ABSTRACT
At the end of this chapter you should be able to:
• understand what a load vector is for a truss and beam • understand what a displacement vector is for a truss and beam • understand what a stiffness matrix is for a truss and beam • appreciate what the stiffness matrix of a plane truss element looks like • appreciate what the stiffness matrix of a continuous beam element looks like • understand how to analyse statically determinate and statically indeterminate plane pin-jointed trusses • understand how to analyse statically determinate and statically indeterminate continuous beams under lateral loading
Now, the finite element method is a vast topic, covering problems in structural mechanics, fluid flow, heat transfer, acoustics, etc., and is described in Chapter 19 following. Because the finite element method is based on the matrix displacement method, a brief description of the latter will be given in the present chapter.
