This work supplies a study of the second-order inelastic behavior of steel frames based on the finite element method and plastic-hinge method. Special attention is given to hybrid finite element formulation, specifically to its tensile strength matrix, which is modified to accommodate inelastic effects during the loading process of the structure. The section assemblage concept is introduced together with refined plastic-hinge procedures. At the end of this paper, using structural steel examples found in literature, the computational implementation effectiveness and developed formulation are verified.
steel frames; inelastic analysis; plastic-hinge method; hybrid finite element
