FEM analysis of the spatial reticulated structure constructed by rectangular pipes

During the deformation of spatial reticulated structure, the rectangular-pipe member may generate the warping deformation in addition to axial tension or compression, shear, bending and torsion. At the same time the warping shearing strain will affect the warping deformation again. As a result it is necessary to consider warping deformation of section in the spacial reticulated structure constructed by rectangular pipes. A new FEM model for rectangular-pipe members is derived and the interrelated structural calculating program is worked out in this paper. The new FEM model has been testified by the numerical example. The comparison of the space beam model with the thin-walled beam model also shows the effect of warping on spatial reticulated structure constructed by rectangular pipes. The FEM model presented in this paper can be used for the design of the spatial structure constructed by rectangular pipes.