8/24/2016

Crossstiffnesstermswhyyoushouldcare!|Structuresbycode

STRUCTURE
SBYCODE

ABOUT ME

Using programming to aid analysis and design

CROSS STIFFNESS TERMS WHY YOU

SHOULDCARE!
January 15, 2015 by Nick in Uncategorized Leave a comment

Cross stiffness terms can be confusing at first glance, but they relate to real
physical phenoma and must be understood for modelling a wide range of
problems. Here I will talk about two examples:
1) Rigid links
2) Modelling a foundation system with a single spring support
Example 1: Rigid Links
The diagonal stiffness terms for a rigid link mean a force at one end cause
the same force (direction and magnitude) at the other. We apply an x force
Fx=1kN at node 1, and it is seen at node 2. Likewise for moment Mzz=1kNm
at node 2, we see it at node 1.
So what do cross stiffness terms do? They model the fact there is a physical
separation between the two nodes. A force Fx=1kN at one end of a rigid link
cantilevering in z 1m would be expected to have a moment of Mxx=1kN x 1m

Search this site...

AB OU T ME

I am an engineer working in
Australia, working in or
around built environment and
structural engineering
projects. After touching upon
the usefulness of playing with
coding at university I have
continuously found it an
amazing tool to tackle
problems big and small.
REC E NT POS TS

Cross stiffness terms why

you shouldcare!

= 1kNm at the other end?! With only diagonal stiffness terms it wont. To

Negative eigenvalues in

capture this effect we need the off-diagonal crossstiffness terms, linking Fx

modal bucklinganalysis

at node 1, with Mxx at node 2. Simple.

Averaging by filtering

Example 2: Modelling a foundation system with a single spring support

Free speed inVBA

Imagine a pile cap on top of some piles. If we model that foundation system

Using VIM as an alternative

as a single node with some spring stiffnesses andonly include diagonal

toPerl

spring stiffness we may think that is ok. And perhaps it is. But in some
situations it wont be.
This is because the spring wont have any rotational response due a lateral

REC E NT C OMMEN T S

load, but the pile cap will lateral load isnt being applied at the centre of

Yosef on ETABS OAPI

stiffness, there is an offset! The result can be quite noticeable at the end of a

How to get

tall mast, or bridge pier.

Of course there are other ways of doing this, like modelling piles explicitly
as beams to name but one.

Lisandrojim on
ETABS OAPI How to
get
JOSE on ETABS OAPI

https://structuresbycode.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/crossstiffnesstermswhyyoushouldcare/

1/2

8/24/2016

Crossstiffnesstermswhyyoushouldcare!|Structuresbycode

And that is two reasons why cross stiffness terms are important! There are

How to get

likely to be many more out there.

Arash on ETABS OAPI

Abouttheseads

How to get
Alejandro on ETABS
OAPI How to get

ARC H IVE S

Follow

JanuaryStructures
2015
Follow
by December
code2014
November
2014
Get every
new post
delivered to
yourSeptember
Inbox.
2014

Share this:

Twitter

September 2013
Enter your email address
August 2013

Facebook

Google

Like

Sign me up
CAT EG ORI E S

Build a website with WordPress.com

Uncategorized

Bethefirsttolikethis.
ME TA

Register

Leave a Reply
Enteryourcommenthere...

Log in
Entries RSS
Comments RSS
WordPress.com

Negative eigenvalues in modal

bucklinganalysis

Blog at WordPress.com.

https://structuresbycode.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/crossstiffnesstermswhyyoushouldcare/

2/2