T00 MasterFrame Getting Started Tutorial

Steel Design to Eurocode 3

Contents
Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 2
Loading MasterFrame........................................................................................................................................ 6
The File Selector dialogue ................................................................................................................................. 7
The Frame Generation Menu ............................................................................................................................ 9
Creating the Members..................................................................................................................................... 10
Modifying Member Properties ........................................................................................................................ 12
Adding the Loads ............................................................................................................................................. 14
Applying Member loading ........................................................................................................................... 14
Applying Nodal loadings .............................................................................................................................. 16
Applying Density (self-weight)..................................................................................................................... 17
Loading Cases and Load Groups ...................................................................................................................... 18
Design Code ................................................................................................................................................. 18
Load Groups................................................................................................................................................. 19
Generate All Loading Cases ......................................................................................................................... 19
Loading Combinations ................................................................................................................................. 22
Nodal Static Supports ...................................................................................................................................... 23
Analysing the frame ......................................................................................................................................... 24
Viewing and Printing the Graphical Results .................................................................................................... 25
Steel Design ..................................................................................................................................................... 26
Checking the beam ...................................................................................................................................... 26
Checking the columns.................................................................................................................................. 29
Second Order Analysis (Elastic Critical Load Factor αcr) ............................................................................. 32

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Introduction

Welcome to MasterFrame: Plane, Grillage and Space Frame Analysis. This section provides an
introductory tutorial on the use of MasterFrame. The tutorial gives you a quick tour of MasterFrame,
introducing you to the most important concepts and features along the way.

Scope of tutorial

MasterFrame 50 Yes

MasterFramePro 500/1500... Yes, but does not cover Area loading or Design Groups

PowerPadPlus / 500 Yes, but does not cover Area loading or Design Groups

Building Design Suite Yes, but does not cover Area loading or Design Groups

MasterFrame Dynamic/Seismic No

MasterFrame Finite Elements No

This tutorial does NOT cover the advanced features of MasterFramePro such as Area Loading but
deals with direct loading on members as these are the fundamentals of all versions. All users of
MasterFrame should learn these basics.

MasterFrame is very flexible. It enables you to generate your frames in whatever order you wish to
follow. In general, the basic steps involved in using MasterFrame are as follows:

1. Generate the frame geometry

2. Define member properties, orientation and loading
3. Define supports and nodal loading
4. Define loading cases and combinations
5. Analyse the frame
6. View results
7. Design and optimize your frame & re-analyse
8. Print results

As you work through the tutorial references are made to relevant sections in the main
manual using the hand icon ( ).

This Tutorial is written for version 2019 of MasterSeries. Any subsequent versions of the
MasterSeries will have additional features, but the general procedure will be the same. This Tutorial
is NOT compatible with MasterSeries 2017 or earlier versions as they have an entirely different editor
interface.

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We strive to make our manuals as accurate and detailed as possible. Should you find any errors, or
areas that need clarification, then, please email your comments or corrections to
help@masterseries.com.

In this tutorial, you will create and analyse a steel frame, as shown in the following MasterSeries
Printed Output.

The Frame Geometry, Members, Lengths and Sections

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 The Vertical Loading – Permanent Actions – Load Group D1 (Dead Load)

The Vertical Loading – Variable Actions– Load Group L1 (Live Loads)

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 The Horizontal Loading – Wind on Side (Variable Actions) – Load Group W1

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Loading MasterFrame

To start this tutorial, launch the main program of MasterSeries.

While standing on the Programs tab, select the MasterFrame from the Integrated Analysis &
Design filed.

Hovering over the MasterFrame icon, the available integrated design options appear with small
icons.

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The File Selector dialogue

The File Selector dialogue will now be displayed.

You can use the File Selector to navigate in your folder tree and to select, modify or delete your
existing model files or create a new one.

#2

#1 #3

The left side of the File Selector is a usual Windows file tree (#1) which can be used to navigate
between the folders. By clicking with the right mouse button on one of the folders in the tree, the
following functions will be available:
1. Create a new folder in the selected folder
2. Add the selected folder to Favourites to create a shortcut
3. Copy selected folder to the clipboard
4. Paste the content of the clipboard to the selected folder
5. Delete the selected folder.

By clicking on the Star ( ) button on the top of the file selector tree, we can see the saved
favourite folders. By selecting one of them, the file tree will immediately jump to there. By clicking the
Star icon at the end of the line, we can remove or add each of them.
The table, on the right of the File Selector (#3), lists all of the MasterFrame models contained in
the selected folder.

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Just like in any other table application, by clicking on the header, the content of the table can be ordered
by name, modification date or size.

Selecting one of the model files, it can be opened by clicking on the Open button or using the top tool
bar’s functionalities (#2), it can be manipulated.

View/hide the model preview window

Rename the selected model file

Copy the selected file(s) to clipboard

Past the selected content of the clipboard to the actual folder

Zip the selected file(s) with all the additional files

Zip and attache to a blank email the selected file(s) with all the additional files

Delete the selected file(s)

Multiple file selection is available to select the files while pressing the Ctrl button, or using the range
selection by selecting the first one then select the last one while pressing the Shift button. Or all of
the files can be selected/deselected by clicking in/out the checkbox on the top of the first column.

To create a new model file click on the New button on the bottom, then type the name (for example
Tutor001) and click on the Create button.

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The Frame Generation Menu

In most cases, you will be able to select a start-up frame and then
tailor it to your specific requirements. In this case, we will create the
members using the Snap Grid.

The Frame Generation Menu (Frame Wizard) is now displayed

as shown.
TIP! If the frame you are generating does not match one of the
pre-processor frames, choose a frame that is similar to, but larger
than, your frame. It is easier to delete members than to add them.
If in doubt a multi-storey frame makes a good basic grid.

Chapter 3 MasterFrame - 3.3.1 Frame Generation Procedures and Templates

This tutorial describes some of the basic techniques used in MasterFrame. Please take a few minutes to
familiarise yourself with the various frame viewing tools; editing and data input methods and find how
you can use the modify geometry area to select members.

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Creating the Members

Selecting the Snap Grid option, the Add Members (General) option is now activated and the
snap grid visualisation is turned on.

Before we start creating the members, place the snap grid in front view by selecting the Front side of

the viewing cube ( ).

Choose Steel ( ) option and choose the 254x146 UB 31 of grade S 355.

Start drawing the first column’s bottom point by clicking on 0,0 point of the snap grid (intersection point
of the blue gridlines). While we are moving, MasterFrame shows the actual length of the member. We
will move vertically up. We can either snap up, or we can type in the exact member length.

Let’s type in 3.955m using the keyboard and apply it by pressing the Enter button. Our first column
is created.

We will then draw the other column by hovering the base point of the first column geting a red X on it.
Now it is activated as a snap point. Move Horizontally to the right and type in 7.855m and press the
Enter button to place the bottom point of our second column.
As we move vertically up, we will get with the intersection point with the other column’s height. Click
on it to place the end point of our second column.

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And then we will just join the column ends to create the beam member by clicking on the first column’s
top point and then the second column’s top point.

By selecting the 3D ( ) option from the top toolbar’s 3D Drawing group we can see our frame in
3d.

Close the Define Members dialogue by clicking on the X.

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Modifying Member Properties

We will modify our uniform beam into a haunched member.

From the Properties file menu, select Member Sections Materials.

To set the section properties to the current member, select Section Properties ( ) and Edit
Member ( ) mode.
Select the beam member.

Using the drop down menu on the bottom dialogue, select the Double Haunched Member option.

Set the XH1(m) and XH2(m) haunch lengthes to 0.5m.

And then set the Dep1 (H/D) and Dep2 (H/D) haunch depths to 2.25 times of the serial depth
of the original section.
We use a value greater than 2 as the haunch starts at the node point and by the time it is outside the
column & end plate it will be less than 2.

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Close the Member Section Properties dialogue with the X.

Chapter 3 MasterFrame - 3.4 – 3.6 The member Information Editing Area, Defining
Member Materials and Section Properties, Member Orientation

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Adding the Loads

From the top toolbar select the Frame Loads ( ) button to

display the frame loading on the graphical area and the Load
Diagram control panel.
Change the top drop list of Load Case to the first item, All Loading
Cases to show all of the applied loads with default values (without
safety factors).

The frame Load Diagram controls are on a floating form. Click on

the minimise button -, to hide it, but keep it active.

Applying Member loading

From the Loads file menu, select Member Loading.

In Edit Member ( ) mode and then select the beam member

again.

Click on the UDLY ( ) button (bottom left of the screen) twice and once on the Point Load (

) to add two uniform distributed load and a point load definition.

The list of loads editbox now has three loads in it. The two UDL loads are D1 UDLY -000.000 which
means both of them assigned to the D1 dead load group, both of them uniform distributed load in the

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Y-Axis and acting downward. The point load is D1 PY -000.000 0.000 which means it is also assigned
to the D1 dead load group and it is a point load in the Y-Axis.

We now need to edit these loads.

Pick the first UDL load to set the cursor focus to it and
change the load to D1 UDLY -012.500 (kN/m) by
overtyping the - 000.000 value.
Next, pick the second UDL load or move your cursor
along to it and change the load to L1 UDLY -007.500
(kN/m) by overtyping D1 with L1 to assign the load
to the L1 live load group and overtyping -000.000
value with -007.500.
And finally, select the point load and change the load
to D1 PY -012.500 2.500 (kN,m) by overtyping -
000.000 0.000 values with -012.500 2.500, which
means the intensity of it is 12.5kN in the Y-Axis and
acting downward and positioned 2.5m along the
member.

TIP! The editor will not allow you to input values that are not editable or valid i.e. you can't change
a number to a letter. You only need to change the values you wish to modify. In this case, only
change 00 to 25.

You can use D for D1, L for L1, W for W1, N for N1, M for M1 or U for UT as these are valid load
groups.

You can also use the controls at the bottom right of the screen
to change the load group, load direction or to delete (bin icon)
the currently selected load.

D represents Permanent Actions (Dead Load)

L represents Variable Actions (Live/Imposed Load)

W represents Wind Loads (Variable Actions)

Close the Member Loads dialogue with the X.

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Applying Nodal loadings

Wind loading will be simulated with a simple horizontal point load on the left eaves point. We will now
use the Nodal Loading option for the practice.

From the Loads file menu select Nodal Loading.

Pick the left eave point and set the FX to 12.5 kN.
Finally, change the Load Group setting to Wind (W), W1 : Wind Load.

Close the Nodal Loading dialogue with the Close ( ) button.

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Applying Density (self-weight)

Self-weight of structural members is automatically included as a default

set up.

The loadings due to self-weight can be viewed in the frame Load

Diagram, by turning off all other loads except the Draw Density
Load (Selfweight) ( ) button.

The values for self-weight can be checked by going to Loads >

Density for Self Weight. To ensure that the self-weight is included,
make sure the Include Member Density for Self Weight
checkbox is ticked. The default load group of the self-weight is the D1,
but using the drop-down menu we can modify it.

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Loading Cases and Load Groups

Design Code

We need to make sure we are designing to Eurocode.

On the top menu, go to Design > Design Code and check the selected code which should be
Eurocode. If not, please select it.
If you are asked “Do you wish to change the Loading Cases in accordance with the design code change”
select Yes.

Go again to the Design > Design Code and check the national annex which should be the UK. If
not, please select it.
If you are asked “Do you wish to change the Loading Cases in accordance with the design code change”
select Yes.
If you are asked which EC0 Eq. 6.10 set to use, choose the lower option 6.10.

Note: Even if you are from a different country, choose the UK so that all the loads and design
parameters match those in this tutorial.

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Load Groups

Each action on the frame is assigned to a load group (e.g., Dead, Live, Wind, Notional etc.).
MasterFrame allows 140 different load groups to be used; the most regularly used being groups D0
to D9, L0 to L9, W0 to W9 and N0 to N9.
A load group (e.g., D1) is a group of loads that are always applied together with the same load factor.
These loads may be of different types (e.g., UDL, PY, and TY1) and have different values. However,
since they are always applied together with a common load factor, they are in the one load group.
A typical example of a load group is a wind load (blowing onto the side of a building) that has different
load intensities on each face of the building, but are grouped into one group (e.g., W1).

In this tutorial, we use 3load groups as follows:

D1 - Permanent Actions (Dead Loads)
L1 - Variable Actions (Live Loads)
W1 - Wind Load (Variable Actions)

Generate All Loading Cases

From the Loads file menu select Load Cases.

In MasterFrame you create and analyse Combinations of Actions. We do not create basic cases and
then add them together post analysis. The reason for this is, if you form plastic hinges, do p-delta
analysis or have tension or compression only members then you cannot use the “Superposition Principle”
to add results from different basic cases together.

By default, there are already two (or three in case of using EC0 Eq. 6.10 a+b by default) combinations
of actions and case titles generated.

Load Case 001: Dead plus Live (Ultimate) (Permanent Plus Variable)

Load Case 002: Live Only (Serviceability) (Variable Only)

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We will overwrite them using the Auto-Generate Cases
function to create all loading cases.

To open the Automatic Load Case Generator dialog,

click on the Edit… button of the Create / edit all load
cases function in the Auto-Gererate Cases field.

We can use the default Load Case Template to generate the load cases.

We will use the following templates and generation settings. To modify a template select it at first in
the Select Load Case Templates to Generate table and update the settings below.
 Dead+Live
o Selected Load Groups: D0, D1 and L1

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 o Load case type: Ultimate+Service
o Ultimate case type: STR/GEO Set B eq. 6.10
o Service case type: Charasteristic
o Horizontal notional forces: Add in 0 and 180 degrees

 Live Only
o Selected Load Group: L1
o Load case type: Service
o Service case type: Charasteristic
 Dead+Live+Wind
o Selected Load Groups: D0, D1, L1 and W1
o Load case type: Ultimate+Service
o Ultimate case type: STR/GEO Set B eq. 6.10
o Service case type: Charasteristic
o Horizontal notional forces: Add as per wind
 Dead+Wind
o Selected Load Groups: D0, D1 and W1
o Load case type: Ultimate+Service
o Ultimate case type: STR/GEO Set B eq. 6.10
o Service case type: Charasteristic
o Horizontal notional forces: Add as per wind

To generate all load cases and replace the existing onces, click on the Replace button.
Now we have 9 loading cases.

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Loading Combinations

Selecting the Load Combinations tab we can check the

generated loading cases and the used combination factors.

Using the the dropdown menu or the arrow buttons you

can move between the different loading cases.

Close the Load Case Combinations using the X button

at the top right of the pane.

From the toolbar select Save ( ) to save our work so far.

Close Load Diagram dialogue by clicking on the X if it is

still open.

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Nodal Static Supports

From the Restraints file menu, select Nodal Static Supports.

Pick the bottom point of the columns and select the Pinned option.

Close the Nodal Static Supports dialogue with the Close ( ) button.

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Analysing the frame

From the top menu select Analysis, then Static Analysis.

The file will be saved automatically and the Analysis Type and License toolbar will now appear.
There are 5 possible types of analysis. Any analysis types that are not applicable to your frame will be
deactivated. Any analysis types that do not match your licence will also be deactivated. Your licence
limit for each analysis type is listed below each button.

Select Plane Frame ( ) and the frame will be analysed.

Note: In Space/Plane Frame analysis, members are assumed rigidly connected together. The user
can pin specific members by using the Member End Releases function in the Restraints menu.

In Space/Plane Truss analysis, all loads on members are converted to Nodal Loads and there is no
bending of the members.

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Viewing and Printing the Graphical Results

From the Results file menu select Graphical Analysis

Results.
Place the frame in front view by selecting the Front side of

the viewing cube ( ).

Select Bending Moment. We have no members bending

about the Minor axis so select Major Axis Only on the
right-hand panel and select Show Values.

From the drop list, at the bottom of the screen, select and view each of the Load Cases including the
envelopes.

Select Load Case 001: Dead plus Live (Ultimate)

Close Graphical Analysis Output dialogue by clicking on the X if it is still open.

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Steel Design

Now we will design the members.

From the Design file menu, select the Steel Member Design option.

Checking the beam

Select Axially Loaded Members with Moments from the Integrated Design menu.

The Apply-to mode ( )

(bottom left of frame graphics
window) should be
automatically selected. If not,
select this mode.

Apply the brief to the beam member by clicking on it.

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The window below the detailed results display us all the summaries of design checks expressed as a
series of Utilisation values. Any values greater than 1.000 are failures and are highlighted in red. The
detailed results are also on a blue background to indicate failure.
We have both buckling & deflection failures:
 Buckling Failure requires either a larger section or more restraint
 Deflection Failure requires either a stronger section or a change in the deflection limits

Move to the Axial with Moment tab below the results summary to check the used bending effective
length, which 1.00 L. That is fine.

Move forward to the Lateral Restraint tab to set restraint conditions.

We will apply a lateral restraint at 2m. Change the value in Portion 1 to 2.0m.

TIP! If we type a value in the ‘Portion 1’ box only, then MasterSeries assumes that spacing for all
subsequent portions on this member. To vary the spacing, type the individual portion lengths in each
subsequent box.

To restrain the beam only in 2m we have to set the Portion 2 to an equal or greater value than the
remaining length of the beam.
Change the value in Portion 2 to 6.0m which is past the end of the member.

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The small graphic in the detailed result shows us that there is only one restraint and two portions
along the beam.
Clicking on the graphic or using the drop-down menu beside the brief selector we can switch between
the portion and check the results of them.
Selecting the Portion 2, we can see that the beam still faills the buckling and the deflection checks.

To set the deflection limits we have to go back to the Axial with Moment tab.

By changing the value in the Def Limit, we can set an overall L/X (for example L/360) limit which is
used generally for every service cases, or we can use a table number (1-19) which is referring to a
row of the Steel Design Deflection Limits table. By clicking on the three dots button we can
edit the table and set different deflection limits for different type of members and loading cases.

Open the Steel Design Deflection Limits table and set the values as below.

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 In every cells, the first value is the L/X ration,
the second is the exact deflection limit in mm.

Close the table with X button and change the

value in Def Limit to 2 to use the 2nd row
table limits.

Return to the Section AutoDesign Tab.

Increase the section size using the drop-down list, or the spin buttons at the end of the drop list.

Turn on the Sort by weight ( ) option to order the section list by weight.
Now go up one at a time until you find a section that works. The 305x165 UB 46 is the lightest
section which passes both ULS and SLS criteria.

Note: A member passes all the design checks when the design panel background changes from blue
to white and none of the unity check values are highlighted in red.

Checking the columns

To check the column, we have to take an other design check.

Select Axially Loaded Members with Moments from the Integrated Design menu.
Apply the brief to the left column member by clicking on it.

Move to the Axial with Moment tab and set the buckling parameters and deflection limit.

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In our current example we leave the Flexural buckling (Kx and Ky) factors on default 1.0.
The bending effective length needs to be changed to 1.5 L and as it is a column, we have to change
the critical moment calculation to Cantilever Warping Free mode.
Finally we have to set the deflection limit to 3 to use the previously set 3rd row table limits.
We can see that our column fails the buckling design checks.

Return to the Section AutoDesign Tab.

In Sort by weight ( ) mode, increase the section size until you find the first section that works.
The 305x165 UB 54 is the lightest section which passes both ULS and SLS critarias.

Change to copy mode and copy the design

briaf to the other column.

Change back to Search ( ) mode to

avide accidentally copy briefs.
The design settings and parameters are
copied with the design brief, but the
section size needs to be changed to
305x165 UB 54 to see it also works here.
But it does not.
Increasing the section size, the first UB section which works is the 406x178 UB 67.

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Go back to the left column by clicking on it as we are in Search ( ) mode.

We should consider using UC section instead of UB to find a lighter solution.

On the Section AutoDesign tab, change the section type to UC and while the Sort by weight (
) mode is on, increase the section size. The first UC section which works is the 203x203x UC 52.

Go back to the right column and change section size to 203x203x UC 52. It is stil failing.

In Sort by weight ( ) mode, increase the section size. The 203x203x UC 60 is fine.

Go back again to the left column and change section size to 203x203x UC 60.
Now, all three members are passing the design checks.

But as a finall step, we have to check that the design works for the revised analysis with the revised
stiffness.

Select the Re-Analyse ( ) function on the Section AutoDesign tab to re-analyse the
structure.
Walk trough the members by clicking on them and check the design. We can see that the two columns
are fine but the beam in portion 2 is failed.

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In Sort by weight ( ) mode, increase the section size. The lightest section wich works is the
305x165 UB 54.

Re-analyse and check again the design. Now all the members pass the design checks.

Second Order Analysis (Elastic Critical Load Factor αcr)

At this stage, with realistic section sizes, we can check the Elastic Critical Load Factor for the
sway stability cases we created earlier.

From the Integrated Design menu select the Elastic Critical Load Factor design check.

An Elastic Critical Load Factor check is added to the design brief drop list.

From the report, a warning is given against Load Cases 003. This load case have an αcr value of just
less than 10, and hence it requires a Second-Order Elastic Analysis to be carried out on it.

Select Edit Frame from the Edit-View menu and save the file when requested.

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From the Analysis menu, select Second Order
Analysis Options Per Load Case.

We can turn on the second order analysis case-by-case or

clicking on the Apply… button we can turn on for the
selected once or we can use the group selection buttons to
set the analysis for all of the load cases.

Now we will use the Ultimate button, which will select all
of the ultimate load case. Clicking on the Apply button,
the second-rder analysis is turned on for all off the selected
load cases.

Close the Analysis Options screen and re-analyse the

frame.

When the Analysis Type and License panel opens, green ticks indicate which analysis options are
selected for which load case.
If during P-Delta Analysis the frame is unstable, a message will be displayed stating that the frame is
too flexible. If the frame is stable, no message appears.

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Select the Plane Frame analysis option from
the menu. The frame will analyse without
generating any warnings.

Select Steel Member Design from the Design menu.

Select the Elastic Critical Load Factor design brief from the design brief list.

This confirms that a Second Order Analysis has been carried out successfully in the load cases
shown.

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Select any member in the graphical area to switch back to the member design view and click on the

Scan for failures ( ) button.

The scan for failures will not reveal any failures, indicating that the members of the frame are passing
all relevant design checks as set up in the design briefs. Thus, the design of the frame is complete.

End of Tutorial

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