Post-buckling analysis of spatial structures by vector iteration methods

The present study is concerned with the application of two vector iteration methods in the investigation of the large deflection behavior of spatial structures. The dynamic relaxation and the first order conjugate gradient belong to this category of methods which do not require the computation or formulation of any tangent stiffness matrix. The convergence to the solution is achieved by using only vectorial quantities and no stiffness matrix is required in its overall assembled form. In an effort to evaluate the merits of the methods, extensive numerical studies were carried out on a number of selected structural systems. The advantages of using these vector iteration methods, in tracing the post-buckling behavior of spatial structures, are demonstrated.