Nonlinear SDOF Element for Hysteretic Analysis of Pinned Braces

Abstract
Steel struts are widely used as bracing members in buildings located in earthquake regions. Current simple theoretical models for struts subjected to alternating axial loads are based on small deflection formulations. They exhibit a high stiffness compared to test results. A large deflection analysis is applied in the model proposed herein in which geometric nonlinearity is introduced by considering the term accounting for the inclination of the axis of the deformed beam in the expression of the curvature. Its results are more compatible with test results. This model retains the simplicity of a one‐degree‐of‐freedom element that could be easily introduced in building analysis. This improvement of the elastic analysis should make it easier to address other factors such as the hysteretic deterioration of strength and stiffness, which was over‐emphasized in the correction of small deflection models, as well as the effects of local buckling and residual stresses.

This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit: