The research in this paper involves the analysis of non-prismatic members where the material is permitted to be stressed well beyond its elastic limit, thus causing the modulus of elasticity to vary along the length. The deflection characteristics of such members are determined by using the first author's method of the equivalent systems (see for example Fertis [D. G. Fertis, Dynamics and Vibration of Structures. John Wiley, New York (1973); D. G. Fertis, Dynamics and Vibration of Structures (revised edition). Robert E. Krieger, Malabar, FL (1984)], Fertis and Keene [D. G. Fertis and M. E. Keene, J. struct. Engng, Proc. ASCE 16 (1990)] and Fertis and Pallaki [D. G. Fertis and S. Pallaki, J. Engng Mech., Proc. ASCE 115 (1989)]), which permits replacement of the original member of variable stiffness E x I x with one of uniform stiffness E 1 I 1, whose elastic line is identical to the one of the original variable stiffness member. It is proven mathematically that the inelastic analysis of members with variable moment of inertia I x and variable modulus of elasticity E x can be carried out by using equivalent linear systems of constant stiffness E 1 I 1 and applying known methods of linear elementary mechanics. The member can be analyzed for both elastic and inelastic ranges, all the way to failure, thus permitting observation of progressive deterioration of the member's ability to resist stress and deformation, and establish useful practical critical limits regarding these properties.