Circular space curve frame (3D) with any load and spring supports by transfer matrix method and finite element method

Abstract

In this paper, authors present a new numerical method, combining the Transfer Matrix Method and Finite Element Method (TMM-FEM), to analyze spatially circular curved bar, with general load and elastic support. Analysis space curved bar is complex problem because conventional methods will not simultaneously calculate the entire structure, or difficulty in establish the stiffness matrix, or the size of stiffness matrix is too large due to multiple elements. TMM-FEM method is proposed to promote the advantages of each method. Due to being directly generated from the parametric equations of the bar axis, the analytical results are accurate. Results are programed in Matlab and verified with SAP2000 programe.