In SAP2000, you can evaluate the effect of warping only by modeling the member that is subjected to warping by shell or solid elements. Members with certain of cross sections (for example I-girders) could be also modeled by a combination of shell elements for the webs and frame elements for the flanges to evaluate warping. You can define section cut to obtain normal stresses due to combined flexure and warping.

SAP2000 does not evaluate warping directly for frame elements and it does not explicitly calculate or use the warping moment of inertia, Iw.

FAQ

How can I obtain warping stresses from SAP2000?

Use shell elements to create a detailed model of the beam.

Can I evaluate warping stresses using only frame element, or do I need to create more detailed model using shell elements?

Modeling by shell elements is required.