A study on the accuracy of force analogy method in nonlinear static analysis

Summary In this paper, the accuracy of the force analogy method (FAM) for nonlinear static (pushover) analysis is investigated. Hence, after explanation of the concept of FAM by a new approach, 12 2D steel special moment resisting frames with different configurations were derived from two different 3D archetypes and modeled using four various methods of capturing nonlinearity including SAP2000 super elements, OpenSees force‐based and displacement‐based fiber method, and FAM. In addition, a MATLAB code was developed for modeling and analyzing the frames by FAM. The accuracy of FAM in predictions of pushover curves, base shear forces, and plastic rotation of the critical hinges was investigated. The results indicated that in general, the predictions obtained using the FAM had a good agreement and compatibility with those from other methods of analysis currently used in practice for seismic performance assessment of structures.