A 3D beam-column element implemented within a hybrid force-based method

This paper describes a force-based beam-column element implemented using a hybrid force-based solution strategy. The element can accommodate elastic-plastic strain hardening material behaviour under various loadings including axial, torsion, bending and shear deformation, both in and out of the plane of the element. In order to overcome difficulties associated with conventional displacement-based and force-based methods a hybrid force based-method is proposed. This alternative approach is based on simultaneous use of the principles of minimum total potential energy and minimum complementary potential energy. Here the primary equation is the equilibrium equation rather than the compatibility equation (the latter takes precedence when following a displacement based solution strategy). The predictions of the element using this solution procedure are compared against predictions from AbaqusTM , showing excellent agreemen