Large deflection inelastic analysis of space trusses using generalized displacement control method

This paper presents the large deflection inelastic analysis of space truss structures including both geometric and material nonlinearities. The geometric nonlinearity is considered, based on an updated Lagrangian formulation, while the material nonlinearity is accounted for by tracing a complete stress-strain relationship in the elastoplastic range. The nonlinear equilibrium equations are solved using an incremental-iterative scheme based on the generalized displacement control method. This algorithm can accurately trace the equilibrium path of nonlinear problems with multiple limit points and snap-back points. A computer program is developed to predict the inelastic post-buckling behavior of space trusses. Numerical results obtained from the developed program are compared with those reported in the literature to demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed procedure. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.