 76
4 - 77
4 - 79
4 - 89
4 - 94
4 - 96
4 - 97
4 - 100
4 - 105
4 - 111
4 - 117
4 - 118
4 - 120
4 - 126
4 - 131
4 - 136
4.4
4.5
4.3.10.1 FEM Slab Design

4.3.10.2 Slab Detailing
4.3.10.3 Section Design Along a Line
The Menu Commands
4.4.1 File Menu
4.4.2 Edit Menu
4.4.3 View Menu
4.4.4 Tools Menu
4.4.5 Select Menu
4.4.6 Window Menu
4.4.7 Help Menu
The Toolbars
4.5.1 File Toolbar
4.5.2 Print Toolbar
4.5.3 Jobs Toolbar
4.5.4 Help Toolbar
4.5.5 Rotate Toolbar
4.5.6 Zoom Toolbar
4.5.7 Loading Toolbar
4.5.8 Tools Toolbar
4.5.9 Geometry Toolbar
4.5.10 Select Toolbar
Section 5
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
Indian Verification Problems
Indian Verification Problem 1

4 - 140
4 - 149
4 - 153
4 - 158
4 - 159
4 - 169
4 - 170
4 - 190
4 - 203
4 - 212
4 - 217
4 - 222
4 - 223
4 - 226
4 - 231
4 - 237
4 - 239
4 - 243
4 - 245
4 - 248
4 - 252
4 - 256
5-1
5-2
5-7
5 - 12
5 - 16
5 - 21
1-1
System Requirements, Installation and Start-up

Section
This section includes discussion on the following topics:
Introduction
Installation
1-2
Section 1 System Requirements, Installation and Start-up
1.1
Introduction
Thank you for your purchase of STAAD.foundation.
STAAD.foundation is an exhaustive analysis, design, and drafting
solution for a variety of foundations that include isolated and
combined footings, mat foundations, pile caps and slab on grade. A
part of the STAAD.Pro family of products, STAAD.foundation is a
cost-saving downstream application that enables engineers to
analyze and design a foundation. STAAD.foundation can
automatically absorb the geometry, loads and reactions from a
STAAD.Pro model and accurately design isolated, pile cap, true
mat foundations and even perform pile arrangements for a pile cap.
STAAD.foundation not only analyzes and designs a myriad of
foundation configurations, but will also produce production quality
reports and detailed 3D rendering of your foundation structures.
With full OpenGL graphics, engineers can clearly see the displaced
shape, stress distribution, reinforcement layout and force diagrams
of their supporting structure. All models use physical objects
including physical beams, physical slabs, automatic meshing, load
distributions, and support generation. STAAD.foundation designs
the physical slabs rather than individual elements.
For mat foundation designs, STAAD.foundation utilizes a true
finite element design using the individual element stresses rather
than using column strips. STAAD.foundation can be used in a
stand-alone mode or can be used in conjunction with STAAD.Pro
where the support reactions from the main model and associated
load cases are automatically brought in.
Because STAAD.foundation provides a total solution for your
foundation needs, a built-in project management system enables
line and span of control, revision records and multi-job
functionalities. This helps you reduce cost in assembling the
technical and managerial information for your foundation. Full
step-by-step calculations are also provided in HTML form (where
possible) to verify each and every output provided by the program.
These verification checks can be easily shared with your clients for
approval. STAAD.foundation also includes a robust drafting

module, which enables you to customize your contract or site
drawings including the reinforcement and plan layouts. With an
assortment of CAD tools and an interface with CAD packages,
general arrangement drawings can be created quickly.
We hope you enjoy your experience with STAAD.foundation. If
you have any questions or problems with the program, please visit
our technical support page at http://www.reiworld.com or email us
at support@reiusa.com.
1-3
1-4
1.2
The following requirements are suggested minimums. Systems with
increased capacity provide enhanced performance.
PC with Intel-Pentium / AMD processor.

Graphics card and monitor with 1024x768 resolution, 256
color display (16-bit high color recommended).
128 MB RAM or higher.
Windows 98/ NT 4.0 or higher operating system. Windows
2000/XP Preferred. Running it on Windows 95 systems is
not recommended, as performance may be degraded.
Sufficient free space on the hard disk to hold the program
and data files. The disk space requirement will vary
depending on the modules you are installing. A typical
minimum is 500MB free space.
Note: Additional RAM, disk space, and video memory will

enhance the performance of STAAD.foundation. The user must
have a basic familiarity with Microsoft Windows 95/NT systems
in order to use the software.
1.3
Installation
Close all applications before installing STAAD.foundation.
Typically, an InstallShield Wizard screen appears when the CD is
placed in the drive as shown in Figure 1.1. If the InstallShield
Wizard does not appear, you may initiate it by running
SETUP.EXE located at the root folder of the CD (This can be done
by clicking on the file named SETUP.EXE from Windows
Explorer).
Note: In Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP
systems, you have to log in with administrative rights before
commencing installation.
Figure 1.1 - InstallShield Wizard
1-5
1-6
Users who are installing the commercial version of the program

will encounter the following screen in Figure 1.2.
Figure 1.2 - Customer Information & Serial Number

The serial number required for this screen should be available on
the back of the CD casing. Users of the Demo Version will not be
required to provide the above information.
The next screen you will encounter is shown in Figure 1.3. It
pertains to the type of software security system that you purchased
with STAAD.foundation. A Local Security generally refers to a
hardware lock, which is an adapter-like device that is placed on the
parallel or USB port of your computer. It can also be a softwarebased system (instead of a hardlock), which is a software license
that binds STAAD.foundation to the specific computer you are
installing it on. Network Security refers to a system that supports
simultaneous multiple-user access. A separate instruction document
containing the steps for network installations is provided to users
who have opted for this type of security system.
Figure 1.3 - Selection of Security System Type

If you choose Local Security, you are asked to select the type of
hardware lock supplied to you, or the software license that is
applicable. The name of the lock is engraved on the cover of the
lock. Make sure the type of lock you choose from Figure 1.4
matches that name. This is absolutely necessary to ensure that the
program functions to its full capacity.
Note: If you do not have a license for STAAD.foundation, the
program will only work in Demonstration mode.
1-7
1-8
Figure 1.4 - Selection of Hardware Lock Type

You may install the program in any folder of your choice. A
default folder name is supplied to you as shown in Figure 1.5.
Figure 1.5 - Selection of Installation Folder
The next screen allows you to review the settings you have chosen
before copying the files for STAAD.foundation to your computer
as shown in Figure 1.6.
Figure 1.6 - Review Settings

After the installation is complete, please restart your machine for
any changes made to take effect.
1-9
1-10
1.4

As explained in the previous section, a copy protection device in
the form of a hardware lock, or a software license, is required to
run STAAD.foundation. The hardware lock must be inserted in the
parallel port of your computer and must remain there during the
entire duration that you are in STAAD.foundation. If any other
device, such as a printer cable, hardware lock for other software,
etc., is attached to the parallel port, we recommend that you attach
the STAAD.foundation hardware lock in front of such other
devices. In case you have multiple locks, and cannot stack them for
any reason, REI can replace your parallel port type with a USB
type lock.
The hardware lock is configured for the programs and modules that
you have purchased. If you install one of the programs or modules
that is not supported by the hardware lock, that component may not
be accessible, or will be operable only as a Demonstration version.
The hardware lock driver(s) are automatically installed during the
installation process. For computers running on Windows NT,
Windows 2000, or Windows XP, you must have administrative
rights before installing the program to enable proper installation of
the hardware lock driver files.
Note: STAAD.foundation requires the hardlock be in place
during the entire time that any and all tasks are being
performed. In other words, from the moment you start the
program till the moment you exit it, the lock has to be in place.
If the lock is detached at any time in between, the program will
stop running, and request that you re-attach the lock. In the
event that you are unable to, the program will provide you with
the opportunity to save your work and exit the program. To
resume your work, you will have to put the lock back in the
port and re-start the program.
1.5
Click on the STAAD.foundation icon from the STAAD.foundation
program group as shown in Figure 1.7.
Figure 1.7 - Starting STAAD.foundation

The STAAD.foundation screen appears as shown in Figure 1.8.
Figure 1.8 - The STAAD.foundation Screen

If youre a first time user unfamiliar with STAAD.foundation, we
suggest that you go through the Quick Tour presented in Section 3
of this manual.
1-11
1-12
N
o
t
e
s
2-1
Theoretical Basis
Section

Theoretical Basis
2-2
Section 2 Theoretical Basis
2.1

If you want to model a surface entity like a wall, a roof or a slab,
where the load is distributed in more than one direction, you need a
surface entity to carry that kind of loading. The kind of entity that
is used to model a beam or a column cannot be used to model a
slab. We need to use another kind of structural entity known as a
finite element. In a finite element analysis, you take a wall or a
slab and subdivide it into smaller parts consisting of triangles or
quadrilaterals.
Finite elements are often referred to as plates. In our discussion,
we may use these two words interchangeably.
The difference between a beam and a plate is a load that is applied
to a beam can only go in two directions: towards one end, or the
other, or both.
Figure 2.1
In a plate, there is more than one path for the load to flow.
Figure 2.2
A plate can be 3-noded (triangular) or 4-noded (quadrilateral). The

thickness of an element may be different from one node to another.
All nodes of a 4-noded plate must lie in the same plane. If the four
nodes of a quadrilateral element do not lie on one plane, you
should replace the quadrilateral element with two triangular
elements.
It is not possible to accurately model the behavior of a slab using
just a single element. Why not? One reason is you can determine
the displacements in the finite element only at the corner nodes.
With a beam, if you know the displacements at the ends, you can
use secondary analysis techniques like the moment-area method to
determine the displacements at intermediate points.
Figure 2.3
In a plate, there are no equations you can use to determine the
displacement at some arbitrary point within the 3 or 4 corners of
the element. Therefore, if you would like to know the
displacements at some interior points of the slab, or if you would
like to know the deformed shape along the edges of the slab, it is
necessary to model the slab using a series of plate elements in such
a manner that the points of interest become nodes of the elements.
Similarly, you can accurately determine the stresses only at the
center of the element. The only way to find the stresses at other
points is to interpolate values at points between the centers of
adjacent elements.
2-3
2-4
Suppose you had a slab supported by a frame, and under load it had
a deflected shape something like that shown in the figure below.
Figure 2.4
In order to obtain deflection information that would allow you to
plot the deflected shape, you would need to at least know the
deflections at the points of maximum deflection, at the end points,
and at a few intermediate points, as shown by the Xs in the figure.
The more points you have, the more accurately you can model the
deflected shape. On the other hand, you would not want hundreds
of points either, since it would make your structure too
cumbersome to analyze. You need to exercise judgment in
selecting the number of elements you use to model a slab, enough
to accurately model the behavior of the slab under load, but not so
many as to make the model difficult to work with.
Another situation in which you would need more than one plate
element to model a slab would be when you want to know the
stresses in a slab caused by some type of point loading. You would
want to have quite a few elements in the vicinity of where the point
loading occurs in order to determine the stress distribution in the
slab caused by the concentrated load.
As a result, rather than using just a single element or a few
elements, a series or matrix of finite elements is often needed to
model the behavior of a wall or slab. This series of elements is
commonly referred to as a mesh. Once you have created a mesh,
incorporated it into a model, and used it as a basis for further
developing the model, it can be difficult to go back later and
change the size (i.e. the density) of the mesh. Here are some
suggestions that may help you determine the mesh size that you
need.
Try to predict the approximate deflected shape of the plate or

slab. For example, a simply supported plate deflects like a
bowl. If you cut a section that intersects the middle of its
edges, the longitudinal section as well as the transverse section
both look like a "U". How many points does one need to
represent the U? Probably four points for each half of the "U"
would be a minimum number needed to be able to visualize the
deflected shape. Four points would mean there are three
elements on each half of the "U', thus six elements each in the
local X and Y directions would be required. If the edges of the
element are fixed or monolithic with a concrete beam, the
deflected shape is more like an inverted hat. In this case, one
would perhaps need nine or more points to represent the
deflected shape. That means eight or more elements in that
direction.
Do you have concentrated forces on the surface of the element?

If so, you need to have a finer mesh around that region in order
to visualize the deflected shape or the stresses at that location.
How many elements are needed is hard to say. But, for
example, one can estimate a circular area around the
concentrated load point, divide that circle into say 30 degree
pie-shaped segments, thus obtaining 12 triangular elements
around a circle whose center is the location of the point load.
Do you have holes in the plate? You need a finer mesh around
the holes. Again, there is no easy guideline for how many
elements there should be. Your engineering judgment is often
the best guideline.
2-5
2-6
2.2

The following load specifications are available:
1) Joint loads at element nodes in global directions.
2) Concentrated loads at any user specified point within the
element in global or local directions.
3) Uniform pressure on an element surface in global or local
directions.
4) Partial uniform pressure on a user specified portion of an
element surface in global or local directions.
5) Linearly varying pressure on an element surface in local
directions.
2.3
Theoretical Basis
The STAAD plate finite element is based on hybrid finite element
formulations. A complete quadratic stress distribution is assumed.
For plane stress action, the assumed stress distribution is as
follows.
Figure 2.5
Complete quadratic assumed stress distribution:
a 1 through a 10 = constants of stress polynomials.
2-7
2-8
The following quadratic stress distribution is assumed for plate

bending action:
Figure 2.6
Complete quadratic assumed stress distribution:
a 1 through a 13 = constants of stress polynomials.

The distinguishing features of this finite element are:
1) Displacement compatibility between the plane stress
component of one element and the plate bending component of
an adjacent element which is at an angle to the first (see Figure
2.7) is achieved by the elements. This compatibility
requirement is usually ignored in most flat shell/plate elements.
Figure 2.7
2) The out of plane rotational stiffness from the plane stress
portion of each element is usefully incorporated and not treated
as a dummy as is usually done in most commonly available
commercial software.
3) Despite the incorporation of the rotational stiffness mentioned
previously, the elements satisfy the patch test absolutely.
4) These elements are available as triangles and quadrilaterals,
with corner nodes only, with each node having six degrees of
freedom.
5) These elements are the simplest forms of flat shell/plate
elements possible with corner nodes only and six degrees of
freedom per node. Yet solutions to sample problems converge
rapidly to accurate answers even with a large mesh size.
6) These elements may be connected to plane/space frame
members with full displacement compatibility. No additional
restraints/releases are required.
7) Out of plane shear strain energy is incorporated in the
formulation of the plate-bending component. As a result, the
elements respond to Poisson boundary conditions that are
considered to be more accurate than the customary Kirchoff
boundary conditions.
8) The plate-bending portion can handle thick and thin plates,
thus extending the usefulness of the plate elements into a
2-9
2-10
multiplicity of problems. In addition, the thickness of the plate

is taken into consideration in calculating the out of plane shear.
9) The plane stress triangle behaves almost on par with the wellknown linear stress triangle. The triangles of most similar flat
shell elements incorporate the constant stress triangle that has
very slow rates of convergence. Thus the triangular shell
element is very useful in problems with double curvature where
the quadrilateral element may not be suitable.
10) Stress retrieval at nodes and at any point within the element.
2.4

The precise orientation of local coordinates is determined as
follows:
1) The vector pointing from I to J is defined to be parallel to the
local X-axis.
2) The cross product of vectors IJ and IK defines a vector parallel
to the local Z-axis, i.e., z = IJ x IK.
3) The cross product of vectors z and x defines a vector parallel
to the local Y-axis, i.e., y = z x x.
4) The origin of the axes is at the center (average) of the 4 joint
locations (3 joint locations for a triangle).
The sign convention of output force and moment resultants is
illustrated in Section 2.6.
Figure 2.8
2-11
2-12
2.5

ELEMENT FORCE outputs are available at the following
locations:
A.
B.
C.
Center point of the element.

All corner nodes of the element.
At any user specified point within the element.
The following is a list of the items included in the ELEMENT

STRESS output:
SQX, SQY
SX, SY, SXY
MX, MY, MXY
SMAX, SMIN
TMAX
ANGLE
VONT, VONB
Shear stresses (Force/ unit len./thk.)

Membrane stresses (Force/unit len./thk)
Bending moments per unit width
(Moment/unit len.)
Principal stresses (Force/unit area)
Maximum shear stress (Force/unit area)
Orientation of the principal plane
(Degrees)
Von Mises stress, where
VM = 0.707 (SMAX SMIN) + SMAX2 + SMIN2

2
TRESCAT, TRESCAB Tresca stress, where

TRESCA = MAX[ |(SMAX-SMIN)| , |(SMAX)| , |(SMIN)| ]
Note:
1. All element stress output is in the local coordinate system.
The direction and sense of the element stresses are
explained in Section 2.6.
2. To obtain element stresses at a specified point within the
element, the user must provide the coordinate system for
the element. Note that the origin of the local coordinate
system coincides with the center node of the element.
3.
Principal stresses (SMAX & SMIN), the maximum shear

stress (TMAX), the orientation of the principal plane
(ANGLE), the Von Mises stress (VONT & VONB), and the
Tresca stress (TRESCAT & TRESCAB) are also printed for
the top and bottom surfaces of the elements. The top and
the bottom surfaces are determined on the basis of the
direction of the local Z-axis.
2-13
2-14
2.6
Figure 2.9
Figure 2.10
Figure 2.11
Figure 2.12
2-15
2-16
Figure 2.13
Figure 2.14
Figure 2.15
Figure 2.16
2-17
2-18
2.7

STAAD.foundation performs structural design of foundations in
accordance with the ACI 318-02 Code. The available foundation
types are: isolated spread footing, pile cap, and mat.
1.
Isolated Spread Footing

The program uses the following criteria:
a. Soil bearing capacity,
b. Shear and flexural strength of footing (no shear
reinforcing assumed),
c. Compressive and flexural strength of pedestal
Step 1 - Determine footing plan geometry based on loading
and bearing resistance of the soil.
Stress distribution under the footing is assumed to be
linear. For eccentrically loaded footings, the stresses may
become tensile under part of the foundation. In such cases
the program sets stress values in uplift zones to zero and
calculates new values elsewhere for the revised equilibrium
condition. The final plan dimensions of the footing are
established iteratively from the condition that the
maximum stress should not exceed the factored bearing
resistance of the soil.
Step 2 - Calculate footing thickness based on structural
capacity in shear and bending.
Structural design of the footing consists of the following:
a.
Punching shear check, in accordance with Section

11.12.2, at a distance of d/2 from the pedestal. The
critical section comprises four straight-line segments,
parallel to the corresponding sides of the pedestal.
b. One-way shear (beam action), in accordance with

Sections 11.1 through 11.5, at a distance of d from the
face of the pedestal, in both orthogonal directions. The
critical plane is assumed to extend over the entire
width/length of the footing.
c. Bending, in accordance with Sections 15.4.2 and
10.3.4, with the critical planes located at both
orthogonal faces of the pedestal and extending across
the full width/length of the footing.
2.
Pile Cap
The program produces the following design output:
a.
Required pile quantity and layout to satisfy loading

applied to the footing, based on bearing, uplift and
lateral pile capacity,
b. Geometry of the pile cap based on shear and bending
strength requirements at critical sections of the footing.
Step 1 - Pile Arrangement
The user provides the following pile properties: capacity
(bearing, uplift, and lateral), diameter, spacing, and edge
distance. Based on these parameters, the program
determines the required pile configuration as well as plan
dimensions of the footing from the condition, that the force
transferred to any pile should not exceed its capacity. For a
general case of vertical and horizontal forces, and bending
moments acting on the cap, that stipulation is equivalent to
satisfying the following two equations:
H pile >= H appl / N
V pile >= V appl / N + Mx appl * Ry / Ix g + My appl * Rx / Iy g
2-19
2-20
Where:
H pile
V pile
H appl
V appl
N
Mx appl
My appl
Rx
Ry
Ix g
Iy g
single pile horizontal capacity

single pile vertical capacity
total horizontal load applied
total vertical load applied
total number of piles in footing
applied bending moment about X-axis
applied bending moment about Y-axis
distance from Y-axis to the farthest pile
distance from X-axis to the farthest pile
pile group moment of inertia about X-axis
pile group moment of inertia about Y-axis
Note: X and Y-axes above are centroidal axes of the

pile group, Ix g and Iy g are calculated treating each pile
as a unit, and are equal (1*y i 2 ) and (1*x i 2 ),
respectively.
The program includes a library of possible pile layouts for
quantities from 1 to 25 piles. Based on the user input, the
program recommends the most economical (least number of
piles) layout. The user may select any other layout/quantity
if desired, however. In addition, changing the coordinates
of individual piles may modify the selected pile layout.
Alternatively, the user may input the entire configuration
by hand.
The layout recommended by the program is guaranteed to
satisfy the load/capacity ratio for all piles. Should the usermodified or manually input layouts result in pile
overstressing, the program will flag this deficiency in the
design output.
Step 2 - Design of Pile Cap

Proportioning of the pile cap involves satisfying the shear
(one and two way) and bending requirements at applicable
critical sections, in accordance with Chapter 15 of ACI
318-02.
One way shear is checked in two areas:
i.
At outer piles, with the critical section located at a

min. distance d from the face of a corner pile or
faces of a pile group along the edge of the footing,
ii. At the distance d from two orthogonal faces of the
pedestal.
The critical shear plane is assumed along a shortest straight

line connecting free edges of the footing. The design is
then performed for the total pile reaction force on one side
of the shear plane, in accordance with Sections 11.1
through 11.5.
Two way shear is checked in three areas:
i.
At outer piles, with the critical section located at a

min. distance d/2 from the face of a corner pile or
faces of a pile group along the edge of the footing.
The critical plane is assumed to be positioned
along a straight and curved line, so that the total
section length is minimized.
ii. At the distance d/2 around the pedestal. The
section comprises four straight-line segments,
parallel to corresponding sides of the column.
iii. At the distance d/2 around a pile.
The design is performed for the total pile reaction force

acting within the perimeter of the critical section, in
accordance with Sections 11.12.2 through 11.12.6.
2-21
2-22
Flexure is checked for critical planes located at both faces

of the pedestal. The bending moment is calculated as an
aggregate of moments due to pile reactions on one side of
the plane.
Determination of an individual pile contribution to the
forces at a critical section is based on whether the pile is
outside this section (full reaction value assumed), inside
the section (reaction ignored), or at an intermediate
location (partial reaction assumed), as per Section 15.5.4.
3.
Mat (Raft Foundation)

Analysis and design of mats is based on finite element
method (FEM) coupled with slab-on-elastic-subgrade
principles. First, the user creates a finite element model of
the proposed mat foundation. This may be accomplished in
one of two ways:
Importing a STAAD file of the superstructure, thus
providing reference points for initial mat set-up and load
information, and defining boundaries of the mat, or
Creating the foundation slab from scratch and inputting
loading information manually.
Modeling of the foundation involves meshing of the slab to
generate grid of finite elements. As with any FEM project,
the denser the grid (smaller elements), the more precise
results will be obtained. In addition to the slab, the raft
may include a number of beams between the column
locations. Since the beams would normally be part of the
foundation, the slab polygonal meshing algorithm accounts
for the presence of the beam and ensures that they become
continuously integral with the slab. New nodes are
purposely created on the centerline of the beam and the
beam is split between those points into a number of
segments.
Once the mat is defined and all material/soil properties are

input, the program may proceed with the analysis of the
structure. It is performed by the state-of-the-art STAAD
Analysis Engine. Realistic soil response is achieved by
employing non-linear (compression only) spring supports
to model subgrade reactions. Pile reactions, if present, are
proportional to linear displacements of the supported node
and include both compression and tension (uplift).
The program calculates internal forces and deflections for
all slab and beam elements of the foundation. This
information is then used in the design stage of the program
to:
Establish the required top and bottom flexural reinforcing
in two orthogonal directions, check punching shear
capacity at column locations.
The flexural design is done in accordance with Chapter 10
of the Code. The reinforcement areas are computed for a
notional band one unit of length wide.
The program allows the designer, as an option, to use the
Wood-Armer equations for reinforcement calculations, as
follows:
Mx, My, and Mxy are fetched or calculated, as described
above. They are used to compute the values of design
moments, Mxd and Myd.
For top reinforcement, the program computes:
Mx1
My1
Mx2
My2
=
=
=
=
Mx
My
Mx
My
+
+
+
+
abs(Mxy)
abs(Mxy)
abs(Mxy 2 / My)
abs(Mxy 2 / Mx)
2-23
2-24
If
If
If
If
both Mx1 and My1 are positive, Mxd = Mx1 and Myd = My1.
both Mx1 and My1 are negative, Mxd = 0 and Myd = 0.
Mx1 is negative and My1 positive, Mxd = 0 and Myd = My2.
My1 is negative and Mx1 positive, Mxd = Mx2 and Myd = 0.
For bottom reinforcement:

Mx1
My1
Mx2
My2
If
If
If
If
=
=
=
=
Mx
My
Mx
My
abs(Mxy)
abs(Mxy)
abs(Mxy 2 / My)
abs(Mxy 2 / Mx)
both Mx1 and My1 are positive, Mxd = 0 and Myd = 0.

both Mx1 and My1 are negative, Mxd = Mx1 and Myd = My1.
Mx1 is negative and My1 positive, Mxd = Mx2 and Myd = 0.
My1 is negative and Mx1 positive, Mxd = 0 and Myd = My2.
Mxd and Myd are then used in lieu of Mx and My for

calculations of the required reinforcing. Use of the
modified bending moments brings about more accurate
distribution of the reinforcing, better matching critical
areas of the slab.
Flexural design notes:
Reinforcement calculations for slab panels are based on Chapter 10
of ACI 318-02. The minimum-reinforcing ratio complies with the
limits prescribed for shrinkage and temperature reinforcement in
Section 7.12. Maximum spacing of rebar is 18 in. The maximum
reinforcing ratio corresponds to the net tensile strain at nominal
strength equal to 0.004 (Clause 10.3.5). Strength reduction factor
is established in accordance with Section 9.3.2.
Punching shear design notes:

Design for two-way shear is carried out in accordance with Section
11.12. The unbalanced moment transfer by eccentricity of shear is
based on Clause 11.12.6. Shear strength of concrete is based on
Clause 11.12.2.1. Strength reduction factor used is 0.75, in
accordance with Section 9.3.2.
The program computes shear stress values at four corners of the
rectangular critical section located at the distance of d/2 from
edges of a column. The calculations include the unbalanced
moment transfer effect, if applicable, in accordance with 11.12.6.2.
2-25
2-26
N
o
t
e
s
3-1
Quick Tour
Section
Introduction
Defining the Loads
Importing Structural Geometry and Analysis Results from
STAAD.Pro
Setting up the Grid and Defining the Mat Boundary
Creating a Mesh
Analyzing the Slab
Slab Design
Pile Cap Example
Entering Pile Data
Performing Pile Cap Design and Viewing Results
3-2
Section 3 Quick Tour
3.1
Introduction
This Quick Tour is a set of short example exercises that illustrate
how to use STAAD.foundation to design several different types of
foundations. The procedure for importing support co-ordinates and
forces/moments on the individual supports from STAAD.Pro is
also discussed.
In STAAD.foundation, you start out by creating a Project to hold
all your physical information, such as column locations, loads, etc.
This physical information represents the structure that the
foundation is intended to support. Unless the design of the
structure is modified, these physical conditions generally remain
constant throughout the life of the foundation design project.
Your Project also contains Jobs, which are sets of constraints
needed to tell the program how to perform a foundation design.
Each project may contain multiple jobs, making it easy for you to
evaluate different design scenarios for a given set of physical
conditions.
In general discussion, the names of commands, dialog boxes,
toolbar buttons or other program controls are indicated in italics.
When it is intended that you perform a specific action, the names
of the menu commands, dialog box labels, data values you are
expected to input, etc., are indicated in bold type.
S ection 3 Quick Tour 3-3
3.2

To start STAAD.foundation, first click on the Windows Start
button. Next, select the Programs option, select the
STAAD.foundation program group, and then click on the
STAAD.foundation program icon.
Figure 3.1
STAAD.foundation will launch with only the File, View and Help
menus to start with.
Figure 3.2
You may start a project from the File menu. You may start a New
file, Open an existing file or Import an analyzed file from
STAAD.Pro.
3-4
Figure 3.3
To start a new project, pull down the File menu and select the New
menu command. A project window will open within
STAAD.foundation as shown in the following figure.
Figure 3.4
This introduces the split multi-pane window environment of

STAAD.foundation. As seen in the figure above, a project is
divided into 3 separate panes.
The left-most pane (1), is called the Page Control. It contains the
tabs and icons required to go to the different pages within
STAAD.foundation. The different pages contain forms used to
provide input data. The Page Control is arranged from top to
bottom in a logical design sequence. If you start at the top page
and work your way down, you will be able to input all the data
needed to perform a successful design.
Note: STAAD.foundation consists of two sets of data, global
and local. Global data such as column reactions and column
positions is shared throughout a project among both similar
and different jobs. Local data such as design parameters is
used only within a specific job type. For example, an Isolated
Footing job type has local data within the design parameters
and design tabs.
The middle pane (2), located to the immediate right of the Page
Control pane, is called the Data Area. It contains the forms to
provide input data.
The right-most pane (3), is called the Main View. It contains the
graphical display of the input.
The default page that opens when starting a new project is the
General Info page. The General Info page may also be invoked by
clicking on the General Info icon under the Project Info tab.
Figure 3.5
3-6
The General Info page opens a form in the Data Area pane that
allows you to store project-related data.
Figure 3.6
The information inputted on the General Info page can later be
used in reports and drawings.
In addition to the General Info page, there is also an icon under the
Project Info tab called Review History. Invoke the page by
clicking on the Review History icon under the Project Info tab.
Figure 3.7
A table will be displayed in the Data Area pane that allows you to
keep track of the progress of a project.
Figure 3.8
A date, job name, checked by and comments may be entered for
each revision of a project. The comments for a given revision will
be shown in the Comments box if you select the respective revision
in the table. The Save button should be clicked after inserting any
new revision history data to update the revision history table. If
you want to delete a particular revision history record, simply
select the record by clicking on the respective Id and click on the
Delete button. If you want to delete the entire revision history,
click on Delete All.
3-8
3.3

To enter the coordinates for supports that construct the foundation
plan of a project, we must first bring up the Foundation Plan page.
In order to do this, click on the tab called Foundation Plan in the
Page Control pane.
Figure 3.9
By default, the Grid Setup page will open in the Data Area pane.
To input support coordinates, we need to bring up the Column
Positions page. In order to do this, click on the Column Positions
icon under the Foundation Plan tab.
Figure 3.10
A table allowing you to input the coordinates of supports will be
displayed in the Data Area pane.
Figure 3.11
Input the support coordinates (0,0,0), (10,0,0), (10,0,10), (0,0,15),

(14,0,0) and (5,0,5) for Nodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively. The
tab key or the arrow keys may be used to move from one cell to the
next in the table. The supports along with their respective node
numbers are displayed in the Graphics Window.
Note: Supports will not be shown in the Graphics Window until
you click on a cell outside of the row you are currently in.
Figure 3.12
3-10
3.4
Defining the Loads

In order to define loads, we must first bring the up the Load &
Factors page. To do this, click on the Load & Factors tab in the
Page Control pane.
Figure 3.13
By default, the Load Description page will open in the Data Area
pane. The Load Description page allows you to define loads for
load cases, as well as assign loads. To create a load case, click on
the New Load Case icon under the Loads & Factors tab.
Figure 3.14
A window will appear allowing you to create a new load case.
Figure 3.15
Leave the Load Number set to its default value of 1. Each load
case is given a Load Number, with the number incremented by one
for each new load case. Next, enter the title Load Case 1 in th e
Load Title field. The Load Title allow s you to give each load case
a descriptive name to help identify between load cases. Finally,
leave the Load Type set as Primary.
Note: Three load types are available: Primary, Service, and
Ultimate. Primary loads can be further used to create
combination loads. Service loads are not factored and are used
for soil bearing pressure checks. Ultimate loads are factored
and are used for reinforcement design.
Now click on the OK button to have the load case created.
Figure 3.16
3-12
The load case we just created will now appear in the list box in the
Data Area pane. We will now specify the loads imposed on our
foundation by the columns. To do this, click on the Colu mn
Reaction button in the Data Area pane.
Figure 3.17
A dialog box will appear allowing you to create a nodal load.
Enter a value of 5 in the Fx field, and a value of 5 in the Fy field.
T hen click on the OK button to accept the load input.
Note: Negative and positive values follow the sign conventions
of the axis system. Negative values are downward, compressive
forces and positive values are upward, tensile forces.
Figure 3.18
The load will now appear under the Colu mn Reaction Loading
f older in the Data Area pane. We will now assign the load to all
the supports we created earlier. First select the load in the Data
Area pane by clicking on it. Then select Assign To View for the
Assignment Method. Finally, click on the Assign button to have
the load assigned to all the supports in the project.
3-14
Note: Alternatively, we could have selected all the supports in

the Graphics window by clicking on them and then selected
Assign To Selection. Or, we could have selected Assign To Edit
List and then typed in the list of nodes for each support.
N ow click somewhere within th e Graphics Window. Doing so will
r efresh the screen. The assigned loadings will be displayed on the
nodes as illustrated in the figure below.
Figure 3.19
If you are not able to see the loads, it may because the scaling
value for the display is too small. To change the scale value, pull
down the View menu, and select the Options command. The Set
Viewing Options dialog box will be displayed. Now click on the
Scales tab. The Scales tab will become active.
Figure 3.20
Confirm that the Apply Immediately check box is toggled on. When
the Apply Immediately check box is turned on, an y changes to the
v alues in the Scales tab will become effective immediately. Now
increase the value for Point Load in order to make the nodal loads
more visible. After the loads become visible, click on the OK
button to close the Set Viewing Options dialog box.
W e will now repeat the process we just went through to create a
second Load Case. First click on the New Load Case icon under
the Loads & Factors tab. Next, input Load Case 2 for the Load
Title and click on OK. Now click on the Column Reaction button,
input a value of 10 for Fz and click on OK. Finally, select Assign
To View and click on Assig n.
If you have multiple load cases and want to combine them, you can
use the Load Combination feature. To bring up the Load
C ombination feature, click on the Load Combination ic on under
th e Loads & Factors tab.
3-16
Figure 3.21
A dialog box called Algebraic Combinations of Loads will appear
allowing you to create factored algebraic combinations.
Figure 3.22
To define a new load case combination, click on the New button.

The New Combined Load dialog box will appear as shown below.
Figure 3.23
The load case number is automatically incremented with each new

load combination. Enter a description for the new combined load
such as Load Case 1 + Load Case 2 and click on OK .
Figure 3.24
The Algebraic Combinations of Loads dialog box will reappear. It
now lists all defined Primar y Load Cases for the foundation in the
list box on the left. The Factor box on top indicates the factor
with which the selected Primary Load Case is to be multiplied.
To include a Primary Load Case, first select the load case from the
list. Enter the multiplication factor in the Factor field. Click the
> button to include the Primary Load Case in the Load
Combinations specification. Continue for all primary loa d cases to
be combined. Use the >> button to include all Primary L oad
Cases, which will be multiplied by the specified factor. To remove
a Primary Load Case from the Load Combinations, select the load
case in the list box on the right and click the < button. To remove
all Primary Load Cases, click on the << button.
To define serviceability and design factors for each load case in a
project, you may use the Safety Factors page. To bring up the
3-18
Safety Factors page, click on the Safety Factors icon under th e

Loads & Factors tab.
Figure 3.25
A table allowing you to input serviceability and design factors for
each load case will be displayed in the Data Area pane.
Figure 3.26
By default, STAAD.foundation will assign values for the safety
factors depending on the load type. Refer to section 4.3.3.2 for a
detailed explanation of the default values. The default values can
be changed by inputting new values into the table like any
spreadsheet. The tab key o r arrow keys m ay be used to move from
one cell to the next in the table. The serviceability factor will be
a pplied when checking the base pressure of a foundation
(geotechnical design). The design factor will be used for design.
3.5

Now that all the global project data has been inputted, you ha ve the
ability to design the foundation using Isolated Supports, Pile Caps,
or you could support the entire structure on a single Mat
Foundation. You will not have to create separate input files for
entering all this information. All you have to do is to create
separate jobs under the same projec t. In order to create jobs, you
c an use the New Job icon in the Jobs toolbar.
Figure 3.27
To create a new job, click on the New Job icon. The Create a New
Job dialog box will open.
Figure 3.28
3-20
Note: An alternative way to open the Create a New Job dialog

box is to use the Tools | Add New Job menu command.
The job types may be to design for Isolated, Pile Cap or Mat
Foundation. We can assign the job to all the supports or we can
type in the list of supports to be included in the job.
The design codes may be US, British, Indian or Korean.
The default unit type may be English or SI. This denotes the units
in which the actual calculation will be performed. The reports etc.
of course will be shown as per the users choice of force and
displacement units.
For this Quick Tour example, enter the job name Isolated Footings
in the New Job Name edit box. In the Job Type drop-down menu,
select the Isolated job type. Under the Supports In T his Job
c ategory, check to insure that the All Supports radio button is
activated by default.
In this Create a New Job di alog box we h ave another tab called
L oading. Click on the Loading tab. The Loading tab will be
displayed.
Figure 3.29
Using this page we could have several jobs of the same type (e.g.
Isolated footing) having different design load cases.
We will take all the loadings for this job. Click the double-right
a rrow to move all the load cases over to the Selected Load Cases
list on the right side of the Loadings page. Click the OK button.
The Create A New Job dialog box is dismissed and the new job is
created.
After the job is input, the graphics display window looks like the
following figure.
3-22
Figure 3.30
W hen there are multiple jobs and load c ases in a project, by
changi ng the job numbers and the load case numbers in the
respective combo boxes we can change the display of supports and
loadings in the window. We may also change the job settings of
the job shown in the job combo box by clicking the Edit Job icon
at the right side of the combo box.
Figure 3.31
3.6

When you begin a new project, only the Project Info, Foundation
Plan and Loads and Factors page tabs will appear in the Page
Control. These three tabs allow you to specify the physical model
upon which the foundation design is to be performed. It is only
when you specify a Job (a set of constraints for the program to use
in performing a foundation design) that Page Control tabs related
to the design process will appear.
Now, take a look at the left-most splitter window. Two new tabs
are now displayed there. They are Design Parameters and
Design. The Design Parameters icons and forms are selfexplan atory so we will not discuss them in this Quick Tour. Please
n ote th at in the present version of the software we must visit all the
forms at least once to get them included in the job.
Figure 3.32
H ere is a very useful feature of STAAD.foundation. If we want to
change the design parameters for a particular support we may
change them locally by double-clicking on the support. Doing so
invokes the local dialog box as shown below.
3-24
Fi gure 3.33
3.7

If we click on the tab for Design the following set of icons
comes up.
Figure 3.34
The Design button is for performing an optimized design of the
footings. Click on the Design button. A dialog box labeled
Optimize Uniformity will be displayed.
3-26
Figure 3.35
T he Optimize Uniformity dialog box allows you to specify an
allowable percent increase in footing volume. This allows
STAAD.foundation to adjust the design so that uniform size
c oncrete form s may be used to construct the footing. Without
optim izing the design, STAAD.foundation might specify a
different size footing for each support in the project, requiring a
separate form for each foot ing.
In addition, you may instruct STAAD.foundation to consider the
dead weight of footing , soil and surcharge above it in the "P" side
o f the equation (Due to the symmetric nature of the footing, their
cont ribution to M is zero). This option is available for the
following reason. During the reinforcement design phase, the
moment on the footing has to be calculated for the factored loads.
The base pressures due to factored loads are required for this
purpose. Traditionally, only factored imposed loads (the P, H and
M loads acting through the column) are considered. The weight of
footing and soil and surcharge above it are not. However, this
approach has a draw back in that if the factored M divided by the
factored P causes the center of action of loading to be located
outside the footing, the soil pressure due to factored loads cannot
be computed without further increasing the footing size. The
weakness of this approach can easily result in very large size
footings for loads where factored P is small and factored M is

large.
Click the OK button. A message box will display a series of
messages as the program performs the footing design.
Figure 3.36
When the design is complete, click o n the Close button to dismiss
the message box. The prog ram will displ ay a Design Summary
table in the Data Area pane .
Figure 3.37
The Footing Layout icon produces a layout of analyzed footings
drawn to scale, complete with a title block for the drawing.
3-28
Figure 3.38
The Detailed Drawing icon brings up the details of the footings
with the rebar diameter and spacing.
Figure 3.39
A click on the Calculation Sheet button brings up the design
calculation of the foot ings.
Figure 3.40
This calculation sheet is web-enabled for real time checking. Hard
copies can also be made from this sheet.
A project once created can be saved and re-opened later using the
File | Save and File | Open options. STAAD.foundation files are
saved with .afs extension.
3-30
3.8
Importing Structural Geometry and Analysis

Results from STAAD.Pro
In most cases the forces and moments on the foundation are given
by the analysis of the superstructure. To ensure a seamless and
efficient integration with the analysis software STAAD .foundation
includes an Import facility. Th is option allows us to import the
support co-ordinates and forces/m om ents on the individual
supports from a structural a nalysis softwa re program.
A t present we have the facility to import analysis data from
STAAD.Pro structural analysis software. Thus by default the
control goes to the folder where STAAD.Pro example files are
located. If you do not have STAAD.Pro in stalled in your machine
please do not use the import facility n ow . The ability to import
a nalysis data from other software programs will be provided in a
future release of STAAD.foundation.
Note: You must first perform an analysis and design on a
STAAD.Pro model in STAAD.Pro before importing the model
into STAAD.foundation.
L et us i mport STAAD.Pro US Example No. 8 to
STAAD.foundation and use the imported geometry and support
reactions to design a mat foundation for the structure. You can
only import a STAAD.Pro model that has been successfully
analyzed, because you will want to have the support reactions
available for the foundation design. So, if you have not already
r un the analy sis for STAAD.Pro U.S. Example No. 8 open the
example in STAAD.Pro (C:\Spro2003\STAAD\Examp\US\Examp\
Examp08.std), run the analysis, and then return to this Quick Tour.
Pull down the File menu and selec t t he Import command.
Figure 3.41
A file manager dialog box labeled STAADPro File Import will be
displayed.
Figure 3.42
Locate the STAAD.Pro US Example No. 8 file and highlight it.
T hen click on Open.
3-32
Figure 3.43
Click on Import in the resulting dialog box. The support
coordinates will be imported to STAAD.foundation as shown in the
graphics display window. Notice that you did not have to create a
new project. STAAD.foundation did not overwrite the project you
a lready had open, or add any new data to it. Instead, the program
has created a new project with the default project name
STAAD.foundation1.
Figure 3.44
3.9

C lick on the New Job button to create a new job for designing the
mat foundation. The Create a New Job dialog box will open.
Figure 3.45
The job will be assigned to all the suppor ts. We then include the
lo adings on it from the Loading page of the same property sheet.
3-34
Figure 3.46
I f we look at the left-most window we see a set of tabs not seen in
our previous project.
Figure 3.47
The Meshing and Analysis tabs are particular to the mat foundation.
We also see the Property Soil Material tab. This tab only
appears when a project that contains beams has been opened or
when a Mat Foundation job type is active.
3.10
Setting up the Grid and Defining the Mat

Boundary
Now we would like to define the boundary of the mat. To do this
we click on the tab labeled Meshing and then on the Grid icon.
The following view comes up in the Data Area pane.
Figure 3.48
Figure 3.49
The grid on your screen may or may not resemble the grid shown
in the figure above. The program saves your previous grid settings
as defaults, so your grid size will vary from that shown in the
figure.
We will use the grid to draw a polyline around our foundation
supports. This polyline will define the location of the edge of our
slab.
The grid shown in the figure above is too small. We want our slab
to extend beyond the centers of our six columns, and we want the
slab to support all six columns. In order to draw our polyline, we
3-36
need to expand the grid. W e can do that by opening a Setup Grid

dialog box.
You will see a special toolbar at the bottom of the Data Area pane,
as shown in the figure above. In the toolbar, you will see a square
b utton labeled with an icon that looks like a grid. There is another,
much smaller button with a down-pointing arrow just to the right
of the grid button. Click on this small do wn-arrow button. A popu p menu will appear.
Figure 3.50
Select the Grid Setup command from this pop-up menu. The
Setup Grid dialog box will be displayed.
Figure 3.51
The values shown in the Setup Grid dialog box are in units of
inches. Looking at the plan view of our project, the footprint of
our six columns is a rectangle 24 feet high by 38 feet wide.
Figure 3.52
3-38
Let us suppose that we want our sl a b to extend two feet from the
column centers all the way around the bo rder of the slab.
The Plan Setup category all ows us to spe cify the origin of the grid
w ith respect to our models global coordinate system, and to
specify the plan that the grid is drawn in. We will leave the Plan
S etup settings at their default values.
The Construction Line category allows us to specify the location
and spacing of our grid lines with respect to the grids origin. We
will set the grid line Spacing to 24 inches. This will give us a grid
line every two feet. We wi ll also specify a value of 24 inches in
th e X Left edit box. This tells the program that we want to draw
lines parallel to the X-axis starting 24 inches to the left of the grid
origin. In addition we will specify a value o f 24 inches in the Y
T op edit box. This tells the program that we want to draw lines
parallel to the Y-axis starting 24 in ches above t he grid origin.
Now, to determine the values fo r the X Ri ght and Y Bottom edit
box settings, we need to co nvert the dime nsions on our plan view
f rom feet to inches, and add an extra two feet (24 inches) so that
the slab extends two feet to the right of the right column centers in
the X direction and two feet below the bottom in the Y direction .
(38 ft. x 12 in.) + 24 in. = 480 in.; (24 ft. x 12 in.) + 24 in. = 312
in .
Enter a value of 480 in the X Right edit box. Enter a value of
312 in the Y Bottom edit box. Your Setup Grid dialog box should
resemble the figure below.
Figure 3.53
Click the OK button to dismiss the Setup Grid dialog box and replot the grid. Your grid should look simi la r to the figure below.
Figure 3.54
Now click on the Mat Boundary toolbar button.
3-40
Figure 3.55
Hover your mouse cursor over the grid. The pointer will now
display a flashing square box at the tip of your mouse arrow that
will snap to each node on the grid.
Figure 3.56
You can use this Mat Boundary Cursor to draw the boundary of
your slab. Starting in the upper-left corner of your grid, click in
sequence around the boundary, going in either clockwise or
counter-clockwise order. Once you have clicked on all four-corner
points, return to your starting poin t an d right-click on it. You will
see a purple line defining th e boundary y ou have created.
Figure 3.57
Now click on the Transfer Boundary arrow icon on the right side
of the meshing toolbar.
Figure 3.58
This action will transfer the boundary to the graphics display
window.
Figure 3.59
Now it would be a good idea to save your model, since you have
done a substantial amount of work to get to this point. Pull down
the File menu and select the Save command.
3-42
3.11
Creating a Mesh
Now we are ready to add the boundary and create the mesh. Click
on the Meshing Setup sub-page button in the Page Control.
Figure 3.60
T he Meshing Setup page will be displayed in the Data Area pane.
Figure 3.61
Click in the Graphics Window wit h t he rectangular cursor on a line
of the boundary. The boun dary changes c olor.
C lick on the Boundary button. A dialog box labeled Mesh

Identifier will be displayed.
Figure 3.62
Enter a name for the boundary in the edit box labeled Identity of
Mesh. The program does not allow spaces, or characters normally
reserved for math operators (such as $, #, *, %, etc.) in the
boundary name. Click the OK button. You will see that the Mesh
Identifier name you entered is now listed under the Bounding
Region heading in the list box.
3-44
Figure 3.63
W e may also choose the number of divisions for the mesh and
specify locations of holes. Let us specify an element size of 12
inches. Enter a value of 12 in the Element Size edit box.
In this example project we will not create any holes in the mesh.
We are ready to create the mesh. In the list box in the Data Area
pane, highlight the Mesh Identifier Name for your mesh boundary.
Figure 3.64
Click on the Create Mesh sub-page but ton i n the Page Control.
Figure 3.65
The program will display a dialog box asking you to cho ose either
a Quadrilateral Mesh or a Polygonal Mesh.
Figure 3.66
Verify that the Quadrilater al Meshing rad io button is selected by
d efault, and then click the OK button. STAAD.foundation will
create the mesh and display it in the graphics window.
Figure 3.67
3-46
3.12

We are almost ready to analyze our foundation, but first we must
tell the program how thick we want the slab to be. We do this by
specifying the thickness of the plate elements that comprise the
mesh. Click on the Property Soil Materials Page Control tab.
Figure 3.68
Four sub-page icons will appear beneath the Property Soil
Materials Page Control tab. Click on the Plate Thickness icon.
Figure 3.69
The Plate Thickness page will be displayed in the Data Area pane.
Figure 3.70
A click on the Create New button brings up the New Plate
Property dialog box where we input the plate thickness,
c orresp onding units and the material of the plates.
Figure 3.71
3-48
Under the Plate Thickness category, enter a value of 1 ft in both

the Analysis and Design edit boxes. Note that STAAD.foundation
allows you to enter separate values for analysis and design if
desired.
Leave the Material set to Concrete. Click the OK button. The
New Plate Property dialog box is dismissed and the 1-foot plate
thickness property is added to the list in the Data Area pane.
Figure 3.72
Let us use this same 1-foot thickness for all the plates. We keep
s elected the Assign to All Regions radio button and click on the
Assign button. Note that if you do not assign a thickness to the
p lates, the analysis will not be performed.
Please note that we may introduce multiple thickness values using
the Create New button mo re than once. W e may also edit the
thickness value(s) entered b y highlighting the thickness in the list
b ox and clicking Edit. In the same way we may delete a
thickness by highlighting it and clicking Delete.
Figure 3.73
3-50
3.13

The last task required before performing the analysis is to define
some soil properties. In the Page Control, click on the Soil
Properties icon.
Figure 3.74
The Soil Properties page will be displayed in the Data Area pane.
Figure 3.75
Click on the New Soil Support button. The Subgrade Modulus
dialog box will open.
Figure 3.76
You may enter a constant value for the soil subgrade modulus, or
you may define it as a multilinear spring, where the modulus varies
depending on the displacement of the slab. For this example
3
exercise, we will use a constant value of 0.1 kip/in for the

modulus of subgrade reaction.
Verify that the Use Constant Value radio button is enabled by
3
default, and then enter a value of 0.1 kip/in in the edit box to the
right of the Use Constant Value label. Click on the OK button.
The Subgrade Modulus dialog box will be dismissed and you will
see that the new soil property has been added to the list in the Data
Area pane.
3-52
3.14
Analyzing the Slab

We are ready to analyze the plates. Save your work one more time:
p ull down the File menu and select the Save command.
Click on the Analysis Page Control tab.
Figure 3.77
Now click on the button labeled Analyze.
Figure 3.78
A dialog box will appear and messages will be displayed regarding
the progress of the analysis.
Figure 3.79
When you see the messages have stopped scrolling, look for a fina l
message, Analysis is completed which indicates that the an alysis
has been successfully performed. Click the Close button to dismiss
the di alog box.
You will notice that after t he analysis is c omplete, three new
Analysis sub-page buttons appear i n the Page C ontrol:
D isplacement, Support Reaction and Plate Stresses.
Figure 3.80
3-54
You will also see that running the analysis has also caused a new
tab to appear in the Page Control, the Slab Design tab.
Figure 3.81
By default the deformed plates showing the node displacements
appear in the graphics display window.
Figure 3.82
If the slabs deformed shap e is not appare nt in your graphics
d isplay, you may need to change the scaling values. Pull down the
View menu and select the Options command. The Set Viewing
O ptions dialog box will be displayed. Click on the Scales tab.
Figure 3.83
Under the Result Scales category, decrease the Displacement value
to increase the amount of deflection shown. Why do you decrease
it to increase the deflection? The Displacement value in the dialog
box is the actual displacement of the structure per unit dis tance on
th e graphic diagram. Therefore, if you reduce the amount of actual
structural deflection required to display a unit distance of
d eflection on the diagram, you will see a larger apparent
displacement on the diagram.
C lick on the Displacement sub-page button.
Figure 3.84
You will see a Node Displacement table appear in the Data Area
pane.
3-56
Figure 3.85
This table lists the node displacem ent for the three translational
a nd three rotational degrees of freedom.
Please click on the Support Reactions icon.
Figure 3.86
A report on support reactions will be shown in the forms window.
To view the support reactio n contour prop erly, click on the
g raphics window, and then click on the icon shown in the figure
below.
Figure 3.87
Alternatively, you may pull down the View menu and select the
Options command. Either way, the Set Viewing Options dialog box
will open.
Figure 3.88
Figure 3.89
Click on the property page labeled Displacement. Toggle off the
Show Nodal Displacement check box. Also, click on the Meshing
tab and toggle off the Show Plates check box. Click the OK
button. The Set Viewing Options dialog box will be dismissed and
the screen will look like the following figure.
3-58
Figure 3.90
Click on the View From Top toolbar button on the Rotate toolbar.
Figure 3.91
The Support Reactions diagram will be re-plotted in plan view.
Figure 3.92
If you click on the Summar y tab at the bottom of the Support

Reactions table in the Data Area pane, the table will display the
node number and load case number where the minimum and
maximum support reactions for each degree of freedom occur.
Figure 3.93
W e have also provision to show the summary of the node
displacements.
You can change the backgr ound color to a ny color you desire by
pulling down the View men u and selectin g the Change
Background Color command.
If you change the background color to White, then click on Plate
Stresses icon,
Figure 3.94
the screen will look like the following figure.
3-60
Figure 3.95
3.15
Slab Design
Now we go for designing the slab. Click on the Slab Design tab.
Figure 3.96
The Slab Design dialog box is displayed in the Data Area pane.
Click on the Create Grid button.
Figure 3.97
3-62
A Work Progress dialog box appears as the program creates a

design grid.
Figure 3.98
When the Work Progress dialog box disappears, the design grid
appears in the graphics window.
Figure 3.99
I n the Data Area pane, click on the Design button.
Figure 3.100
The program will perform the slab design. When the design
operation is completed, a message box will appear.
Figure 3.101
3-64
Set the number of reinforcing zones to 2 by entering a va lue of 2 in

the No. of Zones edit box. Click on Create Reinforcing Zo nes
button. The program will plot a colored dot in the center of each
element of the mesh indicating the reinforcing zone that the
element belongs to.
Figure 3.102
Click on the Create Block button. STAAD.foundation will divide
the slab into block-shaped areas, based on the reinforcement zones
generated by the Create Reinforcing Zones command.
Figure 3.103
These rectangular areas are created to allow a practical layout of

the various si zes of reinforcing steel.
Clic k on the Steel Detailing butt on. The following screen will
com e up showing the reinforcement steel details of the two zones
whi le in the plan view.
Figure 3.104
Click on the Slab Detailing sub-page button.
Figure 3.105
A detail drawing of the slab reinforcement design will be displayed
in the graphics window.
3-66
Figure 3.106
We may also cut the slab by any user-defined line and view our
desired stress value (Max absolute/Max VonMises/SX/SY etc.)
along that line. Click on the sub-page button labeled Section
Design Along a Line.
Figure 3.107
A new set of controls will appear in the Data Area pane.
Figure 3.108
Under the Cutting Plan category, select the ZX radio button, and
then click in the graphics window. This will allow you to create a
section in the plan view of your model.
Enter a value of 3 in the Interpolation Factor edit box.
Enter a value of 200 in the Graph Scale Factor edit box.
In the Stress Type drop-down menu, select Max Absolute to look
for maximum absolute stress along the cut line.
3-68
Click on the button labeled Insert Cut Line. A dialog box with
title Options for Cutting Mat by a Line will be displayed.
Figure 3.109
Select the radio button labeled Cut by Drawing a Line. Click the
OK button. The Cut by Drawing a Line dialog box will be
dismissed.
Now, draw a section line on the plan view of your model along
which you wish to see the graph of the maximum absolute stress.
Click your mouse cursor at the beginning point of the line, drag
y our cursor to the end point, and then click again.
Figure 3.110
Now click on the button labeled View Cut Section. The following
figure appears in the graph ics window.
Figure 3.111
3-70
Now click the button labeled Design Selected Line. A dialog box
labeled Design Report Along a Selected Line will be displayed.
Figure 3.112
Click on the Design button to calculate the required reinforcem ent
area for each element along the cut line.
Figure 3.113
Select the Close button to dismiss the Design Report Along a
Selected Line dialog box.
Save your work. Pull down the File menu and select the Save
command.
3-72
3.16
Pile Cap Example

Now let us create a new job inside this same project to illustrate
the process for designing a pile cap.
Create the new job: pull down the Tools menu and select the N ew
Job command. The Create New Job dialog box will be displa yed.
Figure 3.114
Enter a name for the job in the New Job Name edit box.
In the Job Type drop-down menu, select the Pile Cap job type.
Click the OK button to dis miss the Create a New Job dialog box.
Notice that your New Job Nam e now appears i n the drop-down
menu in the Jobs toolbar.
Figure 3.115
3.17
Entering Pile Data

For pile cap jobs, a unique tab call e d Pile Data will be created in
the Page Control (the leftmost splitter window).
Figure 3.116
Click on the Pile Data tab. Two sub-page buttons appear for input
of pile arrangement data and pile design parameters:
Pile Arrangement
Design Parameters
Figure 3.117
Click on the Pile Arrangement sub-page button.
Figure 3.118
3-74
The Pile Arrangement pag e will be displayed in the Data Area

pane.
Figure 3.119
The combo box labeled Support for Pile Arrangement lists the
support numbers in the pile cap job. We will select the support
number and input the vertical, lateral and uplift pile capacities for
each support. The pile diameter, spacing and distance of the edg e
from the corner piles are also input.
Let us input data for Support No. 1. Leave the Support for Pil e
Arrangement drop-down menu set to 1.
Under the Pile Capacity category, set the Unit drop-down menu to
kip. Enter a value of 60 kips in the Vertical edit box, and a value
of 40 kips in the Lateral and Uplift edit boxes.
Enter a value of 10 in. for the Pile Dia. Enter a value of 36 in. for
the Spacing. Enter a value of 24 in. for the Edge Distance.
The total loading on the support is shown if we click on the Show
Loading On Support button.
Figure 3.120
We may either chose the Auto Arrangement or we may go for a
manual input of the co-ordinates of the piles. If we choose Auto
Arrangement and click on the Calculate button, all possible pile
arrangements corresponding to the pile loads in all the load cases
are shown according to the BOCA standard.
Figure 3.121
3-76
We go through the tree controls and choose the arrangement

suitable to us. As we click on the OK button, the diagram showing
the pile arrangements is transferred to the dialog box in the Data
Area pane showing the input for pile arrangements. Please notice
that the pile co-ordinates have come up in the corresponding table.
Figure 3.122
If we click on the button for Show Pile Reactions the reaction on
each pile shows up.
Figure 3.123
D epe n di ng on the pi le arrangement diagram we may decide
whet her to go on with this arrangement or not. If we decide not to
go on with the arrangement we would again click on Calculate.
Otherwise we click on the Select Arrangement button to select the
arrangement.
Enter the Pile Arrangement data for the remaining supports in a
similar fashion.
3-78
3.18

After the pile arrangement is selected, the design for the pile cap is
begun. The form for input of design parameters is invoked by
clicking the Design Parameters sub-page button.
Figure 3.124
The Design Parameters page will be displayed in the Data Ar ea
pane.
Figure 3.125
Let us accept the default parameters provided by the program .

Check to make sure that the default values displayed on the D esign
Parameters form in your program match those shown in the figure
above:
Strength of Concrete: 4 ksi
Yield Strength of Steel: 60 ksi
Minimum Bar Size: 6
Maximum Bar Size: 11
Side cover (Cs): 4 in
Bottom Cover (Cb): 3 in
Pile in Pile Cap (Cp): 4 in.
3-80
3.19
Performing Pile Cap Design and Viewing

Results
Now that the design parameters are entered, we are ready to
p erform the design. Click on the Design Page Control tab.
Figure 3.126
Five sub-page buttons will b e displayed below the design tab, just
as we saw earlier when we were working with the Isolated Footing.
Figure 3.127
Click on the Design sub-page button to perform the design.
Figure 3.128
The program performs the pile cap design. When it is finished, a
results table appears in the Data Area pane sh owing the pile cap
dimensions and the bar size and spacing in the longitudinal and
transverse directions for all the supports designed.
Figure 3.129
The figure above shows resul ts for only three of the six supports in
the project because pile arrangements were selected for only
supports 6, 1 and 2, in that order. Unlike the other types of
supports we looked at earlier, the pile cap specification pages do
not have a facility to specify the pile cap, and then assign it to the
view, or assign it to the specified supports, etc. You must go
through the process of selecting a pile arrangement for every
su pport you wish to design.
Click on the Footing Layout sub-page button.
Figure 3.130
3-82
The layout of the pile cap j ob will show th e different supports

along with the pile arrangements and number of piles pertaining to
them.
Figure 3.131
Click on the Detailed Drawing sub-page button.
Figure 3.132
The following screen appears showing the plan of the pile cap, the
details of the reinforcement b ar for the pile cap and the front view
of the pile cap along with the column for the support selected.
Figure 3.133
Figure 3.134
Each part (e.g. Pi le Cap Elevation) of the detailed drawing can be
re-s ized and re-positioned i n the drawing sheet by selecting the
part , extending or reduci ng it and taking it by dragging the mouse
to another part of the drawing.
You may click on an y detail item to highlight it, and then drag it to
any desired location. When y ou click on it, eight small square
boxes are displayed on the border of each detail. These square
3-84
box es are handles that y ou can use to drag the sides and corners
of the detail to change its size and shape.
The Select SubEntity check box enables another set of handles that
may be used to rearrange t he drawing. When the Select SubEntity
check box is toggled on, circular blue dots appear within each
deta il.
Figure 3.135
These blue dots are also handles. You can cl ick on these handles
and drag them to move the anno tation text and rearrange the callout
arrows.
The dialog box in the Data Area allows you to select a Design
Gro up. STAAD.found ation creates a Design Group for each type
of footing in the current job. When a job containing an Isolated
Fo o ting or Pil e Cap job type is open and the Detail Drawing page
is active, a dialog box similar to the one shown below will appear
in t he Data Area pane.
Figure 3.136
Each Design Group has its own detail drawing. Selecting a Design
Group displays the corresponding detail drawing in the graphics
window.
The appearance of the drawing for each Design Group can be
customized to suit your needs. A series of check boxes below the
Design Group drop-down menu allows you to turn the various
details on and off. The Select SubEntity dialog box turns on
handles within each detail, so that you can rearrange the annotation
and callout arrows.
3-86
3.20

Clicking on the DXF Export button exports the detail drawing into
a DXF file, to allow you to import the drawing into a CAD
program. Click on one of the details to highlight it, and then click
on the DXF Export button. The program will create the DXF file
and display a message telling you the name and location of the file.
Figure 3.137
3.21

As you may have noticed, in this example exercise we have used
the same values of the desig n parameters for the pile caps
corresponding to all the sup ports in the j ob. The user may,
h owever, like to have different values of the parameters (e.g.,
different values of the maximum and minimum bar sizes) for
different supports. We have introduced the concept of local dialog
boxes to provide this flexibility to the user.
C lick on the Design Summary sub page button.
Figure 3.138
The foundation model will reappear in the graphics window.
Figure 3.139
3-88
If you double-click on any support in the graphics window, the

local dialog bo x will appear.
Figure 3.140
If you change the values in the Design Pa rameters dialog box and
click on the OK button, the parameter values corresponding to that
support will change.
Save your work. Pull down the File menu and selec t the Save
command.
3.22
Conclusion
We hope you have enjoyed this Qu i ck Tour of
STAAD.foundations featur es and facilit ies. If you would like
additional assistance in learning how to use STAAD.foundation,
th ere are many resources available to you. Within the Online Help
facility, you will find documentation describing the program theory
and a detailed description of every command in the program. You
may also vi ew a number of animated movie files that demonstrate
h ow to perform various tasks.
Additional STAAD.foundation learning resources are available at
Research Engineers web site at www.reiworld.com.
Finally, we strongly encourage you to take advantage of REIs
technical support service. Our support staff is most eager and
willing to help you learn to use the program correctly.
You may contact our STAAD.foundation technical support staff by
sending e-mail to the following address:
support@reiusa.com
Write down your questions and attach your STAAD.foundation
project file if you think it would be helpful (the
STAAD.foundation project file is appended with the extension AFS
the current input file name always appears in the title bar at the
top of your STAAD.foundation program window). Most technical
support e-mails are answered the same day they are received.
Thank you for purchasing STAAD.foundation. We hope y ou enjoy
using the program and hope that it adds v alue and efficiency to
y our engineering endeavors. If you have any comments regarding
the program, or suggestions on how it could be improved to better
serve your needs, we would very much like to hear from you.
3-90
N
o
t
e
s
4-1
STAAD.foundation Graphical Environment
Section
Introduction
Screen Organization (GUI)
Page Controls
Menu Comm ands
Toolbars
4-2
Section 4 STAAD.foundation Graphical Environment
4.1
Introduction
This section provides an overview of STAAD.foundations
graphical user interface (GUI). STAAD.foundation combines the
menu-driven functionality of the Windows environment with the
user-friendly split window functionality available in programs like
Microsoft Outlook.
In STAAD.foundation, you start out by creating a Project to hol d
physical information, such as column locations, column
dimensions, piles, beams, and loads. The physical information
represents the structure that a foundation is intended to support.
U nless the design of the structure is modified, these physical
conditions generally remain consta n t throughout the life of a
foundation design project. Your project a lso contains Jobs, which
are sets of constraints needed to tell STAAD.foundation how to
perform a foundation design. Each project may contain multiple
jobs, making it easy for you to evaluate different design scenarios
for a given set of physical conditions.
Once a project is created, it can be saved and re-opened later using
the File | Save and File | Open menu commands. Project files are
saved with an .afs extension.
S ection 4 STAAD.foundation Graphical Environment 4-3
4.2
STAAD.foundation Screen Organization

STAAD.foundations GUI uses a split window interface. The split
window interface divides the screen into three panes: the Page
Control pane, the Data Area pane, and the Main View or Graphics
Window pane. In addition to the three panes, the interface also
contains a Title Bar, Menu Bar, Toolbar, and Status Bar. The
seven elements of the STAAD.foundation GUI are identified in the
figure below.
Figure 4.1
Title Bar
Located at the top of the screen, the Title Bar displays the file
name of the project that is currently open & active.
4-4
Menu Bar
Located just below the Title Bar, the Menu Bar giv es you access to
a ll the facilities of STAAD.foundation. Many of the same
functions are a lso available in the Toolbar and Page Control pane.
Users who are familiar with STAAD.foundation and its commands
usuall y find that the Menu Bar is the most efficient way to quickly
a ccess the commands they need.
A complete description of the Menu Bar commands is provided in
Section 4.4 of this manual.
Toolbar
Located below the Menu Bar by default, the dockable Toolbar
gives you ac cess to the most frequently used commands. Each
b utton in the toolbar offers Tool Tip help. As you move the mouse
cursor over a button, the name of the button called a Tool Tip
a ppears above or below the button. To control the appearance of
the toolbar or create your own customized toolbar, use the Vie w |
Toolbar menu command. To control the appearance of Tool Tips,
use the View | Tool Tip Options menu command.
A complete description of the Toolbar is provided in Section 4.5 of
this manual.
Page Control Pane

Located at the left side of the screen, the Page Control pane is a
s et of label ed tabs. Each tab on the Page Control contains a set of
buttons that open new pages on the Data Area pane that allow you
to perform specific tasks for a project. The organization of the
P age Control tabs, from top to bottom, represents the logical
sequence of operat ions for a project, such as definition of footing
positions, specification of loads and factors, mesh generation, and
so on. If you go through the pages from top to bottom and enter all
th e data that is relevant to a project, you will end up with a
successful model.
A detailed discussi on of the facilities included in the Page Control
p ane is provided in Section 4.3 of this manual.
Data Area Pane

L ocated in the middle of the screen, the Data Area pane is where
you en ter all relevant data for a project. The Data Area pane
c ontains different forms, dialog boxes, tables, and list boxes
depending on the type of operation you are performing. For
example, when you select th e Foundations Plan page tab, then
c lick on the Column Dimension button, a Column Dimension table
is disp layed in the Data Area pane; when you click on the Soil
P roperty Material page tab, then click on the Plate Thickness
button, the contents of the Data Area pane change to display the
Plate Thickness di alog box.
Main View/Graphics Window Pane

Located at the right side of screen, the Main View pane is where
m odels and diagrams are di splayed. This part of the screen is often
referred to as the Graphi cs Window.
You can use commands in the View menu and buttons on the Tools,
Zoom and Rotate toolbars to alter the appearance of the Main View
p ane. You can also use the arrow keys to rotate the objects
displayed in the Main View pane and set the background to any
d esired color by selecting the View | Change Background Color
menu command.
T he File | Save Picture menu command can be used to save the
im age shown in the Main View pane to a bitmap (*.BMP) file.
4-6
Status Bar
Located at the bottom of the screen, the Status Bar displays h elpful
information regarding the status of the program, including th e
current STAAD.foundation operating mode and hints for Menu Bar
and Toolbar commands.
For example, when holding your mouse cursor over a Menu Bar or
Toolbar command, a description of the command will be displayed
on the left si de of the Status Bar.
4.3
The Page Controls
Figure 4.2
T he Page Control pane handles the display of forms, tables, list
box, and d ialog boxes for entering your project data. It is
o rganized in a logical order, allowing you to complete a project by
working from the top to the bottom.
E ach page has a horizontal Page Control tab labeled with the page
name. Cl icking on any Page Control tab moves it to the top of the
P age Control pane. In addition, each page has from two to five
sub-pages. Whenever you click on a Page Control tab, the
corresponding sub-page but tons appear directly below the tab.
The Pag e Control tabs represent the major steps required to
c omplete a foundation project. The sub-page buttons beneath each
tab manage the display of forms that appear in the Data Area pan e.
These forms provide y ou with a convenient way to enter all data
r elevant to that aspect of a project. If you fill in all the forms
under a particular Page Control tab, you will have successfully
completed that step of a project.
4-8
The pages and sub-pages in the Page Control pane, in order from
to p to bottom, are the following:
Project Info
Foundation Plan
Meshing Grid
Meshing Setup
Create Mesh
Property Soi l Material
Load Description
New Load Cas e
Load Combination
Remove Load Case
Safety Factors
Meshing
Grid Setup
Column Position
Column Dimension
Pile for Mat Fo undation
Physical Beam s
Loads and Factors
General Info
Review History
Beam Property
Plate Thickness
Beam Offse t
Soil Prop erty
Analysis
Analyze
Displacement
Support Reaction
Plate Stre sses
Slab Design
FEM Slab Design

Slab Detailing
Section Design Along a Line
Note: STAAD.foundation does not display the entire set of page

tabs all the time. Rather, it only displays tabs in the Page
Control pane that are relevant to the current status of the
project. For example, when you begin a new project, only the
Project Info, Foundation Plan and Loads and Factors tabs will
appear in the Page Control pane. These three tabs allow you to
specify the physical model upon which the foundation design is
performed. It is only when you specify a Job (a set of
constraints for STAAD.foundation to use in performing a
foundation design) that the Page Control tabs related to the
design will appear.
4-10
4.3.1
The Project Info Page
Figure 4.3
The Project Info page allows you to input general info about a
project, as well as create a revision history for a project. The
Project Info page is active by default when you open a new or
existing project.
Use of the Project Info page is optional. It is provided for your
convenience. You can store relevant general information regarding
a project and also create a revision history. Later on, you can
instruct STAAD.foundation to display this information in reports
and drawings.
The Project Info page contains the following sub-pages:
General Info
Review History
4.3.1.1
General Info
Figure 4.4
The General Info but ton opens a form in the Data Area pane that
a llows you to store general information regarding a project. The
information you input in the General Info form can later be used in
reports and drawings
Figure 4.5
4-12
The General Info form contains the f ollowing three groups of

information:
Project
Client
Engineer
Project
The fields contained in the Project group box allow you to input an
ID, Title, and Site Location for a project.
Client
The fields contained in the Client group box allow you to input
information pertaining to the client of a project such as
Organization, Contact Person, Phone, Fax, E-mail, and Address.
Engineer
The fields contained in the Engineer grou p box allow you to input
i nformation pertaining to the engineer of a project such as
Designer, Supervisor, Start Date, and Target Date.
4.3.1.2
Review History
Figure 4.6
The Review History button opens a table and list box in the Data
Area pane th at allows you to keep track of the progress of a
p roject.
Figure 4.7
The Review History table and list box allows you to input a Date,
Job Name, Checked By Name, and Comments for each revision of a
project. Each new revision is given a unique ID Number, starting
from 1.
4-14
To add a revision, first input t he information for Date, Job Name,

and Checked By. Then input any comments about the revision in
the Comments field. Finally, click on the Save button to keep the
changes you have made. To view the Com ments for a given
revi sion, select the revision from the table.
The Review History form contains the following three commands
buttons:
Save
Delete
Delete All.
Save
The Save button saves any changes made to the revision table an d
comments field.
Delete
The Delete button removes the currently selected revision from the
revision table.
Delete All
T he Delete All button removes all revisions from the revision table.
Note: Deleting a revision from the revision table also deletes the
Comments that were stored with the deleted revision.
4.3.2
The Foundation Plan Page
Figure 4.8
The Foundation Plan page allows you to specify basic geometry
for a foundation, such as Column Positions, Column Dimensions,
Piles, and Physical Beams.
The Foundation Plan page contains the following sub-pages:
Grid Setup
Column Positions
Column Dimensions
Pile for Mat Foundation
Physical Beams
4-16
4.3.2.1
Grid Setup
Figure 4.9
The Grid Setup button opens a form in the Data Area pane that
allows you to define a grid that will be displayed in the Graphic s
Window for y ou to create foundation geometry on.
Figure 4.10
You may use the form to draw a grid in the Gr aphics Window. The
grid allows you to specify your foundation geometry by snapping
to the intersections of the grid lines. You can control the location
of the grid origin with respect to the global coordinate system.
Y ou can also specify the number of grid lines, and the spacing
between lines. The grid lines m ay be spaced equally apart, or you
can specify the spacing of each individual grid line. By default,
the values shown in the Grid Setup form are in units of inches. The
unit measurement used is specified in the Change Length Unit
drop-down list box in the Tools toolbar.
Figure 4.11
The G rid Setup form allows you to create the following two types
of gri ds:
Linear
Radial
4-18
Linear
The Linear tab allows you to create a linear grid.
Grid Origin
The Grid Origin group box allows you to specify the origin of the
grid.
O rigin X
The Origin X field allows you to specify the X-coordinate of the
grid origin.
Origin Z
The Origin Z field allows you to specify the Z-coordinate of the
grid origin.
Spacing Both Sides
The Spacing Both Sides group box allows you to specify the
spacing between grid lines. The unit measurement used is
specified in the Change Length Unit drop-down list box in the
Tools toolbar.
Spacing X
The Spacing X field allows you to specify the spacing between grid
lines along the X-axis.
Spacing Z
The Spacing Z field allows you to specify the spacing between grid
lines along the Z-axis.
Number of Lines Aroun d Origin

The Number of Lines Around Origin group box allows you to
specify the number of grid lines to the left, right, top, and bottom
of the grid origin.
Left
The Left field allows you to specify the number of grid lines to the
left of the grid origin.
Right
The Right field allows you to specify the number of grid lines to
the right of the grid origin.
Top
The Top field allows you to specify the number of grid lines above
the grid origin.
Bottom
The Bottom field allows you to specify the number of grid lines
below the grid origin.
Show/Hide Grid
The Show/Hide Grid checkbox toggles the display of t he grid in the
Graphics Window.
Generate Grid
The Generate Grid command button creates the specified grid in
the Graphics Window.
4-20
Grid Direction
The Grid Direction group box allows you to specify in what
direction you would like to edit the grid using the table and
commands available in the Edit Grid Line(s) group box.
Di rection X
The Direction X radio optio n allows you to edit the grid lines along
th e X-axis.
Direction Z
The Direction Z radio option allows you to edit the grid lines along
the Z-axis.
Edit Grid Line(s)
The Edit Grid Line(s) group box allows you to edit the grid lin es of
a grid. You can edit the grid lines by changing the values in th e
table or by using the com mand buttons.
Insert After
The Insert After command button inserts a grid line after the row
selected in the grid line table.
Insert Before
The Insert Before command button inserts a grid line before the
row selected in the grid line table.
Delete
The Delete command button deletes the selected row in the grid
line table.
Copy
The Copy command button copies the selected grid line to the
clipboard.
R eset
The Reset command button removes any changes made to the grid
lines.
Radial
The Radial tab allows you to create a circular grid.
Grid Origin
The Grid Origin group box allows you to specify the origin of the
grid.
Origin X
The Origin X field allows you to specify the X-coordinate of t he
grid origin.
O rigin Z
The Origin Z field allows you to specify the Z-coordinate of the
grid origin.
R adius
The Radius group box allow s you to spec ify the inner and outer
radius of the grid.
4-22
Inner Radius of the Grid

The Inner Radius of the Grid field allows you to specify the inner
radius of the grid using the units selected in the Change Length
U nit drop-down list box in the Tools toolbar.
Outer Radius of the Grid
The Outer Radius of th e Grid field allows you t o specify the outer
radius of the grid usin g the units selected in th e Change Length
Unit drop-down list box in the Tools toolbar.
Number of Divisions
The Number of Divisi ons group box allows you to specify the
number of divisions a long the circumference an d radius of the grid.
Along Circumference
The Along Circumference field allows you to specify the number of
d ivisions along the circumference of the grid.
Along R adius
The Alo n g Radiu s field allows you to specify the number of
d ivisions along the radius of the grid.
S how/Hide Grid
The Show/Hide Grid checkbox toggles the display of the grid in the
G raphics Window.
Generate Grid
The Generate Grid command button creates the specified grid in
the Graphics Window.
Grid Direction
The Grid Direction group box allows you to specify in what
direction you would like to edit the grid using the table and
commands available in the Edit Grid Line(s) group box.
Circumferencial
The Circumferencial radio option allows you to edit the grid line s
along the circumference of the grid.
R adial
T he Radial radio option allows you to edit the grid lines along the
radius of the grid.
Edit Grid Line(s)
The Edit Grid Line(s) group box allows you to edit the grid lines of
a grid. You can edit the grid lines by changing the values in the
table or by using the command buttons.
Insert After
The Insert After command button inserts a grid line after the row
selected in the grid line table.
Insert Before
The Insert Before command button inserts a grid line before the
row selected in the grid line table.
Delete
The Delete command button deletes the selected row in the grid
line table.
4-24
Copy
The Copy command button copies the selected grid line to the
clipboard.
Reset
The Reset command button removes any c hanges made to the grid
li nes.
4.3.2.2
Column Positions
Figure 4.12
The Column Positions button opens a spreadsheet table in the Data
Area pane that allows you to input column positions in Cartesian
(XYZ) coordinates.
Figure 4.13
After column coordinates are entered, the columns along with their
respective node numbers are displayed in the Graphics Window.
The tab key or arrow keys may be used to move from one cell to
the next in the table. The coordinates in the table can be modified
like any spreadsheet. In order to delete a column, select the
column in the Graphics Window by clicking on it. Then either
press the delete key on your keyboard or use the Menu Bar
command Edit | Delete.
Note: A column will not be shown in the Graphics Window until
you click outside of the row you are currently in.
4-26
4.3.2.3
Column Dimensions
Figure 4.14
The Column Dimensions button opens a spreadsheet table in the
D ata Area pane that allows you to specify the depth and width of
the colum ns at each support locati on. Colum n dimensions are
needed to check punching shear and simulate pedestals on the top
of a mat. The unit used for depth and widt h is set through the
C hange Length Unit drop-down list box in the Tools toolbar.
Figure 4.15
The tab key or arrow keys may be used to move from one cell to
the next in the table. The dimensions in the table can be modified
like any spreadsheet.
4.3.2.4
Pile for Mat Foundation
Figure 4.16
The Pile for Mat Foundation button opens a spreadshee t t able in
the Data Area pane that allo ws you to en ter Cartesian (XYZ)
coordinates to define the lo cation of piles support ing a mat
f oundation.
Figure 4.17
After pile coordinates are entered, the piles along with their
respective numbers are displayed in the Graphics Window. The tab
key or arrow keys may be used to move from one cell to the next in
the table. The coordinates in the table can be modified like any
spreadsheet. In order to delete a pile, select the pile in the
Graphics Window by clicking on it. Then either press the delete
key on your keyboard or use the Menu Bar command Edit | Delete.
Note: A pile will not be shown in the Graphic Window until you
click outside of the row you are currently in.
4-28
4.3.2.5
Physical Beams
Figure 4.18
The Physical Beams button opens a spreadsheet table in the Data
Area pane that allows you create at-grade beams between nodes.
Figure 4.19
To create a beam, simply input the node numbers that the beam
will be created between in the Node A and Node B cells in the
table. After node numbers are entered, the beams are displayed in
the Graphic Windows. The tab key or arrow keys may be used to
move from one cell to the next in the table. The node numbers in
the table can be modified like any spreadsheet. In order to delete a
beam, select the beam in the Graphics Window by clicking on it.
Then either press the delete key on your keyboard or use the Menu
Bar command Edit | Delete.
Note: A beam will not be shown in the Graphics Window until
you click outside of the row you are currently in.
4.3.3
The Loads & Factors Page
Figure 4.20
The Loads & Factors Page allows you to define the loads on a
foundation by creating load cases, loads, combination loads, and
safety factors for load cases.
The Load & Factors page contains the following sub-pages:
Load Description
New Load Case
Load Combination
Remove Load Case
Safety Factors
4-30
4.3.3.1
Load Description
Figure 4.21
The Load Description button opens a page in the Data Area pane
that allows you to define loads for load cases, as well as assign
loads.
Figure 4.22
The load case selected in the Change Load dr op-down list box
from the Loading toolbar will be displayed in the list box in the
Data Area pane along with the loads associated with it. Each load
may be edited by double-clicking on the load in the list box. New
loads can be created using the command buttons below the list box.
Loads can be assigned by selecting a load in the list box, selecting
an assignment method, and then clicking on the assign button.
The Load Description form contains the following command
buttons and options that allow you to create loads:
Column Reaction
Point Load
Member Load
Quadrilateral Load
Circular load
Self Weight (Mat)
Assignment Method
4-32
Column Reaction
The Column Reaction button opens a dialog box that allows you to
create a Nodal Load.
Figure 4.23
To create a Nodal Load, first select the Force and Moment Units to
use for the load. Then input the magnitude of the forces (Fx, Fy,
Fz) and moments (Mx, My, Mz). Finally, click on OK to accept the
load.
Point Load
The Po i nt Load button opens a dialog box th at allows you to create
a co nc e ntrated load on a ma t. Point loads are only applicable to
mat foundations.
Figure 4.24
To create a Point Load, first select the Force and Moment Units to
use for the load. Then input the magnitude of the forces (Fx, Fy,
Fz) and moments (Mx, My, Mz). Next, input the loading position
(X, Y, Z) and select the Unit measurement for the loading position.
Finally, click on OK to accept the load.
Note: The Y Loading Position must correspond to the elevation
of the foundation supports.
4-34
Member Load
The Member Load button opens a dialog box that allows you to
create a Beam Load. The Member Load button is only available if
beams are present in a project.
Figure 4.25
To create a Beam Load, first select the Loading Type
(Concentrated, Uniform, Trapezoidal, or Triangular). Then select
the Distributed Force and Length Units to use for the load. Next,
input the parameters for Loading (P, W2, d1, d2). Depending on
the loading type selected, some parameters may be grayed out.
Now, select the Direction (Local X, Local Y, Local Z, Global X,
Global Y, or Global Z) in which the load will act upon. Finally,
click on OK to accept the load.
Quadrilateral Load
T he Quadrilateral Load button opens a di alog box that allows you
to c rea t e a Quadrilateral Load . Quadrilateral Loads are only
appl icable to mat foundations .
Figure 4.26
To create a Quadrilateral Load, first select the Dimension and
Pressure Units to use for the load. Then input the magnitude of the
load in the Pressure field. Next, input the elevation at which the
load is applied in the Y Coord field. Now, define the area or
footprint of the load by inputting the coordinates of the
quadrilateral figure (x1, x2, x3, x4, z1, z2, z3, z4). Finally, click on
OK to accept the load.
Note: The Y Coord must correspond to the elevation of the
foundation supports.
4-36
Circular Load
The Circular Load button opens a dialog box allowing you to
create a Circular Load. Circular Loads are only applicable to mat
foundations.
Figure 4.27
STAAD.foundation does not actually create a true circular
boundary for a Circular Load. Instead, STAAD.foundatio n
simulates a circle through t he use of pie-s haped wedges as shown
in the figure below.
Figure 4.28
To create a Circular Load, first select the Di mension and Pressure

U nits to use for the load. Then input the magnitude of the load in
the Pressure field. Next, input the X and Z-coordinates of the
cen ter of the circ le in the Cx and Cz fields. Now input the length
of t he radius of the circle in the Rad field. Then input the
elev ati o n at which the load is applied in the Y Pos field. Next,
inpu t t h e number o f pie-shaped wedges to use in simulating the
c ircular boundary in the No. of Divisions Field. Finally, click on
OK to accept the load.
Note: The Y Pos must correspond to the elevation of the
foundation supports.
Self Weight (Mat)

The Self Weight (Mat) check box specifies that the self-weight of
the mat should be used for the selected load case.
Assignment Method
The Assignment Method group box allows you to choose the
m ethod of assignment and contains the following methods and
comman ds:
Assign to View
Assign to Selection
Assign to Edit List
Assign
Assign to View
The Assign to View radio option assigns the selected load to all
relevant objects in the Graphics Window.
4-38
Assign to Selection
The Assign to Selection radio option assigns the selected load to
only those relevant objects that are selected in the Graphics
Window.
Assign to Edit List
The Assign to Edit List radio option assigns the selected load to
only those objects that are inputted in the field below the radio
option.
Assign
The Assign command button assigns the selected load using the
Assignment Method chosen.
4.3.3.2
New Load Case
Figure 4.29
The New Load Case button opens a dialog box that allows you to
create a Load Case.
Figure 4.30
The New Load Case dialog box contains the following fields:
Load Number
Load Title
Load Type
Load Number
Each load case is given a Load Number. The default value is 1 and
is incremented automatically to the next higher integer each time
you add a new Load Case. However, you may specify a different
Load Number than the one assigned automatically.
4-40
Loa d Title
Each load case may be given a Load Title to help you identify load
conditions for a particular Load Case. However, Load Titles are
optional and are not require d.
Load Type
Y ou m ay specify the Load Type from the drop-down list box. The
Load Types available are the following: Primary, Ultimate, and
Serviceability. In most cases, you will use this dialog box to create
new primary load cases. However, if you happen to know what the
ultimate load condition is, you can select the Ultimate Load Type
and then enter the load values as a primary load case, instead of
using the Load Combination option (discussed below) to create an
ultimate load case by combining and factoring primary loads.
Similarly, if you already know what the total service load values
are, you can select the Serviceability load type and directly create a
primary load case for it, rather than using the Load Combination
option to create the serviceability load case by combining a set of
individual primary loads.
Primary load cases can be used to create load combinations.
Section 4.3.3.3 of this manual explains how to create load
combinations. For primary load cases, both the serviceability and
design factors will automatically be set to 1. Refer to Section
4.3.3.5 for an explanation of these safety factors. Serviceability
load cases are used when checking the base pressure of your
foundation (geotechnical design). For these load cases, the
serviceability factor is automatically set to 1 and the design factor
is set to zero. Ultimate load cases are used when designing the
foundation. The serviceability factor for these load cases is set to
zero, while the design factor is set to 1.
4.3.3.3
Load Combination
Figure 4.31
The Load Combination button opens a dialog box that allows you
to c rea t e algebraic load comb inations as shown in the figure below.
Figure 4.32
U sing the Load Combinat ion dialog box, you can specify a load
case that combines the results of an analysis performed for
d ifferent primary load cases.
Note: This option combines the results of the analysis
algebraically for the primary load cases. It does not analyze
the structure for the combined loading.
4-42
T o define a new load case combination, click on the New button.

The New Combined Load dialog box will appear as shown in the
f igure below.
Figure 4.33
The load case number is automatically incremented with each new
load combination. Enter a description for the new combined load
and click OK.
Figure 4.34
The Algebraic Com binations of Loads dialog box will reappear. It
now lists all the defined Primary Load Cases for the foundation in
the list box on the left. The Factor box on top indicates the factor
with which the selected Primary Load Case is to be multiplied.
To include a Primary Load Case, first select the load case from the
list. Enter the multiplication factor in the Factor field. Click th e
> button to include the Primary Load Case in the Load
C ombinations specification. Continue for all primary load cases to
be combined. Use th e >> button to include all Primary Load
C ases, which will be multiplied by the specified factor. To remove
a Primary Load Case from the Load Combinations, selec t the load
case in the list box on the right and click the < button. To remo ve
all Primary Load Cases from the Load Combinations, click on th e
<< button.
4-44
4.3.3.4
Remove Load Case
Figure 4.35
The Remove Load Case butt on opens a di alog box that allows you
to remove one or more l oad cases from a project.
Figure 4.36
Select the load cases you wish to remove by clicking on them in
the list box. Load cases that have been selected will be
highlighted. To deselect a load case, simply click on the load case
again. When you have selected all the load cases you wish to
remove, click on the OK button. The Remove Load Case dialog
box will disappear and the selected load cases will be removed
from the project.
4.3.3.5
Safety Factors
Figure 4.37
The Safety Factors button opens a spreadsheet table in the Data
Area pane that allows you to assign serviceability and design
factors for each load ca se in a project.
Figure 4.38
By default, STAAD.foundation will assign values for the safety
factors depending on the load type. Refer to Section 4.3.3.2 of this
manual for a detailed explanation of the default values. The de fault
values can be changed by in putting new v alues into the table like
any spreadsheet. The tab key or arrow keys may be used to move
from one cell to the next in the table. The serviceability factor will
be applied when chec king the base pressure of a foundation
(geotechnical design). The design factor will be used for design.
4-46
4.3.4
The Design Parameters Page
Figure 4.39
The Design Parameters page allows you to specify design
parameters for an isolated footing and is only active for isolated
footing job types.
The Design Parameters page contains the following sub-pages:
Concrete and Rebar

Cover and Soil
Geometry
4.3.4.1
Concrete and Rebar
Fi gure 4.40
T he Concrete & Rebar button opens a form in the Data Area pane
that allows you to input concrete and rebar properties.
Figure 4.41
4-48
The following concrete and rebar properties are available:
Unit Weight of Concrete

Strength of Concrete
Yield Strength of R einforcing Steel
Minimum Bar Size
Maximum Bar Size
Minimum Bar Spacing
Maximum Bar Spacing
Set as Default
The Set as Default check box allows you to use the v alues inputted
in the Concrete & Rebar form as the default values for future
projects .
4.3.4.2
Cover and Soil
Figure 4.42
The Cover and Soil button opens a form in the Data Area pane that
allows you to input cover parameters and soil characteristics.
Figure 4.43
4-50
The following cover parameters and soil characteristics are

available:
Pedestal Clear Cover

Footing Clear Cover
Unit Weight of Soil
Soil Bearing Capacity
Depth of Soil
Surcharge for Loading
Set as Default
The Set as Default check box allows you to use the values inputted
in the Cover and Soil form as the default values for future projects.
4.3.4.3
Geometry
Figure 4.44
The Geometry button opens a dialog box that allows you to input
isolated footing geometry.
Figure 4.45
4-52
The following footing detail s are available:
Thickness
Length
Width
Plan Dimension
L/B Ratio
T he Footing Details category provides you with the option to

instruct STAAD.foundation to calculate the footing dimensions, or
you can specify a desired minimum and maximum for Thickness,
Length, and/or Widt h, as well as an increment for Thickness, Plan
D imension, and L/B Ratio by toggling on the appropriate radio box
and entering the desired values in t h e corresponding fields.
STAAD.foundation will calcu late any va lue left unspecified for
you. If you toggle on the In clude Pedesta l check box in the upper
left corner of the dialog box, a new tab will appear in the dialog
box allowing you to input pedestal details.
Figure 4.46
The following pedestal details are available:
Pedestal Shape
Length
Width
Height
Offset X Direction
Offset Z Direction
You ma y select either a Rectangular or Round pedestal. You may

then enter geometry data for the pedestal Length, Width and
Height. In addition, you ma y also specify Offset distances if you
wish the pedestal to be offset from the cent er of the footing.
STAAD.foundation will set default values for the pedestal length
and width equal to the column dimensions for the selected footing .
Set as Default
The Set as Default check b ox allows you t o use the values inputted
in the Geometry dialog box as the default val ues for future
projects.
4-54
4.3.5
The Pile Data Page
Figure 4.47
The Pile Data page allows you to specify pile data for a pile cap
and is only active for pile cap job types.
The Pile Data page contains the following sub-pages:
Pile Arrangement
Design Parameters
4.3.5.1
Pile Arrangement
Figure 4.48
The Pile Arrangement button opens a form in the Data Area pane
that allows you to input physical data for use in designing pile
caps.
4-56
Figure 4.49
The following pile arrangement data and commands are available:
Support for Pile Arrangement

Pile Capacity
Pile Dia.
Spa cing
Edge Distance
Show Loading on Support
Pile Arrangement Ty pe
Show Pile Reactions
Select Arrangement
Support for Pile Arrangement

The Support for Pile Arrangement drop-down list box allows you
to select a support from the current job for which you would like t o
input physical data.
Pile Capacity
The Pile Capacity group box allows you to input the forces that a
pile is meant to bear.
Unit
The Unit drop-down list box allows you to select the force unit
used for Pile Capacity.
Lateral
The Lateral field allows you to specify the lateral force a pile is
meant to bear.
Vertical
The Vertical field allows you to specify the vertical force a pile is
meant to bear.
4-58
Uplift
The Uplift field allows you to specify the uplifting force a pile is
meant to bear.
Pile Dia.
The Pile Dia. field allows you to specify the diameter of a pile.
Spac ing
The Spacing field allow s you to specify the sp acing between piles.
Edge Distance
The Edge Distance field allows you to specify the distance between
the edges of a pile.
Show Loading On Support

The Show Loading on Support button opens a table displaying the
total loading on the support selected under Support for Pile
Arrangement.
Figure 4.50
Pile Arran gement Type

The Pile Arrangement Type group box allows you to input the
coordinates for a pile arrangement or have STAAD.foundation
calculate a pile arrangemen t automaticall y.
Auto Arrangement
The Auto Arrang ement radio option allows you to have
S TAAD.foundation calculate the pile arrangement. In order to
have STAAD.foundation calculate the pile arrangement, select
Auto Arrangement and click on the Calculate button. A window
will appear displaying all possible pile arrangements corresponding
to the pile loads in all the load cases according to the BOCA
standard.
Calculate
The Calculate button opens a window displaying all possible pile
arrangements corresponding to the pile lo ads in all the load cases
according to the BOCA standard when the Auto Arrangement radio
o ption is selected.
Figure 4.51
4-60
Go through the tree controls a nd choose the desired pile

arrangement. After you have chosen the desired pile arrangement,
click on the OK button. The pile coordinates of the selected pile
arrangement will be displayed in t he tab le in the Data Area pane.
In addition, the diagram of the pile arrang ement will be displayed
in the Data Area pane.
Figure 4.52
Manual Arrangement
The Manual Arrangement radio option allows you to enter the pile
arrangement manually by inputting the pile cap coordinates in the
table in the Data Area pane.
Note: These are local coordinates for the footing, relative to the
center of the footing.
Delete Selected Rows

The Delete Selected Rows button allows you to delete a row in the
table of pile cap coordinates when using the Manual Arrangement
mode. To delete a row, select the row you would like to delete
from the table and then click on Delete Se lected Rows.
Show Pile Reactions

The Show Pile Reactions button opens a table displaying the
reaction on each pile.
Figure 4.53
Select Arrangement
The Select Arrangement button allows you to select the current pile
arrangement for the design of the pile cap. If you do not want to
use the current pile arrangement, recalculate the arrangement or
input the pile coordinates again manually.
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4.3.5.2
Design Parameters
Figure 4.54
The Design Parameters button opens a form in the Data Area pane
that allows you to input standard design control parameters for use
in designing pile caps.
Figure 4.55
The following design parameters are available:
Strength of Concrete
Yield Strength of Steel
Minimum Bar S ize
Maximum Bar S ize
Side Cover (Cs)
Bottom Cover (Cb)
Pile in Pile Cap (Cp )
Note: The Pile in Pile Cap parameter refers to the length of the
pile that is contained within the pile cap, as shown by the Cp
parameter in the diagram at the top of the Data Area pane.
Set as Default
The Set as Default c h eck box allows you to use the values inputted
in the D e sign Param eters form as the default values for future
p roje cts.
4-64
4.3.6
The Design Page
Figure 4.56
The Design page allows you to perform a foundation design. Once
a design has been performed, you may view a summary on the
design, a footing layout of the design, a detailing drawing of the
design, and a list of calculations used for the design. The Design
page is only active for isolated footing and pile cap job types.
The Design page contains the following sub-pages:
Design
Design Summary
Footing Layout
Detailed Drawing
Calculation Sheet
4.3.6.1
Design
Figure 4.57
The Design button instructs STAAD.foundation to perform a
foundation design once all project data and design parameters have
been inputted. If you are performing an isolated footing design , a
d ialog box titled Optimize Uniformity will appear as shown below.
If you are performing a pile cap design, the Optimize Uniformity
dialog box will not appear.
Figure 4.58
The Optimize Uniformity dialog box allows you to specify an
allowable percent increase in footing volume. This allows
STAAD.foundation to adjust the design so that uniform size
concrete forms may be used to construct the footing. Without
optimizing the design, STAAD.foundation might specify a
different size footing for each support in the project, requiring a
separate form for each footing.
4-66
In addition, you m ay instruct STAAD.foundation to consider the

dead weight of footing, soil and surcharge above it in the "P" side
of the equation (Due to the symmetric nature of the footing, their
contribution to M is zero). This option is available for the
following reason. During the reinforcement design phase, the
moment on the footing has to be calculated for the factored loads.
The base pressures due to factored loads are required for this
purpose. Traditionally, only factored imposed loads (the P, H and
M loads acting through the col umn) are considered. The weight of
foot ing and soil and surcharge above it are not. However, this
approach has a draw back in that if t he factored M divided by the
factored P causes the center of action of l oading to be located
o utside the footing, the soil pressure due to factored loads cannot
be computed without further increasing the footing size. The
weakness of this approach can easily result in very large size
footings for loads where factored P is small and factored M is
la rge.
After clicking on OK in the Optimize Uniformity dialog box, a
message box will appear displaying the progress of the design as
shown below. This message box will appear immediately after
clicking on the Design button if you are performing a pile cap
design.
Figure 4.59
Once the design has been completed, click on the Close button to
dismiss the dialog box. STAAD.foundation will then a utomatically
open the Design Summary page and display a results table in the
Data Area pane as shown in the figure below.
Figure 4.60
4-68
4.3.6.2
Design Summary
Figure 4.61
The Design Summary button opens a table in the Data Area pane
displaying the summary of a design performed on a job as shown in
the figure below.
Figure 4.62
The Design Summary page is displayed automatically after
performing a design. After you have performed a design on a job,
a nd then moved to another part of the program, the Design
Summary button may be clicked again to display the design
summary table in the Data Area pane.
4.3.6.3
Footing Layout
Figure 4.63
The Footing Layout button produces a layout of analyzed footings
drawn to scale, complete with a title block for the drawing in the
Graphics Window.
Figure 4.64
4-70
The Data Area pane co ntains several command s and options for
manipulating the layout in the Graphics Window:
Jobs List
Show/Hide
Show Current Job Only/Show All Jobs
Level Off/Level On
Level Edit
Update Current Setting
DXF Export.
Jobs List
The Jobs List is located just above the show/hide group box and
contains a list of the isolated and pile cap jobs in the active project.
The Jobs List allows you to select which jobs will be displayed in
the layout in the Graphics Window.
Show/Hide
The Show/Hide group box contains a list of display options you
may turn on or off.
Node No.
The Node No. checkbox allows you to turn on or off the display of
node numbers in the layout.
Show Dimension
The Show Dimension checkbox allows you to turn on or off the
display of dimensions in the layout.
Center Line
The Center Line checkbox allows you to turn on or off the display
of center lines in the layout.
Show Overlapped Regions

The Show Overlapped Regions checkbox allows you to turn on or
off the display of overlapped regions in the layout.
Show Current Job Only/Show All Jobs

The Show Current Job Only command button allows you to displa y
only the currently sel ected job as long as it is selected in the Jobs
L ist. The currently selected job is the job selected in the Change
Job drop-down list box in the Jobs toolbar. After clicking on the
Show Current Job Only command button, the text will change to
Show All Jobs. Clicking on the command button again will display
all jobs that are selected in the Jobs List.
Level Off/Level On
The Level Off command button allows you to turn off the display of
level info. After clicking on the Level Off command button, the
text will change to Level On. Clicking on the command button
again will turn on the display of level info.
Level Edit
The Level Edit command button opens a dialog box allowing you to
edit the level info. The information displayed in the table on the
left of the dialog box is obtained from the data that was inputted in
the General Info page under Project Info tab.
4-72
Figure 4.65
Updated Current Setting

The Update Current Setting command button updat es the layout
with the current settings.
DXF Export
The DXF Export command button opens a dialog box that a llows
you to save the layout diagra m to a .DXF file for use in other CAD
programs.
Figure 4.66
4.3.6.4
Detailed Drawing
Figure 4.67
The Detailed Drawing button brings up the details of the footings
in an isolated job or the pile cap dimensions in the case of a pile
cap job in th e Graphics Window.
Figure 4.68
You may rearrange the drawings to suit your needs. You may click
on any detail item to highlight it, and then drag it to any desired
location. When you click on a detail item, eight small square
boxes are displayed on the border of each detail. These square
boxes are handles that you can use to drag the sides and corners
of the detail to change its size and shape.
4-74
The Data Area pane contains several commands and options for
manipulating the detailed drawing in the Graphics Window:
Design Group
Details List
Select SubEntity
Show Drawing Leveling
Update Current Settings
Select Font Style
DXF Export.
Design Group
The Design Group drop-down list box allows you to select from a
list of design groups created by STAAD.foundation. Design
groups are created for each type of footing in the current job. Each
Design Group has its own detailed drawing. Selecting a Design
G roup displays the correspondi ng detailed drawing in the Graphics
Window.
Details List
The Details List contains a list of details that can be turned on or
off for the currently sele cted Design Group.
Select SubE ntity

The Select SubEntity chec kbox allows you to turn on or off the
handles within each detail, so that you can rearrange the annotation
and callout arrows. When the Select SubEntity check box is
toggled on, circular blue dots appea r within each detail. These
blue dots are also handles. You can click on these handles and drag
them to move the annota tion text and rearran ge the callout arrows.
S how Drawing Leveling

The Show Drawing Leveling checkbox allows you to turn on or o ff
the drawing level that appears in the lower right-hand corner of the
Graphics Window . The drawing level displays information about
the active project. The information is obtained from the data that
was inputted in the Ge neral Info page under th e Project Info tab.
Update Current Settings

The Update Current Settings command button updates the detailed
drawin g with the current settings.
Select Font Style

The Select Font St yle command button opens a sta ndard Windows
font dialog box that allows you to select the font used i n the
detailed drawing.
DXF Export
The DXF Export command button saves the detailed drawing to a
.DXF file for use in other CAD programs. After clicking on the
command button, a message box will appear informing you where
the .DXF file has been saved.
Figure 4.69
4-76
4.3.6.5
Calculation Sheet
Figure 4.70
The Calculation Sheet button opens a sheet in the Graphics
Window dis playing the calculations for a design as shown in the
f igure below.
Figure 4.71
The calculation sheet is web-enabled for real time checking a nd
hard copies can be made by printing out the sheet by clicking on
the command button labeled Print Calculation Sheet at the end of
the calculation sheet.
4.3.7
The Meshing Page
Figure 4.72
The Meshing page allows you to create meshing for foundation
slabs and is only active for mat foundation job types.
The Meshing page contains the following sub-pages:
Meshing Grid
Meshing Setup
Create Mesh
The meshing sub-pages are used to define the location and

construction parameters of the finite element mesh that
STAAD.foundation uses to model foundation slabs. Finite element
analysis is commonly applied to surface-type structures such as
walls, slabs, plates and shells. The structure is represented by a
series or mesh of connected elements. The method allows the
displacements of the structure to be determined only at the corners
of each element, and the stresses to be determined at the center of
each element. To accurately model the behavior of a structure
under load, it is important to take care in constructing the mesh, so
that sufficient data is available in the areas where maximum
4-78
stresses and/or displacements occur. The meshing con trols will

help assist you in accomplishing that goal.
Note: A discussion of items to consider when constructing a
mesh is presented in Section 2 of this manual.
4.3.7.1
Meshing Grid
Figure 4.73
T he Meshing Grid button opens a grid with the supports of the
currently selected job superimposed on the grid in the Data Area
pane.
Figure 4.74
The Meshing Grid allows you to define boundaries for a mat
foundation by using the various controls found in the Meshing Gri d
tool bar at th e bottom of the Data Area pane.
4-80
Figure 4.75
T he Meshing Grid toolbar contains the following icons:
Show or Hides Toolbar

Show /Hide Grid
Define Grid Size
Mat Bo undary
Create Circul ar Boundary
Create a Regular Sh ape Polygon
Create Elliptical Region
Pan Grid
Zooms in the Grid
Zooms out the Grid
Create Control Regions Automatically for Selected Nodes
Transfer Boundary
Add Node in Grid
Show or Hides Toolbar

The Sho w or Hides Toolbar button toggles the Meshing Grid
tool bar auto-hide mode on or off. When the Show or Hides
Toolbar button is pressed down, the auto-hide mode is off an d the
Meshing Grid toolbar w ill be visible at all times. Clicking on the
S how or Hides Toolbar button when it is pressed down will turn
the auto-hi de mode on and the Meshing Grid toolbar will only be
v isible when you place your mouse cursor at the bottom of the
Data Area pane. Turning the auto-hide mode on is desirable when
you want to maximize the size of the grid area on your screen.
Show/Hide Grid
The Show/Hide Grid button toggles the displa y of the grid in the
Data Area pane on or off.
Define Grid Size

The Define Grid Size button (the small down-arrow button next to
the Show/Hide Grid button) displays a context menu that contains
the following commands:
Grid Setup
Grid Type
Hide Grid
Figure 4.76
Grid Setup
The Grid Setup menu com mand opens a dialog box that allows you
to co nf ig ure the grid in the D ata Area pane.
4-82
Figure 4.77
You may configure the grid by adjusting the size, grid line spacing
and location of the origin. The Plan Setup category allows you to
specify which plane you want to work in, and where you want the
origin of the grid to be, relative to the global coordinate system of
your model. The Construction Line category allows you to specify
the distance you wish the grid to extend on either side of the grid
origin, and the spacing between grid lines.
Note: The values in the Setup Grid dialog box are in units of
inches.
Mat Boundary
The Mat Boundary button allows you to draw on the grid a mat
boundary that represents the edge of a slab. When you click on the
Mat Boundary button and then hold your mouse cursor over the
grid, the pointer will display a flashing square box at the tip of
your mouse cursor that will sn ap to each point on the grid.
Figure 4.78
To draw a mat boundary, click in sequence on the points on th e
grid going in either a clockwise or a counter-clockwise order.
O nce you have clicked on all the points that define the boundary of
your slab, return to your starting point and right-click on it. You
will see a purple line defining the boundary you have created.
Figure 4.79
4-84
Create Circular Boundary

The Create Circular Boundary button allows you to draw on the
grid a circular mat boundary that represents the edge of a slab.
When you click on the Create Circular Boundary button and then
hold your mouse cursor over the grid, the pointer will display a
flashing square box at the tip of your mouse cursor that will snap
to each point on the grid.
Figure 4.80
Clicking on the grid at the point of the flashing square box will set
th e center of the circular boundary. Once the center has been set, a
line w il l extend fr om the center point to your cursor.
Figure 4.81
The line represents the radius of the circular boundary. To set t he
radius and complete the circular boundary, simply click on the g rid
at the point that creates the desired radius for the circular
boundary. Once you have set the radius, a purple circle will be
displayed defi ning the circular boundary you have created.
Figure 4.82
Create a Regular Shape Polygon

The Create a Regular Shape Polygon button opens a dialog box
that allows you to create a polygon shaped boundary.
Create Elliptical Region

The Create Elliptical Region button opens a dialog box that allows
you to create an elliptical region.
Pan Grid
The Pan Grid button allows you to move the grid from side to side
and up and down in the Data Area pane.
Zooms in the Grid

The Zooms in the Grid button allows you to make the scale of the
grid display larger so that you appear to move closer to the grid.
Zooms out the Grid

The Zooms out the Grid button allows you to make the scale of the
grid display smaller so that you appear to move higher above the
grid.
4-86
Create Control Regions Automatically for Selected

Nodes
The Create Control Regions Automatically for Selected Nodes
button allow s you to automatically create boundaries around the
n odes in the grid. The dimensions of the boundaries will be equal
to th e d i mensions of the n odes set on the Column Dimensions page
unde r t h e Foundation Plan ta b.
The auto maticall y generated regions can be added to the foundation
m odel. With these regions in place, the program will create a
separate mesh fo r the region from the mesh of the main boundary.
T his will allow for an assignment of a different thickness at the
location of the node, such as when a pedestal occurs at the base of
a column. The figures below illustrate the difference in meshing
p atterns at a column location, with and without the control region.
Figure 4.83 - With Control Region

W ith control region meshing takes the region into account so that
nodes and element edges coincide with region boundaries.
Figure 4.84 - Without Control Region

Without control region mesh is created without any consideration
to the region.
Transfer Boundary
The Transfer Boundary button is used to transfer boundaries that
you have drawn on the grid into the Main View of your model.
Figure 4.85
4-88
Add Node in Grid

The Add Node in Grid button allows you to place a node within
your grid. You may use this node later with the Create Control
Regions Auto matically for Selected Nodes button to create control
r egi ons automaticall y, based on Column Dimensions that you
entered in the Found ation Plan page. Control Regions are used to
defi ne different areas of the slab, so that you can specify separate
slab thickness for each region.
4.3.7.2
Meshing Setup
Figure 4.86
The Meshing Setup button opens a form in the Data Area pane that
a llows you to setup the boundary regions you have created using
the meshing grid.
Figure 4.87
4-90
T he Data Area pane contains the following commands and options:
Boundary Region List Box

Boundary Region Coordinates Table
Boundary
Auto Region
Hole
Control Point
Control Line
Control Region
Delete Region/Entity
Max Element Size
Add Extra Nodes on Boundary if Necessary
Optimize Based on Area
Boundary Region List Box

T he Boundary Region List Box contains a list of all the boundary
regions you have added to t he current job.
Boundary Region Coordinates Table

The Boundary Region Coor dinates Table contains a table
d isplaying the coordinates of t he selected boundary in the
Boundary Region List Box.
Boundary
The Boundary command button allows you to add a boundary
region to the Boundary Region List Box. You must first select the
boundary region in the Graphics Window you would like to add.
After selecting the boundary region you want to add and clicking
on the Boundary button, a dialog box will open allowing you to
give a name to the boundary region.
Figure 4.88
E nter a name for the boundary in the field labeled Identity of Mesh
and clic k on OK. The bo undary will now be listed in the Boundary
Regi on List Box.
Note: You may add multiply boundary regions for a job. The
name of a boundary region may not include spaces or
characters normally reserved for math functions (such as $, #,
*, %, etc).
Auto Region
The Auto Region command button
Hole
T he Hole command button allows you to add a hole to a boundary
region you have added to the Boundary Region List Box. You m ust
first select the boundary region in the Graphics Window you would
like to add as a hole. After selecting the boundary region you want
to add and clicking on the Hole button, a dialog box will open
allowing you to give a name to the hole.
4-92
Figure 4.89
First select the boundary the hole is contained within via the
Boundary Name drop-down list box. Then enter a name for the
hole in the field labeled Hole Name and click on OK. The hole will
now be listed in the Boundary Region List Box under the boundary
the hole is contained within.
Note: You may add multiply boundary regions for a job. The
name of a boundary region may not include spaces or
characters normally reserved for math functions (such as $, #,
*, %, etc).
Control Point
The Control Point command button
Control Line
The Control Line command button
Control Region
The Control Region command button
Delete Region/Entity
The Delete Region/Entity command button deletes the currently
selected region/entity, thereby removing it from the Boundary
Region List Box.
Max Element Size

T he Max Element Size field allows y ou to define the maximum
elem ent size for the meshing.
Add Extra Nodes on Boundary if Necessary

The Add Extra Nodes on Boundary if Necessary check box
Optimize Based on Area

The Optimize Based on Area check box
4-94
4.3.7.3
Create Mesh
Figure 4.90
The Cr e ate M esh button allows you to create meshing for the
sele cte d boundi ng region. Once you click on the Create Mesh
button, a dialog box will appear allowing you to choose the type of
meshing to create. The following two types of meshing are
available:
Quadrilateral Meshing
Polygonal Meshing.
Figu re 4.91
A Quadrilateral Mesh works well for slabs with rectangular
boundaries or boundar ies where the corners form 90-degree angles,
li ke T-shaped slabs, L-shaped slabs, etc. A Polygonal Mesh is the
better choice for slabs with irregular shapes, like a Y-shaped slab,
or slabs with round holes, irregular-shaped holes, round edges, etc .
After you have selected the desired meshing type and clicked OK,
S TAAD.foundation will create the mesh and display it in the
Graphics Window.
Figure 4.92
4-96
4.3.8
The Property Soil Material Page
Figure 4.93
The Property Soil Material page allows you to input beam
properties, plate thicknesses, b eam off sets, and soil properties. The
Property Soil Material pag e is onl y active for mat foundation
job types or when a project contains beams.
The Property Soil Material Page contains the following subpages:
Beam Properties
Plate Thickness
Beam Offset
Soil Properties
4.3.8.1
Beam Properties
Figure 4.94
The Beam Property button op ens a form in the Data Area pane that
al lows y ou to cre ate and assign beam properties.
Figure 4.95
Beam properties that are created will be listed in the list box in the
Data Area pane. Beam properties may be assigned by first
selecting the desired beam property from the list box, then
selecting the assignment method, and finally clicking on the Assign
command button.
4-98
The following comma nds and options are available in the Data
A rea pane:
Create New
Edit
Delete
Assignment Method
Create New
The Cre ate New command button opens a dialog box that allows
y ou to create a new beam property specification.
Figure 4.96
The following commands and beam specifications are available:
Unit
Depth
Width
Material
Add New Material
Unit
The Unit drop-down list box allows you to specify the unit
measurement that will be used for the beam property specifications.
Depth
The Depth field allows you to specify the depth of the beam
property specification.
Width
T he Width field a llows you to specify the width of the beam
p roperty specification.
Material
The Material drop-down lis t box allows you to specify the material
of t he beam property specif ication.
A dd New Material
The Add New Material command button allows you to add new
materials to the Material drop-down list box.
Edit
The Edit command button allows you to edit a beam property from
the list of beam properties that have been created. To edit a beam
property, simply select the beam property from the list, and then
click on the Edit command button.
Delete
The Delete command button allows you to delete a beam property
from the list of beam properties that have been created. To delete a
4-100
beam property, si mply select the beam property from the list, and
then click on the Delete command button.
Assignment Method
The Assignment Method group box allo w s you to choose the
method of assignment and cont ains the fol lowing methods and
commands:
Assign to View
Assign to Selection
Assign to Edit List
Assign
Assign to View
T he Assign to View radio option assigns the selected beam property
to all relevant objects in the main vi ew.
Assign to Selection
The Assign to Selection radio option assigns the selected beam
property to only those objects that are selected in the main view.
Assign to Edit List
T he Assign to Edit List radio option assigns the selected beam
property to only those objects that are inputted in the field below
the radio option.
Assign
The Assign button assigns the selected beam property using the
assignment method chosen.
4.3.8.2
Plate Thickness
Figure 4.97
The Plate Thickness button opens a form i n the Data Area pane
that allows you to specify t he element thic kness for the plate
e lements in a mesh you are using to model a mat foundation.
Figure 4.98
4-102
Plate thicknesses that are c reated will be listed in the list box in the
Data Area pane. Plate thi cknesses may be assigned by first
selecting the desired plate thickness from the list box, then
selecting the assignment method, and finally clicking on the Assign
command button.
The following commands and options are available in the Data
Area pane:
Create New
Edit
Delete
Assignment Method
Create New
The Create New command button opens a dialog box that allows
you to create a plate thickness.
Figure 4.99
The following plate thickness specifications are available:
Analysis
Design
Material
A nalysis
The Analysis field allo ws you to specify the plate thickness for
anal ys is . The drop-dow n list box to the right of the Analysis field
allows you to specify the unit used.
Design
The Design field allows you to specify the plate thickness for
design. The drop-down list box to the right of the Design field
allows you to specify the unit used.
M aterial
The Material drop-down li st box allows y ou to specify the material
of the plate property.
Edit
The Edit command button allows you to edit a plate thickness from
the list of plate thicknesses that have been created. To edit a plate
thickness, simply select the plate thickness from the list, and then
Delete
The Delete command button allows you to delete a plate thickness
from the list of plate thicknesses that have been created. To delete
a plate thickness, simply select the plate thickness from the list,
and then click on the Delete command button.
4-104
Assignment Method
method of assignment and contains the following methods and
commands:
Assign to View
Assign to Selection
Assign to Edit List
Assign
Assign to View
The Assign to View radio option assigns the selected plate
thickness to all relevant objects in the main view.
Assign to Selection
T he Assign to Selection radio option assigns the selected plate
thickness to only those objects that are selected in the main view.
Assign to Edit List
The Assign to Edit List ra dio option assigns the selected plate
thickness to only those object s that are input ted in the field below
the radio option.
Assign
The Assign button assigns the selected plate thickness using the
assignment method chosen .
Note: If you do not assign thickness properties to all the plates
in your model, the analysis will not be performed.
4.3.8.3
Beam Offset
Figure 4.100
The Beam Offset button opens a form in the Data Area pane that
allows you to create and assign beam offsets.
Figure 4.101
4-106
Beam offsets that are created will be listed in the list box in the
Data Area pane. Beam off sets may be ass igned by first selecting
the desired beam offset fro m the list box, then selecting the
a ssignment method, and finally clicking on the Assign command
button.
Area pane:
Create New
Edit
Delete
Assignment Method
Create New
The Create New command button opens a dialog box that allows
you to create a new beam offset.
Figure 4.102
The Offset Location category allo ws you to specify the end of the
member at which the offset is to b e applied. The start of the
m ember and end of the member refers to the member incidence list,
a nd depends on the order in which the nodes to which the member
connects were originally specified. If you are not sure which end
is the start end of a particular member, you can highlight the
member and then hover your mouse cursor over it.
STAAD.foundations tool tip help will disp lay the member
connect ivity information, as shown in the figure below. Node A is
the starting end and Node B is the ending end.
Figure 4.103
The fo l lowing beam off set specifications are available:
Offset
Offset
Unit
Offset
Offset
O ffset
at Start of th e Member
at End of the Member
along X-Direction
along Y-Direction
along Z-Direction
4-108
Offset at Start of the M ember

The Offset at Start of the Member radio option allows you to
specify the offset at the start of a member.
Offset at End of the Member
The Offset at End of the Member radio option allows you to specify
the offset at the end of a member.
U nit
measurement that will be used for the beam offset specifications.
Offset along X-Direction
The Offset along X-Direction field allows you to specify the
distance in the X-Direction that a member is offset from a node.
Offset along Y-Direction
The Offset along Y-Direction field allows you to specify the
distance in the Y-Direction that a member is offset from a node.
Offset Along Z-Direction
The Offset along Z-Direction field allows you to specify the
distance in the Z-Direction that a member is offset from a node.
Edit
The Edit command butto n allows you to edit a beam property from
the list of beam properties that have been created. To edit a beam
property, simply select the beam property from the list, and then
Delete
T he Delete command button allows you to delete a beam property
from the list of beam properties that have been created. To del ete a
beam property, simply select the beam property from the list, and
Assignment Method
method of assignment and contains the following methods and
commands:
Assign to View
Assign to Selection
Assign to Edit List
Assign
Assign to View
The Assign to View radio option assigns the selected beam offset to
all relevant objects in the main view.
Assign to Selection
The Assign to Selection radio option assigns the selected beam
offset to only those objects that are selected in the main view.
Assign to Edit List
The Assign to Edit List radio option assigns the selected beam
offset to only those object s that are inputted in the field below the
r adio option.
4-110
Assign
The Assign button assigns the selected beam offset using the
assignment method chosen.
4.3.8.4
Soil Properties
Figure 4.104
The Soil Pr operties button opens a form in the Data Area pane that
allows you t o create and assign soil properties for the desi gn of
mat foundations and pile supports.
Figure 4.105
4-112
Soil and pile supports that are created will be listed in the list box
in the Data Area pane. Soil and pile supports may be assigned by
first se l ecting the desired so il property from the list box, then
sele cti n g the assignmen t method, and finally clicking on the Assign
com ma n d button.
T he following commands and options are available in the Data
Area pane:
New Soil Support

New Pile Support
Edit
Delete
Assignment Method
New Soil Support

The New Soil S upport command button opens a dialog box that
a llows you to create a new soil support.
Figure 4.106
The following soil suppor t properties are a vailable:
Use Constant Value

Use Multilinear Spring
Length Unit
Modulous Unit
Use Constant Value

The Use Constant Value radio option and field allow you to input a
constant value for a soil subgrade modulous. The drop-down list
box to the right of the constant value field allows you to specify
the unit used.
Use Multilinear Spring
The Use Multilinear Spring radio option and table allow you to
input varying values for a soil subgrade modulous depending on
the displacement of a slab.
L ength Unit
The Length Unit drop-down list box allows you to specify the
length unit used when defining a multilinear spring.
Modulous Unit
The Modulous Unit drop-down list box allows you to s pecify the
modulous unit used when defining a multilinear spring.
New Pile Support

The New Pile Support command button opens a dialog box that
allows you to create a new pile support.
4-114
Figure 4.107
The following pile support properties are available:
Unit
KFx
KFy
KFz
Unit
measurement that will be used for the pile support properties.
KFx
The KFx field allow s you to specify a spring con stant K value for
the X-Direction.
KFy
T he KFy field allows you to specify a spring constant K value for
the Y-Direction.
KFz
The KFz field allows you t o specify a spri ng constant K value for
the Z-Direction.
Edit
The Edit command button allows you to edit a soil or pile support
from the list of supports that have been created. To edit a soil or
pile support, simply select the support from the list, and then click
on the Edit command button.
Delete
The Delete command button allows you to delete a soil or pile
support from the list of supports that have been created. To delete a
soil or pile support, simply select the support from the list, and
Assignment Method
The Assignment Method group box al lows y ou to choose the
m ethod of assignment and contains the following methods and
commands:
Assign to View
Assign to Selection
Assign to Edit List
Assign
Assign to View
The Assign to View radio option assigns the selected support to all
relevant objects in the main view.
4-116
Assign to Selection
The Assign to Selection radio option assigns the support to only
those objects that are selected in the main view.
Assign to Edit List
The Assign to Edit List radio option assigns the selected support to
only those objects that are inputted in the field below the radio
option.
Assign
The Assign button assigns t he selected support using the
ass i gnment method chosen.
4.3.9
The Analysis Page
Figure 4.108
The Analysis page allows you to perform an analysis on a mat
foundation and is only active for mat foundation job types.
The Analysis page initially only contains the following sub-page:
Analyze
Once a mat foundation has been successfully analyzed, the

following additional sub-pages are displayed:
Displacements
Support Reactions
Plate Stresses
4-118
4.3.9.1
Analyze
Figure 4.109
The Analyze button allows you to analyze and design a mat
foundation. All data releva nt to performi ng an analysis, including
slab boundary, plate thickness and soil properties, must be entered
prior to selecting this command, otherwise you will not obtain a
successful analysis. After clicking on the Analyze button, a
m essage box will appear displaying th e progress of the analysis as
shown i n the figure below.
Figure 4.110
Once the analysis is complete, the message Analysis is
completed will be displayed. Click on the Close button to remove
the message box. Now that the analy sis is finished, three new sub-
page buttons will appear u nder the Analys is tab: displacement,

support reaction, and plate stresses.
Figure 4.111
In addition, a new tab labeled Slab Design will appear in the Page
Control pane.
Figure 4.112
By default, the deformed p lates showing th e node displacements
will appear in the Graphics Window.
Figure 4.113
4-120
4.3.9.2
Displacement
Figure 4.114
The Displacement button opens a table in the Data Area p ane
d isplaying node displacements, as well as a displacement diagram
in the Graphics Window. The Displacement button is only availabl e
when a successful analysis has been performed and analysis results
are available.
Figure 4.115
The displacement table contains two tabs: All and Summary. The
All tab lists the n ode displacements for the three translational and
th ree rotational degrees of freedom, while the Summary tab lists
the minimum and maximum values for the three translational and
three rot ational degrees of freedom.
The following command buttons are available above the table in
the Data Area pane:
Change Node Displacement Setup

Change Unit
Create Report
Change Node Displacement Setup

The Change Node Displacement command button opens the Set
Viewing Options dialog box with the Scales tab displayed, allowing
you to change the apparent magnitude of the displacement on the
diagram in the Graphics Window.
Figure 4.116
4-122
To adjust the apparent magnitude of the displacement on the

diagram, change the value in the Displacement field in the Result
Scales group box. Note that you should decrease the Displacement
value to increase the amount of deflection shown. Why do you
d ecrease the Displacement value to increase the deflection? The
Displacement value in the dialog box is the actual displacement of
the structure per unit distance on the structure diagram. Therefore,
if you reduce the amount of actual structural deflection required to
display a unit distance of deflection on the diagram, you will see a
larger apparent displacement on the diagram.
You may also use the Set Viewing Options dialog box to turn the
displacement diagram on and off by clicking on the Displacement
tab and toggling the Show Nodal Displacement check box.
Figure 4.117
Note: You can also access the Set Viewing Options dialog box
through the View Menu | Options command, or by clicking on
the Set View Options icon on the Tools toolbar.
Change Unit
The Change Unit command button opens a dialog box allowing you
to change the output units used in the displacement table.
Figure 4.118
The following output units may be changed: Force Unit, Length
Unit, Reinforcing Bar Dia., and Reinforcing Specing. To change an
output unit, simply select the desired unit from the appropriate
drop-down list box.
Create Report
The Create Report command button opens a dialog box that allows
you to create a customized node displacement report in table
format.
4-124
Figure 4.119
F irst, enter a name for the report in the Report Title field. A
Rep ort Title must be inputted and will appear at the top of the table
when yo u print the report. N ext, select the desired values to
incl ude in the report. Then, se lect the method of sorting the values
in t he report and specify the supports for which you want to report
the dis p lacements. Finally, click on t he Loadings tab and select
the load cases you want to include in the report. Now click on the
OK but t on to dismiss th e Node Displacement Report dialog box and
disp lay the report.
Figure 4.120
You can use the Report Setup for Printing command from the Print
toolbar to select this report and any others you h ave created for
inclusion in a printou t. You may then use the P rint Preview and
Print commands in the File menu to preview and print out the
selected reports. You can also highlight the values in the table, and
then copy and paste them into Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Wo rd, or
other external programs.
4-126
4.3.9.3
Support Reactions
Figure 4.121
The Support Reaction bu tton opens a table in the Data Area pane
displaying support reactions, as well as a support reactions contour
diagram in the Graphics Window. The Support Reaction button is
only available when a successful analysis has been performed a nd
analysis results are available.
Figure 4.122
The support reaction table contains two tabs: All and Summary.
The All tab lists the support reactions for each degree of fre edom,
while the Summary tab lists the minimum and maximum values for
each degree of free dom.
The following options and command buttons are available above
the table in the Data Area pane:
Direction
Show Legend
Change Unit
Create Report
Direction
The Direction drop-down list box allows you to change the
direction the base pressure is shown in the diagram in the Graphics
Window.
Show Legend
The Show Legend check box allows you to turn on or off the base
pressure legend in the Graphics Window.
Change Unit
The Change Unit command button opens a dialog box allowing you
to change the output units used in the support reactions table.
4-128
Figure 4.123
The following output units may be changed: Force Unit, Length
Unit, Reinforcin g Bar Dia., and Reinforcing Specing. To change an
o utput unit, simply select the desired unit from the appropriate
dro p-d o wn list box.
Cr eate Report
The Cr e ate Report command but ton opens a dialog box that allows
you to create a custom ized support reactions report in table format.
Figure 4.124
First, enter a name for the report in the Report Title field. A
Report Title must be inputted and will appear at th e top of the table
when you print the report. Next, select th e desired values to
include in the report. Then, select the method of sorting the values
in the report and specify the supports for which you want to report
the reactions. Finally, click on the Loadings tab and select the lo ad
cases you want to include in the report. Now click on the OK
button to dismiss the Create Report for Support Reaction dialog
box and display the report.
4-130
Figure 4.125
Y ou can use the Report Setup for Printing command from the Print
toolbar to select this report and any others you have created for
inclusion in a printout. You may then use the Print Preview and
then copy and paste them into Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, or
4.3.9.4
Plate Stresses
Figure 4.126
The Plate Stresses button opens a table in the Data Area pane
displaying plate stresses, as well as a plate stresses contour
diagram in the Graphics Window. The Plate Stresses button is only
available when a successful analysis has been performed and
Figure 4.127
4-132
The support reaction table contains four tabs: All, Summary,

Principal, and Summary.
The following command buttons are available above the table in
the Data Area pane:
Chan ge Plate Stress Contour Setup

Change Unit
Create Principal Stress Report
Create Stress Repo rt
Change Plate Stress Contour Setup

T he Change Plate Stress Contour Setup command button opens a
dial og box th at allows you to alter the plate stress contour shown
in t he Graphic Windows.
Figure 4.128
The following options a re available for the plate contour:
Select Stress Type

Contour Type
Show Legend
Plot Cont our on Deflected Shape
Select Stress Type

The Select Stress Type drop-down list box allows you to select the
stress type displayed in the Graphics Window.
Contour Type
The Contour Type group box allows you to select the contour type
displayed in the Graphics Window. You may select either Normal
Contour or Enhanced Contour.
Show Legend
The Show Legend check box allows you to turn on or off the
display of the legend in the Graphics Window.
Plot Contour on Deflected Shape
The Plot Contour on Deflect ed Shape check box al l ows you to turn
on or off the plotting of the contour on th e deflected shape in the
G raphics Window.
4-134
Change Unit
The Change Unit command bu tton opens a dialog box allowing you
to change the output units used in the plate stresses table.
Figure 4.129
The following output units ma y be cha nged: Force Unit, Length
Unit, Reinforcing Bar Dia., an d Reinfo rcing Specing. To change an
output unit, simply select the desired unit from the appropriate
drop-down list box.
Create Principal Stress Report

The Create Principal Stress Report command button opens a dialog
box that allows you to create a customized principal stress report in
table format.
Figure 4.130
First, enter a name for the report in the Report Title field. A
Report Title must be inputted and will appear at the top of the table
when you print the report. Next, select the desired values to
include in the report. Then, select the method of sorting the values
the principal stresses. Finally, click on the Loadings tab and select
the load cases you want to include in the report. Now click on the
OK button to dismiss the Principal Stress Report dialog box and
display the report.
4-136
Figure 4.131
Print commands in the File menu to preview and pr int out the
then copy and paste them int o Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, or
Create Stress Report

The Create Report command button opens a dialog box that allows
y ou to create a customized plate stress report in table format.
Figure 4.132
F irst, enter a name for the report in the Report Title field. A
Rep ort Title must be inputted and will ap pear at the top of the table
when you print the report. Next, select the desired values to
include in the report. Then , select the met hod of sorting the values
the plate stresses. Finally, click on the Loadings tab and select the
load cases you want to include in the report. Now click on the OK
button to dismiss the Plate Stress Report dialog box and display
the report.
4-138
Figure 4.133
selected reports. You can a lso highlight th e values in the table, and
then copy and paste them in to Microsoft Excel , Microsoft Word, or
4.3.10
The Slab Design Page
Figure 4.134
The Slab Design page allows you to perform a slab design and is
only active when a successful analysis has been performed and
The Slab Design page contains the following sub-pages:
FEM Slab Design

Slab Detailing
Section Design Along a Line
4-140
4.3.10.1 FEM Slab Design
Figure 4.135
Clicking on the FEM Slab Design sub-page button displays the slab
d esign dialog box in the Data Area pane.
Figure 4.136
The Slab Design dialog bo x also appears b y default when the Slab
Design Page Control tab is selected. The dialog box contains two
pages: the Grid page and the Panel page. The Grid page is active
by default when the Slab Design page is opened.
Figure 4.137
Create Grid button

Click on the Create Grid button to draw a work grid in the
graphics display window. The program requires you to create this
grid as a first step in performing the slab design.
A Work Progress dialog box appears as the program creates a
design grid.
4-142
Figure 4.138
When the Work Progress dialog box disappears, the design grid
appears in the graphics window.
Figure 4.139
When you click on the Panel tab in the Slab Design dialog box, the
Panel page is displayed.
Figure 4.140
The Panel page allows you to subdivide your mat foundation into
panels. You can draw lines between existing nodes to subdivide
the mat, or you can insert new nodes into the mat boundary, and
then draw lines between the new nodes. You can also merge two
existing panels into a single panel.
Insert Line
This button is a toggle. When you click on it, the program
activates your cursor so you can draw lines between nodes, and it
highlights all the nodes in your model.
Figure 4.141
4-144
You ca n click from one node to the next to c reate new boundary
lines in your model.
Figure 4.142
Insert Node
T his button is a toggle. When you click on it, all the existing
nodes on the boundary of the current panel become highlighted.
Figure 4.143
When Insert Node mode is active, you can double click your mouse
cursor on your mat boundary to open a dialog box that allows you
to insert a node in the boundary line.
Figure 4.144
The dialog box title tells you the line number you double-clicked
on, in this case Line No. 3 as shown in the figure above.
Use the Distance category to specify the location of the node you
wish to add. Select the existing node you wish to measure from by
toggling on the appropriate radio button, and then enter the
distance along the boundar y line from tha t node where you wish to
place the new node. The Preview pane in the lower half of the
dialog box shows the total length of the line you are working with.
This will help you determine t he correc t distance to specify in the
Offset Dist. edit box. For instance, if the line is 336 units long,
you can place a new node at the midpoint of the line by entering a
value of 168 in the Offset Dist. edit box. To actually create the
new node, click on the Insert Node button.
Y ou may enter ad ditional offset distances and click the Insert Node
b utt on a s many tim es as you like, until you have created all the
addi tio n al nodes you desi re on the selected line. When you have
fini shed, click OK t o dismiss the dialog box.
T he In s ert Node button rem ains active until you click on it again to
d eactivate the cursor. This mode of operation allows you to click
4-146
on other li nes of your boundary and insert as many nodes as you

w ish. When you have finished adding nodes to your model, click
again on the Insert Node button to return the cursor to normal
operation mode.
Design button
The program will perform the slab design when y ou click on the
D esign button.
W hen the design operation is completed, a message box will
appear.
Figure 4.145
No. of Zo nes
Use this edit box to tell the program how many different sizes of
reinforcing steel bars (rebar) you want the program to allow in the
slab design. The program divides the slab into the number of
zones you designate. Each zone will contain only one size of
reinforcing steel.
Create Reinforcing Zones

Click this button to create the number of reinforcing zones
specified by the value entered in the No. of Zones e dit box. The
f ollowing figure shows how the display might appear when three
zones are created.
Figure 4.146
A colored dot in the cen ter of each element of the mesh indicates
the reinforcing z one that the element belongs to.
Create Block
Click on this button to divide the slab into block-shaped areas,
based on the reinforcement zones generated by the Create
Reinforcing Zones command. These rectangular areas are created
to allow a practi cal layout of the various sizes of reinforcing steel.
Figure 4.147
4-148
Steel Detailing
Click this button to plot the location of the reinforcing steel bars
on the model view.
Figure 4.148
4.3.10.2 Slab Detailing
Figure 4.149
T he Slab Detailing button displays a detailed drawing of the slab
reinforcement design in the Graphics Windows. The drawing
m aybe manipulated using the options available in the Data Area
p an e. To use the Slab Deta iling page, you must first create the
rein forcing zon es and design the slab using the FEM Slab Detailing
pag e.
Figure 4.150
Area pane for the slab detailed drawing:
Show/Hide
4-150
Dim Length1 Range

Dim Length2 Range
Orientation of Selected Dim
Dimension Alternate Height
Zone Detailing Panelwise
Move Legend
Plan/Isometric
Change Level
DXF Export
Level Off/On
Legend Off/On
Show/Hide
The Show/Hide group box contains a list of display options you
may turn on or off for the drawing in the Graphics Window.
Dim Length1 Range

The Dim Length1 Range group box allows you to change t h e
minimum and maximum le ngth of the part of the leader lines
closest to the diagram.
Dim Length2 Range

The Dim Length2 Range group box allows you to change the
minimum and maximum length of the part of the leader lines
closest to the dimensions.
Orientation of Selected Dim

The Orientation of Select Dim group box allows you to change the
orientation of the dimensions on the diagram in the Graphics
Window. To change the orientation of a particular dimension, first
click on the dimension in the Graphics Window. The leader line
for that particular dimension will turn red to indicate it is currently

s elected. Next, use the arrow buttons in the Orientation of Select
Dim group box to manipulate the orientation of the selec ted
dimension.
Dimension Alternate Height

The Dimension Alternate Height command button allows you to
stagger the dimensions on t he diagram at di fferent heights.
Zone Detailing Panelwise

The Zone Detailing Panelwise command button opens a dialog box
displaying panelwise zone detailing information.
Move Legend
The Move Legend command button allows you to move around the
placement of the legend in the Graphics Window.
Plan/Isometric
The Plan command button allows you to change the view of the
dimensions in the Graphics Window to a plan view. Once the
command button has been clicked, the text on the command button
will change to Isometric. Clicking on the Isometric command
button will change the view of the dimensions in the Graphics
Window back to an isometric view.
Change Level
The Change Level command button opens a dialog box that allows
you to edit the information contained in the level information box
displayed in the Graphics Window.
4-152
DXF Export
The DXF Export command button opens a dialog box that allows
you to save the slab detailed drawing to a .DXF file for use in other
CAD programs.
Level Off/Level On
The Level Off command button allows you to remove the level
information box from the Graphics Window. Once the command
button has been clicked, the text on the command button will
change to Level On. Clicking on the Level On command button
will turn the display of the level information box back on.
Legend Off/Legend On
The Legend Off command button allows you to remove the legend
from the Graphics Window. Once the command button has been
clicked, the text on the command button will change to Legend
On. Clicking on the Legend On command button will turn the
display of the legend back on.
4.3.10.3 Section Design Along a Line
Figure 4.151
T he Section Design Along a Line button opens a form in the Data
Area pane that allows you to draw a stress diagram along a
specified section line.
Figure 4.152
4-154
The following co mmands and options are available in the Data

A rea pane:
Cutting Plan
Interpolation Factor
Graph Scale Factor
Show Cut Plates Only
Insert Cut Line
View Cut Section
Stress Type
Design Selected Line
Cutting Plan
The Cutting Plan group box allows you to specify the plane in
which you want to create a stress diagram in the Graphics Window.
Graph Scale Factor

The Graph Scale Factor allows you to change the vertical
exaggeration factor of the stress diagram in the Graphics Window.
Show Cut Plates Only
Stress Type
The Stress Type drop-down list box allow s you to the type of plate
s tress you want to plot along the cut line.
Insert Cut Line

Click on the Insert Cut Line button to specify the location of the
cross section stress di agram you wish to plot. A dialog box with
title Options for Cutting Mat by a Line will be displayed.
Figure 4.153
S elect the radio button labeled Coordinate Input, and then enter
the coordinates of the beginning and ending point to specify the
loca tio n of the cross sectio n stress diagram you wish to plot. Click
the OK button. The Cu t by Drawing a Line dialog box will be
d ismissed and the program will plot the stress contour cross
section, as shown in the diagram below.
Select the radio button labeled Cut by Drawing a Line to draw a
line on the graphics display to specify the location of the cross
section stress diagram you wish to plot. Click the OK button. The
Cut by Drawing a Line dialog box will be dismissed.
Now, draw a section line on the plan view of your model along
which you wish to see the graph of the maximum absolute stress.
Click your mouse cursor at the beginning point of the line, drag
your cursor to the end point, and then click again.
4-156
Figure 4.154
Now click on the button labeled View Cut Section. The following
figure appears in the graphics window.
Figure 4.155
N ow click the button labeled Design Selected Line. A dialog box
labeled Design Report Along a Selected Line will be displayed.
Figure 4.156
Click on the Design button to calculate the required reinforcement
area for each element along the cut line.
Figure 4.157
4-158
4.4
The Menu Commands

This section provides a description of the commands available from
STAAD. foundations pull-down Menu Bar. The menu commands
p rovide access to all of STAAD.foundations options and
c ommands.
Figure 4.158
The names of the pull-down menus, from left to right across the top
of the screen, are as follows:
File
Edit
View
Tools
Select
Window
Help
4.4.1
File Menu
The File Menu allows y ou to perform project file related operations
such as creating a new p roject, opening an ex isting project, saving
a project, etc.
Figure 4.159
The File Menu contains the following menu commands:
New
Open
Close
Import
Save
Save As
Save Picture
Print
4-160
Print Preview
Print Setup
Recent Project Files.
New
The New menu command opens and creates a new project.
Open
The Open menu command brings up the open file dialog box and
allows you to open an existing STAAD.foundation project.
Figure 4.160
To open an existing project, navigate to the directory in which t he
project file is located and then select the file and click on Open .
Close
The Close menu command closes the active project. Before the
active project is closed, a dialog box will appear asking you if you
would like to save any changes that have been made to the project.
Figure 4.161
Import
The Import menu command is used to begin a new project by
importing the support geometry and support reactions from a
STAAD.Pro analysis. The ability to import analysis data from
other structural analysis software programs will be provided in a
future release of STAAD.foundation.
You can only import a STAAD.Pro model that has been
successfully analyzed, because you will want to have the support
reactions available for the foundation design. When the Import
command is executed, an import dialog box will appear.
Figure 4.162
4-162
To import a STAAD.Pro f ile, navigate to the directory in which the

file is located and then sel ect the file and click on Open. Another
dialog box will appear listing all the available load cases in the
STAAD.Pro file. You may select any or all of the load cases by
toggling on the corresponding check box, and then clicking on the
Import button. The support coordinates and load cases from your
S TAAD.Pro analysis will be imported into STAAD.foundation.
Figure 4.163
Save
T he Save menu command brings up the save file dialog box the
first time the icon is clicked and allows you to save the act ive
p roject to a file. To save a project, navigate to the directory in
whi ch y ou want to save th e project, type in a file name for the
project and then click on Save.
Figure 4.164
STAAD.foundation projects are saved with an .afs file extension.
After a project has been saved to a file, clicking on the Save menu
command again will simply save any updates made to the project to
the file specified when you fi rst saved the project .
Save As
The Save As menu command opens the save as file dialog box and
allows you to save the active project to a file. To save a project,
navigate to the directory in which you want to save the project,
type in a file name for the project and then click on Save.
4-164
Figure 4.165
Save Picture
The Save Picture command opens a dialog box that allows you to
save the contents of the Graphics Window to a bitmap file.
Figure 4.166
To save the b itmap file, first navigate to the directory in which you
w ould like to save the file, type in a file name for the bitmap and
then click on Save.
Print
The Print menu command opens a standard Windows print dialog
box and allows you to print the active project report.
Figure 4.167
Print Preview
The Print Preview menu command opens a new window allowing
you to view what the active report will look like when printed out.
4-166
Figure 4.168
T he following com mand buttons are available in the Print Preview
wi ndow:
Print
Next Page
Prev. Page
Two Page
Zoom In
Zoom Out
Close.
Print
The Print button opens a st andard Windows pri nt dialog box and
allows you to print the acti ve project repo rt.
Nex t P a ge
The Next Page button di splays the next page in a report. If there is
o nly one page in a report or you are at the last page in a report, the
button will be grayed out.
Prev. Page
T he Prev. Page button displays the previous page in a report. If
you are at th e first page in a report, the button will be grayed out.
Two Page
The Two Page button allows you to display two pages of a report
on the screen at a time. Once you are in two page mode, the text o n
the button will change to One Page. If you click on the button
again, one page will be displayed on the screen at a time and the
te xt on the button will change back to Two Page.
Zoom In
The Zoom In button allows you to zoom in closer on a page of a
report. After you click on the Zoom In button, your mouse cursor
will change to a magnifying glass. You may then zoom in on a
portion of a report by clicking on the region you want to zoom in
on. Once you have zoomed in, the Zoom In button will become
grayed out. You may return to the original viewing distance by
clicking on the Zoom Out button.
Zoom Out
The Zoom Out button allows you to zoom back out after zooming
in on a page of a report. The Zoom Out button is only active after
zooming in on a page of a report.
Close
The Close button removes the print preview window.
4-168
Print Setup
The Print Setup menu command opens a standard Windows print
setup dialog box that allows you to configure printer settings .
Figure 4.169
Rec ent Project Files

The are a below the Pri nt Setup menu command displays a list of
four Recent Project Files you have worked on. Selecting a project
from th e list will open the pr oject.
4.4.2
Edit Menu
The Edit menu allows you to perform editing operations .
Figure 4.170
The Edit menu contains the following menu command:
Delete
Delete
The Delete menu command deletes the selected item(s). The
Delete command is only active w hen a relevant item or operation
h as been selected.
4-170
4.4.3
View Menu
The View menu contains commands that contro l the
S TAAD.foundation display. Some commands control the viewing
angle and th e type of objects shown in the Graphics Window, and
a llow you to customize the appearance of the objects you choose to
display. You can also control the display of tooltip help, select
annotation fonts, set scales and exagge ration factors for graphs,
a nd turn various toolbars, status bars and menus on and off.
Figure 4.171
The View Menu contains the following menu commands:
Change Background Color

Set Display Font
Zoom
Pan
Projections
Options
Light and Material Properties
Show Supports in Current Job Only
Tool Tip Options

Toolbar
Statu s Bar.

The Chan ges Background Color menu command opens a dialog
b ox that allows you to change the background color of the
Graphics Window. By default, the background color of the
Graphics Window is black.
Figure 4.172
To change the background color of the Graphics Window, simply
choose one of the available colors in the dialog box and click on
OK. If you want a backgro und color not s hown, simply click on the
Define Custom Colors com mand button to make your own color.
4-172
Set Display Font

The Set Display Font menu command opens a standard Windows
font dialog box that allows you to change the font used in the
Graphics Window.
Figure 4.173
Zoom
The Zoom menu command allows you to change your apparent
distance from the objects in the Graphics Window. Clicking on the
Zoom menu command displays a cascading sub-menu containing
four commands:
Zoom
Zoom
Zoom
Zoom
In
Out
All
Window
Zoom In
The Zoom In sub-menu command allows you to move in closer to
the objects in the Graphics Window.
Z oom Out
The Zoom Out sub-menu command allows you to move farther
away from the objects in the Graphics Window.
Zoom All
The Zoom All sub-menu command allows you to return to the
viewing distance in which all objects in the Graphics Window are
visible.
Zoom Window
The Zoom Window sub-menu command allows you to create a
selection around an area in the Graphics Window that you woul d
like to zoom in on. The area that is selected will occupy the entire
Graphics Window.
Pan
The Pan menu command al lows you to move t he objects in the
Graphics Window up, down, left or right with your mouse cursor.
Projections
The Projections menu command allows you to change the
viewpoint of the Graphics Window with respect to the global axis
system. Clicking on the Projections menu command displays a
cascading sub-menu containing seven commands:
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View from
View from
View from
View from
View from
View from
Isometric
+Z
Z
+X
X
Top
Bottom
View from +Z
The View from +Z sub-menu command allows you to display a
foundation as seen from the front. When the global Y-axis is
vertical, this is the elevation view, as looking towards the negative
direction of the Z-axis.
View from Z
The View from -Z sub-menu command allows you to d isplay a
foundation as seen from th e back. When t he global Y-axis is
vert ical, this is the elevation view, as seen looking towards the
p ositive direction of the Z-axis.
View from +X
The View from +X sub-menu command allows you to display a
foundation as seen from the right side. When the global Y -axis is
vertical, this is the side elevation view, as seen looking towa rds the
negative direction of the X-axis.
View from X
The View from -X sub-m enu command allows you to display a
foundation as seen from the left side. When the global Y-axis is
vertical, this is the side elevation view, as seen looking towards the
positive direction of the X-axis.
View from Top

The View from Top sub-me nu command al lows you to display a
f oundation as seen from the top looking down. When the global Yaxis is vertical, this is the plan view, as seen from the sky looking
d own.
Vie w from Bottom
The View from Bottom sub-me nu command allows you to display a
foundation as seen from the bottom looking up towards the sky.
Isometric
The Isometric sub-menu command allows you to display a
foundation in an isometric view. The angle that defines the
isometric view is generally X = 30, Y = 30, and Z = 0.
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Options
The Options menu command opens a dialog box called Set View ing
Options that allows you to change viewing options for the
G raphics Window.
Figure 4.174
The Set Viewing Options dialog box contains the following tabs:
View Option
Scales
Meshing
Displacement
Stress Contour
V iew Option
The View Option tab allows you select various items to be included
in t he d isplay of the model, inc luding supports, loads and beams.
You ma y also select t he color used for load arrows and physical
bea ms.
Figure 4.175
4-178
Scales
The Scales tab allows you to control the scale at which
displacements, loads, and text are displayed on the model. If the
structures loads or deform ed shape are not clearly visible in the
Graphics Window when the options to display them are turned on,
you may need to change the scaling values.
Figure 4.176
Note: You should decrease the scaling value to increase the
amount of deflection or loading shown on the diagram. Why do
you decrease the parameter value to increase the apparent size?
The values in the dialog box represent the actual displacement
or loading per unit distance on the graphic diagram.
Therefore, if you reduce the amount of actual structural
deflection required to display a unit distance of deflection on
the diagram, you will see a larger apparent displacement on the

diagram.
Meshing
The Meshing tab allows you to control the appearance of the plates
and nodes of the finite element mesh used to represent a mat
f oundation. You may also select the color used for plates and
m es he d nodes.
Figure 4.177
4-180
Displacement
The Displacement tab allows you to control the appearance of the
displacement diagram. You may also select the color used for node
displacements and beam displacements.
Figure 4.178
Stress Contour
The Stress Contour tab allows you to select the type of plate an d
beam stress contour diagram you wish to display on the structure.
Figure 4.179
Note: The Apply Immediately checkbox that appears in several
of the tabs in the Set Viewing Options dialog box allows you to
specify whether the changes you make are applied immediately
or applied after clicking on Apply or closing the Set Viewing
Options dialog box.
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Light and Material Properties

The Light and Material Properties menu command opens a dialog
box that allows you to change the lighting on objects in the
Graphics Window.
Figure 4.180
The Light and Material Properties dialog box contains the
following tabs:
Light Position Property

Material Property
Transparency
Light Position Property

The Light Position Property tab contains controls that allow you to
adjust the lighting of the model. You can control the position of
the light source and the col or characterist ics of the light in the
scene.
Figure 4.181
The Ambient Property group box controls the color characteristics
of light that shines equally on all parts of the model, rather than
coming from a point location.
The Diffusion Property group box can be used to adjust the color
of diffused light, that is, light that is scattered in all directions
when it hits the surface of a model.
The Specular Property group box adjusts the color of light that is
reflected in all one direction when it hits the surface of a model. A
mirror is an example of a surface with specular lighting properties.
4-184
Material Property
The Material Property tab contains controls that allow you t o
adjust the reflective characteristics of the surface of a model.
Figure 4.182
Transparency
The Transparency tab contains a slider bar that allows you to
adjust the degree to which light can pass through the objects in a
model.
Figure 4.183
Note: The Apply Immediately checkbox that appears in several
of the tabs in the Light and Material Properties dialog box
allows you to specify whether the changes you make are applied
immediately or applied after clicking on Apply or closing the
Light and Material Properties dialog box.
Show Supports in Current Job Only

The Show Supports in Current Job Only menu command allows
you to make only the supports in the current job displayed in the
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Graphics Window. If this option is turned off, supports that are not
in the current job will also be displayed in the Graphics Window.
Tooltip Options
T he Tooltip Options menu command opens a dialog box that allows
you to adjust the appearance of the tooltip help, or bubble help
as it is sometimes called. Tooltip help is a feature that displays
helpful information when you hold your mouse cursor over the
various controls and objects in the STAAD.foundation Graphics
Window.
Figure 4.184
Click on an object type in the left pane of the dialog box, and then
select the information you want to display in the right pane. For
example, in the figure above, the Supported Node object type has
been selected, and the tooltip help has been set to display Node
Number, Current Job Status, and Coordinate.
The Set Tool T ip Font command button allows you to sel ect the
font used to display the tool tip help. In addition, you may set the
delay until tool tip information is displayed in the Tip Delay field.
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Toolbar
The Toolbar menu command displ a ys a dialog box that allows you
to control which toolbars are present, and which toolbar buttons
appear in each toolbar.
Figure 4.185
Status Bar
The Status Bar command toggles the display of the status bar on
and off. The Status Bar is positioned at the bottom of the
STAAD.foundation screen and displays a variety of helpful
information, depending on which part of the program you are
using, and which command is currently active.
When you hold your mouse cursor over a toolbar button, the left
side of the Status Bar displays an explanation on how to use the
command associated with that particular button. When you hold
your mouse cursor over a menu command, the left side of the
Status Bar displays an expla nation of wh at that menu command

does.
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4.4.4
Tools Menu
The Tools menu contains commands for setting up drawing styles,
manipulating the structure geometry, managing jobs, and setting
display scales.
Figure 4.186
The Tools menu contains the following menu commands:
Color and Dimension Setup

Translational Repeat
Add New Job
Edit Current Job
Create Beam Grid
Scales
Set Output Unit
Color and Dimension Setup

The Color and Dimension Setup command opens a dialog box that
allows you to configure the appearance of the design and detailed
drawings created by STAAD.foundation.
The Color and Dimension Setup dialog box contains tabs:
Dimension Style
Color Setup
Annotation
Zone Color Setup
Dimension Style
The Dimension Style tab allows you to modify the unit, arrows,
li nes, and text for the dimensions in design and detailed drawi ngs.
Figure 4.187
4-192
Color Setup
The Color Setup tab allows you to access a set of color palett es you
can use to set the colors for various parts of the design drawings
produced by STAAD.foundation.
Figure 4.188
Annotation
The Annotation tab allows you to specify the font style for design
drawing annotation.
Figure 4.189
4-194
Zone Color Setup

The Zone Color Setup tab allows you to specify the color used by
STAAD.foundation to delineate th e various reinforcement zones in
a mat foundation design.
Figure 4.190
The Translational Repeat icon opens a dialog box that allows you
to duplicate objects in a model. The command works similar to a
copy command, except multiple copies of an object can be made at
a time. In addition, objects may be linked to together with
transverse members. In order to use Translational Repeat, you
must first select at least one object before the command will
become available.
Figure 4.191
The Translational Repeat dialog box contains the following fields
and options:
No. of Steps
Increment
Link Steps
No. of Steps
The No. of Steps field allows you t o specify the number of copies
to make.
Increment
The Increment group box allows you to specify the distance from
the original object(s) to the copied object(s) . When No. of Steps is
g reater than 1, the increment values will also specify the distance
between the multiple copied objects. The increment unit used is
specified in the Change Length Unit drop-down list box in the
Tools toolbar.
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Link Steps
The Link Steps check box allows you to specify whether the copied
objects should be linked together with transverse members.
Add New Job

The Add New Job menu command opens a dialog box t hat allows
you to create a new job.
T he Create a New Job dialog box contains two tabs:
Job Info
Loading
J ob Info
Figure 4.192
The Job Info tab contains the following parameters and options:
New Job Name

Job Type
Design Code
Supports in this Job
Default Unit Type
Select Supports in Current Job
Delete Job.
New Job Name

The New Job Name field allows you to give each job a unique
name to help identify the job.
Job Type
The Job Type field allows you to select the type of job: isolated,
pile cap, o r mat foundation.
Des ign Code
The Design Code dr op-down list box allows you to select the
desi gn c ode used fo r the job.
T he Supports in this Job group box allows you to define which
suppor ts will be included in a job. Three options are available:
A ssign to All Supports, Assign to the Selected Supports, and Assign
to the Listed Supports.
A ssign to All Supports
T he Assign to All Supports option allows you to include all the
supports in the project to a job.
Assign to the Selected Supp orts
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The Assign t o the Selected Supports option allows you to include

o nly those supports that are selected in a project to a job.
Assign to the Listed Supports
The Assign to the Listed Supports option allows you to include
o nly those supports that are listed in the field below the option to a
job.
Default Unit Type
The Default Unit Type drop-down list box allows yo u to select the
u nit type for the job. The unite type denotes the units in which the
actual calculations will be performed (the units shown in reports,
drawings, etc. are independent of this selection and will be shown
as per the users choice of force and displacement units).
The Select Supports in Current Job command button allows you to
select the supports that are in the current job.
Delete Job
The Delete Job command button will be grayed out and is only
available when editing existing jobs.
The Loading tab allows you to choose which load cases will be
included in the job.
Figure 4.193
Edit Current Job

T his command allows you to make changes to an existing job. You
can change the loads, change the job name, change the supports in
the job, etc.
T o make changes to an existing job, first make sure that the job
you want to modify is the currently active job. When the Edit
Current Job command is selected, the following dialog box
appears.
4-200
Figure 4.194
Note that an alternative way to open the Edit Existing Job dialog
box is to select the Edit Current Job button on the Jobs toolbar.
Figure 4.195
The controls in this dialog box are identical to those in the New
Job dialog box. Please see the description of the New Job dialog
box for an explanation of the options in the Edit Existing Job
dialog box.
When you modify the job parameters and click the OK button, a
warning message will be displayed:
Figure 4.196
Since you are changing the job parameters, previous analysis and
design results for the job a re invalid. To protect the integrity of
th e results displayed by the program, STAAD.foundation deletes
analysis and design results when you make changes to the
parameters that govern the outcome of those analysis and design
results.
Click the Yes button to modify the job parameters, delete the
e xisting results files, and dismiss the Edit Existing Job dialog box.
Clicking the No button will return you to the Edit Existing Job
dialog box, where you can either continue to modify the job
p arameters, or click the Cancel button to dismiss the Edit Existing
Job di al og box wi thout making any changes.
4-202
Create Beam Grid

The Create Beam Grid menu command allows you to connect
isolat ed supports in your model with beams.
Figure 4.197
W hen you select the Create Beam Grid menu command,
STAAD.foundati on creates beams to connect the isolated supports
in a model. It only draws beams that are parallel to the models
global axis system. This command will not draw diagonal beam s.
Figure 4.198
Scales
The Scales menu command opens the Set Viewing Options dialog
box with the Scales tab active. The Scales tab allows you to
control the scale at whic h displacements, loads, and text are
displayed on the model. If the structures loads or deformed shape
are not clearly visible in the Graphics Window when the options to
display them are turned on, you may need to change the scaling
values.
Figure 4.199
Note: You should decrease the scaling value to increase the
amount of deflection or loading shown on the diagram. Why do
you decrease the parameter value to increase the apparent size?
The values in the dialog box represent the actual displacement
or loading per unit distance on the graphic diagram.
Therefore, if you reduce the amount of actual structural
deflection required to display a unit distance of deflection on
4-204
the diagram, you will see a larger apparent displacement on the

diagram.
Set Output Unit

The Set Output Unit menu command opens a dialog box that allows
you to set output units.
Figure 4.200
The following output units can be set:
Force Unit
Length Unit
Reinforcing Bar Dia.
Reinforcing Specing
4.4.5
Select Menu
The Select menu contains commands that allow you to select
obje cts i n a model usi ng a wide variety of methods.
Figure 4.201
Familiarizing y ourself with the commands in the Select menu will
e nable you to work more efficiently, because you will know how to
quickly select only the desired objects, rather than having to se lect
them one at a time.
STAAD.foundation off ers a set of specialized cursors. Activating
o ne of these cursors allows you to use your mouse to select only a
certain kind of object. For example, activating the Support Nod e
Cursor makes it easy to select a support node that is surrounded by
an array of grid nodes.
S TAAD.foundation also offers a variety of selection methods based
on the object type, its or ientation with respect to the axis system,
it s identification number, etc.
4-206
The Select menu has the following m enu commands:
Support Node Cursor

Mesh Node Cursor
Physical Beam Cursor
Plate Cursor
Beams Parallel To
By All
By Inverse
By List
Support Node Cursor

The Support Node Cursor m enu command allows you to select only
s upport nodes with your mouse cursor, causing all other objects to
be ignored. A check mark next to t he menu command indicates
th at the Support Node Cursor is active. Selecting the command
again or activating one of the other cursors deactivates the cursor.
Mesh Node Cursor

The Mesh Nodes Cursor menu command allows you to select only
mesh nodes with your mouse cursor, causing all other objects to be
ignored. A check m ark next to the menu command indicates that
the Mesh Node Cursor is active. Selecting the command again or
activating one of the other cursors deactivates the cursor. The
Mesh Node Cursor can also be toggled on or off by clicking on the
Select Meshed Nodes Cursor toolbar icon.
Physical Beam Cursor

The Physical Beam Cursor menu command allows you to select
only physical beams with your mouse cursor, causing all other
objects to be ignored. A check mark next to the menu command
indicates that the Physical Beam Cursor is active. Selecting the
command again or activating one of the other cursors deactivates
the cursor. The Physical Be am Cursor can also be toggled on or

off by clicking on the Select Physical Beam Cursor toolbar icon.
Plate Cursor
T he Plate Cursor menu command allows you to select only plates
with your mouse cursor, causing all other objects to be ign ored. A
check mark next to th e menu command indicates that the Plate
C ursor is active. Selecting the command again or activating one of
the other cursors deactivates the cursor. The Plate Curs or can also
b e toggled on or off by clicking on the Select Plates Cursor toolbar
icon .
Beams Parallel To
The Beams Parallel To menu command allows you to select all
beams in a project that are parallel to one of the global axes. When
you select the Beams Parallel To menu command, a cascading submenu appears containing the following global axes:
X
Y
Z
X
The X sub-menu command selects all the beams in a project
parallel to the global X-axis.
Y
The Y sub-menu command selects all the beams in a project
Z
The Z sub-menu command selects all the beams in a project
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By All
The By All menu command allows you to select all the entities of a
particular type in a project. When you select the By All menu
command, a cascading sub-menu appears containing the following
entity types:
All
All
All
All
All
Supports
Mesh Nodes
Physical Beams
Plates
Geometry
All Supports
T he All Supports sub-menu command selects all the supports in a
project.
All Mesh Nodes
The All Mesh Nodes sub-menu command selects all the mesh nodes
in a project.
Al l Physical Beams
The All Physical Beams su b-menu comma nd selects all the physical
beams in a project.
All Plates
The All Plates sub-menu command selects all the plates in a
project.
All Geometry
The All Geometry sub-menu command selects all the objects in a
project (supports, mesh nodes, physical beams, plates, etc.).
By Inverse
The By Inverse menu command allows you to select all the entities
of a particular type that are not currently selected in project. This
feature is useful when you wish to select all but one or two of a
particular type of entity when there are many such entities in a
project. Instead of having to select all the entities you wish to
modify, you can select the one or two entities that you do not wish
to modify, and then use the By Inverse command to automatically
deselect the currently selected entities and select all the remaining
ones. When you select the By Inverse menu command, a cascading
sub-menu appears containing the following entity types:
Inverse
Inverse
Inverse
Inverse
Support Selection
Mesh Node Selection
Physical Beam Selection
Plate Selection
I nverse Support Selection

T he Inverse Support Selection sub-menu command deselec ts the
c urr en tl y selected su pports and selects all the remaining supports
in a pr o ject.
Inverse Mesh Node Selection
The Inverse Mesh Node Select ion sub-menu command deselects the
currentl y selected mesh nod es and selects all the remaining mesh
nodes in a project.
Inverse Physical Beam Selection
The Inverse Physical B eam Selection sub-menu command deselects
the currently selected physical beams and selects all the remaining
physical beam s in a project.
4-210
Inverse Plate Selection

The Inverse Plate Selection sub-menu command deselects the
currently selected plates and selects all the remaining plates in a
project.
By List
The By List menu command allows you to select all the entities of a
particular type in a model by selecting them from a list or by
specifying the entities via a text box. When you select the By L ist
menu command, a cascading sub-menu appears containing the
following entity types:
Support Nodes
Mesh Nodes
Physical Beams
Plates
Support Nodes
The Support Nodes sub-menu command opens a dialog box that
allows you to select supp ort nodes from a lis t or by specifying the
support nodes you would like to select via a text box.
Mesh Nodes
The Mesh Nodes sub-menu command opens a dialog box that
allows you to s elect mesh nodes from a list or by specifying the
mesh nodes you would like to select via a text box.
Physical Beams
The Physical Beams sub-menu command opens a dialog box that
allows you to select physical beams from a list or by specifyi ng the
physical beams you would like to select via a text box.
Plates
The Plates sub-menu command opens a dialog box that allows you
to select plates from a list or by specifying the plates you would
like to select via a text box.
4-212
4.4.6
Window Menu
Figure 4.202
The Window menu contains commands used to switch between
various window options such as cascade, tile horizontal, and tile
vertical. In addition, any project window currently open can be
selected from the Window menu to make it the active window. The
menu commands under Window are useful when you have multiple
projects open at a time. For example, the Tile Vertical command
allows you to view multiple projects side-by-side.
The Window menu contains the following menu commands:
Cascade
Tile Horizontal
Tile Vertical
List of Open Project Windows
C ascade
The Cascade menu command places the open windows in a
diagonal order starting from the upper left-hand portion of the
screen and ending at the lo wer right-hand portion of the screen as
s hown in the figure below.
Figure 4.203
4-214
Tile Horizontal
The Tile Horizontal menu command places the open windows so
that each one runs across the screen from left to right, with each
window placed one above the other as shown in the figure belo w.
Figure 4.204
Tile V ertical
The Tile Vertical menu command places the open windows so that
each one runs across the screen from top to bottom, with each
window placed side by side as shown in the figure below.
Figure 4.205
4-216
List of Open Project Windows

B elow the Tile Vertical command is a list of the project windows
currently open in STAAD.foundation. You may switch betwee n
t he open project windows by clicking on the project window you
would like active. The active project window will be marked with a
check as shown in the figure below.
Figure 4.206
4.4.7
Help Menu
Figure 4.207
The Help menu contains commands to obtain various types of help
with STAAD.foundation.
The Help menu contains the following menu commands:
Contents
Multi Media Help
Tutorials on the Web
About STAAD.foundation
4-218
C ontents
The Contents menu command opens the STAAD.foundation help
manual. The help manual provides a comprehensive overview of
STAAD.foundation.
Figure 4.208
Multi Media Help

The Multi Media Help command opens a window allowing you to
select from several different movie tutorials in Flash format. Ea ch
m ovie tutorial guides you through a different aspect of
STAAD.foundation. The movie tutorials are a great way to see
STAAD.foundation being u sed in action.
In order to view the tutorials, you must have Macromedia Flash
Player installed on your system. To launch a tutorial, simply click
on the link or picture for that particular tutorial.
Figure 4.209
4-220
Tutorials on the Web

The Tutorials on the Web command opens an Internet browser
window to the STAAD.foundation tutorials page on
www.reiworld.com. The t utorials page allows you to view the
la test and most up-to-date tutorials for STAAD.foundation.
Figure 4.210
About STAAD.foundation
The About STAAD.foundation option brings up a dialog box
containing information about the version of STAAD.foundation
that is being used. The information in the dialog box includes
product name, release number and build number. In addition, the
physical address, web address and phone numbers for the Research
Engineers International Headquarters is displayed.
Figure 4.211
To obtain information about other locations, click on the Supp ort
button. A new dialog box will appear with a map of the worl d as
shown in the figure below. Hold your mouse cursor over the
location, d esignated by small dots, which you would like to obtain
in formation on. The information for that location will be displayed
in the lower left-hand corner of th e di alog box.
Figure 4.212
4-222
4.5
The Toolbars
Figure 4.213
STAAD.foundation offers a set of "dockable" and "floating"
toolbars for quick access to frequently used commands. By default,
the toolbar icons appear at the top of the STAAD.foundation screen
immediately below the menu bar. You may, however, drag each
toolbar and place it at any position on the screen (hence the term
"floating"). In addition, if you drag a floating toolbar close to the
edge of the screen, the toolbar gets embedded at the side the screen
(hence the term "dockable"). The title of a "docked" toolbar is not
displayed. However, if you drag the toolbar and leave it "floating"
on the screen, a title is displayed at the top of the toolbar.
Each toolbar icon offers tooltip help. If you are not sure what a
toolbar icon does, place your mouse cursor over the toolbar icon
for a moment and a floating help message appears to identify what
the toolbar icon does.
STAAD.foundation offers several toolbars, each of which contains
several toolbar icons. The following toolbars are available:
File Toolbar
Print Toolbar
Jobs Toolbar
Help Toolbar
Rotate Toolbar
Zoom Toolbar
Loading Toolbar
Tools Toolbar
Geometry Toolbar
Select Toolbar
4.5.1
File Toolbar
Figure 4.214
The File Toolbar allows you to perform project file related
o perations such as creating a new project, opening an existing
project and saving a project.
The Fi l e Toolbar contains the following toolbar icons:
New
Open
Save
New
The New icon creates a new STAAD.foundation project.
Open
The Open icon brings up the open file dialog box and allows you to
open an existing STAAD.fo undation proje ct.
4-224
Figure 4.215
To open an existing project, navigate to the directory in which the
project file is located and then select the file and click on Open.
Save
The Save icon brings up the save file dialog box the first time the
icon is clicked and allows you to save the active project to a file.
Figure 4.216
STAAD.foun dation projects are saved with an .afs file extension.

A fter a project has been saved to a file, clicking on the Save icon
again will simply save any updates made to the project to the file
specified when you first saved the project.
4-226
4.5.2
Print Toolbar
Figure 4.217
T he Print Toolbar allows you to perform print related operations
for project reports.
T he Print Toolbar contains the following toolbar icons:
Print
Print Preview
Print Setup for Prin ting
Take Picture
Print
The Print icon opens a standard Windows print dialog box and
allows you to p rint the active project report.
Figure 4.218
Print Preview
The Print Preview icon opens a new window allowing you to view
what the active report will look like when printed out.
Figure 4.219
4-228
The following command buttons are available in the Print Preview

window:
Print
Next Page
Prev. Page
Two Page
Zoom In,
Zoom Out
Close
Print
The Print button opens a standard Windows print dialog box and
allows you to print the active project report.
Next Page
The Next Page button displays the next page in a report. If there is
only one page in a report or you are at the last page in a report, the
button will be grayed out.
Prev. Page
The Prev. Page button displays the previous page in a report. If
you are at the first page in a report, the button will be grayed out.
Two Page
The Two Page button allows you to display two pages of a report
on the screen at a time. Once you are in two page mode, the text on
the button will change to One Page. If you click on the button
again, one page will be displayed on the screen at a time and the
text on the button will change back to Two Page.
Zoom In
The Zoom In button allows you to zoom in closer on a page of a
report. After you click on the Zoom In button, your mouse cursor
will change to a magnifying glass. You may then zoom in on a
portion of a report by clicking on the region you want to zoom in
on. Once you have zoomed in, the Zoom In button will become
grayed out. You may return to the original viewing distance by
clicking on the Zoom Out button.
Zoom Out
The Zoom Out button allows you to zoom back out after zooming
in on a page of a report. The Zoom Out button is only active after
zooming in on a page of a report.
Close
The Close button removes the print preview window.
Report Setup for Printing

The Report Setup for Print icon opens a dialog box allowing you to
select what items will appear in the active project report.
4-230
Figure 4.220
The drop-down list box under the heading Available allows you to
choose the job to select items from. Once a job is selected, the list
box under Available will contain the items existing for that
particular job. You can then use the > button to transfer selected
items to a report and the >> button to transfer all items to a report.
To remove items from a report, use the < button to remove selected
items and the << button to remove all items.
Take Picture
The Take Picture icon takes a snapshot of the Graphics Window.
Pictures taken will then be selectable items when creating reports
via the Report Setup for Print dialog box. Pictures are grouped
together with the job they are created in.
4.5.3
Jobs Toolbar
Figure 4.221
The Jobs Toolbar allows you to create, select, and edit jobs. Jobs
allow y ou to assign a set of constraints for STAAD. foundation to
use in p erforming a foundation design. Each project may contain
multiple jobs so that you can evaluate different design scenarios
for a give set of physical conditions.
The Jobs Toolbar contains the following toolbar icons and/or dropdown list boxes:
New Job
Change Job
Edit Current Job
4-232
New Job
The New Job icon opens a dialog box allowing you to create a new
job.
Figure 4.222
The Job Info tab in the Create New Job dialog box contains the
following parameters and options:
New Job Name

Job Type
Design Code
Default Unit Type
Delete Job.
N ew Job Name
The New Job Name field allows you to give each job a unique
n ame to help identify the job.
Job Type
T he Job Type field allows you to select the type of job: isolated,
pile cap, or mat foundation.
D esign Code
The Design Code drop-down list box a llows you to select the
d esign code used for the job.
T he Supports in this Job group box allows you to define which
supports will be included in a job. Three options are available:
a ssign to all supports, assign to the selected supports, and assign to
the listed supports.
A ssign to All Supports
The Assign to All Supports option allows you to include all the
Assign to the Selected Supports
The Assign to the Selected Supports option allows you to include
only those supports that are selected in a project to a job.
Assign to the Listed Supports
The Assign to the Listed Supports option allows you to include
only those supports that are listed in the field below the option to a
job.
Default Unit Type
The Default Unit Type drop-down list box allows you to select he
default unit type for a job.
4-234
Select Supports in Curr ent Job

T he Select Supports in Current Job command button allows you to
select the supports that are in the cur rent job.
Delete Job
The Delete Job command button will be grayed out and is on ly
a vailable when editing existing jobs.
Change Job
The Change Job drop-down list box allows you to select a job from
a list of jobs you have creat ed fo r the active project. To change
jobs, simply select the job you wish to chan ge to from the dropdown list box. If no jobs have been creat ed for a project, the dropdown list box will be em p ty.
Edit Current Job

The Edit Current Job icon opens a dialog box allowing you to edit
information pertaining t o the currently selected job, such as job
name, job type, design code, default unit type, supports and loads.
Figure 4.223
The Job Info tab in the Edit Existing Job dialog box contains the
following parameters and options:
New Job Name

Job Ty pe
Desi gn Code
Default Unit Type
Delete Job
New Job Name

T he New Job Name field allows you to give each job a unique
name to help identify the job.
Job Type
The Job Type field allows you to select the type of job: isolated,
pile cap, or mat foundation.
Design Code
The Design Code drop-down list box allows you to select the
design code used for the job.
The Supports in this Job group box allows you to define which
supports will be included in a job. Three options are available:
assign to all supports, assign to the selected supports, and assign to
the listed supports.
Assign to All Supports
The Assign to All Supports o ption allows you to include all the
4-236
Assign to the Selected Supports

The Assign to the Sel ected Support s option allows y ou t o include
onl y those su ppo rts that are select ed in a project to a j ob.
As sign to the Li st ed Support s
Th e Assign to t he Listed Suppo rts option allows y ou to include
onl y those su pports that are listed in the field below the option to a
job .
Default Unit Type
T he Default U nit Type drop-down list box allows you to select he
defa ult unit type for a job.
The Select Supports in Current Job command button allows you to
select the supports that are in the current job.
Delete Job
The Delete Job command button allows you to delete the job you
are editing.
4.5. 4
Help Toolbar
Figure 4.224
The Help Toolbar allows yo u to obtain i nformation about
STAAD.foundation.
The Help Toolbar contains the following toolbar icon:
About
About
The About icon opens a dialog box containing information on the
version of STAAD.foundation youre currently running. The
information in the dialog box includes product name, release
number and build number. In addition, the physical address, web
address and phone numbers for the Research Engineers
International Headquarters is displayed.
4-238
Figure 4.225
To obtain information about other locations, click on the Support
button. A new dialog box will appear with a map of the world as
s hown in the figure bel ow. Hold your mouse cursor over the
location, designated by small dots, which you would like to ob tain
information on. The information for th at location will be displayed
in the lower left-hand corner of the dial og box.
Figure 4.226
4.5.5
Rotate Toolbar
Figure 4. 227
T he Rotate Toolbar contains two sets of icons: view and rotate.
The vi ew icons allow you to change the viewing angle in the main
view pane with respect to the global axis system. The rotate icons
al low you to rotate the foundation about the origin.
The Rotate Toolbar con t ains the foll owing toolbar icons:
Front View
Back View
Right Side View
Left Side View
View From Top
View fro m Bottom
Isometric View
Rotate Up
Rotate Down
Rotate Left
Rotate Right
Spin Left
Spin Right
4-240
Front View
The Front View icon allows yo u to display a foundation as seen
f rom the front. When the global Y-axis is vertical, this is the
elevation view, as looking towards the negative direction of the Za xis.
Back View
The Back View icon allows you to display a foundation as seen
from the back. When the global Y-ax is is vertical, this is the
elevation view, as seen looking towa rds the positive direction of
th e Z-axis.
Right Side View

The Right Side View icon allows you to dis play a foundation as
seen from the right side. When the global Y-axis is vertical, this is
the side elevation vi ew, as seen l ooki ng towards the negative
dir ection of t he X -axis.
Le ft Side V iew
Th e Left Sid e View icon allows you to display a foundation as seen
from the left side. When the global Y-axis is vertical, this is the
side elevation view, as seen looking towards the positive direction
of the X-axis.
View From Top

The View From Top icon allows you to display a foundation as
seen from the top looking down. When the global Y-axis is
vertical, this is the plan view, as seen from the sky looking down.
View From Bottom

The View From Bottom icon allows you to display a foundation as
seen from the bottom looking up t owards t he sky.
Isometric
The Isometric icon allows y ou to display a foundation in an
isometric view. The angle t hat defines th e isometric view is
generally X = 30, Y = 30, and Z = 0.
Rotate Up
The Rotate Up icon allows you to rotate the view of a structure
a bout the global X-axis, in the direction indicated by the circular
arrow in the icon.
Rotate Down
The Rotate Down icon allows you to rotate the view of a structure
about the global X-axis, in the direction indicated by the circular
arrow in the icon.
Rotate Left
The Rotate Left icon allows you to rotate the view of a structure
about the global Y-axis, in the direction indicated by the circular
arrow in the icon.
Rotate Right
The Rotate Right icon allows you to rotate the view of a structure
about the global Y-axis, in the direction indicated by the circular
arrow in the icon.
4-242
Spin Left
The Spin Left icon allows you to spin the view of a structure about
the global Z-axis, in the direction indicated by the circular arrow in
the icon.
Spin Right
The Spin Right icon allows you to spin the view of a structure
about the global Z-axis, in the direction indicated by the circular
arrow in the icon.
4.5.6
Zoom Toolbar
Figure 4.228
The Zoom Toolbar allows you to alter the viewing distance of the
o bjects in the Graphics Window.
The Zoom Toolbar contains the following toolbar icons:
Zoom
Zoom
Zoom
Zoom
Pan
In
Out
Window
All
Zoom In
The Zoom In icon allows you to move in closer to the objects in the
Graphics Window.
Zoom Out
The Zoom O ut ico n allows you to mo ve farther away from the
objects in the Graphics Window.
4-244
Zoom Window
T he Zoom Window icon allows you to create a selection around an
area in the Graphics Window that you w ould like zoom in on. The
area that is selected will occupy the entire Graphics Window.
Zoom All
The Zoom All icon allows you to return to the viewing distance in
which all objects in the Graphics Window are visible.
Pan
The Pan icon allows you to move the objects in the Graphics
Window up, down, left or right with your mouse cursor.
4.5. 7
Loading Toolbar
Figure 4.229
The Loading Toolbar allows you to change load cases, edit load
case descriptions, and change the size of reaction loads.
The Loading Toolbar contain s the following toolbar icons and/or
d rop-down list boxes:
Change Load
Edit Load Description
Show Reaction Load Bigger
Show Reaction Load Smaller
Change Load
The Change Load drop-down list box allows you to change load
cases by selecting from a list of load cases available in the active
project. To change load cases, simply select the load case you
wish to change to from the drop-down list box. If no load cases
have been created for a project, the drop-down list box will be
empty.
Edit Load Description

The Edit Load Description ic on opens a di alog box that allows you
to edit the title and load type of the currently selected load case.
4-246
Figure 4.230
T he Edit Load Case dialog box contains the following fields:
Load N o
Load Title
Load Type
Load No
The Load No field displays the number of the load case. The Load
N o field will be grayed out and cannot be changed. It is displayed
simply for referenc e.
Load Title
The Load Title field allows you to edit the title of the load case.
The title is a w ay to distinguish load cases from one another and is
not required.
L oad Type
T he Load Type drop-down list box allows you to change the type
of load case. There are th ree types of load cases available:
P rimary, Service and Ultimate. Primary load cases can be used to
create load combinations. Section 4.3 .3.3 explains how to create
load combinations. For primary load ca ses, both the serviceability
a nd design factors will automatically be set to 1. Refer to section
4.3.3.5 for an explanation of these safety factors. Serviceabi lity
lo ad cases are used when checking the base pressure of your
foundation (geotechnical design). Fo r these load cases, the
serviceability factor is automatically set to 1 and the design factor
is set to zero. Ultimate load cases are used when designing the
foundation. The serviceability factor for these load cases is set to
zero, while the design factor is set to 1.
Show Reaction Load Bigger

The Show Reaction Load Bigger icon allows you to increase the
scale of loads shown in the Graphics Window. By increasing the
scale of a load, the load will appear bigger in the Graphics
Window.
Show Reaction Load Smaller

The Show Reaction Load Smaller icon allows you to decrease the
scale of loads shown in the Graphics Window. By decreasing the
scale of a load, the load will appear smaller in the Graphics
Window.
4-248
4.5.8
Tools Toolbar
Figure 4.231
The Tools Toolbar contains a range of tools that allow you to
change a variety of options and properties in STAAD. foundation.
The Tools Tool bar contains the following toolbar icons and/or
drop-down list boxes:
Change Length Unit

Set Viewing Options
Material and Light Properties
Show Supports Assigned to Current Job Only
Create Beam Grid with the Selected Nod es
Adds Slab Boundary
Change Force Unit
Change Moment Unit
Change Length Unit

The Change Length Unit drop-down list box allows you to change
the current working length unit. The following units are available:
m, dm, cm, mm, in, and ft.
Set Viewing Options

The Set View ing Options icon opens a dialog box that allows you to
mo dify the w ay things are displayed in the Graphics Win dow.
Figure 4.232
4-250
Material and Light Prop erties

The Material and Light Properties icon opens a dialog box that
allows you to modify the li ghting and ma terial properties of objects
in the Graphics Window.
Figure 4.233
Show Supports Assigned to Current Job Only

The Show Supports Assigned to Current Job Only icon allows you
to make only the supports in the current job displayed in the
Graphics Window. If this option is turned off, supports that are not
in the current job will also be displayed in the Graphics Window.
Create Beam Grid with the Selected Nodes

The Create Beam Grid with the Selected Nodes icon allows you to
automatically generate beams between the selected nodes in the
Graphics Window.
Changes Background Color

The Changes Background Color icon opens a dialog box that
allows you to change the background color of the Graphics
Window. By default, the background color of the Graphics Window
is black.
Figure 4.234
4-252
To change the background color of the Graphics Window, simply

choose one of the available colors in the dialog box and click on
OK. If you want a background color not shown, simply click on the
Define Custom Colors command button to make your own color.
Change Force Unit

The Change Force Unit drop-down list box allows you to select the
unit in which forces are displayed in the Graphics Window.
Change Moment Unit

The Change Moment Unit drop-down list box allows you to select
the unit in which moments are displayed in the Graphics Window.
4.5.9
Geometry Toolbar
Figure 4.235
T he Geometry Toolbar allows you to create copies of objects in a
model.
The Geometry Toolbar contain s the following toolbar icon:
T he Translational Repeat icon opens a dialog box that allows you
to duplicate objects in a m odel. The command works similar to a
copy command, except multiple copies of an object can be made at
a time. In addition, objects may be linked to together with
transverse members. In order to use Translational Repeat, you
must first select at least one object before the command will
become available.
4-254
Figure 4.236
The Translational Repeat dialog box contains the following fields
and options:
No. of Steps
Increment
Link Steps
No. of Steps
The No. of Steps field allows you to specify the number of copies
to make.
Increment
T he Incremen t group box allows you to specify the distance from
the original object(s) to the copied object(s). When No. of Steps is
greater than 1, the increment values will also specify the di stance
between the multiple copied objects. The increment unit used is
specified in the Change Length Unit drop-down list box i n the
Tools toolbar.
Link Steps
The Link Steps check box allows you to specify whether the copied
objects should be linked together with transverse members.
4-256
4.5.10
Select Toolbar
Figure 4.237
The Select Toolbar has several different cursors that allow you to
only select certain objects in a model with your mouse cursor.
The Select Toolbar contains the following toolbar icons:
Select Meshed Nodes Cursor

Select Pile Cursor
Select Plates Cursor
Select Physical Member Cursor
Create a Column Position Clicking On Grid Intersection
Point
Select Meshed Nodes Cursor

The Select Meshed Nodes Cursor icon allows you to select only
mesh nodes with your mouse cursor, causing all other objects to be
ignored.
Select Pile Cursor

The Select Pile Cursor icon allows you to select only piles with
your mouse cursor, causing all other objects to be ignored.
Select Plates Cursor

The Select Plates Cursor icon allows you to select only plates with
your mouse cursor, causing all other objects to be ignored.
Select Physical Member Cursor

The Select Physical Member Cursor icon allows you to select only
physical members with your mouse cursor, causing all other
objects to be ignored.
Create a Column Position Clicking On Grid

Intersection Point
The Create a Column Position Clicking on Grid Intersection Point
icon allows you to place column positions on grid intersection
points using your mouse cursor. A grid is created using the Grid
Setup page under the Foundation Plan tab.
4-258
N
o
t
e
s
N
o
t
e
s
5-1
Indian Verification Problems
Section
Indian
Indian
Indian
Indian
Indian
Verification
Verification
Verification
Verification
Verification
Problem
Problem
Problem
Problem
Problem
1
2
3
4
5
5-2
Section 5 Indian Verification Problems
5.1
Reference
Reinforced Concrete by A.K. Jain, Page 539, Example 18.2.
Problem
Design an isolated footing with the given data: Load Fy = 1000
KN, fc = 15 MPa, fy = 415 MPa, Column Dimension = 400 mm X
400 mm, Bearing Capacity of Soil = 100 KN/m 2 , and Load Factor =
1.5.
P
Figure 5.1
S ection 5 Indian Verification Problems 5-3
Solution
1000
Approximate area of footing required =
m 2 = 10 m 2
P
100
Assuming 3.5 m x 3.5 m x 0.6 m footing dimension (I = 12.5 m 4 )
P
Weight of footing = 3.5 x 3.5 x 0.6 x 25 KN = 183.75 KN

Therefore, total load on the footing = (1000 +183.75) KN
= 1183.75 KN
1183.75
KN/ m 2
3.53.5
= 96.633 KN/m 2 <100 KN/m 2 (Hence safe)
Maximum pressure =
P
Ultimate pressure =
10001.5
3.53.5
KN/m 2 = 122.45 KN/m 2

P
Bending moment at critical section,

1.55 1.55
= 514.826 KN-m
M u = 122.45 x 3.5 x
2
B
Assuming 35 mm clear cover and 10 mm bar, effective depth

d e = (600-35-0.5 x 10) mm = 560 mm
B
K u,max =
B
700
= 0.479
1100 + 0.87 fy
R u,max = 0.36 x fc x K u,max x (1-0.42 K u,max ) = 2.066

B
Mu lim = R u,max x B x d e 2 = 2267.642 x 10 6 N-mm

= 2267.642 KN-m> M u (Hence safe)
B
PB
5-4
Area of Steel Required

Area of steel required along length,
Ast = 0.5 x
fc
fy
= 2646.4 mm 2
P
x B x de
fc B de de
4.6 Mu
1 1
Minimum area of steel Ast min = 0.0012 x B x D = 2520 mm 2

B
Check for One-Way Shear
100 Ast
Percentage of steel p t =
B
B de
Corresponding allowable
Developed shear stress
c
B
c
B
= 0.135
= 0.28 N/mm 2
P
Vu max
B de
3. 5 0. 4
0.56 = 424.289 KN
2
V umax = 122.45 x 3.5 x

B

= 0.2165 N/mm 2 <
P
c,all
B
c
B
424.289 1000
3500 560
(Hence safe)
Check for Two-Way Shear

V umax = 1500 KN
B
K s = min (0.5+1,1) = 1
B
c
B
1500 1000
4 960 560
= 0.698 N/mm 2
P
Allowable shear stress = K s x

B
c
B
= 1 x 0.25
fc = 0.968 N/mm 2
P
Note: We are not deducting the upward force underneath the

area enclosed by the critical perimeter, because in this way we
are in the conservative side.
Spacing
No. of 10 mm bar =
Spacing =
2646.4 4
10 10
3500 50 2 10
34 1
= 33.69 (34)
= 102.73 mm
Spacing for 10 mm bar = 102.73 mm
Figure 5.2
5-6
Figure 5.3
Comparison
Value Of
Reference
Result
STAAD.foundation
Result
Difference
in Percent
Effective
Depth
560 mm
560 mm
None
Governing
Moment
514.826 KN-m
514.821 KN-m
Negligible
Area of
Steal
2646.40 mm 2
2645.01 mm 2
0.05
Shear
Stress
(One-Way)
0.216 N/mm 2
Shear
Stress
(Two-Way)
0.698 N/mm 2
0.216 N/mm 2
P
None
P
0.700 N/mm 2
P
Table 5.1
0.286
5.2
Reference
Reinforced Concrete Structure by Punmia-Jain-Jain, Example
25.1.
Problem
Design an isolated footing with the given data: Load Fy = 600 KN,
fc = 15 MPa, fy = 250 MPa, Column Dimension = 500 mm x 500
mm, and Bearing Capacity of Soil = 120 KN/m 2 .
P
Figure 5.4
5-8
Solution
600
Approximate area of footing required =
m2 = 5 m2
P
120
Assuming 2.4 m x 2.4 m x 0.35 m footing dimension,
Weight of footing = 2.4 x 2.4 x 0.35 x 25 KN = 50.4 KN
Therefore, total load on the footing = (600+50.4) KN = 650.4 KN
650.4
KN/ m 2
2.4 2.4
= 112.92 KN/m 2 <120 KN/m 2 (Hence safe)
Maximum pressure =
P
Ultimate pressure =
600 1.5
2. 4 2. 4
KN/m 2 = 156.25 KN/m 2

P
Bending moment at critical section, M u = 56.25 x 2.4 x

B
0.95 0.95
= 169.21875 KN-m
Assuming 50 mm clear cover and 12 mm bar, effective depth
d e = (350-50-0.5 x 12) mm = 294 mm
B
K u,max =
B
700
= 0.53
1100 + 0.87 fy
R u,max = 0.36 x fc x K u,max x (1- 0.42 K u,max ) = 2.225

B
Mu lim = R u,max x B x d e 2 = 461.568 x 10 6 N-mm

= 461.568 KN-m > M u (Hence safe)
B
PB

Ast = 0.5 x
fc
fy
= 2837.87 mm 2
P
x B x de
fc B de de
4.6 MU
1 1

B
100 Ast
B
B de
c
B
c
B
= 0.4022
= 0.42 N/mm 2
P
Vu max
B de
2.4 0.5
0.294 = 246 KN
2
V umax = 156.25 x 2.4 x

B

= 0.3486N/mm2 <
c,all
B
c
B
246 1000
2400 294
(Hence safe)

V umax = 900 KN
B
K s = min (0.5+1, 1) = 1
B
c
B
900 1000
4 794 294
= 0.96 N/mm 2
P
5-10

B
c
B
= 1 x 0.25
fc
= 0.968 N/mm (Hence safe)

P

Spacing
No. of 12 mm bar =
Spacing =
2837.87 4
12 12
2400 50 2 12
26 1
= 25.09 (26)
= 91.52 mm
Figure 5.5
Comparison
Value Of
Rereference
Result
STAAD.foundation
Result
Difference
in Percent
Effective
Depth
294 mm
294 mm
None
Governing
Moment
169.2187 KN-m
169.2187 KN-m
None
Area of
Steel
2837.87 mm 2
2836.34 mm 2
0.05
Shear
Stress
(One-Way)
0.3486 N/mm 2
Shear
Stress
(Two-Way)
0.96 N/mm 2
0.3486 N/mm 2
P
0.96 N/mm 2
P
Table 5.2
None
None
5-12
5.3
Reference
Reinforced Concrete Design by S.N.Sinha, Problem 11-12.
Problem
Design a pile cap with the given data: Load Fy = 1000 KN,
Spacing = 900 mm, Pile in Pile Cap = 75 mm, Bottom Cover = 100
mm, Edge Distance = 275 mm, No. of Pile = 4, Dia. of Pile = 250
mm, fc = 15 MPa, fy = 415 MPa, Column Dimension = 400mm x
400mm, Load Factor = 1.5.
Figure 5.6
Solution
Ultimate load = 1.5 x 1000 KN = 1500 KN
Pile reaction = (Total load / no. of pile) =
1500
= 375 KN
Bending moment at critical section (at column face),

M u = 2 x 375 x 0.25 = 187.5 KN-m
B
Taking Effective depth d e = 454 mm

B
K u,max =
B
700
= 0.479
1100 + 0.87 fy
R u,max = 0.36 x fc x K u,max x (1- 0.42 K u,max ) = 2.066

B
Mu lim = R u,max x B x d e 2 = 617.462 KN-m > M u (Hence safe)

B
PB

Ast = 0.5 x
fc
fy
1 1
x B x d e = 1205.524 mm 2
fc B de de
4.6 MU
Minimum area of steel Ast min = 0.0012 x B x D = 1104.90 mm 2

B
B
100 Ast
B de
c
B
= 0.183 %
= 0.303 N/mm 2
P
5-14
c
B
c
B
Vu max
B de
V u,max = 0.00 KN
B
= 0.00 <
c,all
B
(Hence safe)

V u,max = 1500 KN
B

= 967.203 KN/m 2
c
B
=
B
1500 1000
4 854 454
N/mm 2
P
K s = min (0.5+1, 1)
B
> developed

B
= 968.246 KN/m
P
2
P
= 1 x 0.25
B
c
B
(hence safe)
Spacing
No. of 12 mm bar =
Spacing =
1205.524 4
12 12
1450 100 2 12
11 1
fc
= 10.66 (11)
= 123.8 mm
Figure 5.7
Comparison
Value Of
Reference
Result
STAAD.foundation
Result
Difference in
Percent
Effective
Depth
454 mm
454 mm
None
Governing
Moment
187.5 KN-m
187.5 KN-m
None
Area of
Steal
1205.524 mm 2
Shear
Stress
(Two-Way)
0.967 N/mm 2
1204.886 mm 2
P
0.967 N/mm 2
P
Table 5.3
0.058
None
5-16
5.4
Reference
Reinforced Concrete Design by S.N.Sinha, Problem 11-13.
Problem
Design a pile cap with the given data: Load Fy = 2000KN, MZ =
300 KN-m, Spacing = 900 mm, Pile in Pile Cap = 75 mm, Bottom
Cover = 100 mm, Edge Distance = 275 mm, No. of Pile = 9, fc =
15 MPa, fy = 415 MPa, Column Dimension = 500mm x 500mm,
Ultimate Load Factor = 1.5.
Figure 5.8
Solution
Pile reaction:
1.5 2000 1.5 300 0.9
P1 =
= 416.667 KN
+
9
6 (0.9 0.9)
P2 =
1.5 2000
P3 =
P4 =
1.5 300 0.9

6 (0.9 0.9)
= 416.667 KN
1.5 2000 1.53000.9

= 416.667 KN
+
9
6(0.90.9)
1.5 2000
= 333.333 KN
P5 =
1.5 2000
= 333.333 KN
P6 =
1.5 2000
= 333.333 KN
P7 =
1.5 2000
P8 =
1.5 2000
P9 =
1.5 2000
9
1.5 300 0.9

6 (0.9 0.9)
1.5 300 0.9
6 (0.9 0.9)
1.5 300 0.9
6 (0.9 0.9)
= 250 KN
= 250 KN
= 250 KN
Bending moment at critical section (at column face),

M u ( along length) = 3 x 416.667 x 0.65 = 812.5 KN-m
M u ( along width) = (416.667+333.333+250) x 0.65 KN-m
= 650 KN-m
B
5-18
Assuming 850 mm overall depth and 12 mm bar,

Effective depth d e = 850-(100+75+6) = 669 mm
B
K umax =
B
700
= 0.479
1100 + 0.87 fy
R umax = 0.36 x fc x K umax x (1- 0.42 K umax ) = 2.066

B
Mu lim = R umax x B x d e 2 = 2172.953 KN-m > M u (Hence safe)

B
PB

Ast = 0.5 x
fc
fy
x B x d e = 3592.61 mm 2
fc B de de
4.6 MU
1 1

B
Area of steel required along width,

= 0.5 x
fc
fy
x B x d e = 2833.69 mm 2
fc B de de
4.6 MU
1 1

B
Check for One-Way Shear (Along Length)
B
100 Ast
B de
c
B
c
B
= 0.2285 %
= 0.338 N/mm 2
P
Vu max
B de
V umax =
B
3 416.667 106
KN = 530 KN
250

= 0.337 N/mm 2 <
P
c,all
B
c
B
530 1000
2350 669
(Hence safe)

V umax = (3000-333.33) KN = 2666.67 KN
B
c
B
=
B
2666.67 1000
4 1169 669
= 0.852 N/mm 2
P
K s = min( 0.5+1 , 1) = 1
B
> developed

B
= 0.968 N/mm
P
2
P
c
B
= 1 x 0.25
fc
(hence safe)
Spacing
Along length:
No. of 12 mm bar =
Spacing =
3592.61 4
12 12
2350 100 2 12
32 1
= 31.76 (32)
= 68.967 mm
Spacing along length for 12 mm bar = 68.967 mm

Along width:
No. of 12 mm bar =
2833.69 4
12 12
= 25.06 (26)
5-20
Spacing =
2350 100 2 12
= 85.52 mm
26 1
Spacing along width for 12 mm bar = 85.52 mm
Figure 5.9
Comparison
Value Of
Reference
Result
STAAD.foundation
Result
Difference in
Percent
Effective
Depth
669 mm
669 mm
None
Governing
Moment
(length)
812.5 KN-m
812.503 KN-m
Negligible
One-Way
Shear
Stress
(Length)
0.337 N/mm 2
0.337 N/mm 2
None
Two-Way
Shear
Stress
0.852 N/mm 2
0.852 N/mm 2
P
Table 5.4
None
5.5
Reference
Reinforced Concrete Design by Pillai & Menon, Page 652,
Example 14.7.
Problem
Design a combined footing for two columns with the given data: C1 (400 mm x 400 mm) with 4-25 bars and C2 (500 mm x
500mm) with 4-28 bars supporting axial loads P1 = 900 KN and
P2 = 1600 KN respectively (under service dead and live loads).
The column C1 is an exterior column whose exterior face is flush
with the property line. The center-to-centre distance between C1
and C2 is 4.5 meters. The allowable soil pressure at the base of the
footing, 1.5 m below ground level, is 240 KN/m 2 . Assume a steel
of grade Fe 415 in the columns as well as the footing, and a
concrete grade of M 20 in the footing.
P
Figure 5.10
5-22
Figure 5.11
Solution
Dimension of Mat (Based on the bearing Capacity given):
Length = 6.16 m
Width = 2 m
Depth = 0.95 m
Calculation for base-pressure
Self-weight of mat = 6.16 x 2 x 0.95 x 25 KN = 292.6 KN
Total load on the mat = (1600+900+200.2) KN = 2792.6 KN
2792.6
KN/m 2
6.16 2
= 226.67 KN/m 2 < 240 KN/m 2 (Hence Safe)
Base pressure =
P
Ultimate load for C 1 = P u1 = 1.5 x 900 = 1350 KN

B
Ultimate load for C 2 = P u2 = 1.5 x 1600 = 2400 KN

B
Then uniformly distributed upward load = (P u1 + P u2 ) /6.16 KN/m

= 608.8 KN/m
B
Calculation for maximum bending moment

Positive bending moment:
The maximum positive bending moment is at the face of the
support C 2 = M u ( +) = 608.8 x (1.46-0.25) 2 /2 = 446 KN-m
B
Negative bending moment:

The maximum negative bending moment occurs at the location of
zero shear. So we first find the location of zero shear:
Location of zero shear from the left side x = (1350/608.8)
= 2.2175 m.
Therefore, M u ( -) = 608.8 x (2.2175) 2 /2 1350 x (2.2175 - 0.2)
= -1227 KN-m.
B
Calculation for punching shear

Assuming 75 mm clear cover and 20 bars,
Effective depth (d e ) = (950 75 20/2) = 865 mm
B
Upward pressure = 608.8/2 KN/m 2 = 304.4 KN/m 2

P

B
c
B
K s = min (1+ , 1)
B
Where = 1, K s = 1 and
B
c
B
= 0.25
fc = 1.18 N/mm 2
P
Therefore allowable shear stress = 1 x .118 N/mm 2 = 1.118 N/mm 2

P
Maximum shear for C 1 = 1350 KN

B
5-24
Developed shear stress,

1350 1000
v =
{(2 400 + 865) + (400 + 865)} 865
= 0.533 N/mm 2 <

P
(Hence safe)
c,allowable
B
Maximum shear for C 2 = 2400 KN

B
Developed shear stress,

2400 1000
v =
4 (500 + 865) 865
= 0.508 N/mm 2 <

P
c,allowable
B
(Hence safe)

Calculation of reinforcement
Maximum negative moment M u ( -) = 1227 KN-m
Maximum negative moment/width = 1227/2 KN-m/m
= 613.5 KN-m/m
B
Area of steel required on top face along length,

fc
A st = 0.5 x
B
fy
1 1
x B x de
fc B de de
4.6 MU
B = 1000 mm
d e = 865 mm
M u = 613.5 x 106 N-mm
B
A st = 2067.97 mm 2 /m
B
A st,min = 0.0012 x B x D = 1140mm 2 /m

B
Figure 5.12
Comparison
Differenc
e in
Percent
Value Of
Reference Result
STAAD.foundation
Result
Max
Bending
Moment(-)
603.201 KN-m/m
613.5 KN-m/m
1.68
Max
Bending
Moment(+)
219.687 KN-m/m
223 KN-m/m
1.48
Area of
Steal
Required
2014.835 mm 2 /m
2067.97 mm 2 /m
2.56
Base
Pressure
227 KN/m 2
226.67 KN/m 2
Negligible
Table 5.5
5-26
N
o
t
e
s

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