Practical Finite Element Procedure for Achieving Mesh Objectivity in Local Buckling Analysis of Steel Structures by Beam Elements

Abstract

Since the nonlinear finite element analysis of a steel structure by shell/solid elements is expensive, effort has been made to conduct the local buckling analysis of a steel structure by beam elements. To this end, the structural deterioration due to local buckling of a steel member is implemented in constitutive relationship. The approach inevitably leads to the constitutive relationship of softening type, which however does not readily yield mesh objective result. The present study proposes a finite element procedure to overcome the problem: in a local-buckling zone, average state variables instead of local state variables are used. The effectiveness of the proposed procedure is verified by solving example problems. Moreover, the applicability of a simple trilinear type of constitutive relationship associated with the proposed beam-element analysis is investigated in comparison with shell-element analysis by ABAQUS.

Experimental Study and Theoretical Analysis on Seismic Performance of Castellated Beam With Hexagonal Holes

“…Based on the beam geometry, a skeleton model was initially developed for each of the test specimens. Four-node shell elements (S4R) were used [18] so that the out-of-plane deformation of the honeycomb members can be easily observed under low-cycle reciprocating loads; similar finite element analyses can also be found elsewhere [19].…”