4.2.5.7. Known Limitations and Future Work
The following list contains known current limitations in the code:
Tight coupling is not yet supported.
Only nontapered two-node Euler-Bernoulli (E-B) or Timoshenko (T) element formulations are available. (In the future, tapered E-B and tapered Timoshenko element formulations will be implemented.)
Only straight circular members are permitted. (In the future, a generic cross section will be allowed.)
The number of elements per member (NDiv) is constant throughout the structure.
Internal matrices are not stored in sparse form, limiting the total number of possible nodes/DOFs to about 300/1800.
The dynamics system reduction is performed in the absence of external loading (e.g., hydrodynamic added mass).
Gravitational loading does not impact the global substructure stiffness.
Loads (gravitational, inertial, hydrodynamic) can only be applied as concentrated loads at element nodes; distributed loads (per unit length) are not yet supported.
The overlap of multiple members connected to a single joint is not modeled with super-elements.
Member-level outputs are only available for up to nine nodes of up to nine members (although the OutAll flag can generate further outputs at the member end nodes).
No graphics/animation capability is yet available to visualize the substructure geometry, modes, motion, and loads.