Talk:Nonlinear finite elements/Axially loaded bar

The last paragraph states that "this is tedious since we have to repeat the process for every point in the bar".

I don't think this is true like that, i.e. we can just pick one point 'x' that stands for all points. Then $$   \mathbf{f}_{x} = \mathbf{R} + \int_x^L \mathbf{q}(\mathbf{x'})~dx' = \mathbf{R} + \int_x^L a \mathbf{x'}~dx' = \mathbf{R} + \left[ \frac{a}{2} \mathbf{x'}^2 \right] = \mathbf{R} + \frac{aL^2}{2} - \frac{a \mathbf{x}^2}{2} = \mathbf{R} + \frac{a (L^2 - \mathbf{x}^2)}{2} $$

And then go from there?

If the steps after this one become "tedious" then maybe that should be stated like that.