P-M2-M3 hinges

The 3D interaction (yield) surface of P-M2-M3 hinges may be defined explicitly, or

automatically through AISC-LRFD eqn. H1-1a and H1-1b (Φ=1) or FEMA-356 eqn. 5-4 for
steel, or ACI 318-02 (Φ=1) for concrete. Post-yield behavior is interpolated from one or more
user-defined P-θ curves, in which θ represents the relationship between M2 and M3. During
analysis, an energy-equivalent moment-rotation curve is generated relative to the input P-θ
curve(s) and the interaction-surface yield point.

Moment-rotation curve
The moment-rotation curve of a P-M2-M3 hinge is a monotonic backbone relationship used
to describe the post-yield behavior of a beam-column element subjected to combined axial and
biaxial-bending conditions. The 3D interaction surface of a P-M2-M3 hinge indicates the
envelope of yield points. Performance beyond this limit state must be interpolated from one or
more moment-rotation curves. Because P-M2-M3 response extends linearly through 3D
coordinates to the yield surface, then beyond in a manner that will not exactly resemble the
input moment-rotation curve, an energy-equivalent curve is created by holding the area under
the user-defined curve constant. Deformation capacity is reduced or increased to maintain
equivalency, based on yield-point distance from the M2-M3 plane. This energy-equivalent
curve then extends from the interaction surface in a nonlinear manner.

P-M2-M3 parameters
A moment-rotation curve is defined by the relationship between a series of resultant moments
M and projected plastic rotations Rp. As described in the CSI Analysis Reference Manual
(Moment-Rotation Curves, page 137), these coordinates are obtained through an iterative and
qualitative experiment in which the element is modeled in SAP2000 and subjected to a constant
axial load P and moments M2 and M3 which increase according to a fixed ratio (cosθ, sinθ)
which corresponds to their moment angle θ, shown in Figure 1.
  Resultant moment M is then given as M = M2 cosθ + M3 sinθ, and projected plastic
rotation Rp is given as Rp = Rp2 cosθ + Rp3 sinθ.

 These relationships indicate that the moment and rotation values of a P-M2-M3
moment-rotation curve are obtained through basic geometric relationships between
components projected along the M2 and M3 axes, as shown in Figure 1:

Figure 1 - Moment and rotation components

Notes
 Design forces (Pu, M2, M3) must be within the interaction surface for the section to
pass design. This can be checked visually by plotting the M2-M3 interaction diagram
for a constant axial load P (design force), then by making sure that the design point
(M2, M3) falls within this domain.