1587x
004572
2020-07-29

Question

Why does an eccentric member receive axial forces, although it is only loaded by shear forces?


Answer:

If a member is connected eccentrically to a surface or to another member, you can also imagine that each node (RSTAB) and each FE node (RFEM) of each element is coupled to the member (see Image 01 on top). The result is identical to that of the defined eccentricities (see Image 01 on bottom).

The structural system shown in the figure is nothing more than a truss with an upper chord and a lower chord, which are connected to each other by means of verticals. As you know, the chords are increasingly stressed by axial forces and less by bending moments due to the geometry.