Gap & Fuse Members

With this advanced option the member type may be set to gap, brittle fuse, or plastic fuse, using the Structure > Attributes > Member Type command. During non-linear analysis, the behaviour of these members is determined as a function of extension or internal axial force. The characteristics of these members are shown below.

Gap members may be used to model situations where one part of a structure bears on another after a certain relative displacement.

GAP CHARACTERISTIC

Brittle fuse members may be used to model members that fail in a non-ductile manner (e.g. rupture or buckling) at a specified limiting force.

BRITTLE FUSE CHARACTERISTIC

Plastic fuse members may be used to model members that fail in a ductile manner at a specified limiting force (i.e. an elasto-plastic member).

PLASTIC FUSE CHARACTERISTIC