GRAPHIC CONTROL OF ELASTIC ANALYSIS FOR SPATIAL PORTICOES

This study proposes a graphic version of the slope-deflection method and suggests a visual version of the Gauss method to solve the equation systems. The unknowns are obtained by tracing lines on surfaces considering information previously obtained on structural sketches. When drafting instruments are used the analysis is exact, and when they are not used the results are highly still accurate, since the perimeter of the surfaces reduces the possibility of error. A graphic version of the P-Delta method applicable to certain models is also included. The study suggests that geometrising the scalar and vectorial magnitudes: i) reduces the application time when the operations are carried out freehand; ii) enables all the operations to be seen simultaneously, which helps to simplify operations. Lines of research are also observed to open up into the development of new graphic methods that enable other types of structure to be analysed directly and accurately.