ABSTRACT
Besides the mathematical discussion of the previous chapters, any numerical analysis relies on the judicious understanding of the analyst who is asked to make assumptions and interpret the results. Dealing with the nonlinear behaviour of structures, the possibilities offered by FEM software codes are vast and it is not easy to select the appropriate modelling strategy for a given problem. Typical examples are the understanding of the existing damage, the prediction of load carrying capacity, or the definition of the failure mechanism of a single element, portion of the structure, or the entire building. Throughout the analysis, a heuristic approach is thus needed on a case-by-case basis, supported by experimental or existing evidence, further numerical analyses, simple calculations, or structural intuition.
The present chapter focuses on how to build an efficient model and how to avoid typical pitfalls and mistakes. The input sequences (e.g. geometry, type of elements, mesh and loads) are discussed independently, supported by illustrative examples. A final section addresses the numerical analysis of steel, concrete, and masonry structural members according to theoretical insight and experimental evidence.
