ABSTRACT
The main objective of the present paper is to describe, with the aid of a series of examples, the methods and procedures used to model steel and composite structures. Initially laboratory experiments are introduced as well as the main steps aiming to understand their design, procedures development, instrumentation and results interpretation. Another focus is on numerical models, developed with the aid of the finite element method. Various details and restrictions in terms of: boundary conditions, major difficulties, solution strategies and methods to overcome convergence difficulties are presented. Additional novel contributions were also made towards the understanding of the correct use of computational intelligence models in the simulation of structural response focused on significant steps to their complete understanding and interpretation, scope and application to problems of steel and composite structures focusing on their main advantages, scope and limitations.
