Importing .str file (from STAAD) suggetsions: Finite Elements --> Panels

[Anonymous]

Dear Community

I have been trying to import a relatively complex plates model from STAAD.  It is a steel plated structure with several decks, and vertical plates with several orientations.

In order to do this, I understand a .str file is created by Robot SA and then a .rtd file.

During this process, the model is imported in Robot SA comprised of 'Finite Elements' with no panels.  This worked with no problems.

However, my understanding is that this method does not capitalise on the advantages of Robot SA which is to use panels with adjustable meshes and to view the results 'maps'.

Ideally I would like the Finite Elements to be assigned into panels with one panel on each level on each orientation.

I have already tried renumbering the plates on STAAD so the numbers are sequential but there are over 40 groups each of which has 20+ sets of plates, which becomes very laborious to enter with Geometry--> Panels-->Surface elements (FE) list.

Is there a way that Finite Element to Panels conversion can be further automated?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.  I am unfortunately unable to upload the model.

Kind Regards

Ben

[Pawel.Pulak]

Dear @Anonymous

Creating panels from "Surface elements (FE) list" does not require any sequential numbering of finite elements and finite elements can be selected graphically.

See the video below showing it for 2 slabs of some example model:

Defining panels for some selection of finite elements results in frozen FE meshes in such panels- i.e. they will be not automatically deleted and re-generated during each model generation.

Moreover

• when the selection of finite elements does not contain any openings the created panel will have the external contour along the perimeter and it will possible to re-mesh it.
• when the selection of finite elements contains any openings or incoherencies/"cracks" the created panel will have no external contour along the perimeter so it won't be possible to re-mesh it without defining this contour

Both above situations shown in above video.

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Regards,

[Anonymous]

Thank you @Pawel.Pulak for your response and video.  I have been using that method (and similar approach typing in the lists of FE elements to include with each panel).

However, my model is rather complex, and I wondered if there was any automation to group Finite Elements (for example within a height boundary) with similar orientations.

It appears as if it is not possible, and would need to be done by the method outlined by you.

Thanks

Ben