12/14/2017 P­Delta Analysis with Verification ­ RAM | STAAD Wiki ­ RAM | STAAD ­ Bentley Communities

P-Delta Analysis with Verification

The P-Delta effect is one of the primary parameter that every structural designer would not want to
ignore accounting for while performing the stability analysis and design of slender member, tall
structure or any structure that experiences significant gravity loads in addition to the lateral force.

This is a second order analysis induced by the geometric non linearity which accounts for both the P-
Large delta ( P-Δ) and P-small delta (P-δ) effect. No practical column is ideally straight and vertical and
hence the effect of the initial imperfections, out of plumbness must be accounted for in the stability
analysis. So it is suggested to take the P-Δ and P-δ effect while performing the analysis.

In the conventional first order structural analysis, the equilibrium is expressed in terms of the geometry
of the un-deformed structure. In case of the linearly elastic structure, relation between displacement
and external force is proportional and hence the unknown deformations can be obtained in a simple
and direct manner, whereas second-order analysis requires an iterative procedure to obtain the
solutions. This is because the deformed geometry of the structure is not known during the formation of
the equilibrium and kinematic relationship.

Thus, the analysis proceeds in a step-by-step incremental manner, using the deformed geometry of the
structure obtained from an iterative cycles of the calculation (Iterative analysis).

The structure that are more sensitive to 2nd order effects are the structures with low flexural stiffness
and under high compressive force. If the axial force “P” acting vertically on the element is compressive
in nature and that is closer to the elastic buckling load “Pcr”, the P-delta effect becomes more
significant and prominent.

 
https://communities.bentley.com/products/ram­staad/w/structural_analysis_and_design__wiki/22312/p­delta­analysis­with­verification 1/7
12/14/2017 P­Delta Analysis with Verification ­ RAM | STAAD Wiki ­ RAM | STAAD ­ Bentley Communities

         

Fig-1

Also, in Staad, one can perform the PDelta Analysis directly by the consideration of the Geometric
Stiffness Matrix [KG].

Here, the stress stiffening effect due to the axial stress is considered directly to modify the actual
Stiffness Matrix [K].

Depending on the load “P” acting axially on the member, the lateral stiffness of the members starts
decreasing. So more the compressive force experienced by the member, lesser will be its lateral load
carrying capacity. This phenomena is known as Stress So�ening effect which is the result of the change
in GEOMETRIC STIFFNESS of that member. In Staad, the change in the GEOMETRIC STIFFNESS can be
captured by invoking the KG option intended to modify the Stiffness Matrix [K] to [K + KG].

So, by this approach  the P-Delta stiffness equation is directly linearized by the [K + KG] matrix and the
solution can be  obtained directly and exactly, without iteration. 

https://communities.bentley.com/products/ram­staad/w/structural_analysis_and_design__wiki/22312/p­delta­analysis­with­verification 2/7
12/14/2017 P­Delta Analysis with Verification ­ RAM | STAAD Wiki ­ RAM | STAAD ­ Bentley Communities

Moreover, in addition to the above two methods of performing the PDelta Analysis, there is a simple
and approximate way to determine the result of second order effect is to simply magnify the result
reported from the first order analysis by the amplification factor 1/(1-P/Pcr), where Pcr is the elastic
buckling load of the concerned member. This approach is also known as Amplification Method.

In case of the heavy gravity loading or the flexible structure, the accuracy of capturing the actual P-
Delta effect falls and result thus obtained from the Amplification method becomes unreliable. In such
situation, performing the iterative P-delta analysis or the PDelta KG analysis is must to predict the
actual effect on the structure.

Following is a simple example of a cantilever column analyzed in Staad by the iterative analysis, where
the “Small delta” (δ) is ignored and is verified and compared with that of the Hand- Calculation upto 4
iteration cycles.

Hand-calculation and Verification of Large P-delta effect in a Cantilever column with that of Staad
result upto 4 iteration cycles.

 
https://communities.bentley.com/products/ram­staad/w/structural_analysis_and_design__wiki/22312/p­delta­analysis­with­verification 3/7
12/14/2017 P­Delta Analysis with Verification ­ RAM | STAAD Wiki ­ RAM | STAAD ­ Bentley Communities

Height, L = 10000 mm

E = 205000 N/mm2

I = 8.33 x106 mm4

Vertical Load, P =50000 N

Horizontal Load, H = 2000N

First Iteration

Now, M= HxL = 20 kNm

So, the lateral displacement (Δ1) at the column tip 

Δ1 = (ML2)/(3EI)     = 0.3902 m

Also, the vertical load P acting on displaced Δ1 column tip resulting in generation of the additional
moment M1 at the base.  

M1 = P x Δ1 = 19.51 KNm

Now, the total moment “Mt1” at the base = (M+M1)   = 39.51 KNm

The modified horizontal displacement “Δ2” undergone for the first modified moment Mt1

Δ2 = (Mt1L2)/ (3EI) = 0.770 m

Second Iteration

Also, the vertical load “P” acting on the newly displaced column tip (Δ2 - Δ1) resulting in the additional
moment M2 at the base

https://communities.bentley.com/products/ram­staad/w/structural_analysis_and_design__wiki/22312/p­delta­analysis­with­verification 4/7
12/14/2017 P­Delta Analysis with Verification ­ RAM | STAAD Wiki ­ RAM | STAAD ­ Bentley Communities

M2 = P x (Δ2 - Δ1) = 19.035 KNm

Now, the total moment at the base, Mt2 = (M+M1+M2) = (Mt1+M2) = 58.54 KNm

The second modified horizontal displacement Δ3 against the second modified Moment Mt2

Δ3 = (Mt2L2)/3EI = 1.14 m

Third Iteration

Similarly, following the iteration steps of 1 and 2

M3 = P x (Δ3 – Δ2) = 18.555 KNm

The total moment at the base, Mt3 = M+M1+M2+M3=  77.1 KNm

Δ4 = (Mt3L2)/3EI = 1.50 m

Fourth Iteration

M4 = P x (Δ4 – Δ3) = 18.15 KNm

The total moment at the base, Mt4 = M+M1+M2+M3= Mt3 + M4 =

                                                        Mt4 = 95.25

Δ5 = (Mt4L2)/3EI = 1.85 m

Fig-2

https://communities.bentley.com/products/ram­staad/w/structural_analysis_and_design__wiki/22312/p­delta­analysis­with­verification 5/7
12/14/2017 P­Delta Analysis with Verification ­ RAM | STAAD Wiki ­ RAM | STAAD ­ Bentley Communities

 PDelta Models.zip

 P-delta analysis verification  pdelta verification

Created by Geeky biswa

When: Wed, Jul 1 2015 3:26 AM
Last revision by Geeky biswa
When: Tue, Jul 19 2016 9:24 AM
Revisions: 11
Comments: 0
https://communities.bentley.com/products/ram­staad/w/structural_analysis_and_design__wiki/22312/p­delta­analysis­with­verification 6/7
12/14/2017 P­Delta Analysis with Verification ­ RAM | STAAD Wiki ­ RAM | STAAD ­ Bentley Communities

Comments: 0

 0 comments  0 members are here

https://communities.bentley.com/products/ram­staad/w/structural_analysis_and_design__wiki/22312/p­delta­analysis­with­verification 7/7