Description: Using PIPELINK integration between
STAAD & AutoPIPE
Product: AutoPIPE
Version number: V8i (v9.3)
Submitted by: MU
Revison : 0.0
Table of Contents
PIPELINK (Workflow 1) AutoPIPE -> STAAD 3
Open AutoPIPE Model ....................................................................................... 4
Analyze for Gravity, thermal, 2 seismic loadings .................................................. 5
Generate AutoPIPE Load Combination Descriptions .............................................. 7
Export to STAAD using Pipelink .......................................................................... 8
(File > Export) ................................................................................................. 8
Open STAAD Model ......................................................................................... 10
Change to Piping Mode .................................................................................... 11
Import the PIPELINK Model .............................................................................. 11
Run the STAAD Support Connection Wizard to Connect all or some Supports to the
Structure ....................................................................................................... 12
Transfer Piping Loads to Structure .................................................................... 18
Defining Seismic Load Combinations ................................................................. 18
PIPELINK (Workflow 2) Multi User .................................................... 24
PIPELINK (Workflow 3) STAAD -> AutoPIPE.................................... 27
Review Import Logs and resulting structure & connections ................................... 27
Analyze STAAD Model ...................................................................................... 28
Export to AutoPIPE using Pipelink ...................................................................... 28
(Piping > Export) ............................................................................................ 28
Open AutoPIPE Model & Import Pipelink Model .................................................... 30
Review Import Logs and Resulting Structure & Connections ................................. 33
PIPELINK (Workflow 4) STAAD Displacements -> AutoPIPE ....... 36
Transfer Piping Loads to Structure .................................................................... 36
Re-Run STAAD Piping Connection Wizard ........................................................... 37
Transfer Piping Loads to Structure .................................................................... 38
Export to AutoPIPE using Pipelink ...................................................................... 40
(Piping > Export) ............................................................................................ 40
Open AutoPIPE Model & Import Pipelink Model .................................................... 41
Review Pipe Support Displacements .................................................................. 43
PIPELINK (Workflow 1) AutoPIPE -> STAAD
Open Existing AutoPIPE Model
Analyze for Gravity, thermal, 2
seismic loadings
Import the PIPELINK Model
Into STAAD
Run the Support Connection
Wizard to Connection all Supports
to the Structure
Export to STAAD using Pipelink
(File > Export)
Open STAAD Model & Select Piping
Mode
Workflow 1: Starting in AutoPIPE with Piping Model only
Transfer Piping Loads to Structure
Define STAAD Load Combinations
Open AutoPIPE Model
Open Model Integ_auto1.DAT
Analyze for Gravity, thermal, 2 seismic loadings
Load > Static Analysis Sets
Analyze > Static
View Results max stress = 67% at Bend C12
Generate AutoPIPE Load Combination Descriptions
Tools > Combinations (Select non-code combinations)
Select combination options and Generate default non-code descriptions
This is useful for the Structural Engineer to understand the AutoPIPE pipe stress loadings
Export to STAAD using Pipelink
(File > Export)
PIPELINK File created for Transfer to the Structural Team
(MDB file which can be opened in MS ACCESS)
Open STAAD Model
Open Model : Integ_sample1.std
Change to Piping Mode
Import the PIPELINK Model
Mode > Piping, from the Piping Menu , Select Import
Run the STAAD Support Connection Wizard to Connect all or
some Supports to the Structure
First time the Support connection Wizard will start automatically
By Default all supports and anchors are selected but can filter by support type or
unconnected or connected. In this example we will only connect Vstops and Guides.
Next > Select which beams to consider for connection. Can also filter by Section
property, groups of beams or saved view screen.
Next > Select which Beam NODES to consider for connection.
Hint: Create new nodes to transfer actual structural displacements to AutoPIPE
Connections are made in seconds
To manually change a connection graphically
Typical moment resisting guides
Transfer Piping Loads to Structure
In Piping Mode, Select Piping > Transfer Loads
This will define the mapping of AutoPIPE load cases to STAAD Primary or Reference load
cases. By default class = Reference.
For Workflows transferring the Structure to AutoPIPE, it is recommended to set all piping
loads to reference loads and add them to the STAAD primary load cases as shown below
Defining Seismic Load Combinations
1) In STAAD.Pro
a. Define the structural model.
b. Import the AutoPIPE support reactions into a series of Reference Load cases,
say R1 to R4 for seismic , R5 for the gravity, R6 for pressure, R7 for thermal
c. Define the UBC command along with the masses that need to be included,
which would include a reference to the pipe gravity load case:-
d. Define the UBC load cases that will be required, set the category of these as
seismic (these must be the first load cases in the STAAD file, typically these
would be:-
i. +X
ii. X
iii. +Z
iv. Z
e. Add the appropriate pipe seismic reference load case to the appropriate
primary UBC load case. E.g.
Primary
Loadcase
STAAD Loading
AutoPIPE
Case
Pipe Reference
Case
STRUCT PIPE
AND STRUCT +X
UBC X 1.0 E1 R1
STRUCT PIPE
AND STRUCT -X
UBC X -1.0 E2 R2
STRUCT PIPE
AND STRUCT +Z
UBC Z 1.0 E3 R3
STRUCT PIPE
AND STRUCT -Z
UBC Z -1.0 E4 R4
f. Create the other required basic primary load cases dead, live wind etc.
g. Create the combinations using the Automatic load generator. As the pipe
reactions have been included in the same primary load case as the seismic
loads from the structural UBC engine, there should only be 4 seismic
primary load cases defined. This would then create the necessary
combinations with each of the seismic primary load cases being considered
independently.
1) The Load combination generator should include a description for each rule which is
used to provide a description to each combination that has been generated. A
default description could be Rule 1, Rule 2 etc would result in combinations:-
a. Rule 1 (1)
b. Rule 1 (2)
c. Rule 2 (1)
d. Rule 2 (2)
e. Rule 2 (3) etc....
The user can specify a more useful description for their use. This would make it
possible to see which rules have generated any specific combination. Also show
these in the Load Combination Generator:-
The current command shows the combination is generated from a specific code
and table, but not which specific rule.
2) The UI showing the combinations lists the load cases as Load 1, Load 2 etc:-
The sample Tutorial model 1 : Integ_sample1.std
Has the following IBC seismic and primary load cases definitions
PIPELINK (Workflow 2) Multi User
Repeat Workflow 1 for all 4 separate models
PIPELINK (Workflow 3) STAAD -> AutoPIPE
Open Existing STAAD Model with
connected piping system
Analyze for Primary Load Cases
Review Import Logs and resulting
structure & connections
Analyze Combined Structure &
Piping in AutoPIPE
Export to AutoPIPE using Pipelink
(Piping > Export)
Open AutoPIPE Model & Import
Pipelink Model
Workflow 3: Starting in STAAD then export the structure to evaluate
combined structural and piping stiffness in AutoPIPE
Open Existing STAAD Model
Open STAAD model : Integ_sample1.std
Analyze STAAD Model
Export to AutoPIPE using Pipelink
(Piping > Export)
Click Use Blank to export PIPELINK file same as STAAD filename
Note: It is not necessary but desirable to have the same PIPELINK filename exchanging between STAAD &
AutoPIPE. If click on the Use Blank button it will default to the STAAD filename. Otherwise browse to the
PIPELINK file imported from AutoPIPE and only new data like the Structure, restraints, releases, offsets and/or
structural displacements will be updated to the PIPELINK file
Open AutoPIPE Model & Import Pipelink Model
Review Import Logs and Resulting Structure & Connections
Model saved as INTEG_AUTO1a.DAT for reference
Analyze Combined Structure & Piping in AutoPIPE
View Results max stress = 47% at Bend E05
PIPELINK (Workflow 4) STAAD Displacements -> AutoPIPE
Open Existing STAAD Model with
connected piping system
Analyze for Primary Load Cases
Review Pipe Support
Displacements
Export to AutoPIPE using Pipelink
(Piping > Export)
Open AutoPIPE Model & Import
Pipelink Model
Workflow 4: Starting in STAAD then export the structural
displacements to evaluate structural sway on the piping model in
AutoPIPE
Re-Run STAAD Piping Connection
Wizard
Transfer Piping Loads to Structure
Open Existing STAAD Model with connected piping system
Check STAAD model : Integ_sample4.std
Re-Run STAAD Piping Connection Wizard
Check the option to create new nodes
Hint: Create new nodes to transfer actual structural displacements to AutoPIPE
Transfer Piping Loads to Structure
In Piping Mode, Select Piping > Transfer Loads
This will define the mapping of AutoPIPE load cases to STAAD Primary or Reference load
cases.
Note: Only displacement results for STAAD primary load cases can be exported to
AutoPIPE.
One Recommendation for defining STAAD displacements to transfer to AutoPIPE is as
follows:
Define the Pipe Gravity load (e.g. R1) in the Seismic definition so the mass of the piping
system is considered in the static and dynamic seismic loading.
The AutoPIPE seismic horizontal forces e.g. E1, E2 etc (static seismic 1 etc) at supports
will be added to the corresponding seismic primary load cases as shown above when
these piping seismic cases are defined as class = primary.
Export to AutoPIPE using Pipelink
(Piping > Export)
Open AutoPIPE Model & Import Pipelink Model
Review Pipe Support Displacements
