Finite element crush analysis of framed structures

The present study is concerned with the development of a finite element algorithm for crush analysis of three-dimensional framed structures under quasi-static loading and its experimental verifications. Details of the incremental formulation by the updated Lagrangian approach is described, in which the linear Timoshenko beam element is employed with the shifted integration technique and with the elasto-plastic constitutive equation expressed in terms of resultant forces. The strain-hardening and the frictional contact are also taken into account in the present analysis. The results of finite element analyses are compared with the crush test results conducted for beams, columns and framed structures.