pushover curve

Paolo · Post by **Paolo** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 9:51 am

Hi everybody!
I’m working on a 3D pushover analysis.
I found that if I build the pushover curve using the roof displacement in x axes and the sum of the base shear in the pillars in y axes, I obtain slightly different results from the ones I obtain using the load factor multiplyed for the sum of the lateral loads in each plane (this difference become much bigger in plastic state).
Is it normal?
What curve should I use?
Thanks a lot.
Good Easter!

silvia · Post by **silvia** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:05 am

Paolo,
first of all, go home, it's a holiday weekend, especially in your country!

still,
you should ALWAYS use the node recorder with the reaction.

i wouldn't use anything else, unless I was sure I was doing it perfect.

If you get different results, likely you don't have the y orientation for all your pier elements to be the same. or something else, who knows, right?
the reactions are reactions are reactions. they are in global coordinates, too. so both of these reduce your chances of error, exepct for one thing:
MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE ALL YOU SUPPORT NODES!!!

happy Easter!

ekalkan · Post by **ekalkan** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 2:24 pm

Are you sure that you have no movement in the other direction other than the load applied in the pushover

silvia · Post by **silvia** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:02 pm

it could be, but any loads in that direction would be self equilibrating (sum=0)