A concept that helps to eliminate modeling errors by providing a straightforward method for defining structure geometry by placing members in a model in much the same way that they would be framed in the field. During analysis pre-processing, physical members are split into finite elements (segments) while still maintaining the collective status of the physical member during model revisions. The software assigns member releases at each end of the true physical member, while preventing release assignments from being made to interior nodes of the finite elements.