Stiffness and Flexibility Methods

Abstract

The basic ideas of the stiffness and flexibility approach to the solution of structural problems were introduced in chapter 6. We shall now proceed to develop these methods in more detail and apply them to specific problems. The solutions to the various problems will be set out in a manner that would be suitable for a computer application so that all the fundamental processes can be demonstrated. As the working will be done by hand it will be necessary to confine our attention to fairly simple structures otherwise the arithmetic will become impossibly tedious. Even so it will be found that the working in most cases will be lengthy and the reader will be able to suggest alternative methods of solution which would give a much more rapid solution. It will appear obvious that once a problem becomes more complex, then a great deal of time and trouble will be saved by making use of a computer together with a stiffness or flexibility approach.