plasticdeformation

[vehy]

Hi

what is the difference between plasticdeformation and basicdeformation in nonlinear elements?
for each elements returns 3 value each of thats, what are these values?

Tnx

[fbeckwit]

"basicdeformation" is the deformation of the element in it's basic coordinates. Basic coordinates track an elements change in length (along a chord that is a straight line between its two endpoints) and the rotations at each endpoint. The recorder will report these three values. These deformations are transformed out depending on what geometric transformation you have defined in your model to get displacements in local and eventually global coords.

I haven't used the "plasticdeformation" option in an element recorder so I can't say how it tracks the plastic behavior. My guess is that it reports the difference between total deformation and an assumed elastic deformation from the initial stiffness.