AutoPIPE (Pipe Stress) and STAAD (Structural) integration

Recommended Workflow: AutoPIPE

1. Export piping model with support nodes to STAAD STAAD

2. Import piping model into STAAD 3. Insert new connecting structural nodes for pipe supports 4. Export STAAD model to AutoPIPE

AutoPIPE

5. Import STAAD model 6. Merge piping and structural model 7. Connect pipe supports to structural nodes 8. Analyze then export final piping model with support loads to STAAD

STAAD

9. Import piping model into STAAD 10. Connect pipe support nodes to structural nodes 11. Transfer pipe support loads onto structure

1. Insert Structural nodes at Pipe Support Locations

2. Capture Combined Structural + Piping Stiffness

3. Transfer Pipe Support Loads to STAAD

1. AutoPIPE - Export piping model with support nodes to STAAD After running an analysis of the system you can export the support loads to STAAD. Select Results> Export Support Loads to STAAD. AutoPIPE will created an “ADI” file in the same directory as the current model.

2. STAAD - Import piping model into STAAD Start STAAD program.

Switch to Piping Mode

Click Open File button and Select the “ADI” file exported from AutoPIPE

3. STAAD - Insert new connecting structural nodes for pipe supports

Insert new structural (black nodes) for connecting to pipe support nodes (orange).

4. STAAD - Export STAAD Model to AutoPIPE

Capture realistic combined structural + piping stiffness Open a STADD model. Select Tools > Configure User Tools.

Press the New insert button and Enter “Export to AutoPIPE”. Press the tab key, on the command line, browse for “ToAutoPIPEPUB.vbs”. After configuring the dialog as shown below, Select “OK” to exit.

To run the AutoPIPE macro, click on the icon once. A 2nd button will appear as shown below. Press “Export to AutoPIPE”.

The following dialog appears

After adjusting the dialog as required, Select OK. The Following message appears, click OK

Typically use STAAD Name

Optional Data

Select units used in STAAD model

AutoPIPE NTL file created

Enter Job and Header information

5. AutoPIPE - Import STAAD model In AutoPIPE, File > Open > AutoPIPE Batch (*.NTL) and select the NTL created from STAAD

STAAD Sections imported

Select the Beam tab on the Review Component Data screen to see the member properties

6. AutoPIPE - Merge Piping and Structure Models

Enter or click on any Base point in the model

Open Piping Model – in Real CAD coordinates

Select Edit > Paste

Select option “Use Actual Coordinates”

7. AutoPIPE - Connect pipe supports to structural nodes

Enter the structural node name

Notice the support symbol has changed i.e. no ground symbol now shown

Support Grid

8. AutoPIPE – Analyze then export final piping model with support loads to STAAD

Total piping and structural model exported with final support loads

9. STAAD - Import piping model into STAAD Same as step 2

10. STAAD - Connect pipe support nodes to structural nodes

Draw connection line between orange pipe support node and black structural node or enter the structural node in the grid shown below

Pipe support node connected to a member instead of structural node

11. STAAD - Transfer pipe support loads onto structure

The following message will appear ….which captures the difference in pipe and structure centerlines via a rigid support connection and additional moment effect on the structure. Also significant when secondary steel is necessary to connect the piping offset to the structure.

If the lever arm effect is included then all pipe support loads will have the corresponding additional moments added to the structure. If any of the supports are pinned then remove the moment from the structural node.

Additional Moment