ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that it is not necessary to invoke the analogy between element discretization and a physical element of the same shape, and that the finite element method may be looked upon as simply a piecewise application of Gauss' divergence theorem to the region. The choice to begin the discussions with line element structures is thus made, not only because in the first instance of linear analysis the transformations are deceptively simple, leading to an easy understanding of the underlying principles, but, the theory presented embodies all the basic principles of matrix structural analysis. In this category of structures are found trusses, beams, grids, frames and cable nets. A digression is made from the main theme to examine statically determinate as well as statically indeterminate structures because of the usefulness of this class of structure in the study of elementary structural mechanics.
