General Introduction and Index (with links)
Structures are being designed and built over so many centuries. Any given structure is expected to sustain the loads safely and permit its functional purpose over its intended life span. In earlier days, prior to about 1960, there were no sophisticated analysis methods or approaches for carrying out analysis. After 1960 a versatile numerical method came into existence. That method happens to be the FINITE ELEMENT METHOD. Success of this method was possible only because of progress in computational technology. This technology has grown at an exponential rate during the last five decades. Another important development has been the commercial availability of general purpose program packages. There has been tremendous growth on this front also. They are very versatile and user-friendly. The programs know no limitation as far as complexity is concerned. INDEX (Links to articles) 1. BASICS 1. Methods of Structural Analysis 2. Load paths in human body 3.