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2021-01-28

Determining Equivalent Loads in RFEM and RSTAB

For this purpose, the cantilever was subdivided into seven nodes. In the calculation, the equivalent load and the distribution on the individual nodes were determined with the first eigenvector of the system. The required natural frequency and the corresponding equivalent mass factor were determined with RF-/DYNAM Pro Natural Vibrations.

Example

The system considered should be a restrained column that consists of an HEB 500 profile and is 7 m high. The member has seven mass points to which the self-weight is applied.

The distribution of the masses can be described with the following vector:

m = 1.0001.0001.0001.0001.0001.0001.000
m Mass in kg

The results of the natural vibration analysis are as follows.

1. Natural frequency f = 4.65 Hz
Corresponding period length t = 0.215 s
Equivalent mass factor fme,x = 0.667
Normalized deformation in vector notation over the height of the structure.

Now, a spectral acceleration of 0.25 m/s² is assumed for this structure. The equivalent mass factor of the first natural frequency and the corresponding spectral acceleration can be used to determine the total earthquake force.

He,tot = mtotal · fme,x · SdT1 = 1.167 kN
He,tot Total seismic force in kN
mtotal Total mass in t
fme,x Equivalent mass factor
Sd(T1) Acceleration from the response spectrum for the first mode shape to the period length T1 in m/s 2 

From this total earthquake force, it is possible to calculate a contribution of the mass points for the total seismic load by means of the normalized displacement.

λ = si · misj · mj

λ

Distribution coefficient
si Displacement of masses
mi Total mass in kg
sj Displacement of masses in each story
mj Story masses in kg

Using the distribution of the total load, you can now also calculate the nodal loads.

He = He,tot · λ = 0.360.290.220.150.090.050.01
He Nodal load on each story
He,tot Total seismic load in kN

λ

Distribution coefficient for each story


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