stiffness matrix

stiffness matrix

[′stif·nəs ‚mā·triks] (mechanics) A matrixKused to express the potential energy V of a mechanical system during small displacements from an equilibrium position, by means of the equation V = ½q T Kq, whereqis the vector whose components are the generalized components of the system with respect to time andq T is the transpose ofq. Also known as stability matrix.