Flexible structures such as fishing poles can undergo large, elastic deformations during service. The deformation of these structures can change the stiffness of the structure from the stiffness that was calculated based on the unloaded shape. In these situations the stiffness matrix – the mathematical formulation of the structure’s “springiness” – must be updated during the solution process.

 

PMI’s experience with this class of problems allows us to determine when non-linear geometry must be considered and whether this consideration requires additional modifications to the solution scheme.