Experimental evaluation of force analogy method (FAM) by element type

The force analogy method (FAM) is considered as one of the most time-saving and cost-efficient methods for analyzing frames. Through a set of assumptions and restoring forces, FAM analyzes nonlinear frames responses through Hooke�s law. This study evaluates the effect of element type on FAM through numerical and experimental tests. The conventional Euler Bernoulli (EB) element is replaced by the Timoshenko (TS) beam-column element and the results are interpreted and compared with experimental findings. Three experimental tests were conducted for benchmarking and comparison purposes via 2D aluminum frames. The results indicated that during the analysis, when the frame response is in the linear region, there is no difference between the element types in the response of the frames. When the frame entered the plastic region, the frames which were analyzed by the TS element revealed closer responses to the experimental outcomes. The gap between the results of the frame which was analyzed by EB and TS enlarged especially when the frame experienced a sharp or huge rotation of more than 0.2 rad. The final recorded deformations based on the TS element revealed an accuracy between 98.05 to 98.65, while the EB element showed 14.66 to 45.14 for rotations of more than 0.2 rad at plastic hinge locations (PHLs). © 2020, Institute of Engineering Mechanics, China Earthquake Administration.