How can I plot a truss using cartesian coordinates with lines connecting specific points

Hi, I'm trying to create a plot that uses the below variables. The nodes matrix represents the location and the elements matrix specifies which nodes are connected.

% x and y nodal coordinates

nodes = [ 0.0 , 0.0; 1.5 , 3.3; 3.0 , 2.0; 4.5 , 3.9; 6.0 , 2.0; 7.5 , 3.3; 9.0 , 0.0];

% element connectivity

elems = [ 1.0 , 2.0; 1.0 , 3.0; 2.0 , 3.0; 2.0 , 4.0; 3.0 , 4.0; 3.0 , 5.0; 4.0 , 5.0; 4.0 , 6.0; 5.0 , 6.0; 5.0 , 7.0; 6.0 , 7.0 ];

The code below shows the outcome I want but is tedious and prone to errors as it requires me to plan the path and also backtrack as it is a continuous line.

x = [nodes(2,1) ; nodes(3,1) ; nodes(1,1) ; nodes(2,1) ; nodes(4,1) ; nodes(3,1) ; nodes(5,1) ; nodes(4,1) ; nodes(6,1) ; nodes(5,1) ; nodes(7,1) ; nodes(6,1) ;];

y = [nodes(2,2) ; nodes(3,2) ; nodes(1,2) ; nodes(2,2) ; nodes(4,2) ; nodes(3,2) ; nodes(5,2) ; nodes(4,2) ; nodes(6,2) ; nodes(5,2) ; nodes(7,2) ; nodes(6,2) ;] ;

plot(x,y)

Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

[chicken vector]

nodes = [ 0.0 , 0.0; 1.5 , 3.3; 3.0 , 2.0; 4.5 , 3.9; 6.0 , 2.0; 7.5 , 3.3; 9.0 , 0.0]; 
elems = [ 1.0 , 2.0; 1.0 , 3.0; 2.0 , 3.0; 2.0 , 4.0; 3.0 , 4.0; 3.0 , 5.0; 4.0 , 5.0; 4.0 , 6.0; 5.0 , 6.0; 5.0 , 7.0; 6.0 , 7.0 ]; 

figure;
hold on;
for el = 1 : length(elems)
    plot(nodes(elems(el,:),1),nodes(elems(el,:),2),'b')
end
hold off;

You also might want to have a look at graph function.

[Scott Pasfield]

That works, thank you!