Finite-element Design of Concrete Structures

Figure 1.1 Sleipner A platform (photo NC)

was too coarse to determine the actual forces in the members. This disaster raises a
critical question, whether this sort of accident could still be allowed to happen nowadays.
The essential causes of this case of damage and the consequences of the numerical
analysis are discussed in detail in Section 5.1.1.
This accident signicantly demonstrates an essential problem in complex numerical
calculations: the insufcient control of the results due to the large amount of data
output. The more complex the numerical models are, the more difcult it becomes to
recognise the areas of possible mistakes and inaccuracies.
In this respect, it is the authors opinion that the modelling of a structure as a whole with
the help of shell elements, for example, multi-storey buildings or bridges, is rarely meaningful, although this approach is often encouraged by software companies. A structural
engineer must always be able to understand the behaviour of any complex structure and
to idealise it, so that the ow of forces can easily be understood and calculated. Complex
FE calculations can then be used to lower any excessive safety margins of simple models
and produce a far more economical structure. However, complex FE models must never
be used to replace either the design engineer or any of the engineers missing expertise.
Costly, sophisticated analyses do not always lead to more realistic results. Furthermore,
the amount of a FE analysis should be considered with respect to the degree of accuracy
that is actually needed. The results of any calculation can only be as accurate as the
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