Additional Infornmation: Linear / Nonlinear Buckling http://www.lusas.com/products/information/linear_nonlinear_buckling.

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Linear / Nonlinear Buckling Analysis Bridge / Bridge plus

Software overview
Modelling in general
Advanced elements,
materials and solvers
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combinations
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Buckling analysis of structures to codified requirements is often ov er-conserv ativ e. For existing structures, assessment or
load rating to regional design codes often show s they ‘fail’ buckling checks, but detailed buckling analysis w ith LUSAS can
often rev eal additional ‘hidden’ capacity. For new plate girder, box or tub girder bridge designs, linear and nonlinear buckling
analysis using LUSAS can inv estigate the girder stability during erection, look at the effects of a slab casting sequence, and
also help to optimise the size of the w eb and flange plates, bracing, stiffeners and position of any temporary supports used.
Choosing Softw are
Linear buckling
Software products
To obtain an indication of a structure’s potential to buckle under a particular loading a linear buckling analysis can be undertaken. LUSAS Bridge LT
Linear buckling analysis can estimate the maximum load that can be supported prior to structural instability or collapse. A LUSAS
LUSAS Bridge
analysis therefore provides load factors based on classic elastic buckling. Where the type of structure isn’t covered by the design code,
and where P-delta, lift-off and yielding effects are not significant in the loading range up to buckling, a linear buckling analysis LUSAS Bridge Plus
should give a more accurate assessment of member resistance than would be obtained from a code of practice. However, Software selection
imperfections and nonlinearities tend to prevent most ‘real’ structures from achieving their theoretical elastic (or "Euler") buckling
strength, so the eigenvalue buckling load factors are therefore somewhat overestimated. To get a more accurate answer nonlinear
analysis can be undertaken. Softw are Options
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Additional Infornmation: Linear / Nonlinear Buckling http://www.lusas.com/products/information/linear_nonlinear_buckling.html

Linear and nonlinear

buckling analysis
Curved girder analysis
Integral or jointless
bridges
Post-tensioning
Concrete modelling
Interactive Modal
Dynamics
LUSAS
Programmable
Interface (LPI)

General information
Hardware
specification
Nonlinear buckling
Licencing and
For a detailed structural buckling assessment a geometrically Networking options
nonlinear analyses should be carried out. With this, material and Software prices
boundary nonlinearity can also be investigated if found to be Documentation
required. With a geometrically nonlinear analysis the stiffness
matrix of the structure is automatically updated between loading Links page
increments to incorporate deformations which affect the structural
behaviour (sometimes described by engineers as P-delta effects).

Nonlinear buckling can be performed on the original structure

without imperfection, or by automatically adding an imperfection
based upon a scaled deformed shape which could be from a
linear buckling model.

A structure may also experience some material nonlinearity during a buckling event (yielding for example) and/or some boundary
nonlinearity (lift-off supports, perhaps). Generally it is recommended that modelling of nonlinear effects is done progressively in order
to evaluate the results of each additional modelling at each stage. T his helps in developing an understanding of the structural
behaviour and helps to identify the cause of any potential failed analyses.

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Erection analysis

A nonlinear buckling analysis with LUSAS can investigate the

stability of girders under self-weight loading, imposed construction
loads such as slab pours, and wind loads. From the results
obtained, members can be re-sized accordingly and, if necessary,
temporary bracing and supports can be inserted into the model
and tested to reduce the structural response.

For some clients, buckling analysis erection checks with LUSAS

have highlighted that for some open box girder designs with
narrow bottom flanges a standard design approach is just not
valid.

Mesh sensitiv ity analysis

With finite element analysis, it is good practice to carry out a mesh sensitivity check to ensure that results are not unconservative.
Mesh density should be checked to ensure enough elements of the type chosen are being used. Coarse mesh patterns could produce
under conservative results; fine mesh patterns may take longer to solve and be no more accurate. Similarly quadratic elements will
generally produce better results than linear elements with nonlinear capabilities. Unlike some software systems, with LUSAS, mesh
patterns can be easily refined and manipulated without losing any assigned supports and loading - making it ideal for this type of
work.

As an example the plate girder shown was meshed with 0.2m mesh divisions and then had 0.1m mesh divisions assigned for a mesh
refinement check. T he results showed that the change of displacement and the difference in maximum stress differed by less than
1% - meaning that, for this model at least, the initial mesh definition was sufficiently fine enough to achieve good results.

Nonlinear buckling analysis procedure w ith LUSAS

1. Carry-out an initial linear analysis and check the stress

levels for factored loading.
2. Perform a mesh sensitivity analysis
3. Run a linear eigenvalue buckling analysis to give load
factor at which the critical buckling may occur.
4. Save the model and define an initial imperfection (if
necessary)
5. Add nonlinear controls
6. Run an initial geometric nonlinear buckling analysis
7. Add additional nonlinear material or boundary conditions
as necessary.

Buckling analysis summary

Linear buckling analysis enables an assessment of the buckling resistance of a structure, and may be particularly useful for
structures not falling within the scope of codes of practice.
In some instances, a linear buckling analysis may appropriate to satisfy checks against buckling, in others, it may only provide
a good starting point for a thorough nonlinear buckling analysis.
Nonlinear buckling analysis provides a detailed buckling assessment and can include geometric, material and boundary
effects.

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LUSAS provides all the facilities required for linear or nonlinear buckling analysis, and has the ability to consider nonlinear
buckling effects throughout a staged erection analysis.

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Any modelling and analysis capabilities described on this pag e are dependent upon the LUSAS software product and version in use. Last modified: April 23, 2018.

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