Nonlinear numerical stability analysis of space trusses

A method for direct computation of singular configurations of space trusses is presented which is based on a finite element formulation of their geometrically nonlinear behaviour. The combination of nonlinear deformation analysis with this stability analysis leads to an integrated method for the geometrically nonlinear analysis of space trusses. The design of a lattice dome is presented to illustrate that the theories and the software that have been developed for the nonlinear deformation and stability analysis of space trusses are suitable for practical structural design. © Nottingham University Press