MATLAB-Based Calculation for Element Stiffness Matrix of Spatial Beam

In order to solve the difficulties while computing the element stiffness matrix of spatial beam and to improve its computing efficiency, works were carried out by the capabilities symbolic and matrix operation of MATLAB. The element stiffness matrixes of spatial beam with shear effect considered or not were deduced and computed respectively, a part of source code for calculating these matrices were provided as well. Results show that MATLAB is very advantageous in the calculation of element stiffness matrix of space beam. It provides a new idea to compute the element stiffness matrix of spatial beam and other elements. Thus, it has a good theoretical and practical value in engineering.