Create analysis elements

On the Model tab, click Element.
In the Properties window, select the Element type that you require.
In the Properties window, adjust the material and/or properties of the element according to your needs.
Click the start point of the element.
Tip: If you are using a point along a member, do the following:
1. Click the member to view its points.
2. Click the point that you want to use, or type the distance from the start of the member to the desired point.
Click the end point of the element.

Tekla Structural Designer creates the element.

Create analysis element springs

On the Model tab, click Element.

The element will adopt the properties currently displayed in the Properties window.
In the Properties window, select the spring Element type that you require.
Enter the the material and properties of the element according to your needs.
Click the start point of the element.
Tip: If you are using a point along a member, do the following:
1. Click the member to view its points.
2. Click the point that you want to use, or type the distance from the start of the member to the desired point.
Click the end point of the element.

Tekla Structural Designer creates the element.
Select the newly created element.
In the Properties window, enter the spring stiffness properties that you require.

Modify the position of analysis elements

You can modify the position of an individual analysis element in both 2D and 3D views.

Select the element that you want to move.
Select the end node that you want to move.

Note: Ensure that only the desired end node is highlighted in the Select Entity tooltip.
Click the grid or construction point where you want to move the end node.

Tekla Structural Designer moves the end node to the selected point.

Analysis element properties

Select one or more analysis element and then use the Properties window to view and modify their properties.

General properties


Property	Description
Name	The automatically generated name.
User Name	Can be used to override the automatically generated name if required.
Plane	Indicates the level or frame within which the member is placed.
Characteristic	Analysis Element
Active	Clearing this option makes the Analysis Element inactive in the analysis. See: Inactive members
Element type	Beam Truss Tension only Compression only Linear axial spring Linear torsional spring Non-linear axial spring Non-linear torsional spring Link Note: Tension only elements, Compression only elements, and non-linear axil/torsional springs are all non-linear elements and therefore require non-linear analysis. If linear analysis is performed they will be treated as linear elements.
Material type	Steel Concrete Timber General Cold formed Cold rolled
Rotation	Rotation of the member about its local x axis.

Span properties


Property	Description
Section	The section size
Grade	Timber grade
Compression only, Tension only	Specify if the brace is compression only, or tension only. Note: Tension only and Compression only members are non-linear elements and therefore require non-linear analysis. If linear analysis is performed they will be treated as linear elements
Relaxation factor [Only displayed if the brace is tension only]	Default 0.0. Any value entered is not used unless you also check the ‘Use relaxation factors for tension only elements’ box in Analysis Options. Note: It is highly unlikely that you would ever need to set a specific release factor for an individual brace. See 1st order non-linear settings in: Analysis settings
Linearity	Straight
Releases
Fixity end 1, end 2	Pinned
Torsional load release end 1, end 2	Check one end only to define a torsional release.
Vertical load release end 1, end 2	A vertical load release can be applied to the end of a V or A type brace pair so that they don’t prop other members against gravity loads, (you are prevented from releasing single braces, or other brace pairs in this way).
Wind loading
Apply open structure wind load	Select this option if you want open structure wind loads to be calculated. See: Open structure wind loads
Shape factor, Cf	The default shape factor varies according to the entity type and is taken from Model Settings > Loading > Wind Loading Default Cf factors are taken from the document ‘Wind Loads For Petrochemical And Other Industrial Facilities’ published by ASCE.
Effective area XY
Formula	The default effective area formula varies according to the entity type and is taken from Model Settings > Loading > Wind Loading
Factor	The factor used in the above formula can be edited if required.
Effective area XZ
Formula	The default effective area formula varies according to the entity type and is taken from Model Settings > Loading > Wind Loading
Factor	The factor used in the above formula can be edited if required.
Live (Imposed) Load Reduction
KLL [Only displayed for Regional Code ACI/AISC]	Specify the KLL factor in accordance with Table 4-2 in ASCE 7-05/ASCE 7-10. See: Overview of live or imposed load reductions
Reduce imposed loads by [Displayed for Codes other than ACI/AISC]	This property is particularly applicable to the design of transfer beams. Although the percentage of imposed load reduction is not determined automatically for beams, this property allows you to specify the percentage manually. It can be applied to all, or individual spans. reducible loadcases are reduced combinations incorporating reducible loadcases are reduced The reduced results are used in concrete beam design. See: Overview of live or imposed load reductions
Fire proofing
Protected	When members are set as 'Protected', self-weight of the members is increased by the weight of fireproofing. See: Fire proofing
Exposure	Exposed on all sides
UDA
Name Finish Class Phase Note File	A customizable list of the attributes that can be applied to individual members and panels. See: Work with user-defined attributes