Partial interaction analysis of multi-component members with the D-GBT approach

This paper presents a partial interaction model for the analysis of multi-component members that accounts for the in-plane deformability of the cross-section. The D-GBT approach is formulated extending the applicability of the dynamic cross-sectional procedure developed for open, closed or partially-closed thin-walled cross-sections within the framework of the Generalised Beam Theory and introducing a simpler procedure for the identification of the deformations modes, i.e. conventional, extension and shear modes, to be used for the GBT analysis. The proposed partial interaction enables relative movements to take place in the plane of the interface between adjacent components in the longitudinal and transverse directions. The ease of use of the proposed method is outlined by means of an application performed on a multi-component beam subjected to an eccentric load. Its accuracy is validated against numerical solutions obtained with a shell finite element model developed in ABAQUS/Standard.