Degradation and Strengthening of Beams
In subsequent stages, the beams cannot be edited in a standard way. Therefore, one of the following options must be selected to modify them:
- removing the selected beam from the analysis
- degrading the selected beam (applicable only in the "Tunnels" mode)
- strengthening the selected beam cross-section
- reduce the selected beam cross-section
- modifying the beam contact properties
The type of modification is selected from the "Adjust beam properties" dialog window.
During beam degradation, the percentage of degradation is specified (100% corresponds to the complete removal of the beam). The beam is excluded from the structure (its stiffness no longer affects deformation), and its effect is replaced by end forces (known from the previous calculation phase), whose values are adjusted according to the specified degradation percentage.
When strengthening or reducing a beam, the cross-sectional properties and material characteristics can be modified. Strengthening can be understood as an increase in cross-section thickness (for example, due to shotcrete application), while weakening represents a reduction in the cross-section, for instance due to corrosion.
A change in the cross-sectional area affects the self-weight load of the beam (if self-weight is considered).The effect of cross-section reducing becomes evident only if all stiffness parameters — EA, GA, and EI — are smaller than in the previous calculation phase. Conversely, the effect of strengthening (EA, GA, and EI being greater than in the previous phase) will not manifest unless there is also a change in loading (either due to self-weight or external loads).
Dialog window "Adjust beam properties" - beam strengthening