Getting started

Model creation video

The following video shows how to model, analyse and view results for a simple beam in GSA.

Oasys GSA: Creating a new model from Oasys on Vimeo.

Step-by-step instructions to create your first GSA model

The following example shows step-by-step instructions on how to model this simple portal frame.

Part 2 of this example will then show how to modify this frame into a concrete structure and how to add a concrete slab.

GSA overview

GSA allows engineers to create analytical and design models of a structure, then apply loads and actions to the model, analyse the behaviour, and view the analysis results as tabular data, charts, diagrams, or contour plots on the structure.

Once a model exists in GSA it can be edited in the graphics window or the base data can be edited directly via tabular views. The data required depends on the types of analyses being run.

Layers in GSA

The model exists in two layers: the Design layer represents the physical structure and the Analysis layer contains the actual finite elements to model the structure. Some items, such as nodes, may be mapped between the layers; others may exist only in one layer. The layers can be synchronised with one another using the coordination tools. You cannot change the analysis data while results exist that depend on that data.

The model can either be imported from a 3D modelling program or created within GSA in the Design layer, the Analysis layer, or both. Wizards assist the initial model creation and subsequent editing.

To identify the layer you are currently in, look for the following legend in the top right corner of the graphics window:

To change layers, right click anywhere in the window, and select Switch layer.

You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Alt+D.

Key graphics symbols

Syntax	As described in this guide	Function
	Purple square	Selected item
	Blue dot	Node
	Red dot	Unused node
	Yellow dot	Node where members intersect
	Red square	Nearest node
	Red arrow	Element axis
	Grey arrow line(s)	Element or member present on the other layer but not on the current one. Undeformed geometry (if Deformed image is active).

Setting up a new model

Create a new model

1. Open GSA and select New model wizard. Alternatively, if you already have a model open, go to File > New from the top menu, (or click Ctrl+N) to bring up the New model wizard.

2. Name your project and click Next.

3. Set up Units as appropriate then click Next.

The next screen allows you to specify design codes, material grades, and sections.

Adding codes, grades and sections

You should now see the New model wizard: Properties:

Use the drop down fields to select steel and concrete design codes and grades.

Adding a steel catalogue

1. In the properties window, select Steel catalogue > Add.

2. This will bring up the Add catalogue sections dialogue box. The material grade you chose in the previous section will be selected automatically. The analysis material will be set to 'from Grade'.

3. Set the Name to '<d>' (if it is not already) to use the section description as the section name in your model.

4. Select your catalogue, and type, and choose from the drop down options.

5. Then select your section to add.

6. Click OK to add the section.

Note: Hold the Ctrl key to add multiple sections from the catalogue.

The example below uses British Steel as the catalogue, Universal Columns (UC) as the type and a section of 203x203x60.

7. You will be taken back to the New model wizard: Properties window. To continue adding catalogue sections, (e.g. for the beam section in the example) repeat steps 1-6 above.

8. Click Finish to exit the Wizard and start work on your model.

Creating nodes and 1D members

This section describes how to add nodes to your model and create 1D elements by:

• Extruding them from the nodes

• Sketching them in the graphics window

Add support nodes

1. Go to Explorer pane > Data > Nodes to open the nodes data table.

2. Set the first node at (0,0,0).

3. Click the first cell and press the Enter key to copy all default values from the line above:

In the example below, we have entered '10' as the x coordinate for row 2, then hit Enter to copy all subsequent values in the line above.

Tip: To enlarge the font size in the table. Click Ctrl then scroll up using your mouse wheel.

4. In your graphic view, you should now see your nodes on the grid, represented as red dots. Select the Plan tool: or press P to change your plan view:

Setting column type

1. From the Design layer, select the Entities tool: or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Alt+E

2. This will bring up the Member properties pane. Press v to show the section of the item you are about to create:

3. Type E to select members.

4. The property will be set to '1'. The columns you draw will use the first section defined in the section library.

Under the property drop down, the category codes you have just set up will be visible.

Creating columns by extrusion

1. To begin, change the graphic view. Click the Isometric (keyboard shortcut i) or Perspective view tool (keyboard shortcut k)

2. Click the Nodes selection tool: or use keyboard shortcut n.

3. Drag or click to select the two nodes you have created. They will show as a purple square:

4. In the top menu, go to Sculpt > Extrude selection.

5. In the extrude dialogue box, select your extrusion axis (the default is z).

6. Add the number of increments and increment length.

7. Tick Include 1D members along extrusion:

8. Click Preview to check your elements.

9. Click OK. Columns are displayed in the graphics window.

Inspecting elements in the graphics window

• The Resize to fit tool changes the graphic view:

• From here, you can click and drag the right mouse button to rotate the view.

• The Section display tool gives a 3D view of your columns:

• Use the Select elements/members tool to select a column and view its properties:

• These are displayed in the Messages pane (usually found at the bottom of the graphic window) and Properties pane (typically on the right).

Creating a beam by sculpting

1. Select the Add entities tool: or use keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Alt+E .

2. Return to the Member property pane. If you have set up a beam, in the property drop down, change the value to '2' to use the beam section.

3. Click on the node at the top of one of your columns. A line representing the beam you are about to draw will appear.

4. Click the node at the top of the other column to complete the beam.

Setting restraints

1. Click the Node select icon: or use keyboard shortcut N

2. Select the nodes at the bottom the columns to display the Nodes properties pane.

3. Go to Restraints > Fix to restrain the nodes.

4. Select the Label restraints tool to show restraints in the graphics window:

Mesh the model

Since we started by modeling the geometry in the Design layer, we'll now need to create the corresponding elements needed for finite element analysis in the Analysis layer. This is needed in order to run the analysis and inspect applied loads, thus we recommend carrying out this step once the model geometry is created.

1. Go to the top menu. Select Model > Coordination tools > Create elements from members or click the following toolbar button:

2. A dialogue box will appear. Set the member list to All, and press OK.

Note: You can now toggle between viewing the members in the Design layer and the analysis elements in the Analysis layer. To toggle between the layers, switch layers. To continue working with members, stay in the Design layer.

Applying loads

This section explains how to:

• Add self weight to a model
• Add a load to a node
• Add a load to a member
• Display loads

Adding self weight loads

1. Go to Explorer pane > Data > Loading > Gravity loading.

2. Click the first cell of row 1. Press Enter to copy the default row.

Note: This will calculate the self-weight based on the material density and element volume.

Creating a lateral load on a node

1. Select the node at (0, 0, 4) and press Ctrl+C to copy the selection.

Note: The node coordinates and other settings will appear in the Properties pane.

2. Go to Explorer pane > Data > Loading > Nodal loading > Node loads to open the node loads table.

3. Select the first nodes cell on row 1, then press Ctrl+V to paste the node you have selected.

4. Set the load case to '2' and change the direction of the load to 'x'. Set your value, e.g., 2kN.

Tip: You can change the unit of your values via the units button in the top toolbar:

Creating a uniformly distributed load on a beam

To create a load on a 1D entity, you have the option to load the member (GSA will transfer the loads to its constituent elements) or load the elements directly. The following shows how to create a uniform load on a member.

1. Ensure that you are working in the Design layer by checking at the legend in the top right corner of the graphics window.. If you are currently on the Analysis layer, you'll need to switch layers.

2. Click the Select members/elements tool: or use keyboard shortcut E, select your cross-beam and use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+C to copy.

3. Go to Explorer pane > Data > Loading > 1D entity loading > Beam loads to open the Beam loads table.

4. Select Member in the Loaded entities type dropdown.

5. Use Ctrl+V to paste the selected member into the row 1 Loaded entities list cell.

6. Set the load case to '2' and select uniform for the type of the load.

7. Specify the value of the load, e.g., -5kN/m in the z direction.

Display loads in the graphics window

1. Go to the cases dropdown at the top of the graphics window and select L2.

2. Click the Loads diagram tool to display the loads:

The node loads will be displayed as purple arrows while the beam load will be displayed as pink arrows.

Note: Loads can only be displayed if the analysis elements associated with the load have been created. If members are being loaded, its constituent elements need to first be created before it is possible to display the loads. See the mesh the model section for how to create analysis elements from members.

Running a simple static analysis

After creating a load case, you can now run a static analysis, and view your results as a table or in the graphics window.

1. Select the Analyse all icon:

2. Your analysis is detailed in a report window.

Note: You can view this at any time in Reports tab of the Messages pane.

3. Return to the graphics window. In the cases drop down select the Analysis case option.

4. Click the Deformed image icon to show the deformed shape:

5. bending moments are visible via the Bending moment tool:

Other common results options are available to view in the diagrams toolbar:

5. Go to the Diagrams tab of the Properties pane to access all of the available view options:

Displaying results as a data table

1. Go to Explorer pane > Output > Beam and spring element results > Beam and spring forces and moments:

2. This will open a table of results. Select Elements in the drop down at the top of the window. Type '3' to show forces on the cross-beam.

Running a modal analysis

To run a more complex analysis you need to set up the specific analysis parameters.

1. Go to Explorer pane > Data > Tasks and cases > Analysis tasks.

2. Click the New analysis task icon:

This will open the Analysis wizard.

3. Select the Modal option to define the parameters that control the modal analysis, then Next:

4. In the next window, set your number of modes, but leave the other parameters unchanged, then click Next:

You have now set up modal analysis, and GSA will run the dynamic analysis.

5. In the graphics window, go to the Cases drop down and select the analysis case labelled Mode.

6. Click the Deformed image icon to show the deformed shape:

7. And the Animate tool to animate the mode shape:

Node: If you cannot see the deformed shape, use the Isometric or Perspective tools to rotate the view: /

Modifying the model

This section shows you how to create a concrete section, assign it to existing members and duplicate existing members.

Defining concrete sections

You can create different material properties for your Analysis and Design layers. If you have code materials for design, you can derive the analysis properties from them.

When defining sections for columns and beams, you can set which properties you will use. This section shows how to create a 600 x 600 rectangular concrete section.

1. Go to Explorer pane > Data > Properties > Section Library.

2. In the next empty row of the table, click the first cell, then the Wizard icon:

Tip: You can also bring up the wizard by double-clicking the next empty row, or pressing Ctrl+W.

3. In the Name field type '600 x 600'.

4. Change the Material to concrete.

5. Under Grade, you can either add the grade you defined earlier, or select Add code material to add another.

6. Return to the section library table. Leave the analysis field as 'from Grade'.

7. Click Profile and tick 'Rectangular'.

8. Click Next and define the profile as '600 x 600':

9. Click Next and Finish.

The profile definition STD R 600 600 will appear in the profile field, with your defined section on the right. Click OK to close the section definition wizard and return to the Section Library list.

Converting existing columns to concrete

Before you can make changes to your analysis model, you must delete any existing analysis results. This section shows how to delete the beam and change your existing column sections to the new concrete ones.

1. Delete your analysis results by clicking the Delete analyses icon:

2. In the graphic view, change to the Design layer.

Note: If the structure appears grey, check that the Deformed shape icon is switched off:

3. Click the Y elevation icon: or use keyboard shortcut Y:

4. Press E to enter Element select mode.

5. Click on the beam, then press Delete.

6. Click and drag around the columns to select them.

7. The elements property pane should now be visible. Select the new concrete section in the property drop down list.

Tip: You can also access the properties pane by using ***Right click > Modify (open properties pane)***.

8. In the top menu, go to: Model > Coordination tools > Synchronise members and elements or use the toobar button: to update the Analysis layer elements.

Duplicating concrete columns

1. Select your columns in the graphics window. Click the Copy icon to duplicate: This will open the Copy elements dialogue box.

2. Set the number of copies to '2'.

3. Set the amount to shift 8m in the Y direction.

4. Click OK to return to the graphics window. You should now see six columns. Rotate the view to inspect the columns by right-clicking and dragging.

5. Click the Section display icon: to see a 3D view of your columns.

Creating a 2D member in the design layer

This section shows you how to create a slab with a void, and mesh it using a 2D member. This allows you to create and mesh complex slabs and walls. It covers:

• Creating a grid at a specified elevation
• Defining two 2D members on the current grid
• Specifying that one of the members is a void
• Auto-meshing the slab

Note: This sections assumes that you have six concrete columns. If you are following this guide as a step-by-step tutorial, then you will need to delete any existing analysis results before proceeding.

Create the grid to draw your slab on

1. Return to the graphics window. For this example we will begin in the Design layer.

2. If necessary, click the Draw grid icon:

3. Right-click a node at the top of one of your columns and select 'Set current grid to this' from the option menu. You will be asked if you wish to create a new grid plane.

4. Click Yes to create a new grid plane at the top of the columns.

Draw a 2D member to define the perimeter of your slab

You can now define the shape of your slab by drawing on the plane.

1. Select the Add entities tool:

2. In the Properties pane, set the member type to 2D generic:

3. Click on the first corner of your slab. Continue clicking the other corners in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction.

4. Finish by clicking back on the first corner, or pressing the Return key.

Define a void cutter member to create a hole in your slab

1. Select the Add entities tool:

2. In the Properties pane, set the member type to 2D void cutter.

3. Make a small rectangle in the centre of the larger one.

Auto-meshing the slab

1. In the top menu, go to: Model > Coordination tools > Create elements from members or click the following toolbar button:

2. The members will be meshed into multiple quad and triangle elements.

Checking the properties of your slab

1. To check your quad definition. Go to: Explorer pane > Data > Elements.

2. The property cell is highlighted in red. This shows that you do not have that 2D property defined.

Setting the properties of your slab

1. Go to Explorer pane > Data > Properties > 2D properties:

2. In the table that opens, click the first empty row and press Enter to fill the row with default values. Confirm the type as shell, and the material as concrete. Check that the grade and analysis values are appropriate.

3. Set the thickness of your slab to '250mm'.

4. Close the 2D properties table. Confirm that the red highlighting has gone from the elements table.

Check your element data in the graphics window

1. In the graphics window, you should now be able to see that your slab is thicker.

2. Click the Section display tool to change to a line view of your model.

3. In the Properties pane, select the Labels tab. Click On elements and members, then, tick Element IDs and Property IDs:

4. The graphics view will now show the labels, and which associated property has been assigned to each element.

Note: The slab will have a property of PA1. You may need to zoom in to separate the text from the adjacent objects.

5. Return to the labels tab of the Properties pane and tick Analysis material IDs.

• Items labelled as m0 shows the analysis material is derived from the material grade.
• Tick Material grade IDs in the Properties pane, to confirm your choices.
• Concrete material grades are prefixed with a c.

6. In the labels tab, tick Element axes to confirm that the z-axis (blue line) of your slab is pointing upwards. If not go to Sculpt > Flip elements to correct it.

Applying a load to the slab

You can apply loads to members, elements or apply a grid load across all the elements on the plane. This section describes how to apply load to a list of members.

Define a member list

Defined lists allow you to refer to a set of entities by a name. The following explains how to define a member list.

1. Ensure that you are in the Design layer by looking at the legend in the top right corner of the graphics window. If you are currently in the Analysis layer, you'll need to switch layers.

2. Click the Select members/elements tool: or use keyboard shortcut E, to select the slab member

3. To permanently save this selection as a list, Right click > Save selection as list. Give your list a name and save.

Note: Lists can also be edited in Explorer pane > Data > General data > Lists.

Apply a load to a 2D member

1. Go to Explorer pane > Data > Loading > 2D entity loading > Face loads

2. Double click the first cell to bring up the 2D element face load wizard.

3. Select Member in the entity dropdown

4. In the entity list field, use the dropdown the select the list you just created.

5. Set the load case to '3'.

6. Add a load of −5 kN/m2 in the z global direction and click OK.

6. Return to the graphics window.

7. In the cases drop down, select L3, then the Load diagrams icon:

8. A face load arrow will be displayed in the centre of each 2D element.

Displaying the slab displacement as a contour

1. Go to Explorer pane > Data > Tasks and cases > Analysis tasks and right click on each entry. Select Delete.

2. Press Analyse all to analyse the load:

This will recreate the static analysis task and add in all the new load cases.

3. In the graphics window type P on your keyboard to change to a plan view.

4. In the Properties pane, select the Contours tab:

Scroll down until you find the 2D element results options.

5. Select an option to display the element displacement results.