Software Verification

PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000

REVISION NO.: 1

EXAMPLE 1-019
FRAME – BUCKLING OF A RIGID FRAME

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
A one-story, one-bay, two-dimensional frame is subjected to an axial force, P, at
the top of each column. The buckling load for this configuration is calculated and
compared with independent results calculated using formulas derived in
Timoshenko and Gere 1961. Several SAP2000 models are used. Each model is
identical, except for the discretization of the three frame objects.

Important Note: Only buckling in the XZ plane is considered. The frame is

assumed to be braced against bucking in the YZ plane. This is achieved by
making only the Ux, Uz and Ry degrees of freedom active in the analysis.

Important Note: Only bending deformations are considered in the analysis.

Shear and axial deformations are ignored. In SAP2000 this is achieved by setting
the property modification factor for area to 100,000 and setting the property
modification factor for shear area to 0.

GEOMETRY, PROPERTIES AND LOADING

P P Material Properties Section Properties

E = 29,900 k/in2 W8X31
A= 9.12 in2
Z I = 110 in4

Y 14
Frame Object Discretization
4"
X Model A: 1 frame element per frame object
Model B: 2 frame elements per frame object
Model C: 4 frame elements per frame object
144"

TECHNICAL FEATURES OF SAP2000 TESTED

 Buckling analysis of a rigid frame
 Automatic frame subdivision

EXAMPLE 1-019 - 1
 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 1

RESULTS COMPARISON
Independent results are calculated using formulas presented in Article 2.4 on
pages 62 through 66 in Timoshenko and Gere 1961.

Output Percent
Model Parameter SAP2000 Independent Difference

A Buckling
1 element per Load 280.98 280.19 +0.28%
object (kips)

B Buckling
2 elements per Load 280.24 280.19 +0.02%
object (kips)

C Buckling
4 elements per Load 280.19 280.19 0%
object (kips)

COMPUTER FILES: Example 1-019a, Example 1-019b, Example 1-019c

CONCLUSION
The SAP2000 results show an acceptable comparison with the independent
results. As the discretization increases the SAP2000 result converges to the
independent result.

EXAMPLE 1-019 - 2
 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 1

HAND CALCULATION

EXAMPLE 1-019 - 3