Design and analysis of steel structures considering the 3D behaviour of the joints

Abstract

This paper discusses the analysis and design of steel structures using 3D structural models and incorporating the 3D behaviour of the joints. Firstly, the implications of the 3D behaviour of the joints are discussed at the joint level, leadin g to the need to develop 3D component models. Subsequently, at the frame level, a 3D joint macro-element is presented that encapsulates the behaviour of the joints at each node while maintaining compatibility with the global degrees of freedom of beam elements. Finally, an example is shown for a simple 3D framed structure.