strain energy in Structures

[bakhtiyar]

Dear seismosoft,
I am analyzing a 3D Steel Moment Frames using Inelastic time-history analysis, How Calculate the strain energy
On each story?

[seismosoft]

Have you not tried searching this Forum for the word "energy"?

Seismosoft Support

[bakhtiyar]

yes of course,but did not answer my question

[seismosoft]

Dear bakhtiyar,

We suppose that you have already tried to compute the product between the strain and stress time-histories for each of your elements; which exact difficulties did you encounter?

Seismosoft Support

[bakhtiyar]

I'm trying calculate inelastic strain energy On each story?
I use the following formula:
Es=0.5*K*U^2 or Es=(Fs^2)/K

Es=strain energy
k=stiffnes story
Fs=force in story
U=displacements in story
but, How stiffnes is calculated?tanks

[seismosoft]

As you know, SeismoStruct does not output element stiffness. You should instead use the values of element Forces and Deformations, knowing then that K=F/U.

Seismosoft Support