Finite-element analysis is a design tool to estimate the structural response. Similar to other design methods, assumptions and approximations are embedded within the method.

When using finite element models to predict the structural response of a building to a given defined temperature distribution, a sensitivity assessment should be conducted. This should include a sensitivity assessment on the mesh density and connection behaviour.

To assess the sensitivity of the mesh density the same structural analysis should be carried out a number of times with the number of elements increasing by a factor of two. The analysis should be repeated, increasing the number of elements by a factor of 2, until the answers between successive analyses do not vary by more than 5%.

Assumptions, relating to connections, should be checked by carrying out a sensitivity analysis. The stiffness relating to axial and rotational movement should be varied and the impact on the overall response assessed.

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