Releases and Constraints in Structural Networks

The network formulation of structural analysis, applicable to all linear, elastic bar systems for homogeneous structures, has been extended to include the effects of local static releases and/or local kinematic constraints both on members and on joints. Procedures have been described for the stiffness as well as for the flexibility method. The functional properties of all procedures within the total formulation have been classified; and use has been made of the dualities between corresponding procedures in the flexibility and in the stiffness method. The extended formulation of structural analysis maintains the simplicity and generality of the network formulation. This not only leads to a concise and clearly structured formulation of the theory, but also allows for efficient and general digital computer programming of these procedures.