This paper examines the use of animation techniques applied to stress and strain in the teaching of structural theory to undergraduate students. The aim is to give students a better appreciation of the link between deflection and structural behaviour, and at the same time develop a fuller understanding of the way in which stresses are distributed throughout the structure. Two approaches have been investigated. Firstly, finite element analysis has been used to produce high quality, three dimensional animations for use in a didactic teaching environment. Secondly, an interactive computer program has been developed, which allows students to change loads and supports and then observe the effects that these alterations have on the resultant, simplified animation. Space does not permit a complete presentation of the code, but an indication of the algorithmic structure is given.

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