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EXAMPLE 6-008
LINK PLASTIC WEN LINK
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
This example uses a single degree of freedom structure to test the behavior of a
plastic Wen link element. Bilinear force-deformation characteristics are defined
for the link element along with an exponent that defines the sharpness of the
transition from the initial stiffness to the yielded stiffness. A nonlinear static
analysis is used to push the link element to a positive 10 inch displacement. Then
a second nonlinear load case is started from the final conditions of the first load
case and used to push the link element to a negative 10 inch displacement, a 20
inch push. The resulting link force at various deformations is compared with the
defined link force-deformation characteristics.
The SAP2000 model consists of a single joint, labeled joint 1, and one link
element. The model is created in the XZ plane. Only the Uz degree of freedom is
active for the analysis. The plastic Wen link element is modeled as a single-joint
link element at joint 1. This means that one end of the link element is connected
to the ground and the other end is connected to joint 1. The link element is
oriented such that its positive local 2 axis is parallel to the positive global Z axis.
This is not the default orientation of single joint link elements so SAP2000s
advanced local axes assignment feature for link elements is used to orient the
local axes as desired. Only U2 degree of freedom properties are defined for the
link element.
Only the nonlinear properties of the link element are relevant for this example
because the only load cases used are nonlinear load cases. The stiffness of the
link element is 100 k/in. The yield force is 50 kips. The ratio of initial stiffness to
yielded stiffness is 0.1; in other words, the yielded stiffness is 10 k/in. The
yielding exponent, which controls the sharpness of the transition from the initial
stiffness to the yielded stiffness, is 1.
The weight of the link is 1 kip. This is the only load acting on the link, and it is
applied as a gravity load acting in the Z direction.
Two displacement-controlled nonlinear static load cases are used in this example.
They are named NLSTAT1 and NLSTAT2. NLSTAT1 starts from zero initial
conditions and pushes the link to a positive 10 inch deformation. NLSTAT2
starts from the conditions at the end of NLSTAT1 and pushes the link from a
positive 10 inch deformation to a negative 10 inch deformation.

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 1

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GEOMETRY, PROPERTIES AND LOADING

Loading
Self weight is applied as a
gravity load

Link local axes

orientation

2
1

Active Degrees of Freedom

Uz only

1
Z

Plastic Wen link

oriented with local 2
axis in global Z
direction. Self weight
of link is 1 kip.

Link Properties (U2 DOF)

Linear Properties
Not used
Shear Distance
Not used for zero length link
Nonlinear Properties
Stiffness, k
= 100 k/in
Yield force, y
= 50 k
Yield ratio, r
= 0.1
Yield exponent, e = 1
The link force-deformation characteristics are
controlled by the following equation:
f = r k d + (1 r) y z

yield, y
Link Force, f

k
1

where

r*k

Yield exponent, e,
controls sharpness
of transition from
initial stiffness to
yielded stiffness

Link Deformation, d

k
1

k, r and y are defined above

f = force
d = deformation
z = hysteretic variable where -1 <= z <= 1,
the initial value of z is zero and z
evolves according to the following
differential equation:
k
y
k
z
y
z

e
d (1 z ) if dz 0

d otherwise

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 2

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TECHNICAL FEATURES OF SAP2000 TESTED

Plastic Wen links
Displacement-controlled nonlinear static analysis
Link local axis assignments
Link gravity load
RESULTS COMPARISON
Independent results are hand calculated from the defined link force-deformation
characteristics shown in the figure on the previous page.

Output
Parameter

Link
Deformation

Load
Case

SAP2000

Independent

Percent
Difference

0.20 in

NLSTAT1

16.836

16.836

0%

Link force at
specified
deformation
for specified
load case

0.80 in

NLSTAT1

43.915

43.915

0%

9.60 in

NLSTAT1

141.000

141.000

0%

9.60 in

NLSTAT2

105.000

105.000

0%

kips

8.60 in

NLSTAT2

48.438

48.438

0%

-9.60 in

NLSTAT2

-141.000

-141.000

0%

The figures on the following page show a plot of link deformation versus the
hysteretic variable, z, and a plot of link deformation versus link force. Data is
plotted for both load case NLSTAT1 and load case NLSTAT2.

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 3

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1.2

Hysteretic Variable Z (unitless)

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

10

-0.2

-0.4

-0.6

-0.8

-1
NLSTAT1
NLSTAT2
-1.2

Link Deformation (inches)

150

100

Link Force (kips)

50

0
-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

10

-50

-100
NLSTAT1
NLSTAT2
-150

Link Deformation (inches)

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 4

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COMPUTER FILE: Example 6-008

CONCLUSION
The SAP2000 results show an exact comparison with the independent results.

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 5

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HAND CALCULATION

EXAMPLE 6-008 - 6

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EXAMPLE 6-008 - 7

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EXAMPLE 6-008 - 8

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EXAMPLE 6-008 - 9

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EXAMPLE 6-008 - 10

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EXAMPLE 6-008 - 11

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EXAMPLE 6-008 - 12

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EXAMPLE 6-008 - 13

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EXAMPLE 6-008 - 14

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EXAMPLE 6-008 - 15

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EXAMPLE 6-008 - 16

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EXAMPLE 6-008 - 17

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EXAMPLE 6-008 - 18