Beam ends with variable support conditions

[Pantelis_Kalderis]

Hello. I perform a nonlinear dynamic analysis for a precast concrete building (multistorey moment-resisting frame). One particularity of such buildings is that usually the beam connectivity with adjacent columns varies throughout construction process. More specifically beams are hinged while supporting their own self-weight, the weight of precast slab elements and the weight of cast in-situ diaphragmatic topping as well (i.e. all self weights of the storey). Along with the casting of topping layer, the beam-column joints are also casted, thus for all loads that follow (superimposed dead + live load + seismic load) beams are now fixed, forming a moment-resisting frame.

I was able to model the above variable beam-column connectivity by applying two different linear link elements at beam ends (one for hinged connection and one for fixed) which had different activation time. While this worked as expected, I found both the modelling procedure and the analysis duration too much time consuming. Do you have any other idea for a more time efficient modelling?

Thank you in advance.

[seismosoft]

Not really. SeismoStruct is not a program specialized in the modelling of loading phases. Elements with different activation and deactivation times is the only thing we could also think for this purpose.
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