6- Can the shear walls be entered as a single column element is Sta4CAD?
If the plan length of the wall is smaller than the two times of the story width, it can be entered with a single column element. But if the shear wall sits on a basement system, you must continue with panel members for continuity. Also when using panel members, divide the members into finite elements from the connection points of other members.
7- In retrofitting projects, which kind of shear walls selected, panel or column type?
If you are adding the wall between existing columns, you can check these criteria:
The existing columns;
The existing columns;
8- How will I adjust the material types in retrofitting projects?
In Sta4CAD, you can work up to 9 different materials in a project. E1 material is reserved for new members only. This type of members will be designed. E2~E9 are used for old members, they will be excluded in design, just some checks will be done.
If their concrete quality is higher than C14,
If the bar percentage is higher than 1%,
If the stirrups are dense,
If its area is at least 10% of the shear wall,
If the bar percentage is higher than 1%,
If the stirrups are dense,
If its area is at least 10% of the shear wall,
Satisfies these criteria, panel member between the columns can be defined. If not, rectangle column members must be entered to form shear wall ends. Note that every panel member must have column member on its ends.
9- Can slant or circular beams and slabs be used in Sta4CAD?
Yes, they can be used. Also their drawings will be automatically generated.
10-There is a door gap at the bottom of the sheer wall, can I model it in Sta4CAD?
The most forced section of the earthquake shear walls is their bottom, so it is not recommended to put gaps in them. If needed, the wall can be modelled with panel members which can be divided into finite elements. Note that every panel member must have column member on its ends.
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STA Steel
STA4-CAD