ABSTRACT
The nodal freedoms of the element are illustrated in Figure 12.1, with displacements consisting of an axial displacement (in the direction of the x-axis), a transverse displacement (in the direction of the y-axis) and a rotation (about the z-axis) at the two ends of the element (i.e. six freedoms per element). These are shown in Figures 12.1a and b expressed in both the local coordinates (x,y,z) and the global coordinates (X,Y,Z). The corresponding nodal actions, which include the axial force, shear force and moment at the two nodes, are illustrated in Figures 12.1c and d considering both local and global coordinates.
