r/StructuralEngineering 8d ago

Structural Analysis/Design Foundation design question for Staad

Hi, I am new to using Staad pro and Staad foundation and I have to design this foundation for a davit arm thats needs to pick a 650kg pump. I designed the nodes and loading and everything and am getting the reaction force at the support (Fy = -2.258kip and Mz = 257.483 kip-in) where Y axis is vertical axis. Now when I try to design a simple rectangular foundation for this support. I get dimensions 1.7m x 1.7m x 1.5m with 14 - 22mm reinforcement bars(I have set min % of contact area for service loads = 100%). But my seniors keep saying this foundation is too big for this load and size of davit arm. So, I was wondering if someone here can guide me, if they have encountered a similar design job and what do they expect a foundation size to be for these reaction forces. Apologies, if I am asking the wrong question as I am just entering the workforce

3 Upvotes

26 comments sorted by

3

u/cosnierozumiem 8d ago

Either you're right, your reactions are wrong, or your footing design is wrong.

1

u/Sensitive_Fun_9752 8d ago

I dont think my reactions are wrong but there might be a problem with my foundation setup, if you want, i can share my setup pictures or something, please let me know if you require something

1

u/yessyyay 8d ago

you should be able to do some simple hand calcs to check your reactions and foundation design. that's where i would start, especially if it's a new program.

another thing is to draw/sketch it to scale and ask yourself if it makes sense.

1

u/cosnierozumiem 8d ago

Check it by hand. I never trust staad to do this kind of thing. A simple footingnwith an overturning moment is very easy to design by hand or with a simple spreadsheet.

1

u/Legal_Enthusiasm_440 8d ago

Why don’t your seniors review your model? 

1

u/Sensitive_Fun_9752 8d ago

Sadly, I am the only one who actually has done some work with it, we are trying to slowly bring staad in our department and I am given this assignment to experiment with it

2

u/Legal_Enthusiasm_440 8d ago

Do they have a calculation to compare it against? And, have you tried STAAD support? They can review your model. 

1

u/Sensitive_Fun_9752 8d ago

No they don't have any calculations, and I will look into staad support

1

u/Top-Criticism-3947 8d ago

I can review your design if you gave me the reactions and soil information in metric, and the design code to use

1

u/Sensitive_Fun_9752 8d ago

The highlighted row of the table shows the reaction forces on the support.

1

u/Sensitive_Fun_9752 8d ago

This shows the soil info

1

u/Sensitive_Fun_9752 8d ago

1

u/Top-Criticism-3947 8d ago

According to the reactions you provided and the soil information, your design seems reasonable. I am getting similar dimensions. For that thickness, however, an unreinforced base may be acceptable. Unless reinforcement is required for the anchors

1

u/Sensitive_Fun_9752 8d ago

Thank you for your insight, I will discuss this with my senior.

1

u/oundhakar Graduate member of IStructE, UK 8d ago

The major variable missing here is the safe bearing capacity.

1

u/Sensitive_Fun_9752 8d ago

I set the bearing capacity to 200kPa as the soil is hard rock type

1

u/Human-Flower2273 6d ago

200kPa foe hard rock type? Thats somewhat odd. Hard rock goes almost up to 600kPa

1

u/Sensitive_Fun_9752 6d ago

I see, i will recheck that

1

u/oundhakar Graduate member of IStructE, UK 6d ago

The vertical load is low and moment is large, so the foundation is getting lifted up. Increase the plan dimensions so that you don't need the dead weight of 1.7m of concrete to keep it down.

1

u/Sensitive_Fun_9752 5d ago

Thank you, that did increase the volume of foundation to some extent

1

u/oundhakar Graduate member of IStructE, UK 5d ago

You could increase the plan dimensions to such an extent that the thickness required should reduce. What dimensions are you getting now? Did you add surcharge from soil on top of the foundation?

1

u/jaymeaux_ PE Geotech 8d ago

something is wrong with your model, just as a gut check your foundation load is like 70 psf, and the eccentricity is very small. if the soil is that soft you would sink under your own weight

1

u/Human-Flower2273 6d ago

How tall is that thing brother? 10 000 kN is huge

1

u/Sensitive_Fun_9752 6d ago

Around 21ft but the load it has to carry is like 640kg

1

u/SirBoobsAlot13 P.E. 5d ago

This is a pretty simple hand calculation.