Evaluating Method of Element Importance of Structural System Based on Generalized Structural Stiffness

A summary of existing researches and engineering experience on element importance in the structural systems were presented.Based on the consensus that elements transferring more loads in the load path were generally more important in the structural systems,the element importance index was defined as the change in generalized structural stiffness under a certain load pattern after removing the element from the system.Then,the generalized structural stiffness taking into account the load pattern was proposed as a basis for evaluating the element importance.This index was further expressed in terms of the rate of structural strain energy change.The element importances of a series of frame structures under gravity and horizontal seismic load were then evaluated by the proposed method.The results show that the method is rational,convenient for calculating,and applicable to most structures.