Stability of Structures CIE 5144 2015

Assignment 1

Description
Choose one of the six frame geometries on the following page and select realistic structural
properties. Analyse the frame with the analysis types presented in the course:
1. Linear elastic behaviour: standard elastic frame analysis.
2. Linear buckling analysis by hand: upper and lower bound values, using the approximation model from Section 4.1 of the lecture notes.
3. Linear buckling analysis with finite elements: check mesh-size dependence as in
Section 5.2.
4. Geometrically nonlinear elastic behaviour: nonlinear finite element analysis following Section 5.3.
5. The plastic collapse load: standard plastic frame analysis with theory from CIE
4150.
6. The rigid-plastic second order behaviour: using the theory presented in Section 4.2.
7. Elastic-plastic second order behaviour: full nonlinear finite element analysis, following Section 5.4.
Relevant results should be presented graphically in the form of normal force diagrams,
bending moment diagrams and load-displacement curves. Also visualize the predicted
collapse mechanisms. Discuss the differences in the predicted collapse load obtained with
the different approaches.
A number of linear and nonlinear finite element computations must be performed. A
MATLAB code is provided on blackboard, with which all the required simulations can
be done, but it is also allowed to use another package of your choice.

Evaluation
The assignment should be handed in together with assignment 2. In case of serious mistakes or incompleteness, you will be asked to revise the report. When the report is of
sufficient quality, an oral examination will be taken, which will cover the cases selected
for the assignments.

Frame geometries
5F

5F

5F

5F

5F
F

5F

5F

5F

L/3
L

5F

2L

3L

5F

5F

5F

5F

L
2L

5F
F
F
L

2L

5F
5F
5F

5F
5F

5F

5F

F
5F

5F

2L

Assistance
Dr.ir. Frans van der Meer, room 6.38, f.p.vandermeer@tudelft.nl

2L