ABSTRACT
Numerical models applied to simulate the behaviour of members experimentally tested have been created using the commercial FE program ABAQUS/CAE v.6.7.1 (Pernes 2012).
Nonlinear analyses were performed, using dynamic explicit steps as quasi-static, obtained by choosing time parameter so that the inertial effects on the system to be insignificant (takes into account stiffness loss due to local buckling). The calibrated FE models reproduce the same failure mechanism in case of experimental tests, as shown in Figure 1.A good agreement has been observed between the experimental and numerical results.
