Plate Stiffness Scale Factor

Apply scale factors to the cross-sectional properties of plate elements. In-plane shear and bending stiffness of specific plate elements may be reduced to reflect cracked sections of concrete walls and slabs. For unstructured meshes, scale factors can be applied to the user-defined direction.

Note. Applicable Analysis Type and Element Type

Applicable types of analysis are Static, Linear Time History, Response Spectrum, Construction Stage and Geometric Nonlinear Analysis. In construction stage analysis, stiffness scale factor cannot be considered when Time Dependent Effect or Accumulative Nonlinear Analysis option is selected in Construction Stage Analysis Control.

Plate Stiffness Scale Facto can be defined thick and thin type Plate element only.

From the Main Menu select Properties > Section > Scale Factor > Wall Stiffness Scale Factor.

Boundary Group

Boundary Group Name: Select a Boundary Group defined in Model > Group > Define Boundary Group. If a Boundary Group has not been defined, specify default.

Option

Add/Replace: Add new (shear and bending) stiffness scale factors to selected wall elements, or replace previously defined stiffness scale factors.

Delete: Delete stiffness scale factors previously assigned to specific wall elements.  

Inplane Stiffness Scale Factor

Axial(Fxx): Enter a stiffness scale factor resisting in-plane axial forces in the x-axis.

Axial(Fyy) : Enter a stiffness scale factor resisting in-plane axial forces in the y-axis.

Shear(Fxy) : Enter a stiffness scale factor resisting in-plane shear forces.

Out-of-plane Stiffness Scale Factor

Bending(Mxx): Enter a stiffness scale factor resisting out-of-plane bending moment about the x-axis.

Bending(Myy): Enter a stiffness scale factor resisting out-of-plane bending moment about the y-axis.

Torsioin(Mxy): Enter a stiffness scale factor resisting out-of-plane torsional moment.

Shear(Vxx): Enter a stiffness scale factor resisting out-of-plane shear force in the x-axis.

Shear(Vyy): Enter a stiffness scale factor resisting out-of-plane shear force in the y-axis.

User Defined Direction

Check on the option to define stiffness scale factor to the user defined direction. This option is useful for unstructured meshes or cylindrical structure. This option affects only the application of stiffness scale factor. It does not rotate the element local axis.

Local Axis: Select the reference local axis to be aligned between local x and y-axis.

Coordinate Dir.: Align the element local axis to the global axis(+X, +Y, +Z, -X, -Y and -Z) or cylindrical axis(+R, +TH, -R, -TH). When cylindrical axis is selected, original point of cylindrical axis can be specified.

Ref. Vector: Align the element local axis to the specified vector. If the reference vector does not lie on the element x-y plane, projected vector to the element x-y plane will be applied.