Review on the cell discretization method

: In the last forty years, the Cell Discretization Method (CDM) has become a popular method for the statical and dynamical analysis of structures. According to this method, the structure is reduced to a set of rigid bars linked together by means of elastic constraints (cells). In this way, the structure is reduced to a rigid-elastic system with a finite number of Lagragian coordinates. The latter ones may be chosen in two alternative ways: the rotations of rigid bars or the displacements of the cells. This method found several applications, for instance: the dynamics and stability of arches; masonry arches; statical and dynamical analysis of Euler-Bernoulli beams under several load and boundary conditions; statical and dynamical analysis of Timoshenko and Rayleigh beams; statical analysis of plates; statical and dynamical analysis of carbon nanotubes, by taking into account nonlocal effects. Due to the renovated interest in this method, especially with regard to the application to the field of carbon nanotubes, it seems appropriate proposing a critical review on the method and its current and future applications.