• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.535-546
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• 2011

In this paper, semi-rigid elasto-plastic post-buckling analysis of a space frame was performed using various explicit arc-length methods. Various explicit arc-length methodsand a large-deformation and small-strain elasto-plastic 3D space frame element with semi-rigid connections and plastic hinges were developed. This element can be appliedto both explicit and implicit numerical algorithms. In this study, the Dynamic Relaxation method was adopted in the predictor and corrector processesto formulate an explicit arc-length algorithm. The developed "explicit-predictor" or "explicit-corrector" were used in the elasto-plastic post-buckling analysis. The Eulerian equations for a beam-column with finite rotation, which considers the bowing effects, were adopted for the elastic system and extended to theinelastic system with a plastic hinge concept. The derived tangent stiffness matrix was asymmetrical due to the finite rotation. The joint connection elements were introduced for semi-rigidity using a static condensation technique. Semi-rigid elasto-plastic post-buckling analyses were carried out to demonstrate the potential of the developed explicit arc-length method and advanced space frame element in terms of accuracy and efficiency.