Software Verification

PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000

REVISION NO.: 6

EXAMPLE 1-026
FRAME – MOMENT AND SHEAR HINGES

EXAMPLE DESCRIPTION
This example uses a horizontal cantilever beam to test the SAP2000 moment and
shear hinges in a static nonlinear analysis. The cantilever beam has a moment
(My) hinge and a shear (Vz) hinge at its fixed end. A vertical load, P, is applied to
the cantilever and increased until the vertical tip deflection, Uz, equals 2". Two
models are used in the example. Model B applies a default auto subdivide hinge
overwrite to the line object containing the hinge whereas Model A does not.

Multiple states are saved for the analysis with the minimum number of saved
states set to 6 and the maximum number of saved states set to 10. The tip
deflection, Uz, and tip rotation, Ry, for several of the saved states (identified on
the next page) are compared with independent hand calculated results.

Important Notes: Bending and shear deformations are included in this example.
Also, in SAP2000 frame hinges are only active in nonlinear static and nonlinear
direct time history load cases. The hinges are ignored in all other types of load
cases

GEOMETRY, PROPERTIES AND LOADING

24" 12" Material Properties
C E = 3,600 k/in2
ν = 0.2
Z
18"

G = 1,500 k/in2
Moment hinge (My) Section Properties
Y and shear hinge (Vz) C Section C-C b = 12 in
X P
d = 18 in
A = 216 in2
I = 5,832 in4
1920 Moment Hinge Shear Hinge
Av = 180 in2 (shear area)
Moment (kip-in)

Moment-Rotation Force-Deformation
Shear (kips)

1440 80 Loading
70 Increase P until the free
end tip deflection in the
480 Z direction is 2 inches

0.04 0.4
Plastic Rotation (radians) Plastic Deformation (inches)

EXAMPLE 1-026 - 1
 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 6

TECHNICAL FEATURES OF SAP2000 TESTED

 Static nonlinear analysis of a frame structure with moment and shear hinges

RESULTS COMPARISON
Force P and free end vertical

Force P (kips)
displacement and rotation are reported for 80 2
the saved states corresponding to the 1
60
points labeled 1, 2 and 3 on the cantilever
beam force-tip deflection (P-Uz) diagram
20 3
shown to the right. Independent results
are hand calculated using the unit load
method described on page 244 in Cook Tip Deflection, Uz (inches)
and Young 1985 together with basic
deflection formulas and superposition.

Results Without Hinge Overwrite (Model B)

Percent
Point Output Parameter SAP2000 Independent Difference

Force P (free end) kips 60 60 0%

1 Uz (free end) in 0.0185 0.0185 0%

Ry (free end) rad -0.0008 -0.0008 0%

Force P (free end) kips 80 80 0%

2 Uz (free end) in 1.3847 1.3847 0%

Ry (free end) rad -0.0411 -0.0411 0%

Force P (free end) kips 20 20 0%

3 Uz (free end) in 1.3662 1.7612 29%

Ry (free end) rad -0.0403 -0.0567 41%

EXAMPLE 1-026 - 2
 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 6

Results With Hinge Overwrite (Model B)

Percent
Point Output Parameter SAP2000 Independent Difference

Force P (free end) kips 60 60 0%

1 Uz (free end) in 0.0185 0.0185 0%

Ry (free end) rad -0.0008 -0.0008 0%

Force P (free end) kips 80 80 0%

2 Uz (free end) in 1.3847 1.3847 0%

Ry (free end) rad -0.0411 -0.0411 0%

Force P (free end) kips 20 20 0%

3 Uz (free end) in 1.3662 1.3701 0%

Ry (free end) rad -0.0403 -0.0404 0%

COMPUTER FILES: Example 1-026a, Example 1-026b

CONCLUSION
The SAP2000 results show an acceptable comparison with the independent
results when the auto subdivide overwrite is used.

Sharp vertical drops in hinge forces or moments may not always be realistic and
can cause analysis convergence difficulties in more complicated models. For this
reason Sap2000 automatically limits the steepness of vertical drops to one-tenth
of the elastic stiffness of the element containing the hinge. When a frame object
is subdivided the shorter elements have larger elastic stiffnesses which permit
drops in hinge forces or moments that are closer to vertical. It is for this reason
that model B, which has an automatically meshed element that is 1% of the total
length, permits a steeper drop than model A. The drop is so steep that snap back
(negative displacement increment) of the overall cantilever can be observed.

Steep (nearly vertical) hinge drops should be avoided whenever possible.

EXAMPLE 1-026 - 3
 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 6

HAND CALCULATION

EXAMPLE 1-026 - 4
Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 6

EXAMPLE 1-026 - 5
Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 6

EXAMPLE 1-026 - 6