A matrix method of structural analysis fundamental to the finites Element method (FEM). It models a structure as an assembly of elements connected at nodes. The method relates nodal forces [latex]{R}[/latex] to nodal displacements [latex]{D}[/latex] through a global stiffness matrix [latex][K][/latex], expressed as [latex][K]{D} = {R}[/latex]. Solving this system of linear equations yields the unknown nodal displacements.
