CE 432 (Advanced Structural Design)
determined.
Course Description
The course deals with structural analysis and
design of bridge structures. Code specifications to
bridge design especially steel, reinforced concrete
and pre-stressed concrete bridges are also
included. Analysis of the shells, buckling behavior:
evaluation of dynamic response; plastic behavior
formed and simple truss structures, simple beams,
and continuous beams under alternating loadings,
stress control of indeterminate structure, normal and
hybrid action of indeterminate trusses
Specific Objectives
1. To interpret the principles and theories
surrounding plastic design and analysis.
TOPIC:
1. Plastic Design and Analysis
Section Modulus
Shape Factor
PLASTIC ANALYSIS and DESIGN
Plasticity describes the deformation of a (solid)
material undergoing non-reversible changes of
shape in response to applied forces. For example, a
solid piece of metal being bent or pounded into a
new shape displays plasticity as permanent
changes occur within the material itself.
(Elastic deformation: The material always returns back to
it's original shape, deformation is reversible.)
Consider the stress strain curve of a steel material:
The true stress-strain curve for a low grade structural
steel is shown in fig. 1 while an idealized one is
shown in fig. 2 which forms the basis of Plastic
Analysis and Design.
Plastic Analysis: the analysis in which the criterion
for the design of structures is the ultimate load. We
can define it as the analysis inelastic material is
studied beyond the elastic limit (which can be
observed in stress strain diagram above).
In this analysis it is assumed that width thickness ratio
of plate elements is small so the local buckling does
not occur. The section will be declared as perfectly
plastic. It can be said that section will reach its
plastic moment capacity and after that will be
subjected to considerable moment at applied
moments.
Advantages of Plastic bending:
1. Simple procedures involved
2. Ultimate loads for structures and their
components may be determined
3. Sequence and final mode of failure may be
known and the capacity at relevant stages may be
Plastic Moment, Mp: the moment that will produce
plasticity in a member cross section and create
plastic hinge.
Mp = (Fy)(Z)
where:
Fy = Yield Stress
Z = Plastic Section Modulus
Mp = Plastic Moment or Plastic Moment Capacity
Plastic Hinge: It is that cross section of a member
where bending stresses are equal to the yield stress.
It is the deformation of a part of a beam wherever
plastic bending happens. Hinge means that having
no capability to resist moment. Therefore, a plastic
hinge behaves like a standard hinge - permitting
free rotation.
Plastic Section Modulus, Z: property of materials
indicating the location of the geometric centroid
by its centroidal distance (equal to the first moment
of area about Plastic N.A)
Z = Σ(Area)(distance)
= (Ac)(dc) + (AT)(dT) + ……….
For rectangular sections: Z = (bd2)/4
Yield Moment, My: the moment which will just
produce the yield stress in the outer most fiber
My = (Fy)(S)
where:
Fy = Yield Stress
S = Elastic Section Modulus
My = Yield Moment or Yield Moment Capacity
Elastic Section Modulus, S: defined as I/c, where I is
the second moment of area (or area moment of
inertia) and y is the distance from the neutral axis to
any given fiber. It is often reported using y = c,
where c is the distance from the neutral axis to the
most extreme fiber.
Shape Factor, SF: The ratio of the plastic moment to
the yield moment is known as the shape factor
since it depends on the shape of the cross section.
The cross section is not capable of resisting any
additional moment but may maintain this moment
for some amount of rotation in which case it acts
like a plastic hinge.
SF = Mp/ My
Significance of Shape Factor:
1. It gives an indication of reserve capacity of a
section from onset of yielding at extreme fibers to
full plastification.
2. A section with higher shape factor gives a longer
warning before collapse.
3. A section with higher shape factor is more ductile
and gives greater deflection at collapse.
4. Greater shape factor means greater collapse
load factor.
* Collapse occurs when there is no more remaining stable
element that can carry the additional load.

Application Problems:
1. Determine the shape factor of a rectangular
section having a height, h and a width, w.

2. A T-section having a flange of 200mm by 40mm

and a web of 160 by 50mm has a span of 3.6-m. If
the Fy is 250 Mpa. Calculate the shape factor of the
beam and the ultimate uniform load that the beam
can carry.

3. A W 775 x 287 steel I beam has the following

dimensions:
tw = 19mm (web thickness)
b = 360mm (flange width)
tf = 32mm (flange thickness)

Determine the plastic section modulus about the

principal axis.

4. A T-beam is made up to 150mm x 50mm flange

and a 200mm by 50mm web section. If Fy = 400
Mpa. Determine the ultimate moment capacity of
the beam.