Model Gap Elements with PSI using Collapse


Introduction

Pile Structure Interaction (PSI) is a program which models and analyzes the non-linear behavior of the soil for a pile supported structure. Gap is a program which models non-linear one way elements in the structure. Occasionally, analyses require the modeling of both non-linear pile soil interaction and non-linear one way elements. Due to the non-linear nature of the individual programs SACS must iterate over the solution to achieve convergence.

In some situations, it is acceptable to linearize the piles using the pile superelement feature in PSI and then running the Gap analysis with the pile superelement. However, this method assumes that there isn't much interaction between the non-linear elements (i.e. the non-linear gap elements do not significantly affect the pilehead stiffness). In cases where there is significant interaction the non-linear analyses must be combined into one non-linear analysis where both solutions converge for each load step.

The combination of Gap and PSI analyses can be achieved using Collapse. However there are a few modifications that must be made to the model in order to accurately model the Gap elements.

Collapse Input

Collapse Options

Member material non-linearity may be turned off with the All Members/Plates Elastic option on the CLPOPT line. Large deformations, non-linear springs and non-linear soil behavior will still be considered with this option.

Gap Element Modeling

In order to model the Gap elements in Collapse, the Gap elements must be replaced with non-linear joint-to-joint springs (NLSPJJ).

A Gap element is simply an axial non-linear joint-to-joint spring where one portion of the stiffness curve has a slope of zero and the other portion of the stiffness curve is the axial stiffness expressed as:


where

A is the cross-sectional area

E is the modulus of elasticity

and L is the length of the element

Below is an example of a non-linear joint-to-joint spring for a tension element:

Non-Linear Joint-to-Joint Spring

Note that the slope of the force deflection curve is zero when the deflection is below zero. The deflection is calculated as the difference between the initial joint distance for the element and the joint distance for the element after the displacements have been determined, so a negative deflection would represent compression.

Output Options

A common solution file may be generated by Collapse which contains the solution of the final load step for each load sequence in the analysis. This common solution file can then be used for code checking. This option may be turned on using the Create Collapse Common Solution file in the Non-Linear / Plastic Analysis Options in the Collapse run file.

SACS Example 1

In this example, a Gap analysis will be converted into a Collapse analysis and the results are compared.

Consider a tower structure supported laterally by four wire cables as shown below. The wire cables, group 'CBL', are modeled using tension only Gap elements with shear capacity releases at joint 2.

SACS GAP model

Two basic load conditions are specified; load case WGT structure self-weight and load case LAT a lateral load in the positive global X direction applied at joints 2 and 3.

No Gap input file was required for the Gap analysis. All required Gap analysis data information was specified in the model file that follows:

OPTIONS      EN       SDUC   1 1  DDC  C    PT  PTPT    PTPT                                                            
PCODE DNVC201 1.15020.600                                                                                               
SECT                                                                                                                    
SECT CABLE     TUB3.750 0.100   0.100   0.100    0.010 0.001                                                            
GRUP                                                                                                                    
GRUP CBL CABLE                13.0011.6036.00 9    1.001.00     0.500N490.00                                            
GRUP FLG         24.000 0.625 29.0011.6036.00 1    1.001.00     0.500N490.00                                            
MEMBER                                                                                                                  
MEMBER 10012    CBL  T      011                                                                                         
MEMBER 10022    CBL  T      011                                                                                         
MEMBER 10032    CBL  T      011                                                                                         
MEMBER 10042    CBL  T      011                                                                                         
MEMBER 1   2    FLG                                                                                                     
MEMBER 2   3    FLG                                                                                                     
JOINT                                                                                                                   
JOINT 1         0.     0.     0.                      111111                                                            
JOINT 2         0.     0.    30.                                                                                        
JOINT 3         0.     0.    50.                                                                                        
JOINT 1001    -15.   -15.     0.                      111000                                                            
JOINT 1002     15.   -15.     0.                      111000                                                            
JOINT 1003    -15.    15.     0.                      111000                                                            
JOINT 1004     15.    15.     0.                      111000                                                            
LOAD                                                                                                                    
LOADCN LAT                                                                                                              
LOAD   3        25.0000                                     GLOB JOIN   LATERAL                                         
LOAD   2        25.0000                                     GLOB JOIN   LATERAL                                         
LOADCN WGT                                                                                                              
LOAD Z 1   2           -0.0330       -0.0330                GLOB UNIF   DEADWT                                          
LOAD Z 2   3           -0.0330       -0.0330                GLOB UNIF   DEADWT                                          
LCOMB                                                                                                                   
LCOMB CMB1 WGT 1.0000LAT 1.0000                                                                                         
LCOMB CMB2 WGT 1.0000LAT -1.000                                                                                         
END                                                                                                                     
 **JNCV** 0 0 0 0 0 0 1                                                                                                 
END                                                                                                                    

Note: This is a slightly modified model from Sample 1 in the Gap manual.

The following is a portion of the output listing file created by the Gap program module:

                                      SACS-IV SYSTEM   JOINT DEFLECTIONS AND ROTATIONS

               ******************* INCHES ******************   ****************** RADIANS ******************
 JOINT  LOAD       DEFL(X)         DEFL(Y)         DEFL(Z)          ROT(X)          ROT(Y)          ROT(Z)
 NUMBER CASE

    1   CMB1       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000
        CMB2       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000

    2   CMB1       1.8141258       0.0000000      -0.0350815       0.0000000       0.0135753       0.0000000
        CMB2      -1.8141258       0.0000000      -0.0350815       0.0000000      -0.0135753       0.0000000

    3   CMB1       6.3610625       0.0000000      -0.0351410       0.0000000       0.0214899       0.0000000
        CMB2      -6.3610625       0.0000000      -0.0351410       0.0000000      -0.0214899       0.0000000

 1001   CMB1       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0135753       0.0000000
        CMB2       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000      -0.0135753       0.0000000

 1002   CMB1       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0135753       0.0000000
        CMB2       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000      -0.0135753       0.0000000

 1003   CMB1       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0135753       0.0000000
        CMB2       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000      -0.0135753       0.0000000

 1004   CMB1       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0135753       0.0000000
        CMB2       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000       0.0000000      -0.0135753       0.0000000
                                      SACS-IV SYSTEM   FIXED JOINTS REACTION FORCES AND MOMENTS

               ******************** KIPS *******************   ****************** FT-KIPS ******************
 JOINT  LOAD       FORCE(X)        FORCE(Y)        FORCE(Z)       MOMENT(X)       MOMENT(Y)       MOMENT(Z)
 NUMBER CASE

    1  CMB1           14.275           0.000         130.199           0.000         -71.738           0.000
       CMB2          -14.275           0.000         130.199           0.000          71.738           0.000

 1001  CMB1          -32.138         -32.138         -64.275           0.000           0.000           0.000
       CMB2            0.000           0.000           0.000           0.000           0.000           0.000

 1002  CMB1            0.000           0.000           0.000           0.000           0.000           0.000
       CMB2           32.138         -32.138         -64.275           0.000           0.000           0.000

 1003  CMB1          -32.138          32.138         -64.275           0.000           0.000           0.000
       CMB2            0.000           0.000           0.000           0.000           0.000           0.000

 1004  CMB1            0.000           0.000           0.000           0.000           0.000           0.000
       CMB2           32.138          32.138         -64.275           0.000           0.000           0.000
                                           SACS-IV SYSTEM  MEMBER INTERNAL LOADS SUMMARY REPORT

                MAX. CRIT  LOAD  DIST  * * * * * * * * * *  I N T E R N A L   L O A D S  * * * * * * * * *   NEXT TWO HIGHEST CASES
  MEMBER  GRP  UNITY COND  COND  FROM    AXIAL       SHEAR       SHEAR     TORSION     BENDING     BENDING     UNITY  LD  UNITY  LD
               CHECK        NO.  END                   Y           Z                     Y-Y         Z-Z       CHECK  CN  CHECK  CN
                                   FT    KIPS        KIPS        KIPS        IN-KIP      IN-KIP      IN-KIP

   1-   2 FLG   1.00 C<.15  CMB1 30.0  -129.21      14.275      0.0000    -0.33690E-18-0.30943E-12  6000.0      1.0  CMB2  0.0      

   2-   3 FLG   0.85 C<.15  CMB1  0.0 -0.66000     -25.000      0.0000    -0.24571E-34  0.0000      6000.0      0.9  CMB2  0.0   

Now the analysis be converted into an equivalent Collapse analysis. First, the SACS model file is modified by deleting the Gap elements.

SACS Collapse Model

The gap elements must then be modeled as non-linear joint-to-springs. Since Gap elements are only effective axially, Only the axial stiffness must be defined. The equivalent stiffness is calculated as:


The collapse input file is shown below:

CLPOPT                                 ME               0.010.001 0.011000.                                             
LDSEQ GP1            WGT   1         1.0 LAT   5         1.0                                                            
LDSEQ GP2            WGT   1         1.0 LAT   5        -1.0                                                            
NLSPJJ 1001   2  DX              -100.              110.574     1.                                                      
NLSPJJ 1002   2  DX              -100.              110.574     1.                                                      
NLSPJJ 1003   2  DX              -100.              110.574     1.                                                      
NLSPJJ 1004   2  DX              -100.              110.574     1.                                                      
END    

The ME option on the CLPOPT line is invoked to treat all members as elastic and non-linear joint-to-joint springs have been created for each cable element. Load sequences GP1 and GP2 are equivalent to CMB1 and CMB2 from the Gap analysis.

The following is a portion of the output listing file created by the Collapse program module:

          **** FINAL DEFLECTIONS AND ROTATIONS FOR LOAD SEQUENCE GP1  ****
                                 LOAD CASE  LAT
                               LOAD FACTOR  1.000


                   ****** DEFLECTIONS ******   ******* ROTATIONS *******
          JOINT       X        Y        Z          X        Y        Z
                      IN       IN       IN        RAD      RAD      RAD


             1       0.000    0.000    0.000    0.00000  0.00000  0.00000
             2       1.846    0.000   -0.045    0.00000  0.01371  0.00000
             3       6.423    0.000   -0.132    0.00000  0.02162  0.00000
          1001       0.000    0.000    0.000    0.00000  0.00000  0.00000
          1002       0.000    0.000    0.000    0.00000  0.00000  0.00000
          1003       0.000    0.000    0.000    0.00000  0.00000  0.00000
          1004       0.000    0.000    0.000    0.00000  0.00000  0.00000
                                      ** SACS COLLAPSE REACTION FORCES AND MOMENTS **


                                                            *** FINAL ***

  JOINT      FORCE(X)      FORCE(Y)      FORCE(Z)      MOMENT(X)      MOMENT(Y)      MOMENT(Z)
   NO.         KIPS          KIPS          KIPS         IN-KIP         IN-KIP         IN-KIP    


     1         14.757         0.000       131.128          0.000       -928.603          0.000
  1001        -32.370       -32.370       -64.739          0.000          0.000          0.000
  1002          0.000         0.000         0.000          0.000          0.000          0.000
  1003        -32.370        32.370       -64.739          0.000          0.000          0.000
  1004          0.000         0.000         0.000          0.000          0.000          0.000

After running the Collapse analysis a code check was performed on the common solution file. The following output was generated:

                                           SACS-IV SYSTEM  MEMBER INTERNAL LOADS SUMMARY REPORT

                MAX. CRIT  LOAD  DIST  * * * * * * * * * *  I N T E R N A L   L O A D S  * * * * * * * * *   NEXT TWO HIGHEST CASES
  MEMBER  GRP  UNITY COND  COND  FROM    AXIAL       SHEAR       SHEAR     TORSION     BENDING     BENDING     UNITY  LD  UNITY  LD
               CHECK        NO.  END                   Y           Z                     Y-Y         Z-Z       CHECK  CN  CHECK  CN
                                   FT    KIPS        KIPS        KIPS        IN-KIP      IN-KIP      IN-KIP

   1-   2 FLG   1.00 C<.15  GP1  30.0  -130.09      14.085      0.0000      0.0000      0.0000      5998.9      1.0  GP2   0.0      

   2-   3 FLG   0.85 TN+BN  GP1   0.0  0.48084     -24.995      0.0000      0.0000      0.0000      5998.9      0.9  GP2   0.0      

In general, there is good agreement between the Gap and Collapse analysis. There are slight differences between deflections, reactions, etc. This is mainly due to the difference between the solution methods and should not significantly impact the results.

SACS Example 2

In this example, a PSI input file is added to the analysis and the results are compared with the previous example. The only modification to the SACS model file is that the tower joint is converted to a pile head joint; the collapse model file is identical. A PSI model was created using a 60 ft pile connected to the tower and API soil curves.

SACS Collapse + PSI Model

The PSI input file is shown below:

PSIOPT +ZENG  Y       EX0.002540  0.0001 20PTPTPTPTPT     S3 100           490.0                                        
PLTRQ SD   DL   RL   ML        LS                  UC                                                                   
PLGRUP                                                                                                                  
PLGRUP PL1            24. 0.62529000.11600. 36.00     60.              1.0                                              
PILE                                                                                                                    
PILE     1   2 PL1                                                  SOL1 SOL1                                           
SOIL                                                                                                                    
SOIL TZAPI   HEAD  2                    SOL1                 ICP                                                        
SOIL API AXL SLOC          50. SAND   1.0        125.                                                                   
SOIL API AXL SLOC   50.0  100. ROCK  100.  100.                                                                         
SOIL TORSION HEAD                  1000.SOL1                N                                                           
SOIL LATERAL HEAD  1          24.    1.0SOL1                Y                                                           
SOIL API LAT SLOC SANDSA        100. 2.0            125.                 1.0                                            
END                                                                                                                     

The following is a portion of the output listing file created by the Collapse program module:

          **** FINAL DEFLECTIONS AND ROTATIONS FOR LOAD SEQUENCE GP1  ****
                                 LOAD CASE  LAT
                               LOAD FACTOR  1.000


                   ****** DEFLECTIONS ******   ******* ROTATIONS *******
          JOINT       X        Y        Z          X        Y        Z
                      IN       IN       IN        RAD      RAD      RAD


             1      -0.001    0.000   -0.002    0.00000  0.00000  0.00000
             2       1.850    0.000   -0.047    0.00000  0.01372  0.00000
             3       6.431    0.000   -0.134    0.00000  0.02164  0.00000
          1001       0.000    0.000    0.000    0.00000  0.00000  0.00000
          1002       0.000    0.000    0.000    0.00000  0.00000  0.00000
          1003       0.000    0.000    0.000    0.00000  0.00000  0.00000
          1004       0.000    0.000    0.000    0.00000  0.00000  0.00000
                                      ** SACS COLLAPSE REACTION FORCES AND MOMENTS **


                                                            *** FINAL ***

  JOINT      FORCE(X)      FORCE(Y)      FORCE(Z)      MOMENT(X)      MOMENT(Y)      MOMENT(Z)
   NO.         KIPS          KIPS          KIPS         IN-KIP         IN-KIP         IN-KIP    


  1001        -32.357       -32.357       -64.713          0.000          0.000          0.000
  1002          0.000         0.000         0.000          0.000          0.000          0.000
  1003        -32.357        32.357       -64.713          0.000          0.000          0.000
  1004          0.000         0.000         0.000          0.000          0.000          0.000

And the following is a portion of the output listing file created by the Post program module:

                                           SACS-IV SYSTEM  MEMBER INTERNAL LOADS SUMMARY REPORT

                MAX. CRIT  LOAD  DIST  * * * * * * * * * *  I N T E R N A L   L O A D S  * * * * * * * * *   NEXT TWO HIGHEST CASES
  MEMBER  GRP  UNITY COND  COND  FROM    AXIAL       SHEAR       SHEAR     TORSION     BENDING     BENDING     UNITY  LD  UNITY  LD
               CHECK        NO.  END                   Y           Z                     Y-Y         Z-Z       CHECK  CN  CHECK  CN
                                   FT    KIPS        KIPS        KIPS        IN-KIP      IN-KIP      IN-KIP

   1-   2 FLG   1.00 C<.15  GP1  30.0  -130.03      14.057    -0.10846E-16-0.39081E-15-0.83437E-17  5998.9      1.0  GP2   0.0      

   2-   3 FLG   0.85 TN+BN  GP1   0.0  0.48472     -24.995    -0.12063E-18-0.18705E-15 0.10132E-16  5998.9      0.9  GP2   0.0  

The deflection at joint 1 represents the flexibility of the pile head while the cable support reactions still indicate that the gap elements are behaving properly.

Conclusion

The non-linear joint-to-joint spring in Collapse can serve as an acceptable replacement for Gap elements.