Course Seismic Nonlinear Time-History Analysis

This course presents a complete workflow for performing seismic nonlinear time-history analysis of a reinforced concrete bridge pier using SOFiSTiK. Participants learn how to model material nonlinearity through plastic hinges, define hysteretic behaviour with the Modified Takeda model, and apply strain- and rotation-based performance criteria.

The tutorial guides users through the full analysis chain, from linear static and modal analyses to nonlinear dynamic simulation under real earthquake excitation (El Centro record). Key steps include damping definition, effective stiffness reduction, and time integration with adaptive convergence control.

Post-processing focuses on interpreting hinge behaviour, displacements, and performance level exceedance to assess structural safety and seismic performance. The course emphasizes performance-based evaluation and the realistic interaction of static, modal, and dynamic analyses for reinforced concrete bridge structures.