Inelastic analysis of plane stress problems

This paper presents a simple method of inelastic analysis of plane stress problems which can be expanded to handle plane strain and three-dimensional problems. In this method, the plane stress continuum is discretized into a set of one-dimensional truss elements. The geometric and the elastic properties of these elements are evaluated using a set of empirical formulas. The relation between the force-deformation equation of the discrete truss elements and the constitutive equations of the plane stress problem is evaluated and presented. This approach reduces a two-dimensional plane stress problem into a much simpler one-dimensional problem where the nonlinear force-deformation relation of the one-dimensional truss element can be treated, very simply, by applying the static or dynamic loads to the discretized structure in such a way that the force in each of the truss members follows the one-dimensional force-deformation relation. (orig.)