Defining Nonlinear Load

Cases in SAFE to Check

Uplift In Foundation
ON APRIL 16, 2018 BY ENGR DENNIS MERCADOIN FOUNDATION, SAFE, SAFE
MODELLING, SOFTWARE, STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, THEORIES

Before we get to define nonlinear load cases in SAFE, for the sake of those who don’t
have any idea on the difference of nonlinear and linear analysis, let me give you an
equivalent political example:

In a country ravaged by slavery, political unrest and drugs, you would expect more
decadence and decay that’s deeply ingrained as a result of its sustained and
cumulative damage on its victims which is the general populace.

The effect would be different if say we have peace and then invasion. And then peace
again, and then the political unrest. And then peace again and the drugs infestation.
If we combine the individual effects of which you won’t get the same screwed state of
the people like the first one.

Now, before Zack de la Rocha comes screaming in the background let me rephrase
the examples:

The last example is called the method of superposition where you combine the
individual effects of several loading conditions which all started from an
underformed condition. In ETABS and SAFE, if you don’t specify a nonlinear
analysis, you will be defining by default a superpositioning method which is called
the linear analysis.

The first example however is the nonlinear case where you add a certain loading to
an already-deformed body, which has a different stiffness (taking into account the
presence of cracks) compared to an underformed condition. This is a more realistic
approach to analysis which is technically more correct than its linear counterpart.
After a long detour, let’s get back to our original topic.

Nonlinear analysis as defined is the accumulation of the results of a step-by-step

analysis. For example, we want to check the uplift (or the presence of which) in
SAFE considering the load combination 0.60 DL + 0.70 EQ which was stipulated in
ASCE 7-10 (clause 2.4.1 equation 8).

Ad verti s em ent

First and foremost, we need to establish which loads precede what. In this case, it
has to be the dead load first before applying the lateral loads. Lateral loads cannot
come first before the gravity loads, right?

So we will define a nonlinear load case called 0.6DL-NL where NL stands for
nonlinear. This is the initial condition, i.e., from an unstressed state, which we will
apply the dead loads. And what comes after this condition will be the starting point
of the succeeding loading condition. Just don’t forget the scale factors and to allow
uplift.
Continuing from the previous nonlinear dead load case, we define now the nonlinear
seismic load case. Again, please be mindful of the scale factor and to allow uplift.
 In order to confirm that the results make sense after running the analysis, the
bearing contour should show zero values of the bearing pressures that were once in
tension using the linear load case/load combination.

And to add to the chaos, please keep in mind the following bits and pieces of my
gleaned realizations and conclusions:

1. A nonlinear load case involving spectral seismic loads is not possible in SAFE, hence
only static load cases can be used in nonlinear analysis.
2. The load combination with the highest tensile bearing pressure in linear analysis
does not ALWAYS produce the maximum equivalent compressive bearing stresses
on the other end of the footing. Hence, we cannot immediately conclude that that
nonlinear load case will always produce the greatest compressive stresses on the
footings.
3. Having said that, we must trace one by one, out of the 100+ or so seismic and wind
load combinations which produces uplift. And again, it is another matter of finding
the maximum bearing pressure and finding the maximum ultimate load
combination for design.
4. It is by far the best solution, if possible to totally eliminate if not significantly reduce
to a negligible amount the uplift in order not to go to this troublesome nonlinear
analysis.

Now feel free to add to these if you have something else in mind. Just head
to the leave a reply section below.

https://engrdennisbmercado.wordpress.com/2018/04/16/defining-nonlinear-load-cases-in-safe-to-
check-uplift-in-foundation/