ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors consider simple trusses to introduce the reader to the finite element method. They present in a physically meaningful manner a rather general set of procedures and definitions for finite elements. The authors shown how one forms the element stiffness matrix, and in the example they have assembled a global stiffness matrix for a simple truss and explore a more general approach to finite elements. They set up basic ideas and the accompanying notation for finite elements. The authors deal with plane stress in formulating many of these ideas but will indicate as they go along when the results are more generally valid by boxing in the pertinent results of general use.
