DEVELOPMENT OF A USER-INTERACTIVE FRAME

ANALYSIS APPLICATION USING FINITE ELEMENT

METHOD IN PYTHON

REYNEIL CLYDE DAMAYO ANCHETA

ORLAND SON SUMIDO FACTOR

EL FRANCIS LAURON PABIO

I. INTRODUCTION
• Background of the Study
Structural analysis is essential for ensuring the safety and
serviceability of structures by predicting their response to external loads
(Udoeyo, 2020). As structural designs have become increasingly
complex, traditional manual calculations for frame analysis are often
inadequate, leading to a greater reliance on finite element analysis
(Bazant & Bazant, 1966; Cook et al., 2002). The development of
interactive applications in this field can enhance understanding among
engineering students by allowing them to dynamically simulate and
analyze structural behavior, thereby reinforcing key concepts such as
stress distribution and deformation (Zienkiewicz et al., 2005).
• Objective of the study
-to develop a Python-based software application that
utilizes the Finite Element Method (FEM) to analyze 2D and 3D
structural models, specifically focusing on frames and beams.
-to generate design process for engineers by enabling
quick input of parameters and comparison of results with
licensed software like Midas Gen and SW FEA, ultimately
providing a more accessible and cost-effective solution for
structural analysis.
-
• Scope of the Study
This study analyzes frame and beam structures by
calculating support reactions, deflections, and creating axial
force, shear, and bending moment diagrams in 2D and 3D. The
software accepts parameters like Young’s modulus (E), cross-
sectional area (A), and moment of inertia (Ix), while handling
various load types—such as inclined concentrated loads and
uniformly distributed loads—and different support conditions,
including pinned, fixed, roller, and internal pin/hinged supports.
II. METHODOLOGY

• This chapter discusses the development of a frame

analysis application utilizing finite element analysis
focusing on frame structures. The application was
developed using Python programming that can calculate
various structural parameters such as reactions, axial
forces, shear forces, bending moments, and
deformations. Additionally, a Graphical User Interface
(GUI) will be implemented to enhance user interaction
and facilitate the understanding and analysis of the
presented data.
• Conceptual Framework
• User’s Input
 • Node attributes

Frame geometries include

the dimensions of the
frames or beams in both
vertical and horizontal
directions.
• Support Considerations

The program has been

developed to accommodate
any support type, like fixed,
pinned, and roller supports,
as long as the structure is
solvable and stable.
• Nodal Loads

The application allows

concentrated load and
moment load. This load
may be applied at any
nodes, even if the
concentrated load is
inclined.
 • Material Properties

Moment of inertia,
cross-sectional area,
and young’s modulus
are the material
properties, these
are the necessary value
to determine the
stiffness matrix of
every element.
• Distributed Load

In the program, one can

select nodes and apply
distributed loads.
These will always be
applied perpendicular to the
structure.
• Release/ Hinge Connection

To apply the moment

release in the element, the
user first connects the two
nodes to create
frame element and then
applies the release to that
element.
• Finite Element Method
The finite element method is efficient in static analyses,
especially for structural applications, like frames and beams. This
method allows for the determination of reactions, internal forces, and
structural deformations for Determinate of Indeterminate Structures.
• Coordinate System

The coordinate system of

the stiffness matrix
explains the orientation
and spatial arrangement.
It allows for transforming
local coordinates stiffness
matrix into global
coordinates stiffness
matrix, assuring an
accurate of forming the
global stiffness matrix
• Direct Stiffness Method
The direct stiffness
method is discussed
step by step, outlining
the methodology in
determining
key structural
responses such as
reactions, internal
forces, and
deformations.
• Discretized the Structure per Element

The Structure was

segregated into individual
elements. This method
enables us to break down a
whole segment for analysis,
such that the element’s own
stiffness matrices may be
computed
and combined to develop
the entire structure.
• Equivalent Nodal Loads

To get the value of

equivalent nodal loads,
the fixed end moment
equation is used for any
distributed load that
applied on the element
as long as the
distributed load is in 0 to
1 degree slope.
 •
After Local Stiffness
discretizing Matrix
the elements,
they are utilized to create the
local element stiffness matrix,
which is a crucial step in
developing the global stiffness
matrix. This method allows for
precise assembly of each
element’s stiffness
characteristics, contributing to
the formation of the overall
global stiffness matrix. The bar
element matrix, which handles
axial forces, and the beam
element matrix, which accounts
for shear and moment forces,
are combined to construct a
comprehensive stiffness matrix.
This approach ensures that the
stiffness matrix can be
accurately formed for frames
regardless of whether the
elements or structures are
MOMENT RELEASE

When there is a
moment release
In calculating stiffness matrix in
connection in the
moment release connection, the
element. The Eq.
method of Khennane (2013)
(3-8) is stiffness
is used by superimposing the beam
matrix
element matrix and truss element
with a hinge at its
matrix can create a
right end while
stiffness matrix of a beam-column
Eq. (3-9) is
element.
with a hinge at its
left end.
• Transformation Matrix
. Since the orientation of the
frame is not always
constant, there is an element
that is inclined. To compose
the global stiffness matrix,
by using
the element degree of
freedom or (nodal By multiplying the
displacement) in the given stiffness matrix that
axes in the element which discussed previously and
is the transformation matrix the transformation matrix
it can obtain the elemental
stiffness matrix in global
coordinate system.
• Global Stiffness Matrix

Global matrix is used for

application of direct
stiffness method which
allows to compute
deformation, reaction forces
as well as internal forces of
the structure
• Roller Supports
For the frame element with inclined support, the
transformation matrix is used to transform
global to its local coordinates. It depends on where the
inclined support place is.

For calculating the

consideration of roller supports
researchers, the method of
Logan (2010) is
used. The boundary conditions
are applied in the local The resulting equation for the plane
coordinate system, not in global frame structure are shown below:
coordinates
• Boundary Conditions

In the study, each support

type applied is subject to
specific boundary
conditions. Various
support types, including
pinned support, roller
support, and fixed
support, are considered.
• Deformation at Nodes The Direct Stiffness Method facilitates
thorough nodal analysis by incorporating
specific boundary and force conditions. It
utilizes detailed formulations, as indicated
in Eq. (3-18), to formalize the process for
effectively assessing nodal deformations.
Additionally, the dot product method is
Deformation at every employed to determine the unknown
nodal point are computed variables within the deformation brackets.
using this formula, which
offers a fundamental structure

deformation nodes, where 𝐹𝑢

for computation at the nodal

is the equivalent nodal forces

on the structure in global
coordinate system.
 • Reaction at Supports
The Eq. (3-1) is used to get reaction at
Calculating the reactions at each of the supports support. The system computes the force at
or the points of application of forces by the every node,
methods discussed in the previous sections with certain node is being defined as support
points . This now define force-support
conditions
• Elemental/Internal Force
By deriving the formula from
Eq. (3-18), but since
each element is computed
independently, this formula is
used in the local stiffness
matrix as
expressed in Eq. (3-21).
This way, what happens about
each single member of the
frame can
be assessed much better and
then the internal forces
computed properly
• Results
The Python's `tkinter`
library is used to
develop a graphical
user interface that
displays
information in a table
format. Users may then
view the data easily,
not even reading
through
all the values from
previous topics, so the
GUI makes it very
simple for them to
view and to
explore the data they
want in a clear way.