PROCEDURES FOR COMPUTER ANALYSIS OF LARGE NONLINEAR STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS

The paper surveys computerized solution techniques for treating large algebraic systems arising in the discrete-element analysis of nonlinear structural systems. Following a brief review of a general-purpose program organization, the principal features of the nonlinear analysis process are discussed. Solution techniques are categorized into four major groups, and the most important algorithms pertaining to each group are described. It is stressed that no particular method can be considered to be uniformly superior to all others if a wide range of practical applications is considered. A problem-adaptive combination of various procedures is therefore recommended for implementation in general-purpose codes.