3/19/2019 What is P-Delta Analysis?

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What is P-Delta Analysis?

April 29, 2016 Paul Comino 4 Comments Education

P-Delta Analysis is a type of analysis that is particularly important for laterally

displacing multi-story building structures experiencing a gravity load. In this article,
SkyCiv Online Engineering Software will discuss the simple theory behind P-Delta

e ects and help you understand the importance of such an analysis when modeling
your structures.

What are P-Delta E ects?

Of course, any structural model will de ect when it is loaded. A de ected structure
may encounter signi cant secondary moments because the ends of the members

have changed position. To illustrate this, consider the simple cantilevered column
example shown below:

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In this example, a column of length L is encountering an axial load (P) and a lateral
load (V). In a standard linear static analysis we would calculate the lateral de ection

(Δ) as:

2 3
ML VL
Δ = =  since M=VL
3EI 3EI

Notice that in the case of a linear static analysis the lateral de ection, Δ, depends on
the lateral load (V). However, if the column is encountering an axial load (P), then
wouldn't the column de ect even more? This is obvious because the axial load would
induce a secondary moment with a value of P×Δ. To illustrate this, let's sum the
moments about the base of the column:

∑ M = (V × L) + (P × Δ) = V L + P Δ

M1 = V L

M2 = P Δ

Here M1 is due to the lateral point load whereas, M2 is due to the axial load. Each of
these moments contribute to lateral de ection di erently (you can look up the
cantilever formulae for the end de ection due to a point load and a moment,

respectively for these formulae):

2 3
M1 L VL
Δ1 = =
3EI 3EI
2 2
M2 L P ΔL
Δ2 = =
2EI 2EI

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So really, the total lateral de ection would be closer to:

3 2
VL P ΔL
Δnew = Δ1 + Δ2 = +
3EI 2EI

We can see that compared to the original de ection value, there is an extra term on
the right in terms of P and Δ. If P or Δ are sigini cant values, the standard linear static
analysis would be underestimating the de ection of the column. It should be
obvious now that a P-Delta Analysis is named after the secondary moment PΔ.
Therefore, P-Delta e ects are caused by geometric non-linearity. For this reason, a P-
Delta Analysis is often called a Non-Linear Analysis. A proper P-Delta Analysis
would continue to iterate the process above to update the value of Δnew.

When do I need to worry about conducting a P-Delta

Analysis?
The good news is that SkyCiv Structural 3D can now perform a P-Delta Analysis for
you. P-Delta e ects usually become prevalent in tall structures that are experiencing
gravity loads and lateral displacement due to wind or other forces. If the lateral
displacement and/or the vertical axial loads through the structure are signi cant, a
P-Delta Analysis should be performed to account for the non-linearities. In many
cases, a linear static analysis can severely underestimate displacement (among
other results) in comparison with a P-Delta (Non-Linear) Analysis.

The importance of a P-Delta Non-Linear Analysis will be illustrated in the example

below. The multi-story frame of the building is 20m in height, with each story being
5m high. The columns are fully xed at the base with distributed loads on each level.
Additionally, there are vertical loads on the top oor and self weight is considered so
gravity loads can be simulated. There is also a relatively small lateral load applied
to the side of the structure.

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Under these conditions let's compare the results between a Linear and P-Delta

(Non-Linear) Analysis:

Linear P-Delta (Non-Linear) % Di erence

Max Total Displacement 254 mm 353 mm + 39%

Max Vertical Reaction 629 kN 668 kN + 6%

Max Moment Reaction 42 kN-m 60 kN-m + 43%

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It is clear that P-Delta e ects play an extremely signi cant role with this structure,
increasing the max de ection and max moment results by around 40%! Thus, a

linear static analysis is inadequate in such a case.

In summary, P-Delta Analysis is preferable to Linear Static Analysis as it accounts for

unforeseen non-linearities in your model. You can use SkyCiv Structural 3D to

perform fast and e ective P-Delta Analyses on your models; simply select "P-Delta
Analysis" when clicking "Solve." Let the software do the work for you so all you have

to worry about is the design!

P-Delta (Non-Linear) Analysis | SkyCiv Structural 3D Cloud En…

En…

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3/19/2019 What is P-Delta Analysis? | SkyCiv Cloud Structural Analysis Software

Paul Comino
CTO and Co-Founder of SkyCiv
BEng Mechanical (Hons1), BCom
LinkedIn 

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Responses (4)

Sergio Ceja
July 8, 2018 at 7:08 pm · Reply

I think the Delta_new equation would be VL^3/3EI + PDeltaL^2/2EI (the denominator of the
Pdelta term is 2EI instead of 3EI), Could you con rm 😀
BEST REGARDS!

Paul
July 8, 2018 at 11:19 pm · Reply

Hi Sergio. The de ection of a cantilever subject to a point load on the end is:
ML^2/3EI. This is where the 3EI comes from. Can you please explain why it would
be 2EI in the denominator for the P-delta term?

Sergio Ceja
July 9, 2018 at 2:33 am · Reply

Hi Paul, thanks for your answer. Maybe I’m wrong but this is my
argument:
From the Free Body diagram, I want an expression of M(x) along the
beam. Before de ection we know that the moment at the xed end is
Mf=VL and if we make a cut at a distance x, then M(x)=Vx – Mf = V(x-L).
Then, when de ected, I sum the PDelta to the xed end moment
Mf=VL+PD. Substituting this into the M(x) expression above, and
integrating twice respect to x, and then evaluating x=L (max de ection)
I got that Dnew = VL^3/3EI + PDL^2/2EI
I would appreciate If you let me know if the way im implementing it is
wrong.. and why ;D

Paul
July 10, 2018 at 5:02 pm · Reply

Hey Sergio. You are indeed correct. The end de ection

due to a point load on a cantilever is ML^2/3EI, however
the end de ection due to a couple moment on a cantilever
is ML^2/2EI. The PD term is acting as a moment on the

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3/19/2019 What is P-Delta Analysis? | SkyCiv Cloud Structural Analysis Software

end of the member, not a point load so it contributes to

de ection by PDL^2/2EI. I have updated the article. Thanks
for pointing this out. I was using a general formula for
de ection a substituting the moment but that formula
only applies if the load is purely a point load, which in this
case it wasn’t completely a point load, so the formula was
not correct. It’s good to derive it from scratch as you have
done rather than using general formula like I did in the
original article. Here is the derivation from scratch if
anyone is interested to verify the solution:
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1c6363ef9d0f1545a

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