Multi-resolution distributed FEA simulation of a 54-story RC building Oh-Sung Kwon, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Amr S. Elnashai, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA Daniel A. Kuchma, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA

ABSTRACT: A recently developed analysis framework referred to as multi-resolution distributed finite element analysis, MDFEA, is presented in this chapter. The features of the new framework are demonstrated through the analysis of a complex 54-story reinforced concrete building. In this distributed analysis framework, the capabilities of a frame analysis tool, ZEUSNL, and a continuum analysis tool, VecTor2, are combined using the ‘simulation coordinator’ program UI-SIMCOR. The static and dynamic responses of the building are predicted using MDFEA and compared with those predicted by conventional frame analysis. The results of this comparison illustrate that frame analysis of high-rise building alone is inadequate to detect the effects of shear-flexure-axial interaction of reinforced concrete continuum members. The integrated MDFEA framework is generic, thus it enables the use of the best features of any number of computational tools so as to accurately and efficiently predict the inelastic static and dynamic response of complex structures subjected to extreme loads.