Elastic frame element with hinges - elfrmH

This is an elastic linear frame element with two rotational springs at the two ends. Nonlinear behavior is modeled through lumped plasticity at the ends of the element while the rest of the element is elastic. The plastic rotational deformations around the 2nd and the 3rd local axes are modelled using moment-rotation response curves.   

As a result the user needs to define the response curves modelling the moment-rotation relationship of the two rotational degrees of freedom at the two edges of the element.

Currently, twenty nine response curves are selectable within the Element Class dialog box, whenever a link element type is selected.

In this element's dialog box it is also possible to define an element-specific damping, as opposed to the global damping described in here. To do so, users need simply to press the Damping button and then select the type of damping that better suits the element in question (users should refer to the Damping menu for a discussion on the different types of damping available and hints on which might the better options). Users are reminded also that damping defined at element level takes precedence over global damping, that is, the "globally-computed" damping matrix coefficients that are associated to the degrees-of-freedom of a given element will be replaced by coefficients that will have been calculated through the multiplication of the mass matrix of the element by a mass-proportional parameter, or through the multiplication of the element stiffness matrix by a stiffness-proportional parameter, or through the calculation of an element damping Rayleigh matrix.

Note: If Rayleigh damping is defined at element level, using varied coefficients from one element to the other, or with respect to those employed in the global damping settings, then non-classical Rayleigh damping is being modelled, classing Rayleigh damping requires uniform damping definition.

Local Axes and Output Notation