Applied Element Method Used for Large Displacement Structural Analysis

Abstract

A new extension of the Applied Element Method (AEM) for structural analysis is introduced. A brief overview of the method’s formulation is presented. Then, modifications needed to analyze the behavior of structures subjected to large displacements under static loading are introduced. As no geometric stiffness matrix is needed, the formulation is simple, general and applicable to any type of structural configuration or material. A series of examples that verify the applicability of the proposed technique are presented. The AEM is shown to be an efficient tool for structural analysis in both the small and large displacement ranges.