Verification Example

Verification of Gap Element in midas Gen

Title
Statically determinate structural analysis of Gap Element.

Description
A Gap Element with fixed end at bottom and free at top is loaded axially at the top with force P1.
The Gap in element is 500 mm.

Determine the displacement at the top.

5m

Figure 1 Structural Geometry and Analysis Model

Gap Element
Verification Example

Model
Analysis Type

2-D static Analysis (X-Z plane)

Unit System

M, kN

Dimension

Length 5.0 m

Element

Gap element with Gap = 500 mm

Material

Modulus of Elasticity E = 2.1 x 108 kN/m2

Section Property
Table 1 1 : HEA100

A(mm 2) Asy(mm 2) Asz(mm 2) z(+)(mm) z(-)(mm)

2120.000 1333.333 480.000 48.000 48.000

Ixx(mm 4) Iyy(mm 4) Izz(mm 4) y(+)(mm) y(-)(mm)

37800.000 3490000.000 1340000.000 50.000 50.000

Boundary Condition

Node 1 : Constrain all DOFs

Load Case

Axially concentrated load P1 is applied at the node 2 in the -Z direction.

P1 = 1000 kN

Gap Element
Verification Example

Results
Table 2 Displacement

Node Load DX (mm) DY (mm) DZ (mm) RX ([rad]) RY ([rad]) RZ ([rad])

1 DL 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000

2 DL 0.000000 0.000000 -511.230907 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000

Comparison of Results

With truss element without gap:

Table 3 Compare Displ

Node Load DX (mm) DY (mm) DZ (mm) RX ([rad]) RY ([rad]) RZ ([rad])

1 DL 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000

2 DL 0.000000 0.000000 -511.230907 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000

3 DL 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000

4 DL 0.000000 0.000000 -11.230907 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000

Conclusion

Gap Element shows deformation = gap value + displacement due to load P1. The
displacement due to load P1 is proven by truss element used for comparison.

Gap Element