STAAD.Pro Physical Modeler Help

Modular Water Tank Tutorial

In this tutorial, you will use the Structure Wizard to parametrically create a modular water tank.

3D rendering of water tank with one compartment of fluid

Parent topic: Tutorials

Create an Empty Physical Model

Close any open models in STAAD.Pro or the STAAD.Pro Physical Modeler.

  1. In STAAD.Pro, select the New tab in the Start page.
  2. Type Modular Tank Tutorial in the File Name field.
  3. Select a convenient location to store the STAAD files.
  4. Select Physical as the Type.
  5. Select English as the Units.
  6. Type Modular Water Tank Tutorial in the Title field.
  7. Click Create. STAAD.Pro opens directly to the STAAD.Pro Physical Modeler.

Add Concrete as a Material

  1. On the Catalog ribbon tab, select the Material tool in the Sections and Materials group.

    The Add material dialog opens.
  2. Select Concrete from the Specification drop-down list.
  3. Select the Concrete material in the Name list.
  4. Click OK. The concrete material is added to the model catalog.
Tip: To add specific concrete grade material properties, you can alternatively use the Custom type.

Add Tank Geometry Data

Tip: Right-click and drag the model down and to the left to see the geometry changes updated as you enter them. Alternatively, you can simply select the Isometric View tool.
  1. On the Model ribbon tab, select the Structure Wizard tool in the Create group.

     The STAAD.Pro Physical Modeller Structure Wizard window opens.
  2. In the Geometry group, type 3 in the No of compartments.
  3. Type 16 in in the Base thickness field.
    Note: You can type in values with any length units and it will be automatically converted to the current units of length.
  4. Type 60 ft in the Total length field and then type 24 ft in the Total width field.
  5. Type 6 in in the Toe to edge of walls field.
  6. Type 16 ft in the Height of walls field.
  7. Type 10 in in both the Outer walls thickness and Separator walls thickness fields.
  8. Leave the Has columns option checked and use the default sizes for columns and beams.
  9. Leave the Material selected as Concrete (which it will be if this is the only material in the catalog).
  10. Leave the Include roof slab check box cleared.

Now is a good time to save your model. You can save your template progress by selecting the Save tool in the Wizard window.

Add Support and Load Data

Tip: If the data field and option descriptions are difficult to read with the current line breaks, you can click and drag the border between the Model View and the Properties panels to widen the Properties panel.
  1. Clear the Pile below support check box and the Allow tensile forces check box if either are checked
  2. Select Soil in the Support foundation drop-down list.
  3. Type 650 (kip/ft2/ft) in the Soil modulus field.
    Tip: As this is the default units used in English, you do not need to type them in this field.
  4. Select Load Case from the Load condition type drop-down list.
  5. Leave the Include self weight option checked and the Fluid density as the default of 0.0624 kip/ft3 (the density for water in English units).
  6. Click in the Compartment fluid height drop-down list. The list of fluid heights for each compartment is displayed in the pop-up table.
  7. Type the following heights in this table:
    ID Height (in.)
    1 144
    2 60
    3 10
  8. Click OK.
Tip: To view the individual load cases for each tank compartment, select them from the Load drop-down list in the ribbon tool bar View group.

Now is a good time to save your model. You can save your template progress by selecting the Save tool in the Wizard window.

Transfer the Tank Model Data

  1. Specify the reference point for the model. This will be where the tank model is inserted into the physical model from the Structure Wizard.
    1. Select the Reference Point tool.

    2. Select a point on the Model View. For example, the right-front-most corner of the base.
    3. Click the Reference Point tool again to fix the point.
  2. Select the Transfer Template tool.

     The Structure Wizard closes and the Insert Model dialog opens.
  3. In this tutorial, leave the Insertion Point as the default (the WCS origin). You can specify a point in any coordinate system previously created if you have a need to locate the tank elsewhere.
  4. Click Preview. A dashed line version of the tank is temporarily shown in the model view. You can use the model navigation tools to update the view as needed to confirm the placement.
  5. Click OK. The model is added in a wireframe view with all fluid loads as area loads.
Tip: If it looks a bit "off" at first, you confirm that the walls, base, and members are in the correct orientation by select the 3D Rendering tool in the Toggle Attributes group on the View ribbon tab.