Software Verification: Methodology
Software Verification: Methodology
STRUCTURES
INC.
R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
METHODOLOGY
To validate and verify SAP2000 results, the test problems were run on a PC platform
that was a Dell machine with a Pentium III processor and 512 MB of RAM operating on
a Windows XP operating system.
ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
The comparison of the SAP2000 validation and verification example results with
independent results is typically characterized in one of the following three ways.
¾ Exact: There is no difference between the SAP2000 results and the independent
results within the larger of the accuracy of the typical SAP2000 output and the
accuracy of the independent result.
¾ Acceptable: For force, moment and displacement values, the difference between
the SAP2000 results and the independent results does not exceed five percent
(5%). For internal force and stress values, the difference between the SAP2000
results and the independent results does not exceed ten percent (10%). For
experimental values, the difference between the SAP2000 results and the
independent results does not exceed twenty five percent (25%).
The percentage difference between results is typically calculated using the following
formula:
SAP2000 Result
Percent Difference = 100 -1
Independent Result
METHODOLOGY - 1
COMPUTERS &
STRUCTURES
INC.
R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
SUMMARY OF EXAMPLES
The example problems are categorized into six groups based on the structural elements
used in the example. Table 1 defines the six groups, illustrates the example problem
numbering system used for each group, and identifies the summary table used for each
group.
As shown in Table 1, Tables 2-1 through 2-6 summarize the validation and verification
examples for each of the six categories. Tables 2-1 through 2-6 include the example
number, the problem title, a summary of the program features tested and the method of
independent verification.
METHODOLOGY - 2
COMPUTERS &
STRUCTURES
INC.
R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
Hand calculation
using the beam
deflection formulas in
Table 3 item 1a and
Rotated Local ¾ Frame local axes rotated from global axes
1-004 Table 3 item 2a on
Axes ¾ Use of AISC sections
pages 96 and 98,
respectively, in Table
3 in Roark and
Young 1975.
¾ Settlement of support in frame structures
Hand calculation
¾ Rotation of support in frame structures
using the unit load
Displacement ¾ Settlement of support with linear (translational) spring
1-005 method described on
Loading ¾ Rotation of support with rotational spring
page 244 in Cook
¾ Skewed supports
and Young 1985.
¾ Skewed support settlement
¾ Structural behavior of a non-prismatic frame section
Non-Prismatic Self weight calculations Hand calculation
Sections and Linear variation of section area using the unit load
1-006 Automatic Linear, parabolic and cubic variation of moment of method described on
Frame inertia page 244 in Cook
Subdivision Linear variation of section torsional constant and Young 1985.
¾ Automatic frame subdivision
¾ The end releases in a frame element, including
Axial release
Hand calculation
1-007 End Releases Shear release
using basic statics.
Bending release
¾ The related frame static analysis
¾ The partial fixity end releases in a frame element, Hand calculation
including using the unit load
Partial Fixity
1-008 Shear partial fixity method described on
End Releases
Bending partial fixity page 244 in Cook
¾ The application of gravity load to a frame object and Young 1985.
METHODOLOGY - 3
COMPUTERS &
STRUCTURES
INC.
R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
Hand calculation
No Tension using the unit load
and No ¾ Tension and compression limits for frame objects method described on
1-012
Compression ¾ End releases page 244 in Cook
Frame Objects and Young 1985
together with statics.
Hand calculation
¾ Eigenvalue analysis of a frame with unequal moment based on formulas
Eigenvalue
1-014 of inertia values (I22 ≠ I33) for bending modes presented on page
Problem
¾ Automatic frame subdivision 313 of Clough and
Penzien 1975.
¾ Steady state analysis of frame systems
Comparison with
Steady State ¾ Time history analysis of frame systems with periodic
illustrative example
1-015 Harmonic loading
20.2 on page 434 of
Loads ¾ Line mass assignment to frame objects
Paz 1985.
¾ Automatic frame subdivision
Hand calculation
Tension using equation 23 on
¾ P-Delta force assignment to frame objects
Stiffening Using page 28 and
1-016 ¾ Nonlinear static analysis using the P-Delta option
P-Delta equations 43 and 45
¾ Automatic frame subdivision
Analysis on page 43 of
Timoshenko 1956.
METHODOLOGY - 4
COMPUTERS &
STRUCTURES
INC.
R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
Hand calculation
Bending, Shear
¾ Calculation of bending, shear and axial deformations using the unit load
and Axial
1-018 in a rigid frame method described on
Deformations in
¾ Frame property modification factors page 244 in Cook
a Rigid Frame
and Young 1985.
Hand calculation
using formulas
presented in Article
Buckling of a ¾ Buckling analysis of a rigid frame
1-019 2.4 on pages 62
Rigid Frame ¾ Automatic frame subdivision
though 66 of
Timoshenko and
Gere 1961.
Response
Spectrum ¾ Modal analysis of frame for eigenvalues and time Comparison with
Analysis of a periods example 13.11 on
1-020
Two- ¾ Response spectrum analysis page 521 of Chopra
Dimensional ¾ Joint masses 1995.
Rigid Frame
Comparison with
results published in
Bathe and Wilson
Bathe and
1972 and
Wilson ¾ Modal analysis for eigenvalues
1-021 comparison with
Eigenvalue ¾ Line mass assignment to frame objects
results from another
Problem
computer program
published in
Peterson 1981.
METHODOLOGY - 5
COMPUTERS &
STRUCTURES
INC.
R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
Response
¾ Three-dimensional frame analysis Comparison with
Spectrum
¾ Modal analysis using eigenvectors results from another
Analysis of a
1-024 ¾ Rigid diaphragm constraint computer program
Three-
¾ Joint mass assignments published in
Dimensional
¾ Response spectrum analysis Peterson 1981.
Moment Frame
Response
¾ Three-dimensional frame analysis Comparison with
Spectrum
¾ Modal analysis using eigenvectors results from another
Analysis of a
1-025 ¾ Rigid diaphragm constraint computer program
Three-
¾ Joint mass assignments published in
Dimensional
¾ Response spectrum analysis Peterson 1981.
Braced Frame
Hand calculation
using the unit load
method described on
Moment and ¾ Static nonlinear analysis of a frame structure using page 244 in Cook
1-026
Shear Hinges moment and shear hinges and Young 1985
together with basic
deflection formulas
and superposition.
Hand calculation
using the unit load
Construction ¾ Nonlinear static analysis using the construction method described on
1-027 Sequence sequence loading option page 244 in Cook
Loading ¾ Frame end releases and Young 1985
together with basic
deflection formulas.
¾ Static nonlinear analysis of frame structure with large
Large Axial axial displacements using the SAP2000 P-Delta plus Hand calculation
1-028
Displacements large displacements option using basic statics.
¾ Frame end releases
Hand calculation and
¾ Static nonlinear analysis of frame structure with large Equation 4 in Article
Large Bending
1-029 bending displacements using the SAP2000 P-Delta 7.1 of Chapter 7 on
Displacements
plus large displacements option page 91 of Roark
and Young 1975.
METHODOLOGY - 6
COMPUTERS &
STRUCTURES
INC.
R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
METHODOLOGY - 7
COMPUTERS &
STRUCTURES
INC.
R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
Hand calculation
using the unit load
¾ Membrane analysis using shell elements method described on
¾ Plate bending analysis using shell elements page 244 in Cook
Straight Beam
¾ Effect of shell element aspect ratio and Young 1985 and
2-002 with Static
¾ Effect of geometrical distortion of shell element from using formulas from
Loads
rectangular Roark and Young
¾ Joint force loading 1975. Results also
published in MacNeal
and Harder 1985.
Hand calculation
using the unit load
method described on
Curved Beam ¾ Membrane analysis using shell elements
page 244 in Cook
2-003 with Static ¾ Plate bending analysis using shell elements
and Young 1985.
Loads ¾ Joint force loading
Results also
published in MacNeal
and Harder 1985.
Hand calculation
using the unit load
method described on
Twisted Beam ¾ Membrane analysis using shell elements
page 244 in Cook
2-004 with Static ¾ Plate bending analysis using shell elements
and Young 1985.
Loads ¾ Joint force loading
Results also
published in MacNeal
and Harder 1985.
Hand calculation
based theory in
Rectangular ¾ Plate bending analysis using shell elements Timoshenko and
2-005 Plate with Static ¾ Uniform load applied to shell elements Woinowsky-Krieger
Loads ¾ Joint force loading 1959. Results also
published in MacNeal
and Harder 1985.
METHODOLOGY - 8
COMPUTERS &
STRUCTURES
INC.
R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
Hemispherical
¾ Three-dimensional analysis using shell elements Results published in
Shell Structure
2-007 ¾ Joint local axes MacNeal and Harder
with Static
¾ Joint force loads 1985.
Loads
Hand calculation
using equation 185
¾ Plate bending analysis using shell elements
Plate on Elastic on page 275 of
2-009 ¾ Area object spring assignment
Foundation Timoshenko and
¾ Joint force loads
Woinowsky-Krieger
1959.
Hand calculation
Cylinder with ¾ Three-dimensional analysis using shell elements using item 1b in
2-010 Internal ¾ Surface pressure load applied to shell elements Table 29 on page
Pressure ¾ Joint local axes 448 of Roark and
Young 1975.
Plate Bending ¾ Plate bending analysis of shell elements when shear Results published in
when Shear deformations are significant example shown on
2-012
Deformations ¾ Area object stiffness modifiers page 376 of Roark
Are Significant ¾ Frame distributed loads and Young 1975.
METHODOLOGY - 9
COMPUTERS &
STRUCTURES
INC.
R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
Hand calculation
Temperature using formulas
¾ Temperature gradient loading for shell elements
Gradient presented in item 8e
2-014 ¾ Area object local axes
Through Shell of Table 24 on page
¾ Joint local axes
Thickness 361 of Roark and
Young 1975.
Hand calculated
¾ Plate bending analysis of shells
Orthotropic using theory
2-015 ¾ Orthotropic material properties
Plate presented in Chapter
¾ Area object stiffness modifiers
6 of Ugural 1981.
¾ Buckling analysis of shells
Hand calculated
¾ Automatic area meshing (N x N) with added restraints
using theory
Out-of-Plane ¾ Joint springs
2-016 presented in
Buckling ¾ Frame property modifiers
Timoshenko and
¾ Frame distributed load
Gere 1961.
¾ Frame automatic subdivide at intermediate joints
Hand calculated
¾ Buckling analysis of shells using equation 2-4
In-Plane
2-017 ¾ Joint force loads on page 48 of
Buckling
¾ Active degrees of freedom Timoshenko and
Gere 1961.
¾ Static nonlinear analysis of shell structure with large
Large Axial axial displacements using the SAP2000 P-Delta plus Hand calculation
2-018
Displacements large displacements option using basic statics.
¾ Joint constraints
Hand calculation and
¾ Static nonlinear analysis of shell structure with large
Equation 4 in Article
Large Bending bending displacements using the SAP2000 P-Delta
2-019 7.1 of Chapter 7 on
Displacements plus large displacements option
page 91 of Roark
¾ Automatic area meshing
and Young 1975.
¾ Prestress tendon with parabolic tendon profile and
Hand calculation
different eccentricities at the two ends
using basic principles
Prestress ¾ Prestress tendon modeled using loads and applied to
and the unit load
2-020 Applied to Area area objects
method described on
Objects ¾ Prestress tendon modeled as elements and applied to
page 244 in Cook
area objects
and Young 1985.
¾ Prestress losses
METHODOLOGY - 10
COMPUTERS &
STRUCTURES
INC.
R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
Hand calculation
using the unit load
method described on
¾ Membrane analysis using plane elements
page 244 in Cook
Straight Beam ¾ Effect of plane element aspect ratio
and Young 1985 and
3-002 with Static ¾ Effect of geometrical distortion of plane element from
using formulas from
Loads rectangular
Roark and Young
¾ Joint force loading
1975. Results also
published in MacNeal
and Harder 1985.
Hand calculation
using the unit load
method described on
Curved Beam
¾ Membrane analysis using plane stress elements page 244 in Cook
3-003 with Static
¾ Joint force loading and Young 1985.
Loads
Results also
published in MacNeal
and Harder 1985.
Hand calculation
based on theory in
Timoshenko 1956
¾ Analysis using plane stress elements and based on
Thick-Walled
3-004 ¾ Analysis using plane strain elements formulas in Roark
Cylinder
¾ Plane surface pressure load and Young 1975.
Results also
published in MacNeal
and Harder 1985.
Hand calculation
¾ Pore pressure loading for planes
3-005 Pore Pressure using basic
¾ Joint pattern
principles.
METHODOLOGY - 11
COMPUTERS &
STRUCTURES
INC.
R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
Hand calculation
based on theory in
Thick-Walled ¾ Analysis using asolid elements Timoshenko 1956.
4-002
Cylinder ¾ Asolid surface pressure load Results also
published in MacNeal
and Harder 1985.
Hand calculation
based on equations
Rotating ¾ Analysis using asolid elements presented in Item 8
4-003
Annular Disk ¾ Asolid rotate load on page 567 of
Roark and Young
1975.
Hand calculation
¾ Pore pressure loading for asolids
4-004 Pore Pressure using basic
¾ Joint pattern
principles.
METHODOLOGY - 12
COMPUTERS &
STRUCTURES
INC.
R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
Hand calculation
¾ Solid object bending with and without the using the unit load
incompatible modes option method described on
Straight Beam
¾ Effect of solid object aspect ratio page 244 in Cook
5-002 with Static
¾ Effect of geometrical distortion of solid object from a and Young 1985.
Loads
cube Results also
¾ Joint force loading published in MacNeal
and Harder 1985.
Hand calculation
using the unit load
method described on
Curved Beam ¾ Solid object bending with the incompatible bending
page 244 in Cook
5-003 with Static modes option
and Young 1985.
Loads ¾ Joint force loading
Results also
published in MacNeal
and Harder 1985.
Hand calculation
using the unit load
method described on
Twisted Beam ¾ Solid object bending and twist with the incompatible
page 244 in Cook
5-004 with Static bending modes option
and Young 1985.
Loads ¾ Joint force loading
Results also
published in MacNeal
and Harder 1985.
Hand calculation
based theory in
Rectangular ¾ Plate bending analysis using solid elements Timoshenko and
5-005 Plate with Static ¾ Surface pressure load applied to solid objects Woinowsky-Krieger
Loads ¾ Joint force loading 1959. Results also
published in MacNeal
and Harder 1985.
METHODOLOGY - 13
COMPUTERS &
STRUCTURES
INC.
R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
Hemispherical
Results published in
Dome Structure ¾ Three-dimensional analysis using solid elements
5-007 MacNeal and Harder
with Static ¾ Joint force loads
1985.
Loads
Hand calculation
based on theory in
¾ Analysis using solid elements
Thick-Walled Timoshenko 1956.
5-008 ¾ Solid surface pressure load
Cylinder Results also
¾ Joint local axes
published in MacNeal
and Harder 1985.
¾ Prestress tendon with parabolic tendon profile and
Hand calculation
different eccentricities at the two ends
using basic principles
Prestress ¾ Prestress tendon modeled using loads and applied to
and the unit load
5-009 Applied to Solid solid objects
method described on
Objects ¾ Prestress tendon modeled as elements and applied to
page 244 in Cook
solid objects
and Young 1985.
¾ Prestress losses
Hand calculation
¾ Buckling analysis of solids using equation 2-4
5-010 Buckling ¾ Joint force loads on page 48 of
¾ Active degrees of freedom Timoshenko and
Gere 1961.
Hand calculation
Temperature ¾ Temperature loading for solid elements using equation 1.3.4
5-011
Load ¾ Reference temperature for solid elements on page 9 of Cook
and Young 1985.
Hand calculation
¾ Plate bending analysis using solid elements using equation 185
Plate on Elastic ¾ Solid object surface spring assignment on page 275 of
5-012
Foundation ¾ Solid object automatic mesh Timoshenko and
¾ Joint force loads Woinowsky-Krieger
1959.
METHODOLOGY - 14
COMPUTERS &
STRUCTURES
INC.
R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
METHODOLOGY - 15
COMPUTERS &
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INC.
R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
Comparison with
Multi-linear ¾ Multi-linear links defined link force-
6-002 ¾ Displacement-controlled nonlinear static analysis
Elastic Link deformation
characteristics.
¾ Gap element links
¾ Force-controlled nonlinear static analysis
¾ Nonlinear modal time history analysis Hand calculation
¾ Nonlinear direct time history analysis using the unit load
6-003 Gap Element ¾ Frame point loads method described on
¾ Joint force loads page 244 in Cook
¾ Joint mass assignments and Young 1985.
¾ Ramp loading for time histories
Hand calculation
¾ Hook element links
using standard
6-004 Hook Element ¾ Force-controlled nonlinear static analysis
thermal expansion
¾ Frame temperature loads
formulas.
¾ Damper element links
Damper Hand calculation
¾ Linear link elements
Element Under using equation 3.2.6
6-005 ¾ Nonlinear modal time history analysis
Harmonic on page 70 in
¾ Nonlinear direct integration time history analysis
Loading Chopra 1995.
¾ Joint force loads
¾ Damper links with linear velocity exponents
Comparison with
¾ Frame end length offsets
experimental results
¾ Joint mass assignments
SUNY Buffalo from shake table
¾ Modal analysis for ritz vectors
Damper with tests published in
6-006 ¾ Linear modal time history analysis
Linear Velocity Section 5, pages 61
¾ Nonlinear modal time history analysis
Exponent through 73, of
¾ Linear direct integration time history analysis
Scheller and
¾ Nonlinear direct integration time history analysis
Constantinou 1999.
¾ Generalized displacements
Comparison with
¾ Damper links with nonlinear velocity exponents
experimental results
SUNY Buffalo ¾ Frame end length offsets
from shake table
Damper with ¾ Joint mass assignments
tests published in
6-007 Nonlinear ¾ Modal analysis for ritz vectors
Section 5, pages 61
Velocity ¾ Nonlinear modal time history analysis
through 73, of
Exponent ¾ Nonlinear direct integration time history analysis
Scheller and
¾ Generalized displacements
Constantinou 1999.
METHODOLOGY - 16
COMPUTERS &
STRUCTURES
INC.
R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
Comparison with
¾ Plastic kinematic links
Plastic defined link force-
6-009 ¾ Displacement-controlled nonlinear static analysis
Kinematic Link deformation
¾ Link gravity load
characteristics.
Comparison with
results from the
¾ Rubber isolator links
computer program
¾ Linear links
SUNY Buffalo 3D-BASIS-ME (see
¾ Zero-length, two-joint link elements
Eight-Story Tsopelas,
¾ Diaphragm constraints
6-010 Building with Constantinou and
¾ Modal analysis for ritz vectors
Rubber Reinhorn 1994)
¾ Nonlinear modal time history analysis
Isolators published in Section
¾ Nonlinear direct integration time history analysis
2, pages 5 through
¾ Generalized displacements
23, of Scheller and
Constantinou 1999.
¾ Friction pendulum link elements
Comparison with
¾ Damper link elements
SUNY Buffalo experimental results
¾ Zero-length, two-joint link elements
Seven-Story from shake table
¾ Diaphragm constraints
Building with tests published in
6-011 ¾ Frame end length offsets
Friction Section 4, pages 43
¾ Modal analysis for ritz vectors
Pendulum through 59, of
¾ Nonlinear modal time history analysis
Isolators Scheller and
¾ Nonlinear direct integration time history analysis
Constantinou 1999.
¾ Joint masses
Hand calculation
using formulas and
Frequency
¾ Frequency dependent links theory presented in
6-012 Dependent
¾ Steady state analysis section 3.2 on pages
Links
68 through 69 of
Chopra 1995.
METHODOLOGY - 17
COMPUTERS &
STRUCTURES
INC.
R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
As illustrated in Table 3, the program features matrices are presented in tables 4-1
though 4-6. These tables are shown on the following pages.
METHODOLOGY - 18
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R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
Masses 1-020, 1-022, 1-023, 1-024, 1-025, 6-003, 6-006, 6-007, 6-011
Panel zones
METHODOLOGY - 19
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R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
Hinges 1-026
Automatic frame subdivide 1-006, 1-013, 1-014, 1-015, 1-017, 1-019, 2-016
Distributed load 1-001, 1-003, 1-008, 1-015, 1-016, 1-018, 2-012, 2-016
METHODOLOGY - 20
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R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
METHODOLOGY - 21
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R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
METHODOLOGY - 22
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R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
METHODOLOGY - 23
COMPUTERS &
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INC.
R Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: SAP2000
REVISION NO.: 2
Nonlinear static 1-012, 1-016, 1-017, 1-026, 6-002, 6-003, 6-004, 6-008, 6-009
Nonlinear transient modal time 6-003, 6-005, 6-006, 6-007, 6-010, 6-011
history
Nonlinear direct integration time 6-003, 6-005, 6-006, 6-007, 6-010, 6-011
history
METHODOLOGY - 24