Generalized beam theory and modular structures

modular structure is one which is formed from a repeated module, most commonly a regular truss. These are often reduced to equivalent uniform continua so that standard beam theory can be applied. This paper examines the basis of standard beam theory, demonstrating it to be a particular case of a more general theory. It is shown that more accurate results can be obtained by a proper application of the theory to both discrete modular systems and to normal continuous beams.