Static analysis of structures by the quadrature element method(QEM)

Abstract The differential quadrature method (DQM) is an alternative discrete approach to solving directly the governing equations of engineering and mathematical physics. Since the DQM does not require the derivation of the weak forms of the governing equations like the FEM, it can greatly reduce formulation efforts in higher order approximation. The DQM has been applied in the past to the analyses of various single structural components such as bars, beams, membranes and plates. All of the component analyses yielded good to excellent results. However, previous studies were limited to simple geometries and simple boundary conditions due to the limitation of using global basis functions. In the present study, a domain decomposition technique for the DQM is proposed to analyse truss and frame structures where the whole structural domain is represented by a collection of simple element subdomains connected together at specific nodal points. This method is named the quadrature element method (QEM).