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Collecting phases

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Message 1 of 19
bjur
4540 Views, 18 Replies

Collecting phases

With regard to using phased correctly, what exactly does "collecting phases" actually do? For example, say I have a simple beam as an initial phase. At some point in the future the beam will have additional loading applied along with a new middle support added. What is the proper way to set up the completed phase and each individual phase. What about load combinations? Should these be setup under each phase or under the completed phase? Then to get results, how does phase collection work? When would I want to chose a different phase from the drop down box? I've been through the help file and made many test models, but I can't seam to understand exactly how it should be setup.
18 REPLIES 18
Message 2 of 19
Rafal.Gaweda
in reply to: bjur

With regard to using phased correctly, what exactly does "collecting phases" actually do? For example, say I have a simple beam as an initial phase. At some point in the future the beam will have additional loading applied along with a new middle support added. What is the proper way to set up the completed phase and each individual phase.

http://docs.autodesk.com/RSA/2013/ENU/filesROBOT/GUID-B63EE66D-4406-4838-B238-507A1AAD05FE.htm

 

http://docs.autodesk.com/RSA/2013/ENU/index.html?url=filesROBOT/GUID-541E37E3-5DEB-4524-9CCD-2921162...


What about load combinations? Should these be setup under each phase or under the completed phase?
After collecting phases you can create combinations with cases from different phases.
Then to get results, how does phase collection work? When would I want to chose a different phase from the drop down box?
this is the window where you can switch between phases.
phase1.jpg
I've been through the help file and made many test models, but I can't seam to understand exactly how it should be setup.

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Autodesk-Robot-Structural/Using-Phases/td-p/3501632



Rafal Gaweda
Message 3 of 19
Pawel.Pulak
in reply to: bjur

I have already shortly explained it in this forum post:

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Autodesk-Robot-Structural/Staged-Analysis/m-p/3466680/highlight/true#M...

 

Different phases In Robot correspond to different calculation models - with possibly different support conditions, different loads, some elements existing or not and even different properties of analogous elements.

 

Collecting phases superposes the results from these different models (phases) into one model (so called collected phase) - the geometry, support conditions, properties are taken from base phase specified in collection window:

collect.png

Load cases and combinations from the base phase are left in the collected phase with the original numbering while load cases and combinations from other phases are transferred to the collected phase with the offsets of 1000, 2000,... for consecutive phases.

 

The recommended approach when defining phases is to define the most geometrically complete model (all elements, nodes existing, panel FE meshes generated and frozen, etc), run analysis for it  and then to define phases for appropriate selections of bars, nodes and panels.

This way later it should be no problem for Robot to identify corresponding elements after collecting phases.

 

I have attached very simple example of beam with and without  internal support which was defined using phases: phase 1 "Without internal support" and phase 2 "With internal support".

After running analysis and collecting phases with phase phase 2 "With internal support" as the base phase the envelope of bending moment diagrams MY can be displayed for collected phase and considering results from both phases:phases_collect.png

 The geometry and support conditions correspond to the base phase but on the envelope diagram of MY moment the results corresponding to simply supported beam (case 1001) can be indentified too.

 

 

           What about load combinations? Should these be setup under each phase or under the completed phase?

As concerns combinations if there is no need to define combinations of cases from different phases then it is recommended to define combinations inside each phase. After collecting phases all of them will be transferred to the collected phase in the same way as simple load cases.

If  combinations of cases from different phases have to be defined then it is necessary to define them at the end in the collected phase. The disadvantage of it is such that after modification in any phase it will be necessary to re-run analysis  and to collect phases again so combinations defined in previously collected phase will be lost.

 

           When would I want to choose a different phase from the drop down box?

This window is used most often to select active phase to make some modifications in it or to view results for it - usually before collecting phases.

 

---------------------------------------------
If this post answer your question please click "Accept as Solution". It will help everyone to find answer more quickly!

 

Regards,


Pawel Pulak
Technical Account Specialist
Message 4 of 19
Jesper.Jensen
in reply to: Pawel.Pulak

Hi,

 

If I define a number of load cases + loads in a specific phase, will it not be possible to edit these loads in loads/load table as usual? Also, if I want to add a UDL to the floor plate in all phases, will it be required to do it individually in each phase?

 

Furthermore, if a certain number of phases are defined is it possible to add and/or move columns in just one of these phases? I'm trying to do it and I keep getting a warning message saying "No active selection for this operation. Do you want to perform these operations for the whole structure". Is it required to do the following:

 

1. Set the phase that needs to be modified to the base phase.

2. Activate the collected structure (base phase as above).

3. Select the members that needs to be moved/modified.

4. Activate the phase that needs to be modified.

5. Move the members in the phase corresponding to point 4 (as marked in point 3).

 

Your advice is much appreciated - modifying phases seems to be quite fiddly and it's not obvious to me how it works. It would be great if it's possible to modify them as it will be quite time consuming to re-do them every time otherwise.

 

Thanks in advance,

Jesper

Message 5 of 19
Pawel.Pulak
in reply to: Jesper.Jensen

         If I define a number of load cases + loads in a specific phase, will it not be possible to edit these loads in loads/load table as usual?

 

No, it is possible to edit loads in specific phase when such phase is activates. It is easier to see which phase is active in appropriate view or table if this view or table is not maximized - it is displayed in the title bar of it:

active_phase.PNG

 

        Also, if I want to add a UDL to the floor plate in all phases, will it be required to do it individually in each phase?

 

No, it is not necessary. See this help topic:

http://docs.autodesk.com/RSA/2012/ENU/filesROBOT/GUID-541E37E3-5DEB-4524-9CCD-2921162E87C-420.htm

"Beside each of the defined phases are the number and a toggle for bar/element transfer to other phases. The defined bars/elements in the currently selected phase will also be included in the phase for which the transfer has been switched on. If off, the bars/elements defined for the currently selected phase will not be included in the given phase."

This check-box works not only for bar/element transfer to other phases. It works also for creation of load cases or definition of loads in load cases. But when using this setting pay attention to switching it off when not necessary - it is very easy to forget about it and to make unnecessary changes in the modelSmiley Wink

 

 

               Furthermore, if a certain number of phases are defined is it possible to add and/or move columns in just one of these phases? I'm trying to do it and I keep getting a warning message saying "No active selection for this operation. Do you want to perform these operations for the whole structure".

 

The message is probably caused by selecting column without end nodes and trying to move it. But moving bars should be avoided - especially if it results in intersecting with another bar in different place than in some other phase. In such case it is recommended to use copy and delete "the original" in appropriate phase. In opposite case it may be impossible to identify corresponding element after collecting phases. I have shown such example in the screen capture below. Numbers of calculation elements are displayed in light blue. It can be seen that after Move command two calculations elements 6 7 are replaced by single calculation element 7 while element 6 is degenerated to point. It can result in incorrect collection of phases for the segment of beam between nodes 7 and 4.   modif in phases.PNG

 

Additional remark related to model generation and calculation elements for phase structures: after the first run of Phase Collection model generation is switched off for the phase model - unchecked "Model generation" and not available "Structure Model" tab in Analysis Type window shown in the screen capture below. So starting from this point any modifications of existing phases or definitions of new ones, which require model generation (like intersecting of elements) are not possible. In such case it is necessary to delete all phases and start creation from the beginning.model_gen.PNG

 

       Is it required to do the following:

 1. Set the phase that needs to be modified to the base phase.

2. Activate the collected structure (base phase as above).

3. Select the members that needs to be moved/modified.

4. Activate the phase that needs to be modified.

5. Move the members in the phase corresponding to point 4 (as marked in point 3).

 

Modifications should be made only in the appropriate active phase. Or if you want to make them simulataneously in some other phases you should mark "transfer" check-box for them (see my explanations above). There is no need to activate collected phase. The only modifications made sometimes in collected phase are not related to the model itself but to results - like definition of combination of cases from different phases (if it is necessary).

 

---------------------------------------------
If this post answer your question please click "Accept as Solution". It will help everyone to find answer more quickly!

 

Regards,


Pawel Pulak
Technical Account Specialist
Message 6 of 19
Tuctas
in reply to: bjur

  When we analyse structures in accordance to EC8, the members that consist the braces between columns (of shape «Λ» or “X” or anything else) must not contribute in bearing vertical loads but they should carry ONLY the lateral seismic loads of seismic cases. This is a very important issue. 

  I am transferring directly the words of the corresponding article (EN1998:1-1): 

"6.7.2 Analysis

(1)P Under gravity load conditions, only beams and columns shall be considered to

resist such loads, without taking into account the bracing members."

 

  That means that bracing members should be non-active for gravity load conditions and active only for seismic load conditions.

 

  Can we make such a manipulation by using phases and if not is there any other way?

 

Message 7 of 19
Pawel.Pulak
in reply to: Tuctas

Yes, it can be done using phases.

In some cases it can be also done without phases: defining bracings as tension only - providing they all switch off for gravity loads and simplifications resulting from linearization of non-linear model for modal and response spectra analyisi is acceptable.

 

Regards,


Pawel Pulak
Technical Account Specialist
Message 8 of 19
Tuctas
in reply to: bjur

  Thank you for your answer,

 

  I suppose that if we are working with elastic (linear) analysis, then only with phases we are able to do such kind of approach aren’t we?

  Is there any kind of problem when we try to combine load cases caused by vertical loads (dead and live loads) that belong in a phase (part of a structure, i.e the part without braces) with seismic load cases referring to the whole structure? Modal analysis should normally take place in the whole structure, isn’t it?

 

 In the 2nd case that you described when we use tension bars, the compression state at members that consists the bracing system wouldn’t ever appear. I personally would prefer the brace members to be active in both tension and compression (actually it is more usual that these members fail due to compression-buckling rather than tension). But anyway I would like you to explain the option “inactive bars” (I haven’t used it yet): if some members are inactive, so they don’t contribute at all in the bearing system, then why to define them..? (maybe they can be ignored-inactive only for a selected load case?)

 

  Regards. 

Message 9 of 19
Pawel.Pulak
in reply to: Tuctas

I suppose that if we are working with elastic (linear) analysis, then only with phases we are able to do such kind of approach aren’t we?

 

Yes, except of 2 separate models (2 RTD files).

 

Is there any kind of problem when we try to combine load cases caused by vertical loads (dead and live loads) that belong in a phase (part of a structure, i.e the part without braces) with seismic load cases referring to the whole structure?

 

No, there should be no problem with it. But some disadvantages can be observed:

a/ if necessary to define some combinations containing cases from different phases (combinations "between phases") then it has to be done after collecting phases. In such case any repetition of analysis will result in necessity to re-run collecting of phases, so it will be necessary to re-define combinations "between phases"

b/ for elements not existing in all phases (like bracings in your model) results for combinations "between phases" will be not available (N/A in tables) because for some components of these combinations they will be not available - no availability in NOT treated as zero.

 

Modal analysis should normally take place in the whole structure, isn’t it?

 

Yes, modal analysis should be made for complete structure.

 

 In the 2nd case that you described when we use tension bars, the compression state at members that consists the bracing system wouldn’t ever appear. I personally would prefer the brace members to be active in both tension and compression (actually it is more usual that these members fail due to compression-buckling rather than tension). But anyway I would like you to explain the option “inactive bars” (I haven’t used it yet): if some members are inactive, so they don’t contribute at all in the bearing system, then why to define them..? (maybe they can be ignored-inactive only for a selected load case?)

 

“Inactive bars” are for temporary switching off some elements when calculating various variants of structure.

 

Regards,


Pawel Pulak
Technical Account Specialist
Message 10 of 19
Tuctas
in reply to: bjur

  Thank you Pawel,

 

  O.k with the additional explanations about phases, they were necessary in order to work properly with this approach.

 

  Regards.

 

  P.S By using two separate structures (two separate .rtd files) I can’t see how we can combine the results, for instance of the upper beam that “supports” the “Λ” shape of the bracing system, obtained from the “1st” structure without braces (with load cases that contains only vertical loads) with the results obtained from the“2st” structure with braces (with lateral -seismic load cases). Unless we make the addition of the results by hand...

  For the same reason, I don’t think that even when using “advanced properties” and assuming tension/compression action in brace members and then make them “inactive”, could help us achieve such a modeling that EN1998:1-1 indicates.

Message 11 of 19
Pawel.Pulak
in reply to: Tuctas

According to remarks of Tuctas from P.S.:

Yes, you are right - both using 2 separate rtd files and using "inactive" members you have no possibility to merge the results from different variants inside Robot. So you have to do post-processing "by hand" outside of Robot.

Only using phases it can be done inside Robot.

 

Regards,


Pawel Pulak
Technical Account Specialist
Message 12 of 19
Pawel.Pulak
in reply to: Pawel.Pulak

Some update concerning point b/ of the message 9:


@pp2008 wrote:

 

b/ for elements not existing in all phases (like bracings in your model) results for combinations "between phases" will be not available (N/A in tables) because for some components of these combinations they will be not available - no availability in NOT treated as zero.

 


This limit was removed in Service Pack 3 for ARSA 2014. Can be downloaded using live update or the link below:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=22436870&linkID=13140816

 

Regards,


Pawel Pulak
Technical Account Specialist
Message 13 of 19
odo_structures
in reply to: bjur

Hi,

I dont find the attached xith with the beam example. Is it possible to get it?

Message 14 of 19

 

 

Dear Pawel

 

  1. I tried to do the same simple example that attached in the post ( 3 ) by you I was able to define the two phases ( Ph1 : without internal support & Ph2 : with internal support ) . But I couldn’t define the load cases correctly ( Ph1: self-weight & Ph2 : self-weight plus uniform load (10 KN/m) I don’t know what was the missing in order to get the correct phases collection ?  my attempt .rtd file is attached  .

 

     Please, if possible attach quick video to illustrate the idea .

 

  1. What is the best way to do the load cases modifications (adding & removing) for each phase?

 

 

Thanks in advance

Abdelrahman

 

 

 

 

 

 

Message 15 of 19

Dear Pawel

 

Please, also take a look to the attached link which is shown how did I define the phases and load cases for those phases of the same example .

 

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/community/screencast/288f66f6-8366-450e-9399-9d6109503cd9

 

Thank you

 

Abdelrahman

Message 16 of 19

Hi

 

Please, May I know what was missing in my attempt to get the correct phases collection of the attached example in post 14 and I illustrated my procedure in the video (Post 15)?

 

Any help will be appreciated.

Message 17 of 19

Hi all

 

Still I am waiting any response to clarify the issue that mentioned in post (14 & 15) of this thread.  I tried to define a simple beam with two phases.

Actually, there is no problem with phases definition but the problem with phases collection.

 

Please, could someone take a look to the attached example in post 14 and the video in post 15 to tell me what am I doing wrong?

 

Any action will be highly appreciated.

 

 

Message 18 of 19

 

Hi @Abdelrahmanfarag2000

 

Properly the problem came due to not considering the mid node when the first phase was defined.

 

Please , take a look to my quick video for this simple example .

 

Refaat

 

 

 

Message 19 of 19

Dear Refaat

  

Thank you so much. It is very appreciated help after waiting for long time.

 

Best Regards

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