RM2000

Using the Flexibility and the Stiffness Matrix

Demo Example
TDV Ges.m.b.H

August 2001
RM2000 Contents
Flexibility/Stiffness Matrix Element Demo Example I

Contents

1 GENERAL............................................................................................................................................... 1

2 SYSTEM................................................................................................................................................... 2
2.1 P ILE FOUNDATION............................................................................................................................ 2
2.1.1 Structural Model for the Pile foundations................................................................................ 2
2.2 S UPERSTRUCTURE AND C OLUMN.................................................................................................... 3
2.2.1 Structural Model ........................................................................................................................ 3
2.3 LOADING .......................................................................................................................................... 4
2.3.1 Self-weight loading case ............................................................................................................ 4
2.3.2 Temperature loading case ......................................................................................................... 4
2.3.3 Settlement loading case ............................................................................................................. 4
3 CALCULATION OF THE FLEXIBILITY AND STIFFNESS MATRIX.................................... 5
3.1 C ONVERSION MATRIX ..................................................................................................................... 5
3.1.1 Stiffness Matrix........................................................................................................................... 5
3.1.2 Flexibility Matrix ....................................................................................................................... 5
3.2 F LEXIBILITY M ATRIX FOR THE PILE FOUNDATION ......................................................................... 7
3.2.1 Loading....................................................................................................................................... 7
3.2.2 Flexibility Matrix ....................................................................................................................... 7
3.3 S TIFFNESS MATRIX FOR THE PILE FOUNDATION............................................................................. 8
3.3.1 Loading....................................................................................................................................... 8
3.3.2 Stiffness Matrix and Conversion Matrix ................................................................................... 9
4 COMPARISON OF THE 3 VARIATIONS...................................................................................... 10
4.1 VARIATION 1: WHOLE S YSTEM .................................................................................................... 10
4.2 VARIATION 2: PARTIAL S YSTEM WITH F LEXIBILY E LEMENT ...................................................... 11
4.3 VARIATION 3: PARTIAL S YSTEM WITH STIFFNESS E LEMENT ...................................................... 12
5 RESULTS & CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................. 12
5.1 LOADING CASE - S ELF - WEIGHT ..................................................................................................... 12
5.2 TEMPERATURE LOADING CASE ...................................................................................................... 13
5.3 S ETTLEMENT LOADING CASE......................................................................................................... 13
5.4 C ONCLUSION .................................................................................................................................. 13

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RM2000 General
Flexibility/Stiffness Matrix Element Demo Example 1

1 General
A single Stiffness Matrix or Flexibility matrix can be used to represent the behaviour of
any group of elements in a structural model thus reducing the size of the structural
model and hence the calculation time.
The final forces acting at the connection to this “super-member” can then be separately
applied to the “group of elements ” that were represented by this single matrix to find the
forces and deformations on the individual elements.

A simple structural system comprising a single girder fixed to piers at each end, both
with single pile caps and two piles is used to demonstrate this principal and also to de-
scribe a useful way of modelling such sub-structures.

The principals and application are demonstrated using a comparison of 3 structural

variations:

• Variation 1: The Complete Structural System (Superstructure + Support + Pile

foundation)
• Variation 2: A Partial System containing an additional Flexibility Element (Su-
perstructure + Support + Flexibility Element)
• Variation 3: A Partial System containing an additional Stiffness Element
(Superstructure + Support + Stiffness Element)

System:

Fig. 1: General system

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RM2000 System
Flexibility/Stiffness Matrix Element Demo Example 2

2 System

2.1 Pile foundation

2.1.1 Structural Model for the Pile foundations

The structural model and geometric dimensions of the pile foundations are shown in
Fig. 2 above. The tops of the piles are connected to the bottoms of the column with stiff
(rigid) eccentric connections.

• Cross section value: Pile diameter: d = 1.20 m

Cross girder dimensions: b = 1.50 m
h = 1.50 m

• Material: Concrete C 15/20 (B225)

E-Modulus 2.6E07 kN/m2
Poissons ratio 0.2
Coeff. of thermal expansion α-T 1.26E-05 per ° C

• Drawing:
y
3100
2100
Node 1100 1100
z
1120
1.5 m

1169 1179 1389 2.5E03

1118

1128

2778 5.0E03
1117

1127

4167 7.5E03
1116

1126

5556 10.0E03
1115

1125
8 x 1.5 = 12.0 m

6944 12.5E03
1114

1124

8333 15.0E03
1113

1123

9722 17.5E03
1112

1122

11111 20.0E03
1111

1121

1161 1171 12500 10.9E03

Coefficient of Spring constant

3.60
subgrade reaction [kN/m]
[kN/m 3]

Fig. 2: Pile foundation –structural model with spring constants

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RM2000 System
Flexibility/Stiffness Matrix Element Demo Example 3

Elements 1111 to 1128 Beam elements, Concrete

Elements 1161 to 1169 Spring elements (bearing)
Elements 1171 to 1179 Spring elements (bearing)
Element 1100 Spring element (CX, CY….to CMZ = 1E10) from Node
1100 to 0
Element 2100 Flexibility matrix element from Node 1100 to 0
Elements 3100 Stiffness matrix element from Node 1100 to 0
Node 1100 Connection point between pile foundation and column

The same node and element numbers PLUS 100 are used for the second pile foundation.

2.2 Superstructure and Column

2.2.1 Structural Model

The structural model and geometric dimensions of the superstructure and the columns
are shown in Fig. 3 below. The tops of the columns are connected to the superstructure
with stiff (rigid) eccentric connections
.
• Cross section value: Column diameter: d = 1.50 m
Hollow box cross section Refer RM2000 CS values:

• Material: Concrete C 15/20 (B225)

E-Modulus 2.6E07 kN/m2
Poissons ratio 0.2
Coeff. of thermal expansion α-T 1.26E-05 per ° C

• Drawing:
y

10 x 4.00 = 40 m

101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110
CS-height 3.50 m

1105 1205
5 x 2.0 = 10.0 m

1104 1204

1103 1203

1102 1202
3100 3200
1101 2100 1201 2200
1100 1200
Node 1100 x Node 1200

Fig. 3: Column and superstructure – Structural Model

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RM2000 System
Flexibility/Stiffness Matrix Element Demo Example 4

Elements 101 to 110 Beam elements, Concrete

Elements 1101 to 1105 Beam elements, Concrete
Elements 1201 to 1205 Beam elements, Concrete
Element 2100 Flexibility matrix element from Node 1100 to 0
Element 3100 Stiffness matrix element from Node 1100 to 0
Element 2200 Flexibility matrix element from Node 1200 to 0
Element 3200 Stiffness matrix element from Node 1200 to 0
Node 1100 Connection point between pile foundation and column
Node 1200 Connection point between pile foundation and column

2.3 Loading
2.3.1 Self-weight loading case
Only the superstructure (elements 101 to 110) is considered in this self-weight loading
case (see Fig. 4). The self-weight of the other components of the structure (columns and
pile foundations) are neglected.

2.3.2 Temperature loading case

The superstructure elements 101 to 110 are heated by 20°C in this load case (see Fig. 4).

2.3.3 Settlement loading case

The left pile foundation settles 5.0 cm in this loading case (see Fig. 4).

+20.0 °C x

V y = 0.05 m

Fig. 4: Load application

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RM2000 Calculation of the Flexibility and Stiffness Matrix
Flexibility/Stiffness Matrix Element Demo Example 5

3 Calculation of the Flexibility and Stiffness Matrix

3.1 Conversion Matrix

3.1.1 Stiffness Matrix
The results from the calculation of the stiffness matrix (see Cl.3.3 below) for replacing
the pile foundation elements are in the form of local element internal force which must
be transformed into global nodal forces to be useable. The conversion is carried out us-
ing a conversion matrix.

3.1.2 Flexibility Matrix

The results from the calculation of the flexibility matrix (see Cl.3.2 below) for replacing
the pile foundation elements are in the form of deformations and rotations, which can be
inserted directly into the flex ibility matrix (elements 2100 and 2200).
There is therefore no need to use a conversion matrix for the flexibility matrix case.

+Qy

YL +N
+Qz +Mz
XL +Mx
ZL
+My

+Mx
+Mz
+F Y +vY
+Qz
+N +F Z+vZ
+M y
YG +F X +vX

ZG
+Qy +M Z +ϕ Z

+MY +ϕ Y
+MX +ϕ X
XG

Fig.: 5 Local internal forces at the beginning and end of the element (left).
Nodal forces and deform ations (right).

The following conversion matrix is necesseray for the element stiffness matrix in fig. 5

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RM2000 Calculation of the Flexibility and Stiffness Matrix
Flexibility/Stiffness Matrix Element Demo Example 6

KEB-con 0
con
K =
0 KEE-con

Kcon Conversion Matrix

KEB-con Conversion Matrix Forces Element Begin to node
KEE-con Conversion Matrix Forces Element End to node

1
1 0
1
KEB-con = 1
-1
0 -1

Fig. 6: Conversion Matrix for the beginning of the Element

-1
-1 0
-1
K EE-con = -1
1
0 1

Fig. 7: Conversion Matrix for the end of the Element

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RM2000 Calculation of the Flexibility and Stiffness Matrix
Flexibility/Stiffness Matrix Element Demo Example 7

3.2 Flexibility Matrix for the pile foundation

The flexibility matrix that can be used to replace the pile foundation elements in the
analysis of the structural model is calc ulated in the following way:

• Separate or re-define the structural model for the piled foundation alone. (without
pier and main girder).
• Apply unit forces to the node that connects this part of the structure (the piled
foundation in this case) to the remainder of the structure (i.e. node 1100)
• The resulting deformations and rotations for this node define the flexibility matrix
that represents the behaviour of the whole piled foundation defined in this sub-
model.

3.2.1 Loading

The following 6 individual Nodal Loads are applied at Node 1100 to find the flex ibility
matrix:
LC 101: Fx = 1
LC 102: Fy = 1
LC 103: Fz = 1
LC 104: Mx = 1
LC 105: My = 1
LC 106: Mz = 1

These 6 individual Nodal Loads are also used for the right pile foundation at Node
1200.

3.2.2 Flexibility Matrix

K11 K12 DB (FB) DE(FB)

Flex
K = =
K21 K22 DB (FE) DE(FE)

KFlex...…Flexibility Matrix

K11 = FB(FB)….. Deformation Matrix for Element Begin due to Forces at the Beginning
K12 = FE(FB)….. Deformation Matrix for Element End due to Forces at the Beginning
K21 = FB(FE)….. Deformation Matrix for Element Begin due to Forces at the End
K22 = FE(FE)….. Deformation Matrix for Element End due to Forces at the End

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RM2000 Calculation of the Flexibility and Stiffness Matrix
Flexibility/Stiffness Matrix Element Demo Example 8

The Flexibility matrix element 2100 starts at Node 1100 and ends at the theoretical
earth centre. The other partial matrices [K12], [K21] and [K22] are zero ([K12] = [K21]
= [K22] = 0).

The Flexibility Matrix is formed from the deformation results of the unit loads being
applied at Node 1100:

LC Node 1100 vx vy vz Rx Ry Rz
= El 2100
101 Fx=1 58.225 0 0 0 0 7.803
102 Fy=1 0 0.283 0 0 0 0
103 Fz=1 0 0 18.098 -0.286 0 0
104 Mx=1 0 0 -0.286 0.089 0 0
105 My=1 0 0 0 0 5.647 0
106 Mz=1 7.803 0 0 0 0 1.525
Table 1: Deformation results at Node 1100 corresponding to [K11] (Deformations times 1e-6)
Table 1 times 1e-6 is the Flexibility matrix [K11] that is needed for the calculation of
variation 2 (see 4.3). It represents the Flexibility of the Structural found ation (Piles).

3.3 Stiffness Matrix for the pile foundation

The stiffness matrix that can be used to replace the pile foundation elements in the
analysis of the structural model is calc ulated in the following way:

• Separate or re-define the structural model for the piled foundation alone. (without
pier and main girder).
• Apply unit deformations to the node that connects this part of the structure (the
piled foundation in this case) to the remainder of the structure (i.e. node 1100)
• The resulting forces and moments for this node together with the transformation
using the conversion matrix define the stiffness matrix that represents the behav-
iour of the whole piled foundation defined in this sub -model.

3.3.1 Loading

The following 6 individual Element-begin deformations are applied at Spring Element

1100 to find the stiffness matrix:
LC 201: Vx = 1
LC 202: Vy = 1
LC 203: Vz = 1
LC 204: Rx = 1
LC 205: Ry = 1
LC 206: Rz = 1

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RM2000 Calculation of the Flexibility and Stiffness Matrix
Flexibility/Stiffness Matrix Element Demo Example 9

These 6 Element-begin deformations are also used for the right pile foundation at Ele-
ment 1200.

3.3.2 Stiffness Matrix and Conversion Matrix

K11 K12 FB(DB) F E(DB) KEB-con 0

Stiff
K = = *
K21 K22 FB(DE) F E(DE) 0 K EE-con

[ KStiff ] = [ FStiff ] * [ Kcon ]

KStiff...…Stiffness Matrix

FStiff……Stiffness Matrix local

FB(DB)…..Force Matrix for Element Begin due to Deformation at the Beginning
FE(DB)…..Force Matrix for Element End due to Deformation at the Beginning
FB(DE)…..Force Matrix for Element Beg in due to Deformation at the End
FE(DE)…..Force Matrix for Element End due to Deformation at the End

Kcon...…...Conversion Matrix
KEB-con…..Conversion Matrix Forces Element Begin to node
KEE-con…..Conversion Matrix Forces Element End to node

The Stiffness matrix element 3100 starts at the Node 1100 and ends in the theoretical
earth centre. The other partial matrices [K12], [K21] and [K22] are zero ([K12] = [K21]
= [K22] = 0).

Stage I of the Stiffness Matrix is formed from the force results of the unit deformations
being applied at the beginning of element 1100 ( [F Stiff ] ):

LC El 1100 N Qy Qz Mx My Mz
201 v x = 1 54646.077 0 0 0 0 279594.383
202 v y = 1 0 3534001.31 0 0 0 0
203 v z =1 0 0 58209.917 187200.242 0 0
204 phix=1 0 0 187200.242 11860268.3 0 0
205 phiy=1 0 0 0 0 -177076.45 0
206 phiz=1 -279594.38 0 0 0 0 -2086204.9
Table 2: Forces results in Spring Element 1100 due to an unit deformation at Node 1100

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RM2000 Comparison of the 3 Variations
Flexibility/Stiffness Matrix Element Demo Example 10

The Element Results have to be converted to Nodal Results to get the Stiffness Matrix.
The element-end deformation was applied at the end of element 100. Therefore the
Conversion Matrix Element end to Node is required:

N Qy Qz Mx My Mz
1 0 0 0 0 0
0 1 0 0 0 0
0 0 1 0 0 0
0 0 0 1 0 0
0 0 0 0 -1 0
0 0 0 0 0 -1
Table 3: Conversion Matrix [K EB-con] “Element begin to Node”

Stiffness matrix
El 3100 N Qy Qz Mx My Mz
vx 54646.077 0 0 0 0 -279594.38
vy 0 3534001.31 0 0 0 0
vz 0 0 58209.917 187200.242 0 0
Phix 0 0 187200.242 11860268.3 0 0
phiy 0 0 0 0 -177076.45 0
phiz -279594.38 0 0 0 0 -2086204.9
Table 4: Stiffness Matrix [K11] for the Element 3100

4 Comparison of the 3 Variations

4.1 Variation 1: Whole System

• Activate: All elements including the pile foundations, the columns and the Super-
structure except for Elements 1100 (1200), Flexibility matrix element 2100
(2200) and Stiffness matrix element 3100 (3200).
• Loading: Self-weight loading (LC 300) on elements 101 to110 inclusive (no other
elements)
Temperature loading (LC 400), heat elements 101 to110 by 20.0°C
Pier settlement (LC 500), 0.05 m in Y-Axis (global) at element 1161 and
1171.

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RM2000 Comparison of the 3 Variations
Flexibility/Stiffness Matrix Element Demo Example 11

Fig. 8:whole System

4.2 Variation 2: Partial System with Flexibily Element

• Activate: All Column elements and superstructure elements plus the Flexibility ma-
trix elements 2100 (2200)
• Loading: Self-weight loading (LC 301) on elements 101 to110 inclusive (no other
elements)
Temperature loading (LC 401), heat elements 101 to110 by 20.0°C
Pier settlement (LC 501), 0.05 m in Y-Axis (global) at element 2100.

Fig. 9:partial System, Flexibility-Matrix

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RM2000
Flexibility/Stiffness Matrix Element Demo Example 12

4.3 Variation 3: Partial System with Stiffness Element

• Activate: All Column elements and superstructure elements plus the Stiffness matrix
elements 3100 (3200)
• Loading: Self-weight loading (LC 302) on elements 101 to110 inclusive (no other
elements)
Temperature loading (LC 402), heat elements 101 to110 by 20.0°C
Pier settlement (LC 502), 0.05 m in Y-Axis (global) at element 3100.

Fig. 10: partial System, Stiffness-Matrix

5 Results & Conclusion

5.1 Loading case - Self-weight

Element 105 Pkt 2
vx [m] vy [m] phiz [rad] Nx [kN] Qy [kN] Mz [kNm]
VAR 1 0 -19.81e-3 0 -168.338 0 44834.40
VAR 2 0 -19.81e-3 0 -168.337 0 44834.43
VAR 3 0 -19.81e-3 0 -168.338 0 44834.42
Element 110 Pkt 2
VAR 1 -0.014e-3 -2.380e-3 -1.369e-3 -168.338 4755.56 -2721.20
VAR 2 -0.014e-3 -2.381e-3 -1.369e-3 -168.337 4755.56 -2721.171
VAR 3 -0.014e-3 -2.381e-3 -1.369e-3 -168.338 4755.56 -2721.185
Tab. 5: Results of the Deformation and internal Forces of all 3 Variants

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RM2000 Results & Conclusion
Flexibility/Stiffness Matrix Element Demo Example 13

5.2 Temperature loading case

Element 105 Pkt 2
vx [m] vy [m] phiz [rad] Nx [kN] Qy [kN] Mz [kNm]
VAR 1 0 0.268e-3 0 -42.560 0 -566.694
VAR 2 0 0.268e-3 0 -42.560 0 -566.690
VAR 3 0 0.268e-3 0 -42.560 0 -566.694
Element 110 Pkt 2
VAR 1 5.037e-3 0 0.027e-3 -42.560 0 -566.694
VAR 2 5.037e-3 0 0.027e-3 -42.560 0 -566.690
VAR 3 5.037e-3 0 0.027e-3 -42.560 0 -566.694
Tab. 6: Results of the Deformation and internal Forces of all 3 Variations

5.3 Settlement loading case

Element 105 Pkt 2
vx [m] vy [m] phiz [rad] Nx [kN] Qy [kN] Mz [kNm]
VAR 1 -16.807e-3 -25.0e-3 -1.253e-3 0 20.223 0
VAR 2 -16.807e-3 -25.0e-3 -1.253e-3 0 20.223 0
VAR 3 -16.807e-3 -25.0e-3 -1.253e-3 0 20.222 0
Element 110 Pkt 2
VAR 1 -16.807e-3 -0.010e-3 -1.243e-3 0 20.223 -404.462
VAR 2 -16.807e-3 -0.010e-3 -1.243e-3 0 20.223 -404.469
VAR 3 -16.807e-3 -0.010e-3 -1.243e-3 0 20.222 -404.449
Tab. 7: Results of the Deformation and internal Forces of all 3 Variations

5.4 Conclusion

The results for all three variations are identical.

The use of the Flexibility matrix elements and the Stiffness matrix elements are mostly
confined to Substructure and coupling of system parts for special constructions.

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