Computer Methods I

The use of the computer is essential for modern structural analysis; therefore, it is important that the engineer have some understanding of how the computer is actually used to accomplish this analysis. This chapter introduces some of the basic computer methods and algorithms used in structural analysis; these include schemes for solving simultaneous equations, solving eigenvalue problems, and for efficient data storage. In addition, it attempts to describe the computer environment in which the analysis takes place. References [4, 32, 45] consider many of the general aspects of using computers for structural analysis.