Finite Element Analysis of Multi-storey Steel Frame Structure Subjected to Seismic Ground Motions: A Review

Abstract

Finite element analysis (FEA) is a very popular method of analysis whose popularity is increasing day by day in the design of steel structures in order to avoid unsafe or highly conservative designs. For a Structural Engineer, to perform a finite element analysis, solid know-how in computer-aided design (CAD) and engineering (CAE) codes is necessary. The paper reviews the detailed finite element analysis of steel frame structure subjected to consecutive ground excitations conducted using E-Simulator. E-Simulator is a parallel finite element analysis software package developed to accurately simulate structural behaviour up to collapse by using a fine mesh of solid elements. Therefore the purpose of this paper is to provide an extensive review of useful guidelines concerning modelling, simulation and result validation for the accurate performance of finite element analyses.