Form-finding : Normal Element Properties

This form-finding analysis is the same as normal nonlinear analysis, but at the end of the analysis, there will be no analysis results being produced, instead, the model will be modified and a new load case will be generated to represent the state of the structure at the end of form-finding analysis. Since the deformed geometry and the newly generated load case are representing the state of the structure at the end of form-finding, so the actual analysis results can be obtained by analysing the deformed structure with the original loads used in form-finding analysis plus the new load, this analysis option can be used for continuation analysis and staged analysis. To achieve this, a form-finding analysis need to be carried out, then modifying the structure if necessary and then do the final stage analysis. If multiple stage analysis is required, further form-finding analysis is required after the previous form-finding analysis.