Geometrically Nonlinear Behavior of L-Shaped Frames Under Forces Applied at Different Positions

L-shaped frames are widely encountered in engineering applications, and the most notable examples are perhaps cranes at container ports and construction sites. In these applications, L-shaped frames are designed to support vertical and horizontal movements of heavy loads. For their safe and efficient designs, thorough insights into the nonlinear behavior of such frames are crucial. Although several studies on geometrically nonlinear responses of L-shaped frames exist, a single force applied at a specific position is commonly considered. For a comprehensive reflection of practical operations of L-shaped frames, this paper presents a numerical investigation of the geometrically nonlinear behavior of L-shaped frames under a concentrated force applied at different positions. The frames are analyzed by using an isogeometric Timoshenko-Ehrenfest beam formulation. The load-displacement curves of the frames with different force positions are exhibited. The influence of the ratio between the lengths of the two members is also discussed.