Numerical nonlinear analysis of structural members using fiber element method

In this research, a simple, efficient and expeditious method for nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete and steel structural members, based on fiber method concepts is introduced. One of the considerable advantages of the mentioned method, is its high speed in nonlinear analysis of structural members which would make it distinctive from the others. For instance, analysis of high-rise buildings utilizing 3D elements, besides the complexity for the reason of high degrees of freedom, requires spending far greater amount of time and also might be impossible in some cases. In this method each structural member such as beam or column is considered as a beam-column element with two nodes and three degrees of freedom in each node and corresponding stiffness matrix based on reperesented equations is assigned to this element. Finally to affirm accuracy of this method, a cyclic nonlinear statically analysis on a concrete frame is accomplished to compare with experimental results. A time-history analysis also is accomplished on a steel frame and will be checked with Huu-Tai Thai‟s research. The opensees software is used to model the discussed portal frames.

Keywords:

fiber element method , bond slip , RC frames , steel frames