Computational Enhancement of a Mixed 3D Beam Finite Element with Warping and Damage

Abstract

This paper describes the computational aspects of the beam Finite Element formulation recently developed by the authors to simulate the nonlinear response of structural members subjected to shear and torsion, accounting for cross-section warping. The paper focuses on an efficient consistent solution algorithm that by-passes the iterative procedure required in force-based and mixed Finite Elements and makes the model easy to be implemented in a standard code. Moreover, it proposes a new non-iterative technique to condense out the stress components derived by the three-dimensional constitutive response and not directly included in the fiber section formulation. The efficiency and accuracy of the proposed numerical model are validated by simulating the response of steel and reinforced concrete structural members.