The implementation of a vector-valued rational approximate method in structural reanalysis problems Original Research Article

An efficient implementation of a vector-valued rational approximation in structural reanalysis problems is presented. The implementation is based on combining the power series expansion with a rational approximation. The main objectives are (1) to preserve the ease of implementation of the local approximation and (2) to improve significantly the quality of the results, such that the method can be used in problems with very large changes in the design variables, including geometrical changes and elimination of members. The method is suitable for different types of structures, such as trusses, frames, grillages, etc. The computational cost is significantly reduced. Numerical examples have shown that excellent results can be achieved for very large changes in cross-sections and in structural geometry.