Machine Foundation Wizard

STAAD Foundation Advanced v7 can parametrically create, analyze, and design foundations for vibratory machinery per ACI 351.3R-04 using a new wizard feature. The program uses the STAAD.Pro engine for dynamic analysis and produces reporting with dynamic graphs embedded in the calculation sheet.

Rotating and reciprocating machinery is common in production plant facilities and these devices typically require uninterrupted use. Downtime in these heavy machines can be very costly and thus designing machine foundations within permissible operating limits of this type of machinery is critical. These machines cause dynamic forces and vibrations and excessive vibrations are detrimental to the machinery, supporting foundations, and any operating personnel.

The STAAD Foundation Advanced vibrating machine feature is capable of taking values provided by mechanical and geotechnical engineers for machine loads and soil parameters, respectively. Alternately, machine load and soil spring properties can be calculated based on the equations provided in ACI 351.3R-04.

Single, combined, and combined with gearbox block foundation configurations can be designed using the wizard.

A dynamic analysis is performed with analysis parameters specified by the engineer using the STAAD.Pro analysis engine.

Reporting

STAAD Foundation Advanced v7 includes reporting for vibrating machine foundations in the calculations sheet. Along with repeating the input values (for validation), detailed calculations for load generation, soil spring generation, mode shape results, frequency check, and vibration amplitude check per ACI 351.3R-04. The calculated values for supported machinery are plotted on ACI 351.3R-04 Figures 3.9, 3.10, and 3.11 in the calculations.