An Adaptive Fiber Section Discretization Scheme for Nonlinear Frame Analysis

Abstract

The paper proposes an adaptive fiber section discretization scheme for inelastic frame elements. The scheme uses cubature rules for the efficient and accurate evaluation of the section response over the elastic portion of the section. As inelastic strains arise and penetrate into the section from the edges, the scheme converts the area under inelastic strains to a regular fiber discretization. This approach offers considerable advantages for the computational efficiency of large structural models with inelastic frame elements by minimizing the number of integration points in sections with limited inelastic response. The proposed scheme is presented for circular and rectangular cross sections, but the approach is applicable to other section shapes. Inelastic frame response examples demonstrate the benefits of the proposed discretization scheme for the nonlinear response history analysis of large structural models.