ABSTRACT
Theories for stress analysis of solids and structures have evolved over many centuries – leading to the development of finite element method in the current time of abundant digital computing power. Basic principles of member stiffness calculations and solution of system equilibrium equations form the basis of finite element method. An overview of the stiffness method of structural analysis is presented in this chapter followed by discussions on internal stress field of 3D solid bodies subjected to external loading and boundary constraints. Two practice problems are presented at the end of this chapter to highlight the result differences that may appear between elementary solid mechanics techniques and the more advanced finite element analysis method.
