Exploration of the approach employed in the applied element method began in 1995 at the [[University of Tokyo]] as part of Dr. Hatem Tagel-Din's research studies. The term "applied element method" itself, however, was first coined in 2000 in a paper called "Applied element method for structural analysis: Theory and application for linear materials".<ref name=AEMTheory>{{cite journal|last1=Meguro |first1=K. |last2=Tagel-Din |first2=H. |title=Applied element method for structural analysis: Theory and application for linear materials |journal=Structural Engineering/Earthquake Engineering. |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=21–35 |publisher=Japan Society of Civil Engineers(JSCE) |___location=Japan |year=2000 |url=http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200014/000020001400A0511912.php |id=F0028A |access-date=2009-08-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229032846/http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200014/000020001400A0511912.php |archive-date=2012-02-29 }}</ref> Since then AEM has been the subject of research by a number of [[academic institution]]s and the driving factor in real-world applications. Research has verified its accuracy for: elastic analysis;<ref name="AEMTheory"/> crack initiation and propagation; estimation of [[Structural failure|failure loads]] at reinforced concrete structures;<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tagel-Din|first1= H.|last2=Meguro|first2= K| title = Applied Element Method for Simulation of Nonlinear Materials: Theory and Application for RC Structures | journal = Structural Engineering/Earthquake Engineering | volume = 17 | issue = 2 | pages = 137–148 | publisher = Japan Society of Civil Engineers(JSCE) | ___location = Japan | year = 2000 | url = httphttps://www.jsce.or.jp/publication/e/book/book_seee.html#vol17| access-date = 2009-08-10}}</ref> [[reinforced concrete]] structures under cyclic loading;<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tagel-Din|first1= H.|last2=Meguro|first2= Kimiro| title = Applied Element Simulation of RC Structures under Cyclic Loading | journal = Journal of Structural Engineering | volume = 127 | issue = 11 | pages = 137–148 |doi=10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9445(2001)127:11(1295)| publisher = ASCE | ___location = Japan | date = November 2001 | url = httphttps://cedb.asce.org/cgi/WWWdisplay.cgi?0106179 | issn = 0733-9445 | access-date = 2009-08-10}}</ref> [[buckling]] and post-buckling behavior;<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Tagel-Din |first1=H. |last2=Meguro |first2=K |title=AEM Used for Large Displacement Structure Analysis |journal=Journal of Natural Disaster Science |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=25–34 |___location=Japan |year=2002 |url=http://www.drs.dpri.kyoto-u.ac.jp/jsnds/download.cgi?jsdn_24_1-3.pdf |access-date=2009-08-10 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> nonlinear dynamic analysis of structures subjected to severe earthquakes;<ref>{{cite conference |first1=Hatem|last1=Tagel-Din|last2=Kimiro Meguro|first2= K| title = Analysis of a Small Scale RC Building Subjected to Shaking Table Tests using Applied Element Method | publisher = Proceedings of the 12th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering | pages = 25–34 | ___location = New Zealand | date = January 30 – February 4, 2000 }}</ref> fault-rupture propagation;<ref>{{cite conference |first1=Tagel-Din|last1=HATEM|last2=Kimiro MEGURO|first2= K| title = Dynamic Modeling of Dip-Slip Faults for Studying Ground Surface Deformation Using Applied Element Method | publisher = Proceedings of the 13th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering | ___location = Vancouver, Canada | date = August 1–6, 2004 }}</ref> nonlinear behavior of brick structures;<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Paola|last1=Mayorka|last2=Kimiro Meguro|first2= K| title = Modeling Masonry Structures using the Applied Element Method | journal = Seisan Kenkyu | volume = 55 | issue = 6 | publisher = Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo | pages = 123–126 | ___location = Japan | date = October 2003 | url = http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/seisankenkyu/55/6/581/_pdf | issn = 1881-2058 | access-date = 2009-08-10}}</ref> and the analysis of [[Glass-reinforced plastic|glass reinforced polymers]] (GFRP) walls under blast loads.<ref>{{Cite book |first1=Paola|last1=Mayorka|last2=Kimiro Meguro|first2= K| title = Blast Testing and Research Bridge at the Tenza Viaduct | publisher = University of Missouri-Rolla, TSWG Contract Number N4175-05-R-4828, Final Report of Task 1| ___location = Japan | year = 2005 | id = <!-- | accessdate = 2009-08-10 -->}}</ref>
==Technical discussion==
In AEM, the structure is divided virtually and modeled as an assemblage of relatively small elements. The elements are then connected through a set of normal and shear springs located at contact points distributed along with the element faces. Normal and shear springs are responsible for the transfer of [[Normal stress|normal]] and [[Shear stress|shear]] stresses from one element to the next.
