Cellular automata for analysis of plane problems in theory of elasticity

Cellular automata was applied to solve plane problems in theory of elasticity. Static equilibrium of structure is regarded as a self-organizing process of cells under the condition of force and displacement boundary. The feasibility of the new method is discussed. The characteristic of cell and the way of dividing cells are studied, while a program is presented. The calculation of the new method is simpler because it need not form the global stiffness matrix that is necessary in FEM and solve the boundary problems of partial differential equations. Numerical computing results show that the new method has not only a rapid speed of convergence to nodal displacement, stress and strain of elements, but also good prospects on solving problems in solid mechanics.