Abstract: A method for generating straight beam element shape functions by means of its propert ies is presented. The procedures for generating straight beam element shape function are following. Firstly, the shape functions with unknown constants at j th node in beam element are constructed by means of the properties of the shape function in remaining nodes in the same element; Secondly, the shape functions at the j th node are obtained by using the properties of this shape function at j th node; Lastly, the above steps are repeated, and then the functions at other node are found. The approach is illustrated by generating shape functions of three- node straight beam element with six degrees of freedom.The shape funct ions of two- node straight beam element with six degrees of freedom and two- node straight beam element with eight degrees of freedom are given. Compared with the classical method, the proposed method decreases the amount of work for solving shape functions obviously.

Key words: shape functions, straight beam element, Hermitian polynomials