A Super - Element Based on Finite Element Method for Latticed Columns Computational Aspect and Numerical Results

This paper presents a new super-element with twelve degrees of freedom for latticed columns. This elements is developed such that it behaves, with an acceptable approximation, in the same manner as a reference model does. The reference model is constructed by using many Solid elements. The cross section area, moments of inertia, shear coefficient and torsoinal rigidity of the developed new element are derived. Since the reference model has a large number of degrees of freedom (especially for nonlinear cases), computation of the equivalent essential parameters of the proposed element is very time consuming, so, a model using only beam elements is also presented. For the super element, a general purpose program is developed that is capable of performing linear and nonlinear analysis of 3D-frames with latticed columns. In order to derive the essential parameters of the proposed super-element, many latticed columns are analyzed while shear deformations are taken into consideration. Using these essential equivalent parameters approximate relations are proposed for the compution of parameters of any latticed column based on geometric characteristics. Finally, to show the accuracy of the proposed element, several examples are presented. Keywords: Finite elements, Super-element, Latticed column, Shear deformations, 3D-frames