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A new load transfer index () with considering six degrees of freedom and its application in structural design and analysis

ABSTRACT Load paths analysis is important in design process of load bearing structures. U* index was introduced as the indicator of load paths based on finite element analysis. However, the U* index was only formulated based on three translational degrees of freedom (DOFs) without considering the rotational DOFs. Hence, the U* index cannot be used together with plate and shell theories, which are very important in engineering computations of thin-walled structures. A coupling issue in finite element analysis is that shell elements which are governed by plate and shell theories are invalid for U* calculations. This paper proposed a new load transfer index () with considering both translational and rotational DOFs (i.e. six DOFs). To demonstrate the effectiveness of the new index in structural design and analysis, a case study was performed to a complex thin-walled structure. The stiffness to mass ratio of the sample structure is raised by 18.3% based on the load transfer analysis using the new index.