ABSTRACT
We started our studies of finite elements by using a matrix approach for trusses where the members themselves played the role of the finite elements and the movement of the joints played the role of the nodal displacements. With this as a background, we then developed in a general manner the displacement method for the study of finite elements. This study served as the basis for the use of finite elements as applied to the kind of structures considered in Part II of the text. Now we want to make further generalizations which will enable us to better understand the finite element procedure as presented thus far, and which will enable us to consider problems in other fields of study by using the finite element approach. In particular, we shall use aspects of the variational calculus related to quadratic functional first presented in Part C of Chapter 3.
