$\newcommand{\Dev}{\operatorname{Dev}}$ $\newcommand{\dev}{\operatorname{dev}}$ $\newcommand{\grad}{\operatorname{grad}}$ $\newcommand{\Grad}{\operatorname{Grad}}$ $\newcommand{\divg}{\operatorname{div}}$ $\newcommand{\Ei}{\operatorname{Ei}}$ $\newcommand{\tr}{\operatorname{tr}}$ $\newcommand{\Divg}{\operatorname{Div}}$ $\newcommand{\cay}{\operatorname{cay}}$ $\newcommand{\rot}{\operatorname{rot}}$

This chapter discusses the basic principles of the nonlinear finite element method. The chapter begins with a short introduction to the weak formulation and the principle of virtual work. Next, the important concept of linearization is discussed and applied to the principle of virtual work. Finally the Newton-Raphson procedure and its application to the nonlinear finite element method are described.