Research on the ultimate bearing capacity of planar steel frame structures using ANSYS

Application of advanced analysis methods suitable for non-linear analysis and design of steel frame structures permits direct and accurate determination of ultimate bearing capacity of frames, without resorting to simplified elastic methods of analysis and semi-empirical specification equations. A research has been conducted with the aim of applying Beam 189 element in ANSYS to practical advanced analysis of planar steel frame structures comprising compact I-sections. Considering residual stresses with the program CRSTRESS and initial geometric imperfections, the ultimate bearing capacity of planar steel frame structures was studied. Maximum strength capacities and load-displacement curves predicted by the proposed analysis compared well with the analytical benchmark solutions given by other approaches. The study indicates that for second-order inelastic analysis of typical single-storey and multi-storey steel frame structures comprising compact I-sections. For typical planar single-storey steel frame structures, the model can obtain the fine results using few elements to model one beam or column, but for multi-storey steel frame structures, more elements are needed.