Software Verification

PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000

REVISION NO.: 2

EXAMPLE 5-004
SOLID – TWISTED BEAM WITH STATIC LOADS

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
In this example, a twisted cantilever beam, modeled with solid elements, is
subjected to unit forces at the tip in the in-plane and out-of-plane directions, that
is, the Y and Z directions, respectively. The in-plane and out-of-plane loads are
applied in different load cases. The tip displacements in the direction of the load
are compared with independent hand-calculated results.

The geometry, properties and loading are as suggested in MacNeal and Harder
1985. The cantilever beam is twisted 90° from the root (fixed end) to the tip. It is
12 inches long, 1.1 inches wide and 0.32 inch thick. For modeling in SAP2000
the twisted beam is meshed 12 x 2 x 2 (48 solid objects total) as shown in the
figure.

GEOMETRY AND PROPERTIES

Z
Y

Geometric Properties Material Properties Section Properties

Length = 12.0 in E = 29,000,000 lb/in2 Thickness = 0.32 in
Width =1.1 in ν = 0.22
Twist = 90° (root to tip) G = 11,885,246 lb/in2
Mesh = 12 x 2 x 2

EXAMPLE 5-004 - 1
 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2

LOADING
The following table defines the in-plane and out-of-plane loading applied to each
model.

Load Case Load

IN Fy = +1 lb equally distributed to all joints at free tip of beam

OUT Fz = +1 lb equally distributed to all joints at free tip of beam

TECHNICAL FEATURES OF SAP2000 TESTED

 Solid object bending and twist with the incompatible bending modes option
 Joint force loading

RESULTS COMPARISON
The independent results are hand calculated using the unit load method described
on page 244 in Cook and Young 1985. Independent results are also published in
MacNeal and Harder 1985.

With Incompatible Bending Modes

Load Case and Output Percent
Type Parameter SAP2000 Independent Difference

Uy, in
Load case IN
Average of 0.005322 0.005429 -2.0%
In-Plane all joints at
tip
Uz, in
Load case OUT
Average of 0.001719 0.001749 -1.7%
Out-of-Plane all joints at
tip

COMPUTER FILES: Example 5-004

CONCLUSIONS
The SAP2000 results show an acceptable comparison with the independent
results. Further meshing of the model will, in general, improve the comparison.

EXAMPLE 5-004 - 2
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PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2

HAND CALCULATION

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REVISION NO.: 2

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