Software Verification

PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000

REVISION NO.: 0

EXAMPLE 6-008
LINK – PLASTIC WEN LINK

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
This example uses a single degree of freedom structure to test the behavior of a
plastic Wen link element. Bilinear force-deformation characteristics are defined
for the link element along with an exponent that defines the sharpness of the
transition from the initial stiffness to the yielded stiffness. A nonlinear static
analysis is used to push the link element to a positive 10 inch displacement. Then
a second nonlinear load case is started from the final conditions of the first load
case and used to push the link element to a negative 10 inch displacement, a 20
inch push. The resulting link force at various deformations is compared with the
defined link force-deformation characteristics.

The SAP2000 model consists of a single joint, labeled joint 1, and one link
element. The model is created in the XZ plane. Only the Uz degree of freedom is
active for the analysis. The plastic Wen link element is modeled as a single-joint
link element at joint 1. This means that one end of the link element is connected
to the ground and the other end is connected to joint 1. The link element is
oriented such that its positive local 2 axis is parallel to the positive global Z axis.
This is not the default orientation of single joint link elements so SAP2000’s
advanced local axes assignment feature for link elements is used to orient the
local axes as desired. Only U2 degree of freedom properties are defined for the
link element.

Only the nonlinear properties of the link element are relevant for this example
because the only load cases used are nonlinear load cases. The stiffness of the
link element is 100 k/in. The yield force is 50 kips. The ratio of initial stiffness to
yielded stiffness is 0.1; in other words, the yielded stiffness is 10 k/in. The
yielding exponent, which controls the sharpness of the transition from the initial
stiffness to the yielded stiffness, is 1.

The weight of the link is 1 kip. This is the only load acting on the link, and it is
applied as a gravity load acting in the Z direction.

Two displacement-controlled nonlinear static load cases are used in this example.
They are named NLSTAT1 and NLSTAT2. NLSTAT1 starts from zero initial
conditions and pushes the link to a positive 10 inch deformation. NLSTAT2
starts from the conditions at the end of NLSTAT1 and pushes the link from a
positive 10 inch deformation to a negative 10 inch deformation.

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 1
 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

GEOMETRY, PROPERTIES AND LOADING

Link local axes Loading

2 orientation Self weight is applied as a
1 gravity load
Active Degrees of Freedom
1 Uz only
Z
Plastic Wen link
oriented with local 2 Link Properties (U2 DOF)
axis in global Z Linear Properties
X direction. Self weight Not used
of link is 1 kip. Shear Distance
Not used for zero length link
Nonlinear Properties
Stiffness, k = 100 k/in
Yield force, y = 50 k
Yield ratio, r = 0.1
Yield exponent, e = 1
The link force-deformation characteristics are
controlled by the following equation:
f = r k d + (1 – r) y z
r*k where
yield, y 1 k, r and y are defined above
k f = force
Yield exponent, e,
Link Force, f

d = deformation
controls sharpness
z = hysteretic variable where -1 <= z <= 1,
of transition from 1
k the initial value of z is zero and z
initial stiffness to
evolves according to the following
yielded stiffness
1 differential equation:
k
z  d (1  z ) if dz  0
e

Link Deformation, d y
k
z  d otherwise
y

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 2
 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

TECHNICAL FEATURES OF SAP2000 TESTED

 Plastic Wen links
 Displacement-controlled nonlinear static analysis
 Link local axis assignments
 Link gravity load

RESULTS COMPARISON
Independent results are hand calculated from the defined link force-deformation
characteristics shown in the figure on the previous page.

Output Link Load Percent

Parameter Deformation Case SAP2000 Independent Difference

0.20 in NLSTAT1 16.836 16.836 0%

Link force at 0.80 in NLSTAT1 43.915 43.915 0%

specified
deformation 9.60 in NLSTAT1 141.000 141.000 0%
for specified
load case 9.60 in NLSTAT2 105.000 105.000 0%
kips 8.60 in NLSTAT2 48.438 48.438 0%

-9.60 in NLSTAT2 -141.000 -141.000 0%

The figures on the following page show a plot of link deformation versus the
hysteretic variable, z, and a plot of link deformation versus link force. Data is
plotted for both load case NLSTAT1 and load case NLSTAT2.

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 3
 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

1.2

0.8

0.6
Hysteretic Variable Z (unitless)

0.4

0.2

0
-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10

-0.2

-0.4

-0.6

-0.8

-1
NLSTAT1
NLSTAT2
-1.2

Link Deformation (inches)

150

100

50
Link Force (kips)

0
-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10

-50

-100

NLSTAT1
NLSTAT2

-150

Link Deformation (inches)

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 4
 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

COMPUTER FILE: Example 6-008

CONCLUSION
The SAP2000 results show an exact comparison with the independent results.

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 5
 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

HAND CALCULATION

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 6
Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 7
Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 8
Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 9
Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 10
Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 11
Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 12
Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 13
Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 14
Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 15
Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 16
Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 17
Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 18