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STAAD - Pro Knowledge Base

A zero stiffness warning in a STAAD output file means that at a node, the structure has no ability to resist loads in a particular degree of freedom. This can occur if the only members connected at a node are trusses, resulting in no rotational stiffness. It can also happen if member or element releases deprive the structure of stiffness. While these warnings do not necessarily cause errors, they help identify potential causes of instabilities in the model where loads may not be able to transfer to supports.

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39 views2 pages

STAAD - Pro Knowledge Base

A zero stiffness warning in a STAAD output file means that at a node, the structure has no ability to resist loads in a particular degree of freedom. This can occur if the only members connected at a node are trusses, resulting in no rotational stiffness. It can also happen if member or element releases deprive the structure of stiffness. While these warnings do not necessarily cause errors, they help identify potential causes of instabilities in the model where loads may not be able to transfer to supports.

Uploaded by

zaeem_sidd5291
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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STAAD.

Pro Knowledge Base


Issue #: SP-1496

Date Posted: 10/26/2001

Description: What does a zero stiffness warning message in the STAAD output file mean?
Version: Build No:
Solution: Definition of a zero stiffness condition :

The procedure used by STAAD in calculating displacements and forces in a structure is the stiffness method. One of
the steps involved in this method is the assembly of the global stiffness matrix. During this process, STAAD verifies
that no active degree of freedom (d.o.f) has a zero value, because a zero value could be a potential cause of
instability in the model along that d.o.f. It means that the structural conditions which exist at that node and degree
of freedom result in the structure having no ability to resist a load acting along that d.o.f.

A warning message is printed in the STAAD output file highlighting the node number and the d.o.f at which the
zero stiffness condition exists.

Examples of cases which give rise to these conditions :

Consider a frame structure where some of the members are defined to be trusses. On this model, if a joint exists
where the only structural components connected at that node are truss members, there is no rotational stiffness at
that node along any of the global d.o.f. If the structure is defined as STAAD PLANE, it will result in a warning along
the MZ d.o.f at that node. If it were declared as STAAD SPACE, there will be at least 3 warnings, one for each of
MX, MY and MZ, and perhaps additional warnings for the translational d.o.f.

These warnings can also appear when other structural conditions such as member releases and element releases
deprive the structure of stiffness at the associated nodes along the global translational or rotational directions. A
tower held down by cables, defined as a PLANE or SPACE frame, where cable members are pinned supported at
their base will also generate these warnings for the rotational d.o.f. at the supported nodes of the cables.

Solid elements have no rotational stiffness at their nodes. So, at all nodes where you have only solids, these zero
stiffness warning messages will appear.

These are warnings and not errors because :

The reason why these conditions are reported as warnings and not errors is due to the fact that they may not
necessarily be detrimental to the proper transfer of loads from the structure to the supports. If no load acts at and

along the d.o.f where the stiffness is zero, that point may not be a trouble-spot.

What is the usefulness of these messages :

A zero stiffness message can be a tool for investigating the cause of instabilities in the model. An instability is a
condition where a load applied on the structure is not able to make its way into the supports because no paths
exist for the load to flow through, and may result in a lack of equilibrium between the applied load and the support
reaction. A zero stiffness message can tell us whether any of those d.o.f are obstacles to the flow of the load.

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