Behavior and failure tracking of structural elements using applied element method

Applied element method (AEM) is a recently displacement-based structural analysis method. It provides the benefits of both the finite element method (FEM) and the discrete element method (DEM). This method relies on those structures are segmented into rigid elements linked by normal and shear springs. In this paper a brief note of the AEM is given. Then, using the AEM, a 2D MATLAB open source program was created to analyze different structures with varied boundary conditions and to permit researchers for enhancing the method. The proposed program was verified using linear elastic analysis and large deformation static analysis. The influence of element size and the number of connecting springs between elements was studied. Finally, the proposed program was capable of tracking failed elements and their spread. In addition, the program could predict deflection values and structure deformed shape.