An integrated force method for discrete analysis

Abstract

Abstract An integrated force method is developed for the analysis of discrete structures in which all the element forces are taken as the independent variables instead of the conventional way of treating the redundants as the prime unknowns. Computationally the integrated force method is superior to the standard force method. The analogy between Beltrami–Michell formulation for continuous problems and the present formulation for discrete structures is presented. Illustrative examples for the determination of forces and displacements are presented for pin‐connected and rigid‐connected frame structures for various load conditions.