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How do hinges and links compare, and when is one recommended over the other?

Answer: Both hinges and links and hinges can may be used to model localized nonlinear behavior. You could use link or hinge based on your specific modeling goals. Below is a Depending on modeling goals, either one may be most appropriate. A summary of the main advantages for each elementprimary advantages and comparisons are as follows:

Hinge:

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Hinges

• Hinges are suitable for pushover analysis - you can graphically display state of the hinge since hinge state may be displayed graphically for each pushover increment.

• You can either enter the hinge properties (such as moment curvature curve) yourself or have the program calculate the hinge properties based on the member cross-section using on Hinge properties may be entered manually, or automatically, according to FEMA or Caltrans guidelines.

• Multiple hinges can may be define assigned along the element length of the element to simulate progression the distribution of yielding plasticity along the member.Only selected hysteretic models

Links

• More modeling features are available for single degree of freedom hinges.As of V14.1.0
• Hinges can drop load, but the curve describing link behavior should be monotonically increasing.

Link:

• Can be used to model hysteretic behavior and energy dissipation in Time history analysis using multiple hysteresis models. Some hysteretic properties (such as Wen plasticity or hysteretic isolator) are only available for links.
• Unlinke for hinges, single link enables to specify hysteretic characteristics for multiple degrees of freedom.
• Link is a standalone element, which can be created independent of any frame elements in the model.
• Several types of links properties (to model the behavior of links, including energy-dissipation capability, a variety of hysteresis models, and such advanced seismic properties as isolation and Wen plasticity.

• Hysteretic behavior may be specified for multiple DOF within a single link, which is not the case for hinges.

• Links are independent objects which do not require association with a frame element.

• Various link properties are available for modeling steel, concrete, and several types of bearings) are available in the program.

Notes

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• bearing behavior.

See Also

• Additional comparisons between hinges and hysteretic links may be found in the Hinge FAQ article.

• Panel zone article