A sliding steel connection

[gmenichini]

Dear Seismosoft community,
I’m trying to model with SeismoStruct a panel-to-structure connection in one-storey RC precast building with vertical panels.
To extremely simplify the numerical model I modelled only one column and one panel connected at the top with a link element, as depicted in the figure below.

The connection that I intend to simulate is made by a sort of flat slider with two steel plates that slide, in the direction of the panel plane, one over the other. I also know the friction coefficient μ between the two steel plates.

As you can guess, the friction force parallel to the panel plane is the out of plane forces multiplied by the friction coefficient.

My question is how to simulate this frictional behaviour during a time history analysis when the out of plane force changes?

Is there an appropriate link element in SeismoStruct that can simulate this behaviour?

Kindly regards,

Giovanni

[seismosoft]

Unfortunately, there is no such element in SeismoStruct.
You could consider using a link element with appropriate properties. Although we have never made the such use of the link element before, it is so versatile that with the appropriate parameters it could probably model the desired behavior.
Seismosoft Support