Format Ii Second Version Of Fortran Matrix Abstraction Technique

A detailed description of the analytical approach, development, and use of a computer program which generates the matrices necessary for analysis of general aircraft structures for internal loads and deflections by the matrix force method is presented. The Force Method Matrix Generator program is designed for use in conjunction with the FORMAT II system as a user-coded subroutine and, as such, will accommodate matrices of the order 2000 X 2000. Up to six degress of freedom may be considered at each joint in the structure which is idealized as an assembly of bar elements capable of resisting axial, bending and torsional forces and rectangular or near-rectangular panel elements resisting shearing forces and which is supported by discrete translational and rotational forces acting at the joints. Applied loading may be any combination of mechanical loads at the joints, thermal loads resulting from bar element elongation due to temperature change, and intial joint displacements. The report includes a detailed description of the computer program operation and coding, and a review of the matrix equations which employ the generated matrices and which are subsequently processed and solved by the FORMAT II system to give internal loads and deflections.