USFOS Analysis

(Ultimate Strength for Framed

Offshore Structures)
-

A nonlinear numerical tool mainly for the

analysis of space frames
Pushover analysis

Outline

Features of USFOS
USFOS input file preparation
Running analysis & post-processing
Examples: simply supported beam
Examples: 2D frame and jacket

Basic features
Ultimate Strength for Framed
Offshore Structures
Beam, Shell, Solid Elements
one finite element is sufficient for one physical
member based on element formulation

Nonlinearities: geometry,
material and boundary
conditions
Consistent Unit System
N (force), m (length)
N (force), mm (length)

E in Pa
E in MPa
3

Add-on features

Joint Capacity Checks

Spud Can
Soil-Structure Interaction
Hydrodynamic Loading

USFOS
Reality Engineering

File Types Involved in And Analysis

Structural
input filemodel.fem

Text output file (res.out).

Contains general print and
error messages

Usfos

Xact

(engine)

(Graphical Interface)

USFOS analysis
control file
(named f ex head.fem)

Result
Database
for XACT.
Name:
res.raf

INPUT

OUTPUT
5

Installing software
Download from http://www.usfos.com/

Installing software
Replace the key file at C:\Program
Files\USFOS\bin

Open software
Open from start all programs USFOS
USFOS GUI

Run software (1)

Open analysis control

Run software (2)

Input example file by
clicking
Example files are
available in C:\Program
Files\USFOS\examples
You can edit the example
file by clicking

Head_orig.fem
model.fem
Left empty
Name the result
file in the same
folder

Save the file before

running.
Attention: In PC cluster, drive C is protected, users cant write
any files on it. But you can write files on desktop. So before running the
software, you have to copy the example files to desktop and name your
result file in the same folder on the desktop.
If you forget this for the first time, restart USFOS.

10

Analysis results
View the node numbers
and element numbers

View the animation

Try this by
yourself
Change load
step

Drag with the left button or

the right button to translate
or rotate

11

A1

2B

y
x

Step1: model structure

Step2: add loading condition
12

USFOS input file - Structural file

Node

Element

Global Coordinate
Boundary Condition

Material
Cross Section data

'

Node ID
X
Y
Z Boundary code
NODE
1
.000
.000
.000 1 1 1 1 0 1
NODE
2
10.000
.000
.000 0 1 1 1 0 1
NODE 3
5.000
.000
.000 ' ..
'
Elem ID np1
np2 material geom lcoor
BEAM
1
1
3
1
1
1
BEAM
2
3
2
1
1
1
' ..
'
VecID
dx
dy
dz
UNITVEC
1
.000
.000
1.000
' ..
'
Geom ID
Do
Thick
PIPE
1
.24070
.0050
'
Geom ID H T-web W-top T-top W-bot T-bot
IHPROFIL 5
0.4250 0.0400 0.4250 0.0400 0.8405 0.0250
' ..
'
matno. E
v yield density therm
MISOIEP
1 210E9 0.3 358E6 7.85E3 1.4E-5

Boundary Condition: x,y,z,rx,ry,rz;

0:free; 1:fixed;

Structure

Coordinate
system

Define nodes and boundary

conditions
Define elements
Define local z-axis coord. of
beam elements
Define cross section data
Define material properties

2
13

COORDINATE SYSTEM

z
2
1

y
Local Coordinate

Global Coordinate

14

COORDINATE SYSTEM
The global coordinate system is defined as a right-hand Cartesian
system.
Local coordinate system for the beam element is also defined in right-

hand Cartesian system : the local x-axis is from the first node (i)
towards the second node (j); the local y- and z-axis are perpendicular
to the local x-axis.

UNITVEC in the model file defines the local z-axis in terms of global
coordinates. This vector should not coincide with the local x-axis.
If not defined, the default local z-axis is parallel to the global (X,Z)
plane.

15

USFOS input file - Control file

-Static load
Load case: pressure, CF, etc Usually in structural file
Load Magnitude
Load control parameters: Lfact Minstp nstep etc
Control node displacement
Other information: Joint check Saved information
P
z

A1

2B

16

USFOS input file - Control file

-Static load
P
z

A1

2B

l
'
load case
NODELOAD
1

node ID
load intensity
3
0.0000E+00 0.0000E+00 -1.0000E+04

'
CUSFOS
'

nloads npostp mxpstp mxpdis

10
10
1
1.00
lcomb lfact mxld nstep minstp
1
0.1
1
10
0.1

'
CNODES
'

ncnods
1
nodex idof dfact
3
3
-1

Define a concentrated load

Load control for static analysis
Different lines refer to the
sequence of load applications

Specify the control displacement of the structure

17

 Running USFOS analysis

If the results are not satisfactory, go
back to analysis control to adjust the
parameters

18

19

Output file

Binary output file:

*.raf file : opened in Xact
Text output file:
*.out file : records the structural input and every
incremental steps.
*_status.text file: records the occurrence of yielding,
plastic hinges, and member buckling in the analysis.

20

.out file

OUT file summarizes the structural data both in terms of user definition as well as the
USFOS internal treatment of some of the input (e.g. spring properties). The .OUT also
summarizes the numerical results in each step, as exemplified in the following. The
symbols at the end of element indicates
0: a yield hinge is inserted
+: position checked for plasticity
*: plastic hinge removed at element mid-span. Internally, the element is divided into
two sub elements.
0-0-0: plastic tension failure. The axial tension has reached the plastic capacity and a
membrane element is inserted.
ELEM
1
2

ES

Node1

2 -1.00(-1.00)
1 0.00( 0.00)

--------

NODE
1
2
TOTAL:

Midspan

Node2

-0.49(-0.36)
-0.49(-0.36)

0.00( 0.00)
-1.00(-1.00)

G L O B A L

X-for
-3.806E-10
0.000E+00
-3.806E-10

R E A C T I O N

Y-for

Z-for

0.000E+00
0.000E+00
0.000E+00

1.948E+04
1.948E+04
3.897E+04

+---+---O
O---+---+
F O R C E S

X-mom

Y-mom

--------

Z-mom

0.000E+00 0.000E+00 0.000E+00

0.000E+00 0.000E+00 0.000E+00
, Vector_Sum XY : 3.806E-10

21

_status.text file
The _status.text file lists the nonlinear events during the analysis: first
yielding, plastic hinges and buckling.
The time step at which the nonlinear event occurs provides a hint to
view the fringe plots.
--

Yielding Status (hinge introduced)

Elem ID
1
2

Position
node 2
node 1
--

Elem ID
1
2

Position
node 2
node 1

Cross sect.
utilization
0.79
0.79

--

Comb
No
1
1

Step
No
50
50

Load
level
2.90
2.90

Plastic hinge Status (fully developed) --

Cross sect.
utilization
1.00
1.00

Comb
No
1
1

Step
No
101
101

Load
level
3.77
3.77

22

2D frame analysis(1)
1.

2.
3.

4.

5.

Input the existing

control file and
structure file.
Check the structure
file .
Press F1 to add
comments to an
existing command.
Press F2 to select
and insert another
command.
For more
information, go to
help\USFOS input
commands and
search.

For command
description

View the model

without running

23

2D frame analysis(2)
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.

Check the control file .

Check the control
parameters
Press F1 to add
comments.
Press F2 to select and
insert another
command.
For more information,
go to help\USFOS
input commands and
search.

24

2D frame analysis(3)

To choose a nodal/element result, click

here and use CTRL + Left click the
member you want to see

25

2D frame analysis(4)
1.
2.

Left empty

The default joint is

rigid joint.
CHJOINT: the capacity
of the tubular joint will
be checked!

26

2D frame analysis(5)-MSL
Due to deformation limitation of MSL
just click OK

Right click

Load factor times the basic load

27

HELP
Help is also available
online at
http://www.usfos.com/,
where you can find:
-Online manuals
-Related publications
-USFOS setup
download

28

Jacket(1)
Wave loading can be interpreted as static loading
or dynamic loading .
For static loading USFOS will step through the
actual wave and identify the worst wave
position(the position causing the highest base
shear or overturning moment)
For dynamic loading, some may be implemented:
Marine growth; buoyancy; current
29

Jacket(2)
Identify the worst
wave phase to be
used in the static
pushover analysis.

30

Jacket(3)
1.
2.

Find the load level

Find the baseshear and
overturning moment

31