Y.C. Cai1,2, J.K. Paik3, S.N. Atluri4
CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.58, No.1, pp. 75-108, 2010, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2010.058.075
Abstract This paper presents a new shear flexible beam/rod element for large deformation analyses of space-frame structures comprising of thin or thick members, based on the Reissner variational principle and a von Karman type nonlinear theory of deformation in the co-rotational reference frame of the present beam element. The C0continuous trial functions for transverse rotations in two independent directions are used over each element, to derive an explicit expression for the (16x16)symmetrictangent stiffness matrix of the beam element in the co-rotational reference frame. When compared to the primal approach wherein C1continuous trial functions for transverse displacements… More >