Parametric Investigation of Plane Frame Structure Using Excel Vba And Sap2000 oapi Based Programming

Abstract

In this paper, effects of a critical structural parameter, beam-to-column stiffness ratio (on seismic lateral force distribution and its corresponding displacement (s) on frame members were observed. For this purpose, analysis of 12 samples of a 10-storey frame structure having varying beam/ column stiffness was carried out with the help of software facilities. To save time in the modelling and parameterization of the frame structure, a programming tool has been developed combining the functionality of VBA based excel software, Matlab and SAP2000 OAPI. With the help of this tool, parametric analysis of a significant number of frame models can automatically be generated and executed in SAP2000 in a lesser time of 139.0secs and at a less expense of user input. The core interest in performing the analysis is to estimate the responses of varieties of weakcolumn/strong-beam and strong-column/weak-beam multi-story frame subjected to seismic lateral forces by modelling the frame in its actual form[SAP2000] and idealized stick model [hand computation]. From the analysis of the various models, comparison of SAP2000 lateral force distribution and displacement of frame models is made with that of hand calculation.