SFLEX, FFAX
, FFBY
, FFBZ
, FFTO
, FFTSY
, FFTSZ
Sets flexibility factors for the currently defined pipe
element section.
FFAX
Factor to increase axial flexibility. The default value is 1.0.
FFBY
Factor to increase bending flexibility about element y axis (bending in the element x-z plane). The default value is 1.0.
FFBZ
Factor to increase bending flexibility about element
z axis (bending in the element x-y plane). The default value is FFBY
.
FFTO
Factor to increase torsional flexibility. The default value is 1.0.
FFTSY
Factor to increase transverse shear flexibility in the element x-z plane. The default value is 1.0.
FFTSZ
Factor to increase transverse shear flexibility in
the element x-y plane. The default value is FFTSY
.
The SFLEX command sets section-flexibility factors for sections used by pipe elements.
To increase stiffness, use a flexibility factor of less than 1.0.
The FFBY
and FFTSY
arguments affect motion in the element x-z plane, and the FFBZ
and FFTSZ
arguments
affect motion in the element x-y plane. For stout pipe structures
with low slenderness ratios, set both FFBY and FFTSY--and/or both FFBZ
and FFTSZ (the related bending and transverse shear factors)--to the
same value to obtain the expected flexibility effect.
When issued, the SFLEX command applies to the pipe section most recently defined via the SECTYPE command.
SFLEX is valid only for linear material properties and small strain analyses. The command does not support offsets, temperature loading, or initial state loading. While the resulting displacements and reactions are valid, the stresses may not be valid.