Software Verification

PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000

REVISION NO.: 2

EXAMPLE 3-003
PLANE – CURVED BEAM WITH STATIC LOADS

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
In this example, a curved cantilever beam, modeled with plane stress elements, is
subjected to unit forces at the tip in the in-plane direction, that is, the Y direction.
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 bent into a 90° arc. It has a 4.12-inch inner radius
and a 4.32-inch outer radius. Thus, it is 0.2 inch wide and approximately 6.63
inches long at its centerline. The beam is 0.1 inch thick in the Y direction. For
modeling in SAP2000, the curved beam is meshed into six area objects, each
subtending a 15° arc.

Two models are created for the example: one with a 6x1 mesh and one with a
90x1 mesh. Only the Ux and the Uy degrees of freedom are active in the models.

LOADING
The following table defines the in-plane loading applied to the model.

Load Case Load

IN Fy = +0.5 lb at jts 7 and 14

TECHNICAL FEATURES OF SAP2000 TESTED

 Membrane analysis using plane stress elements
 Joint force loading

EXAMPLE 3-003 - 1
 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2

GEOMETRY AND PROPERTIES

14 Geometric Properties
6 13
7 Inner radius = 4.12 in
6 5 Outer radius = 4.32 in
12
Arc = 90°
5
4
Material Properties
11
E = 10,000,000 lb/in2
4
ν = 0.25
3 G = 4,000,000 lb/in2
1 - Joint number 10 Section Properties
1 - Area object number 3 Thickness = 0. 1 in

9
6@

2
15

Y
°=
90

1
°

X 1 8

EXAMPLE 3-003 - 2
 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2

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.

Output Percent
Model and Mesh Parameter SAP2000 Independent Difference

Model A
Uy, in 0.0854 -4%
6x1 mesh
Average of 0.0886
Model B
jts 7 and 14 0.0886 0%
90x1 mesh

COMPUTER FILES: Example 3-003a, Example 3-003b

CONCLUSIONS
The SAP2000 results have an acceptable comparison with the independent
results. With sufficient meshing, the comparison is exact.

EXAMPLE 3-003 - 3
 Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2

HAND CALCULATION

EXAMPLE 3-003 - 4