SPLINE FINITE POINT METHOD FOR DOUBLE NONLINEAR STABILITY ANALYSIS OF ARCH STRUCTURES

In this paper, a spline finite point method is presented for the solution of the double nonlinear stability of arch structures. Taking the cubic B spline functions as displacement functions, the nonlinear stiffness equations of spline discretization are established based on the principle of minimum potential energy. Both geometrically and materially nonlinear characteristics of the structure are considered in the present study. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the simplicity and effectiveness of the present method. The results are in good agreement with experimental data.