SAP2000 Latest Version: V26.0.0
OVERVIEW
SAP2000 is general-purpose civil-engineering software ideal for the analysis and design of any type of structural system, including stadiums, towers, industrial plants, offshore structures, piping systems, buildings, dams, soils, machine parts and many others.
Basic and advanced systems, ranging from 2D to 3D, of simple geometry to complex, may be modeled, analyzed, designed, and optimized using a practical and intuitive object-based modeling environment that simplifies and streamlines the engineering process. Created by engineers for effective engineering, SAP2000 is the ideal software tool for users of any experience level, designing any structural system.
Enhanced User Interface
Dockable Windows
MODELLING
TEMPLATES
SAP2000 has a wide selection of templates for quickly starting a new model. SAP2000 includes parametric templates for the following types of structures: Simple Beams, 3D Trusses, 3D Frames, Storage Vessels, Staircases, Dam Structures, and Pipes.
MODEL VIEWS
View and manipulate analytical and physical models with great precision. Easily define custom views and developed elevations to view and manipulate complex geometry with ease.
Object Model View
Element Model View
GRID SYSTEMS
In SAP2000, grids can be defined as cartesian or cylindrical. There is no limit to the number of grid systems in a model and they can be rotated in any direction or placed at any origin within the model.
PLANS AND ELELVATIONS
Plan and elevation views are automatically generated at every grid line to allow for quick navigation of the model. Users can create their own elevation sections by using our Developed Elevation feature.
INTERRACTIVE DATABASE EDITING
Interactive database editing allows users to edit model data in a table view which simplifies the task of making changes to the model. Tables are easily exportable and importable from Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access.
SELECTED FEATURES & ADVANCED ANALYSIS
BUILT-IN STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS
SAP2000 has all kinds of commonly used structural components, which are joints, frames, cables, tendons, shells, solids, links, hinges and springs. Users only need to change the dimensions and it is ready to be used in the model. Standard steel sections from around the world are also available in SAP2000 installation folder which can be imported if it is required.
JOINTS
SAP2000 automatically create joints at structural object intersections or internal joints when meshing structural objects. Joint coordinates and information may be displayed on screen in the model window or in tabular format.
FRAME SECTIONS
There are a vast variety of different frame section templates for users to choose. Even non-prismatic and built up steel sections can be easily defined. Use our Section Designer for more complex sections.
LINEAR/NONLINEAR SPRINGS & LINKS
SAP2000 has many different spring and link elements available for users to accurately represent the behaviour of a structure. This includes linear, multi-linear elastic, multi-linear plastic, gaps (compression only), hooks (tension only), dampers, friction isolators, rubber isolators, T/C Isolators, frequency-dependent springs and frequency-dependent dampers.
Links
Springs
CABLES
Cable elements are highly nonlinear elements used to model the catenary behavior of slender cables under their self-weight. Tension-stiffening and large deflection nonlinearity are inherently included in the formulation.
TENDONS
Tendons are easily drawn as independent objects, with geometry specified as straight lines, parabolas, circular curves, or other arbitrary shapes. Tendon loads, including all losses, are easily defined in SAP2000.
SHELLS
The shell element is a type of area object that is used to model membrane, plate, and shell behavior in planar and three-dimensional structures. The shell material may be homogeneous or layered throughout; material nonlinearity can also be considered when using the layered shell.
SOLIDS
The solid element is an eight-node element for modeling three-dimensional structures and solids. It is based upon an isoparametric formulation that includes nine optional incompatible bending modes and is useful for modeling objects in which loading, boundary conditions, section properties, or reactions vary by thickness.
SECTION DESIGNER
SAP2000 has a built-in section designer which lets user model any customized section they may need to be analysed or designed. All sections properties, biaxial interaction diagrams, and moment curvature diagrams are automatically calculated.
ADVANCED MESHING
Meshing is a very easy task in SAP2000. All types of elements can be meshed effectively with few clicks. Not only conventional physical meshing is available but users can use internal meshing in which the actual meshing is assigned as a property and can be modified at any time without the hassle of re-merging elements.
Another unique feature is innovative “Automatic Edge Constraint”. The Automatic Edge Constraint is an internal algorithm that will address the issue of mismatched meshes. For example, if the nodes of a ramp and a wall do not match up, SAP2000 will internally connect all mismatched meshes using the algorithm to act as a “zipper” between the elements.
Meshing Overview
Edge Constraints
RESPONSE SPECTRUM & TIME HISTORY ANALYSIS
Response-spectrum analysis in SAP2000 is a statistical type of analysis for the determination of the likely response of a structure to seismic loading. Response-spectrum analysis seeks the likely maximum response to these equations rather than the full time history. SAP2000 also permits the user to specify a time history analysis.
Two methods of Time History Analysis:
- Modal Time History
- Direct Integration Time History
BUCKLING ANALYSIS
Linear buckling (bifurcation) modes of a structure can be found under any set of loads. Multiple buckling modes can be found, each giving the mode shape and the buckling factor of safety. Multiple sets of loads can be considered. Buckling modes can be found for the structure at the end of any staged construction case or any nonlinear static or dynamic analysis.
Nonlinear buckling analysis is also available considering P-delta or large-deflections effects. Snap-through buckling behaviour can be captured using static analysis with displacement control. Dynamic analysis can also be used for modelling buckling, including follower-load problems. Linear and nonlinear buckling analysis can be combined for the greatest flexibility in understanding structural instabilities.
P DELTA ANALYSIS (LARGE AND SMALL DISPLACEMENT)
P-delta analysis captures the softening effect of compression and the stiffening effect of tension. A single P-delta analysis under gravity and sustained loads can be used to modify the stiffness for linear load cases, which can later be superposed. Alternatively, each combination of loads can be analyzed for full nonlinear P-delta effects. P-delta effects are included for all elements and are seamlessly integrated into analysis and design.
PUSHOVER ANALYSIS
Pushover analysis features in SAP2000 include the implementation of FEMA 356 and the hinge and fiber hinge option based on stress-strain. The nonlinear layered shell element enables users to consider plastic behavior of concrete shear walls, slabs, steel plates, and other area finite elements in the pushover analysis. Force-Deformation relations are defined for steel and concrete hinges.
TIME DEPENDENT
Staged construction is a type of nonlinear analysis in SAP2000 that is allows you to define a sequence of stages wherein you can add or remove portions of the structure, selectively apply load to portions of the structure, and to consider time-dependent material behavior such as aging, creep, and shrinkage.
Staged Construction
Creep and Shrinkages
POWER SPECTRAL DENSITY
Power-spectral-density analysis is available to determine the probabilistic response of a structure due to cyclic (harmonic, sinusoidal) loading over a range of frequencies. This is useful for fatigue studies, random response due to earthquakes, and other applications. Multiple loads may be applied at different phase angles, and may be correlated or uncorrelated.
OFFSHORE FEATURES
The Offshore module offers the API 2A and Norsok N-004 design checks, which include checks for joint-can punching shear. The module also includes Airy, Stokes 5th-order, and cnoidal wave theory options. Water currents can simultaneously load the portions of the structure below the water line with automated corrections for marine growth as a function of depth, drag and inertia effects, and buoyancy.
Users can view resultant wave velocities and accelerations graphically with color coded plots or produce output tables of the values that can be exported to Excel.
DESIGN
MODEL VIEWS
Fully integrated steel frame design includes member size optimization and implementation of design codes. SAP2000 allows users to interactively view design results at any frame member, change the parameters or section properties, and display the updated member results.
FRAMES
Steel Frame
Concrete Frame
Aluminum Frame
Cold Formed Frame
OUTPUT AND DISPLAY
DEFORMED GEOMETERY
Users can display deformed geometry based on any load or combination of loads, as well as animations of modes.
FORCE DIAGRAMS
Shear and moment diagrams display internal shear forces, moments, and displacements at all locations along the length of a frame element for any load case or load combination. SAP2000 gives the option to scroll along the length to display values or scroll directly to the maximum value location.
GENERAL DISPLACEMENT
Arbitrary displacement measures can be defined using generalized displacements. These are linear combinations of joint translations and rotations, and can be used to calculate averages, drifts, and other quantities of interest. Generalized displacement output can be obtained for all types of analysis cases and combinations.
SECTION CUTS
The resultant (free-body) forces and moments across any cut in the structure can be defined using section cuts. A section cut can have any shape, and can be used to compute story shears, connecting forces, design forces in shear walls, and for many other purposes. Section cut results can be obtained for all types of load cases and combinations.
VIRTUAL WORK DIAGRAMS
In SAP2000, virtual work diagrams can be used as an aid to determine which elements should be stiffened to achieve the most efficient control over the lateral displacements of a structure.
INFLUENCE LINES
SAP2000 uses influence lines to compute the response to vehicle live loads. Influence lines are also of interest in their own right for understanding the sensitivity of various response quantities to moving loads. Influence lines may be displayed in the user interface for the displacement, force, or stress response of any element in the structure.
TABULAR OUTPUT
SAP2000 has the ability to display tables for all input data, analysis results, and design results. Tables support sort, cut, copy and paste for use in other programs. Print or save tabular data to Access, Excel, Word, HTML, or TEXT.
DESIGN STANDARDS
| STEEL FRAME DESIGN |
|---|
| AISC 360-16 |
| AISC 360-10 |
| AISC 360-05 |
| AISC LRFD 93 |
| AISC ASD 89 |
| API RP2A-WSD 2014 |
| API RP-2A WSD 2000 |
| API RP-2A LRFD 1997 * |
| AS 4100-1998 |
| ASCE 10-97 |
| BS 5950-2000 |
| Chinese 2018 |
| Chinese 2010 |
| CSA S16-14 |
| CSA S16-09 |
| Eurocode 3-2005 |
| IS 800:2007 |
| KBC 2016 |
| KBC 2009 |
| Norsok N-004 2013 * |
| NTC 2018 |
| NTC 2008 |
| NZS 3404-1997 |
| SP 16.13330.2011 |
| CONCRETE FRAME DESIGN |
|---|
| ACI 318-14 |
| ACI 318-11 |
| ACI 318-08 |
| AS 3600-2018 |
| AS 3600-09 |
| BS 8110-97 |
| Chinese 2010 |
| CSA A23.3-14 |
| CSA A23.3-04 |
| Eurocode 2-2004 |
| Hong Kong CoP 2013 |
| IS 456-2000 |
| KBC 2016 |
| KBC 2009 |
| NTC 2008 |
| NZS 3101:2006 |
| Mexican RCDF 2017 |
| Mexican RCDF 2004 |
| Singapore CoP 65:99 |
| SP 63.13330.2012 |
| TS 500-2000(R2018) |
| TS 500-2000 |
| TCVN 5574:2012 |
| Cold Form Frame Design |
|---|
| AISI-ASD 96 |
| AISI-LRFD 96 |
| Aluminium Frame Design |
|---|
| AA-ASD 2000 |
| AA-LRFD 2000 |
BIM COMPATIBILITY
AUTODESK REVIT STRUCTURE
CSiXRevit, a CSI developed plugin for Autodesk Revit Structure, provides a bi-directional link between SAP2000, ETABS, and/or SAFE and Autodesk Revit® Structure.
Four options are available to interchange data:
- from Revit Structure to create a new CSI model
- from Revit Structure to update an existing CSI model
- from CSI software to create a new Revit Structure project
- from CSI software to update an existing Revit Structure project
These options provide for true round-tripping of data between CSI software and Autodesk Revit® Structure.
TEKLA STRUCTURES
The link between Tekla Structures and SAP2000 or ETABS allows models to be started in either product, then transferred to the other. Round-tripping of models is possible, including accepting of changes when transferring from SAP2000 or ETABS to Tekla Structures. It is also possible to merge changes to a Tekla Structures model to an existing SAP2000 or ETABS model.
INDUSTRY FOUNDATION CLASSES (IFC)
Support of Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) data models provides compatibility with other BIM enabled applications. SAP2000, CSiBridge, and ETABS all support import and export of IFC 2×3 and IFC 4 formats.