Force-Based Methods in Strength of Materials

A new second-generation force-based method is used to solve statically indeterminate axial extension and torsion problems. To apply the method, it is shown how distributed forces and torques must be replaced by discrete forces and torques. Once all the unknown forces or torques are found, it is shown how singularity functions can be used to describe and plot the internal forces or torques. The alternative use of a pseudo stiffness matrix to determine the displacements and then subsequently the forces is also described. The relationship of the force-based method applied in this chapter to a force-based finite element method is also discussed.