Novelty file

• An accurate and efficient fiber-based shakedown analysis of 3D frames

discretized via mixed finite elements is proposed.

• The admissible stress domain is defined at fiber level as a function

of the load factor using the maximum and minimum effect due to all
loads in the load domain.

• A continuation method is used to solve the lower bound optimization

problem and a decomposed iterative solution strategy is derived for
mixed finite elements.

• The algorithm is based on the direct application of the Newton method

and no constrained optimization solver is required.

• Importantly, the load domain complexity and dimension do not affect

the computational cost of the nonlinear analysis.

• Numerical tests show an accurate safety factor using a small number

of fibers and an efficient solution also for large buildings.