Geometrically and materially nonlinear analysis (GMNA)

This brand new type of analysis is an important part of the code-check for the hollow section members with a significant influence on the calculated resistance of the whole connection. GMNA calculation brings results of the analysis closer to the real behavior of the construction (but not necessarily to the code requirements).

Until version 10.0, our CBFEM method has used the materially nonlinear analysis (MNA method, elastoplastic working diagram). This solution is still sufficient for the vast majority of connection cases.

But for specific hollow section members and/or members with extremely slender walls, point loading can cause high local deformations (especially of cross-sections) which influence the overall stability of the member. In these cases, the geometrically linear analysis may not capture the behavior of the joint with sufficient precision and its load resistance may be underestimated or overestimated.

That is why we have developed a new and more advanced analysis based on the geometrically nonlinear solution which takes these effects into account. The new analysis is called GMNA – geometrically and materially nonlinear analysis. We have verified this approach using models from ANSYS and ABAQUS.

Important note

GMNA feature is turned on by default in all new projects where a bearing member has a hollow cross-section assigned to it. Projects from previous versions keep their original settings. Users can switch into GMNA in the code setup dialog.

Note: If the bearing member is not a hollow section, the GMNA solver is disabled for the analysis of the whole connection model regardless of the settings in the code setup (GMNA on or off).

This might result in a scenario when a connection created in 10.0 and recalculated in 10.1 using GMNA gives different results. In general, results are less conservative for members in tension and more conservative for members in pressure.

It is possible that some connections designed in the previous version, especially those designed very aggressively and/or with border-line code-check values, will no longer pass the code-check in version 10.1. We recommend to recalculate them in version 10.1 and investigate the differences with the previous version together with your local support partner (reseller) or directly with IDEA StatiCa.