Computer-aided interactive plastic design of frames

Abstract

A computer method for analysis and design of plane frames is presented. The method is meant primarily for plastic collapse analysis. Optimal design and elastic-plastic deformation analysis capabilities are provided as options on the same computational platform such that all activities share common internal data structures. A specific feature is the interfacing of user input with analysis calculations, resulting in an interactive design system. Four sequential levels of input data are considered: frame topology, geometry, member sections and loading. Separate calculation modules are activated at each level of input, permitteng interactive data modifications; computational work that needs to be repeated to obtain the new solution is that of the modification level and the following levels if any. © 1993.