On a virtual element formulation for trusses and beams

The virtual element method (VEM) was developed not too long ago, starting with the paper [2] related to elasticity in solid mechanics. The virtual element method allows to revisit the construction of different elements; however, it has so far not applied to one-dimensional structures like trusses and beams. Here we study several VEM elements suitable for trusses and beams and show that the virtual element methodology produces elements that are equivalent to well-known finite elements but also elements that are different, especially for higher-order ansatz functions. It will be shown that these elements can be easily incorporated in classical finite element codes since they have the same number of unknowns as finite beam elements. Furthermore, the formulation allows to compute nonlinear structural problems undergoing large deflections and rotations.