The stiffness method of analysis is the basis of all commercial structural analysis programs. The focus of this tutorial is development of these equations that only take into account bending deformations, i.e., ignore axial member deformations. Within the assumptions, the stiffness method for beam and frame structures is "exact".
In the stiffness method of analysis, we write equilibrium equations in terms of unknown joint (node) displacements. The number of unknowns in the stiffness method of analysis is known as the degree of kinematic indeterminacy, which refers to the number of node/joint displacements that are unknown and are needed to describe the displaced shape of the structure.
One major advantage of the stiffness method of analysis is that the kinematic degrees of freedom are well-defined.
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In the stiffness method of analysis, we write equilibrium equations in terms of unknown joint (node) displacements. The number of unknowns in the stiffness method of analysis is known as the degree of kinematic indeterminacy, which refers to the number of node/joint displacements that are unknown and are needed to describe the displaced shape of the structure.
One major advantage of the stiffness method of analysis is that the kinematic degrees of freedom are well-defined.
Download the complete Tutorial