The interaction of plane frames with elastic foundation having normal and shear moduli of subgrade reactions

Abstract

The interaction of plane frames with an elastic foundation, of the Winkler type, having normal and shear moduli of subgrade reactions was studied. An exact stiffness matrix for a beam element on an elastic foundation having only a normal modulus of subgrade reaction was modified to include the shear modulus of subgrade reaction of the foundation as well as the axial force in the beam. A computer program was written and used in two case studies. In the first case study the convergence of the modified element was tested: in the second it was employed to study the effect of the foundation normal and shear moduli of subgrade reactions on the bending moments in a selected plane frame. The results indicated that bending moments might be considerably affected according to the type of frame and loading.