Large displacement, transient analysis of space frames

Abstract A formulation is presented for the transient analysis of space frames in large displacement, small strain problems. For purposes of treating arbitrarily large rotations, node orientations are described by unit vectors and deformable elements are treated by a co‐rotational (rigid‐convected) description. Deformable elements may be connected either to nodes directly or through rigid bodies. The equations of motion are integrated by an explicit procedure. Sample results are presented on the snap‐through of an arch‐type structure and an idealization of a vehicle‐barrier impact.