The virtual distortion method—a versatile reanalysis tool for structures and systems

For 20 years of development, the virtual distortion method (VDM) has proved to be a versatile reanalysis tool in various applications, including structures and truss-like systems. This article presents a summary of principal achievements, demonstrating the capabilities of the VDM both in statics and dynamics, in linear and nonlinear analysis. The major advantage of VDM is its exactness and no need for matrix inversion in the reanalysis algorithm. The influence matrix—numerical core of the VDM—contains the whole mechanical knowledge about a structure, by looking at all global responses due to local disturbances. The strength of the method is demonstrated for truss structures.