AbstractThe constitutive equation is assumed in a very general form which includes as special cases non‐linear creep, incremental elasto‐plasticity as well as viscoelasticity represented by a chain ofnstandard solid models. Subdividing the structure intoNfinite elements, the problem of structural analysis is formulated with a system of 6N(n+ 1) ordinary non‐linear first‐order differential equations in terms of the components of stresses and strains in the elements. This formulation enables one to apply Runge–Kutta methods or the predictor–correc