An educational computational program for nonlinear geometric analysis of truss structures using the Finite Element Method based on Positions

Resumo

This study describes an educational computational program for the analysis of truss structures using the Finite Element Method based on Positions (FEMP). FEMP adopts the nodal positions of discretized elements as degrees of freedom, in contrast to the displacements used in conventional Finite Element Method (FEM). This approach enables FEMP to straightforwardly and naturally incorporate geometric nonlinearity into its positional formulation, simplifying the nonlinear geometric analysis of structures. The developed educational program provides a range of functionalities, allowing users to conduct both static and dynamic analyses of truss structures.