Yousef Ashrafi - Msc , Sahand University of Technology
Behzad Rafezy - Assistant Professor, Sahand University of Technology
Behzad Azarm - Msc Student, Sahand University of Technology

This paper presents the development of a non-prismatic beam element for modeling the elastic behavior of steel beams with reduced beam section connections. The closed form stiffness matrix of a two-dimensional frame element with a radius symmetric web reduction is developed using virtual work considerations. Also results of parametric studies conducted on beam cantilever and six-story two-and three-bay moment frames subjected to seismic base shear are also presented and results compared with the results of finite-element method.

KEY WORDS: frames, stiffness, finite element method, RBS connections.