Truss Analysis by Boundary Characteristics

Abstract

A novel method of analyzing three‐dimensional trusses is introduced. The method, designated boundary characteristics, is based on the method of characteristics that has gained widespread acceptance in the analysis of transient flows in fluid pipelines. The boundary characteristics method is shown to be well suited to the analysis of nonlinear structures undergoing large deflections. Examples presented herein illustrate its application to trusses involving lack‐of‐fit, settlement, and elastic foundations. A feature of the method is its low requirement for computer memory, making it particularly well‐suited to small computers. Moreover, its extension to the analysis of transient behavior is relatively straightforward. In these respects, the method is potentially superior to matrix techniques based on stiffness approaches.