ABSTRACT
Modern computational techniques, and, in particular, the —nite element method (FEM) have been well developed and used widely in nonlinear analysis of structures since the 1970s. Thanks to this success, we were able to apply the theory of stability and the theory of plasticity to simulate the actual behavior of structural members and frames with great con—dence. It was the —rst time we were able to replace the costly full-scale tests with computer simulation. As a result, the limit state approach to design was advanced and new speci—cations were issued. The state of the art in —nite element (FE) modeling of structural elements with properties of materials and kinematic assumptions is examined in this chapter along with a brief description of the impacts of the applications of this method on structural engineering practice.
