Structural parts as quadrics: Elasticity ellipses revisited

Abstract

Elasticity ellipses or central ellipses have been long used in graphic statics to capture the elastic behaviour of structural elements. The paper gives a generalisation the concept both in dimensions and in the possibility of degenerate conics/quadrics. The effect of projective transformations of these quadrics is also given, such that the entire mechanical system can be transformed preserving equilibrium and compatibility between its elements.