Graphical Results Output Error for Phased Self Weight Combinations

[Anonymous]

I have analysed a model using phased construction in Robot 2017, including the creation of all the load combinations. I can see all the results in tabular format for base reactions, member forces etc., however the software will not display 'Diagrams for Bars' output in the view mode for any load combinations which include the phased self-weight as part of the combination. My colleague is having a similar issue, but seems to recall being able to see the loads in the earlier 2016 version.

Can you please advise if there is a glitch in the software in terms of visual displays, or maybe there is a step I am missing to allow these results to be displayed visually? The steps I am going through to analyse this model are outlined below (in progress internal guide for our designers wishing to use phased construction analysis).

1. Check that the FE meshes in all panels are frozen. This can be checked by going to Views – Tables – Plates and Shells. The mesh condition is noted in the final column.
2. Open the ‘Load Table’ and ‘View’ windows to allow easy selection of elements for each phase.
3. Create a self-weight case for the whole structure. First create a self-weight load type, then define the load as self-weight for the entire structure.
4. Once this has been completed, change the self-weight from ‘Whole of Structure’ to ‘Part of Structure’ as this base self-weight case will be used to develop the load case for each floor in each ‘phase’ of the construction.
5. To define the phases of construction, go to Geometry – Phases – Phase Selection.
6. Select the base storey of the structure and define this as the first phase.
7. Select the base storey and the storey above and define as the second phase.
8. Select the bottom three storeys and define as the third phase.
9. Continue this process all the way up to the top storey.
10. Once this has been completed, select ‘Phase 1’ in the Phase Selection tool and ensure the entire base level has been selected.
11. Select ‘Phase 2’ in the Phase Selection tool and ensure only the second storey of structure is selected. Check in the ‘Load Table’ to ensure that the elements from the first storey are not also highlighted.
12. Continue this process until all phases have been defined. This can then be checked by cycling through the phases in the ‘Phase Selection’ menu, where in each situation, the top floor structure should be highlighted, including the structure self-weight loads.
13. Generate the computational model.
14. Run the analysis. Once this is complete, the results will still say ‘out of date’ until the phases have been collected.
15. Collect the phases by going into Geometry – Phases – Phase Collection. The ‘base phase’ should be the last phase you have created i.e. the top floor of the structure. All other phases below should be ticked, but not the ‘base phase’.
16. Once the phases have been collected, the ‘Phased Self-Weight’ combination will then need to be defined manually. This combination should be defined as an SLS load case, with all the self-weight phase cases accumulated.
17. All additional load cases must be defined in the most complete load case, not the ‘Phase 0’ collected load case. For example, if there are 10 phases to the construction, Phase 10 must be highlighted in the ‘Phase Selection’ menu before the ‘Load Type’ is added or the applied loads are defined. Be aware that when you re-open the ‘Loads’ table, it may default to the collected phase, so always check the title of the table to make sure you are in the correct phase.
18. Once a ‘Load Type’ has been defined and the loads added to the model for that particular case, go to the ‘Table Edition’ tab in the ‘Load Table’ and copy the full load details into an Excel spreadsheet. This ensures that, if any loads disappear following analysis, the ‘Load Type’ can be added again and the input data simply copied back across from Excel into Robot.
19. Create the ‘Load Combinations’ in the model, but then cut these combinations from the ‘Edit’ tab and paste into an Excel spreadsheet. When analysing a phased model, all combinations will be deleted on analysis, hence will need to be reinstated after the analysis has been completed.
20. Before analysing the model, check that there are no load cases remaining in the collected ‘Phase 0’. All loads to be analysed must sit in final phase i.e. Phase 10 for a 10-phase model.
21. Generate the computational model, then carry out the full analysis.
22. Once the model has been reanalysed, Stages 8 and 9 need to be repeated. This will re-create the ‘Phased Self Weight’ combination.
23. The loads can be verified by reviewing the Reactions table total loads, as well as assessing the floor plates to check columns supported on transfer beams are not shedding loads.
24. Once the load cases have been verified, reinstate the ‘Load Combinations’ by copy and pasting back from the Excel spreadsheet. The combinations will need to be checked under ‘Manual Load Combinations’ to ensure they are denoted as ULS or SLS correctly. These combinations should be formed in the collected ‘Phase 0’ base phase, along with the Phased Self Weight combination. All results should then be available.