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How to Use GRASP for 2D Structural Analysis
How to Use GRASP for 2D Structural Analysis
GRASP stands for Graphical Rapid Analysis of Structures Program. It is a free software that can be used for analyzing two-dimensional frame structures such as beams, trusses and rigid frames. GRASP has a graphical user interface that makes it easy to draw the structure, apply loads and boundary conditions, and run the analysis. GRASP can also display the results in diagrams and tables, and print them for documentation.
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In this article, we will show you how to use GRASP for a simple example problem of a cantilever beam with a point load at the free end. We will also compare the results with the theoretical solution to verify the accuracy of the software.
Step 1: Download and Install GRASP
You can download GRASP from this website. The file size is about 3 MB and it does not require any installation. Just unzip the file and run the executable file named GRASP.exe. You will see the main window of GRASP as shown below.
The main window consists of four parts: the menu bar, the toolbar, the drawing area and the status bar. The menu bar contains various commands for creating, editing, analyzing and printing the structure. The toolbar contains shortcut buttons for some of the frequently used commands. The drawing area is where you can draw the structure using your mouse or keyboard. The status bar shows some information about the current mode, coordinates and units.
Step 2: Draw the Structure
To draw the structure, you need to define the nodes and members of the structure. A node is a point where two or more members are connected. A member is a line that represents an element of the structure such as a beam or a truss. To draw a node, click on the Node button on the toolbar or select Node from the Draw menu. Then click on the drawing area where you want to place the node. You can also enter the coordinates of the node in the dialog box that appears.
To draw a member, click on the Member button on the toolbar or select Member from the Draw menu. Then click on two nodes that you want to connect with a member. You can also enter the node numbers in the dialog box that appears.
For our example problem, we will draw a cantilever beam with a length of 5 m and a height of 0.3 m. We will use four nodes and three members to represent this beam as shown below.
Note that we have used a grid spacing of 1 m to help us draw the beam accurately. You can change the grid spacing by selecting Grid from the View menu and entering a new value in the dialog box that appears.
Step 3: Define Cross-Sections and Material Properties
After drawing the structure, you need to define the cross-sections and material properties of each member. A cross-section is a shape that represents the cross-sectional area of a member such as a rectangle or a circle. A material property is a value that describes how a material behaves under stress such as Young's modulus or Poisson's ratio.
To define a cross-section, click on the Cross-Section button on 0efd9a6b88