ABSTRACT
It was explained in Chapter II that non-frame-type structures, which could not be analysed by the methods of Chapters 7 and 8 could sometimes be analysed by solving the governing differential equations, and the finite difference technique of solving such equations was given. However, the structural engineer is often faced with structures which are so complex that it is difficult or impossible to determine the governing differential equations. A powerful method for analysing such complex structures is the finite element method to be explained in this chapter.
