Why Are My Bending Moment Signs Incorrect in the Direct Stiffness Method?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tygra
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Method Stiffness
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the issue of incorrect signs for bending moments in a structure analyzed using the Direct Stiffness Method. Participants explore the potential causes of this problem, focusing on the transformation matrix and the setup of the stiffness matrices. The context includes technical aspects of structural engineering and computational methods.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • The original poster notes that while the magnitudes of the bending moments are accurate, the signs are incorrect, particularly observing a pattern of positive moments at the bottom and negative at the top of each storey.
  • Some participants suggest testing the code with a simpler structure to isolate the issue, indicating that a more straightforward example might help clarify the problem.
  • The original poster expresses confidence in the local stiffness matrix but questions the correctness of the transformation matrix used in their calculations.
  • There is a mention of a duplicate post, which may indicate that the discussion has been addressed elsewhere, but no resolution is provided in this thread.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the cause of the incorrect signs for the bending moments. There are multiple viewpoints regarding the adequacy of the transformation matrix and the suggestion to simplify the structure for testing.

Contextual Notes

The discussion lacks detailed assumptions about the specific configurations of the structures being analyzed, and the mathematical steps leading to the transformation matrix are not fully resolved.

Tygra
Messages
55
Reaction score
8
TL;DR
Why am I getting incorrect signs
Hi there,

I was wondering if someone might know why I am getting incorrect signs for my structure that I am working on using the Direct Stiffness Method? I am following the procedure that I was taught when I was at University and I can't completely remember everything. I am designing a seven-storey structure that looks like this:

7 storey structure.png


The magnitude of the forces I am getting is accurate, but the signs are incorrect.

Here are the bending moment on the structure:

bm frame.png


You might not be able to see, but for the columns, you get a positive bending moment at the bottom of each storey and a negative bending moment at the top of the storey - this pattern is the same for each storey.

In my code I am getting positive bending moments at the top and the bottom, but like I said the magnitude is quite accurate.

Rather than post the entirity of my code, lets focus on a single column.

The local stiffness matrix for a column has the form:

LSM.png


And I set up the transformation matrix as follows:


Code:
T =

  6x6 table

              U1    V1    theta1    U2    V2    theta2
              __    __    ______    __    __    ______

    U1         0    1       0        0    0       0  
    V1        -1    0       0        0    0       0  
    theta1     0    0       1        0    0       0  
    U2         0    0       0        0    1       0  
    V2         0    0       0       -1    0       0  
    theta2     0    0       0        0    0       1


To compute the global stiffness matrix you use the equation:

1720191801904.png



This will give you the global stiffness matrix! You can then proceed to find the displacements and rotations. Then you can find the internal forces on the structure.

I guess the thing to look at is the transformation matrix. Does it seem correct to you. The local stiffness matrix is definitely correct. I know you guys might not be Structural Engineers, but I am hoping some of you have experience with the Stiffness Method.

Many thanks in advance!
 

Attachments

  • local stiffness matrix.png
    local stiffness matrix.png
    3.6 KB · Views: 86
Engineering news on Phys.org
Before I try to remove the dust from what I can recall regarding this topic.
Could you provide a WAY SIMPLER structure to test your code and our knowledge?

Something like this for example:
1723322043165.png
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
4K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
900
Replies
11
Views
3K