Integrated graphical environment for support nonlinear dynamic software for the analysis of plane frames

Nonlinear structural analyses allow reproducing in a more realistic sense the behaviour of structures subjected to several types of complex loading conditions, e.g. earthquakes. However, it is largely recognized that these analyses normally generate a considerable amount of results, being difficult its interpretation. Over the last years considerable progresses have been made in structural nonlinear behaviour modelling, associated to the fast growing development of numerical algorithms for structural analysis and computer capacities. However, a similar growth in the development of graphical results visualization tools has not been witnessed. To face this, a graphical processor called VISUALANL was developed for an existing nonlinear dynamic analysis program for plane frame structures, PORANL. (Extended paper from the International Symposium CompIMAGE – Coimbra, Portugal, 20-21 October 2006.)