Finite element modelling (FEM)

The use of Finite Element Modelling (FEM) represents an advanced and essential tool for analysing the static and dynamic behaviour of new and existing structures. This numerical simulation method allows structures to be discretized into elements with specific geometric and mechanical properties, enabling detailed analysis even for complex geometries.

Analyses conducted using FEM models can be developed in both linear and non-linear domains, depending on the required level of detail and the expected structural response. For structures operating entirely within the elastic limit of their materials, linear analyses are generally adopted, assuming direct proportionality between stresses and strains; examples include linear static analysis, useful for evaluating structural response to gravity and imposed loads, and modal analysis, which is essential for determining the frequencies and vibration modes of structures—fundamental for seismic analysis.

For more specific assessments, particularly for existing buildings or in the presence of extreme events such as earthquakes, non-linear analysis techniques are employed, as they are capable of accounting for plasticity phenomena. Among these, non-linear static analysis (pushover) is widely used to estimate the ultimate capacity of structures, also allowing for the identification of critical zones susceptible to collapse; alternatively, non-linear dynamic analysis (time-history) simulates the structural response to a series of accelerograms, providing precise, detailed information on displacements, damage, and energy dissipation capacity.