Steel structural design using nonlinear inelastic analysis

Abstract

With rapid improvement of computing technology, nonlinear inelastic analysis methods are commonplace and permitted in new design code versions of AISC-LRFD, AASHTO, etc. However, their applications on practical design of steel structures are still very limited due to excessive computational efforts. To overcome this problem, we develop a novel software, named as PAAP3D, in this study. PAAP3D is based on the plastic hinge approach that requires only one or two elements for modeling a frame member so computation time is efficiently reduced. The nonlinear inelastic truss and catenary elements are also implemented in PAAP3D that allows the use of this software for analysis of truss structures, cable-stayed bridges, suspension bridges, etc. In addition, the pre- and post-processors of PAAP3D are developed using C++ programming language with a user-friendly and easy-to-use interface. The generalized displacement control method (GDC) is employed for static analyses, and a time-history dynamic analysis is used for seismic analyses. Some examples of steel structures subjected to both static and seismic loads are presented.