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R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
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EXAMPLE 1-015
FRAME - STEADY STATE HARMONIC LOADS

EXAMPLE DESCRIPTION
Steady state and periodic time history analysis are verified in this example using
a fixed-end beam that is subjected to a uniformly distributed load varying
harmonically with respect to time. The maximum midpoint deflections from the
SAP2000 analyses are compared with independent results published in Paz 1985.

The example is solved using two different calculation methods. They are
undamped steady state analysis; and periodic time history analysis. For the
steady state analysis, the frequency of the forcing function is used as input into
SAP2000. For the time-history analysis, one complete cycle of the sine wave
loading function, discretized at 100 equal intervals, is used as input, and, for
consistency with Paz 1985, five modes are used in the time history analysis.

The fixed end beam is modeled with two objects so that there is a midpoint node
where displacements are reported. Each of the objects is internally meshed in
SAP2000 into 120 elements each one inch long. Because the line mass in the
SAP2000 analysis is lumped at the nodes, this discretization of the beam
provides a good approximation of the uniform mass assumed in the example.

Important Note: Only bending deformations are considered in this analysis.

Shear deformations are ignored by setting the frame property modification factor
for shear area to zero. Axial and torsional modes are excluded by excluding the
Ux and Rx degrees of freedom from the analysis.

GEOMETRY , PROPERTIES AND LOADING

Material Properties
Z 200sin(300t) E = 3,000,000 lb/in2
Mass per unit length = 0.1 lb-sec2/in2
1 2 3 Section Properties
X b = 12 in
120" 120"
d = 10 in
240" I = 1,000 in4

EXAMPLE 1-015 - 1
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IN C .

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PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

TECHNICAL FEATURES OF SAP2000 TESTED

¾ Steady state analysis of frame systems
¾ Time history analysis of frame systems with periodic loading
¾ Line mass assignment to frame objects
¾ Automatic frame subdivision

RESULTS COMPARISON
The independent results are taken from Illustrative Example 20.2 on page 434 in
Paz 1985. The independent results are calculated using the first five mode
shapes.

Analysis Output Percent

Case Parameter SAP2000 Independent Difference

SS1
Undamped Uz (jt 2) in 0.0544 0.0541 +0.55%
steady state

MHIST1
Periodic time
Uz (jt 2) in 0.0544 0.0541 +0.55%
history using
5 modes

COMPUTER FILE: Example 1-015

CONCLUSIONS
Comparison of the SAP2000 results with the independent results is acceptable.
The small difference between the SAP2000 results and the independent results
appears to be caused by round off in the independent solution.

EXAMPLE 1-015 - 2
 C O M P U TE R S &
S TR U C TU R ES
IN C .

R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 0

HAND CALCULATION

EXAMPLE 1-015 - 3