The Finite Element Method in Plane Stress Analysis

Abstract

Following a brief summary of the 1952 state of the art of structural analysis, the paper describes the circumstances that led to the formulation of the finite element method by members of the Structural Dynamics Unit at the Boeing Airplane Company. It is noted that the central feature of the procedure that was developed is the evaluation of the stiffness properties of structural elements based on assumed sets of displacement interpolation functions. As originally applied, the method used direct stiffness assembly to establish the structure stiffness; then the analysis was performed by the displacement method. © 1990.