Structural stability analysis using FEM package

Is there any way that a stability analysis be performed on FEM

software?
Expanded Question: When ever stability analysis is required, we need to switch to hand
calculations. Is there any way that the FEM model of structure be used to conduct stability
analysis of the structure to determine factor of safety against overturning and sliding?
Answer: Yes, definitely, FEM models can be used to perform stability analysis of the structure.
In its simplest form the basic equation that is solved during an FEM analysis (static analysis) is
that of the force displacement relationship
[F] = [k] x [d]
Where F is the force matrix, k is the stiffness matrix and d is the displacement.
In numerical terms, the restraint that are assigned during the modeling stage, are equivalent to
reducing the number of unknown displacements for the above matrix formulations.
If you recall your hand calculations procedures of conducting the stability analysis, first you
chose a point (or a line) about which the overturning stability is to be determined.
In order to utilize your FEM model to determine the stability analysis, first thing you need to do is
to alter the restraints. You need to restraint the point about which the stability is to be
determined.
Such change of boundary conditions will result in a solution (the reactions at the support) in
which the equilibrium of forces is attained through the forces generated at the restrained point.
However, as obvious, the internal forces in the structure itself will be different that the original
model.

Caution:- Never use the model with altered restraint to design the
members
By using the reactions resulting at the supports, the stability of the structure can be determined.

Example of stability analysis using SAP2000

Consider a cantilevered retaining wall which is 500mm thick and is subjected to a distributed
load of 20KN/m2. The friction factor between the concrete wall and the soil is 0.7. The problem
is illustrated in Figure 1.
The factor of safety against overturning and sliding can be determined as below:-

Sliding force = 20 x 3 x 1 = 60 KN/m

Resisting force = (0.5 x 3 x 1 + 0.5 x 1 x 3) x 24 x 0.7 = 50.4 KN/m
FOS sliding= 50.4/60 = 0.84
Overturning moment about the toe of wall = 20 x 3 x 3 / 2 = 90 KN-m/m
Resisting moment = (0.5 x 3 x 1 x 3 / 2 + 0.5 x 1 x 3 x 3 / 2) x 24 = 108 KN-m/m
FOS overturning = 108/90 = 1.2

Figure 1: Structural configuration of cantilever wall

FEM solution:The cantilever wall is modeled as line element. The toe of the wall is restraint translation in
lateral (x) direction and rotation about y axis. Two load cases are defined for the analysis. The
dead load. In which the dead load of wall is applied. The pressure of 20 KN/m2 is applied and
another load case.

Figure 2: Frame model of cantilever wall in SAP2000

The reactions at the support are given in table below:

Table :- Reactions at the restraint point for the frame model of cantilever wall

FOS against overturning = M2(Dead) / M2(Pressure) = 106/90 = 1.17

FOS against sliding = F3(Dead) x 0.7 / F1(Pressure) = 70.689 x 0.7 / 60 = 0.82

Shell model
The same wall is modeled as a shell. Any length of the wall can be modeled in this case. The
nodes at the toe are fixed.
The reactions at the toe are given below

Figure :3 Shell model of the wall

Sum up the forces F1 for all nodes for pressure and F3 for all nodes for dead
F1- pressure Sum = 42 + 95 + 42 + 89 +89 = 357 KN (Sliding force)
F3- dead sum x 0.7= (44 + 104 + 44 + 115 + 115) x 0.7 = 295 KN (Resisting force)
FOS overturning = 295 / 357 = 0.82
Sum up the moments M2 for all nodes for both cases
M2- dead Sum = 76 + 159 + 76+ 161+161 = 635 KN-m (Resisting moment)
M2- pressure sum = 64 + 135 +64+137 +137 =537 KN-m (Overturning moment)
FOS overturning = 635 / 537 = 1.18