Analysis of the effect of the secondary moment on curved beams of full cross section

Abstract

This paper analysis the effect of the secondary moment on curved beams using the equivalent nodal loads method. A case study was carried out applying the equivalent nodal loads method to a two-span prestressed curved beam, using a curved finite element as the structural model, analyzing the effect of the secondary moment for each case and comparing it with its equivalent in straight beam. It was found that the stiffness parameters EI and GJ influence the secondary moment. The results demonstrates that the beam opening angle reduces the effect of secondary moment, and that the greater the angle, the greater is the reduction that occurs in its secondary moment compared to its equivalent straight beam.