Lecture 9

Plastic Analysis of Beams and Frames

Lecture 9/SAD 2
 Stress-Strain Relationship (Force vs
Deformation)for Ductile Materials
 Oab is the most important phase of the entire fracture to structural design.
 Bc id the strain hardening phase.
 The strains is 0.1% and 1-2% at a and b respectively (fracture could be at 30%)
for steel
 E is Young’s Modulus
 𝜎𝜎p is Plastic Stress (Yield Stress)

Lecture 9/SAD 2
 Material Property Modeling

Lecture 9/SAD 2
Bending Stress and Strain Distribution when
material section deforms beyond Yield Point
For rectangular
section bxh,

Plastic Moment
Mp is given by:

In general,

𝑀𝑀𝑝𝑝 = 𝜎𝜎𝑝𝑝 𝑍𝑍𝑝𝑝

𝑍𝑍𝑝𝑝 is Plastic Modulus

Lecture 9/SAD 2
of the Section
 Simple Plastic Analysis Methods

 Event-to-Event Method (Also known as Step-by-Step

Method)
 Equilibrium Method (Also known as Statical Method)
 Kinematic Method (Also known as Virtual Work Method)

Lecture 9/SAD 2
 Event-to Event Method
 Analysis to take into account structural changes when they take place as
the loads are progressively increased.

From Static Analysis of Beams

under different configuration

Scaling of Force Diagrams to

formation of new Plastic
Hinge

Superimposed Force
Diagrams

Lecture 9/SAD 2
 Equilibrium Method
From Static Analysis, the elastic
solutions for the Beam gives:
𝑏𝑏 𝑎𝑎 𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃
𝑀𝑀𝐵𝐵 − ( )𝑀𝑀𝐴𝐴 − ( )𝑀𝑀𝐶𝐶 =
𝐿𝐿 𝐿𝐿 𝐿𝐿

The collapse mechanism will form

when MA, MB, MC all reaches MP.
Now MA= - MP, MB = MP, MC = - MP

a = 2m, b= 5m, the above equation

gives:

2𝑀𝑀𝑃𝑃 𝐿𝐿 2 1263 7
𝑃𝑃 = 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎
= 2×5
=1769 kN

Lecture 9/SAD 2
 Without Collapse Mechanism Check in
Equilibrium Method
 Consider the elastic solution for the Beam:
𝑃𝑃𝑏𝑏 2 𝑎𝑎 𝑃𝑃×52 ×2
 MA= 2 = =1.020P
𝐿𝐿 72
𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 1 𝑎𝑎 2×5 1 2
 MB=Pab[ 3 + − 2]=Px2x5 [ 3 + − ]=1.312P
𝐿𝐿 𝐿𝐿 𝐿𝐿 7 7 72
2
𝑃𝑃𝑎𝑎 𝑏𝑏 𝑃𝑃×2 ×5 2
 MC= 2 = 2 =0.408P
𝐿𝐿 7
 The Section at the Load P (point B) will yield first i.e. MB=MP before
support A and C
MP 1263
 i.e. 1.312P =MP P= = =962.65 kN < 1769 kN
1.312 1.312
 which Underestimate the Loading Capacity of the Beam.
 Therefore, No collapse mechanism will be leading to safe load, i.e.
not an exact load but a lower limit.

 Equilibrium Method gives LOWER BOUND SOLUTION

Lecture 9/SAD 2
 Kinematic Method
A collapse mechanism is proposed as a POTENTIAL
solution after putting External Work produced applied
loads is equated to Internal Work (Virtual Work) done by
Plastic Hinges

2𝑀𝑀𝑃𝑃 𝐿𝐿 2 1263 7
𝑃𝑃 = 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎
= 2×5
=1769 kN
Lecture 9/SAD 2
 Incorrect Guess of Collapse Mechanism in
Kinematic Method
 Suppose an incorrect guess of 3-hinge mechanism is done, say three plastic
hinges formed in mid span and two end supports of the beam as shown
below:


4𝑀𝑀𝑃𝑃 4 1263
 i.e. 𝑃𝑃 = = =2526 kN > 1769 kN
𝑎𝑎 2

 which Overestimate the Loading Capacity

of the Beam.

Lecture 9/SAD 2
 Incorrect Guess of Collapse Mechanism in
Kinematic Method
The Beam is further checked against any
Section yielded or plastic moment developed.

Consider the Free Body Diagrams of segments

at the left and right of mid span:

The moment at the location of Load P =

M(a) > Mp which contradicts any M < Mp

Therefore, Any (including incorrect ones) mechanism without checking yield in

other locations/sections will be leading to unsafe load, i.e. not an exact load
but an upper limit.

Kinematic Method gives UPPER BOUND SOLUTION

Lecture 9/SAD 2
Lower, Upper Bound and Uniqueness Theorem
 Lower Bound Theorem (Safe Solution)
A collapse Load computed on the basis of an assumed moment diagram
in which moments are nowhere greater than plastic moment MP is less
than or equal to the true collapse load.
(No collapse mechanism is considered)

 Upper Bound Theorem (Unsafe Solution)

A collapse Load computed on the basis of an assumed mechanism will
always be greater than or equal to the true collapse load.
(No plastic moment checked)

 Uniqueness Theorem (Exact Solution)

The true collapse load is the one that has the same upper and lower
bound solution.
Lecture 9/SAD 2
 Conditions for Valid Plastic Analysis
For valid structural analysis and design purposes, three
conditions must be satisfied in plastic analysis and design:

 Equilibrium must exist between the externally applied

loads and the internal actions that resist these loads.
 The calculated moment at any member section must
never exceed the plastic moment at that section.
 A valid plastic collapse mechanism must develop
when the plastic collapse load is reached.

Lecture 9/SAD 2
Basic Collapse Mechanisms for Structures

Lecture 9/SAD 2
 Beam Analysis
 Use Kinematic Method to determine the Failure Load P for the beam as shown
below given the plastic moment MP:
9𝑀𝑀𝑃𝑃
 The mechanism in Fig. (b) gives 𝐹𝐹 =
𝐿𝐿
6.6𝑀𝑀𝑃𝑃
 The mechanism in Fig. (c) gives 𝐹𝐹 =
𝐿𝐿
11𝑀𝑀𝑃𝑃
 The mechanism in Fig. (d) gives 𝐹𝐹 =
𝐿𝐿
 Guess Fig.(c) is the correct mechanism but
 Need to check the free body diagram of
 Fig(c) to verify the moment diagram is
nowhere exceeds MP

The moment diagram (on the right) from static analysis

does show the plastic moment is not exceeded
everywhere along the beam, which implies that the
6.6𝑀𝑀𝑃𝑃
True Collapse Load is 𝐹𝐹 =
𝐿𝐿

Lecture 9/SAD 2
 Frame Analysis
 Use Kinematic Method to determine the Failure Load P for the frame as
shown below given the plastic moment MP:

L/2
L
L

6𝑀𝑀𝑃𝑃
 For correct mechanism Fig. b) 𝐹𝐹 = (True Collapse Load)
𝐿𝐿
8𝑀𝑀𝑃𝑃
 For incorrect mechanism Fig. c) 𝐹𝐹 = (Upper Bound Collapse Load)
𝐿𝐿

Lecture 9/SAD 2
 Yield Line Analysis
 Plastic analysis could also be applied in assessment of plate structures
such as RC floor slab provided that the yield load of the structure is
provided for by plastic design provision (e.g. ductility).
 E.g. One-way Slab
 Assume the mp is the plastic moment
Fixed Edge
 per unit length along a yield line,
 External work WE and Internal Work WI Yield Line

 could be calculated as follows:

Free Edge
1 𝑙𝑙2 (𝜔𝜔𝑙𝑙1 𝑙𝑙22
 WE =𝜔𝜔𝑙𝑙1 𝑙𝑙2 (𝜃𝜃 )= 𝜃𝜃
2 2 4 Fixed Edge
 WI =mpl1(2+1+1)𝜃𝜃=4mpl1(𝜃𝜃)
16𝑚𝑚𝑃𝑃
 WE = WI gives ultimate UDL intensity 𝜔𝜔 = (kN/m2)
𝑙𝑙22

Lecture 9/SAD 2
 Yield Line Analysis
 E.g. Two-way Slab
 Assume the mp is the plastic moment
 per unit length along a yield line,
 External work WE and Internal Work WI could
 be calculated as follows:

 Where

 WE = WI gives ultimate UDL intensity

24𝑚𝑚𝑃𝑃
 𝜔𝜔 = (kN/m2)
𝑙𝑙2

Lecture 9/SAD 2
Progression of Yield Line Patterns for a
Two-way Slab (on simply Supported
 For a Two-way Slab on simply Supported/Fixed Edges
 As UDL increases, it is noted that
 The plastic hinging spreads towards
 Other edges evenyually bifurcating
 Into yields directed towards the slab’s
 Corners.

Lecture 9/SAD 2
 Possible Yield Patterns (Mechanism)
in Slab Structures

Considering the more complex configuration of yield lines,

some engineering judgment and experience is needed to
determine which is true mechanism and hence to obtain
the upper bound load closer to the correct and safe load.
It is noteworthy that experimental evidence provide visual
clues as to the pattern of yield lines that develop.

Lecture 9/SAD 2
 Theories of Failure
Failure of a member is defined as one of two conditions.
1. Fracture of the material of which the member is made. This type of
failure is the characteristic of brittle materials.
2. Initiation of inelastic (Plastic) behavior in the material. This type of
failure is initiated by yielding which is typically characterized and
exhibited by ductile materials.

A failure theory is a criterion that is used in an effort to predict the failure of

a given material when subjected to a complex stress (multiaxial) condition.

Lecture 9/SAD 2
 Failure Theories

1. Maximum shear stress (Tresca) theory for ductile materials.

2. Maximum principal stress (Rankine) theory.
3. Maximum normal strain (Saint Venan’s) theory.
4. Maximum shear strain (Distortion Energy) theory / von Mises
theory.

Lecture 9/SAD 2
 von Mises Criterion
 The von Mises yield criterion (also known as the Maximum Distortion
Energy Theory of Failure) suggests that yielding of a ductile material
begins when the second deviatoric stress invariant reaches a critical
value. It is part of plasticity theory that applies best to ductile
materials, such as some metals.

Lecture 9/SAD 2
 von Mises Criterion
Separates “hydrostatic stress” from “distortion
stresses”(Deviatoric Stress)
Hydrostatic pressure gives rise to volumetric
change while distortion stress gives rise to
distortion change without change in volume.
Bases on “Energy of distortion is equal to energy
of distortion at yield of a simple tension test”

(σ 1 − σ 2 ) + (σ 2 − σ 3 ) + (σ 1 − σ 3
2 2
) = 2(σ )
2
y
2

Lecture 9/SAD 2