YIELD LINES

THEORY
 Yield Line theory
■ This method of limit analysis for R/C slabs was formulated at the
beginning of the century
■ The Yield Line Method is an upper bound approach, since:
– the ultimate load is evaluated by formulating a suitable collapse
mechanism (compatible with the boundary conditions)
– equilibrium is enforced via the Principle of Virtual Works, by
equating the work done by the external loads to the work
(=energy) dissipated along certain particular lines, called yield
lines
■ Being an upper bound approach, this method gives ultimate loads
that are either correct or too high (i.e. not on the safe side)
■ For a given mechanism, the bending moments at some points of the
slab are not below the resisting moment of the slab section (= mRd)
 What is Yield line?
■ A yield line is a crack in a reinforced concrete slab across which the
reinforcing bars have yielded and along which plastic rotation occurs.
■ Consider a reinforced concrete slab that is progressively loaded to
failure:
– prior to cracking, the distribution of bending moments follows the
linear elastic theory;
– after cracking, the distribution of the bending moments changes
due to the decrease in flexural rigidity of the cracked portions
– with further loading, yielding of the reinforcing steel occurs, and
the slab undergoes a redistribution of the bending moments (with
the moments at the yield locations remaining practically constant)
■ As the load on the slab is further increased, the lines
where cracking concentrates (across which the steel has
yielded) will propagate until a collapse mechanism is
formed. These lines are referred to as yield lines
■ The yield line distribution at collapse is called a yield line
pattern
■ The first yielding of the tension steel generally occurs at the
location of the maximum bending moment; however, the final
yield line pattern depends on a variety of factors (reinforcement
arrangement, boundary conditions, type of loading)
■ A yield line is an idealized representation of a band of intense
cracking across which the tension steel has yielded; for the
purpose of analysis, the band is represented by a single line
■ It is clear that, for the collapse load to be reached, the yield line
must have a sufficient plastic rotation capacity (= ductility).
Yield line notation
Free edge
Simply supported edge

Build in /Fixed supported edge

Column support

Yield line(positive)

Yield line (Negative)

m
Ultimate moment resistance positive
m’
Ultimate moment resistance negative
General rules to formulate a yield line
pattern
■ Once the collapse mechanism has developed, the deformations along
the yield lines (= plastic deformations) are much larger than the elastic
deformations of the slab between the yield lines
■ Hence, it is reasonable to assume that, once a mechanism has
formed, the slab portions between the yield lines remain plane; thus, all
additional deformations (= rotations) take place at the yield lines
■ This gives some basic rules for the formulation of a yield line pattern:
1. yield lines must be straight, acting as axes of rotation for the rigid
slab segments in between
2. the supported (or clamped) edges will act as axes of rotation
3. axes of rotation pass through point supports
4. for compatibility of deformations, a yield line must pass through
the intersection of the axes of rotation of adjacent segments
Example of yield lines pattern
■ Yield lines pattern are depends on the upper bound
solution and optimum failure
 Multiple yield line pattern

■ If multiple yield line patterns are possible, the most likely to

occur is the one corresponding to the lowest ultimate load
Force in yield
■ At least 3 force acting in yield
– Normal moment (mn)
– Tangential moment (mt)
– Shear force , Q
Q
Q
mn
Q mt
mn mt
Q mt
mn mn
mt
Yield and ultimate moment

■ Case 1 : One direction reinforcement

Yield line

1 unit

Reinforcement

Mn = Mx = m
In this case mt = 0 due the one way reinforcement
■ Case 2 : yield in two direction (90 degree)

y
n

 x

Cos  1 unit
Mt=
0
mx

mn
Mt = mx.sin cos 
Moment resistance in x direction = mx cos
normal moment (to yield line ) = mx cos 2 
If there is more than 1 yield line =  mx cos 2 
■ Case 3 :reinforcement in 90 degree(orthotropic)

n
Asfy
y  Mx + My = m = mx
Where  = orthotropic
Asfx coefficient
x
=<1.0

Mn= mx cos 2  + my sin 2 

= m cos 2  + m sin 2 
= m ( cos 2  +  sin 2 )
Mt = m (1-)cos  . sin )
When mx = my or  =1.0 it is called orthotropic system
mn = m, mt = 0
Reinforcements and Moment Axes
 Ultimate moment of resistance
■ Isotropic
– An isotropic slab is one with the same amount (Area) of
bottom reinforcement both ways and by assuming
effective depths are equal, moment capacities in the
two directions are equal, i.e. mx = my. They are easily
dealt with.
■ Orthotropic
– Orthotropic slabs have different amounts of
reinforcement in the two directions. Very often there is
no need for the reinforcement in two-way rectangular
slabs to be the same in two directions. These slabs tend
to span in the short direction and this direction will have
the greater requirement for reinforcement
Work method

■ The virtual Work Method) of analysis is the most popular

(and most easy) way of applying Yield Line theory from first
principles.
■ Indeed, many experienced users of Yield Line theory of
design choose to use the Work method because it is so very
easy.
■ The fundamental principle is that work done internally and
externally must balance.
■ In other words, at failure, the expenditure of external energy
induced by the load on the slab must be equal to the
internal energy dissipated within the yield lines. In other
words:
Virtual work method

Internal Work = External work

 M = qA

Where :
M = Moment (mL)
 = rotation
q = load (kN/m2)
A = Area of panel
 = deflection at centre of gravity load
■ In virtual work method, moment is define
■ Deflection is assume 1 unit
■ Internal load
– Sometimes value of M and  have two component in x
and y
– Therefore it can be write as
– Internal work =  Mxx +  Myy

Yield line Total resultant moment = mLo

Lo Moment at x axis , Mx = mLo cos 
y = mx
Moment at y axis, My = mLo sin 
α

x
 Example 1
■ Determine the collapse maximum moment

Load = q kN/m2
■ Solution
■ Panel 1
Internal work = ∑mLθ
= m(4) x (1/2)
= 2m
External work = qA
1 1
=𝑞 × × 2×4 ×
2 3
4
=𝑞
3
Since that Panel 1= 2=3 =4, therefore
Internal work = external work
4
2m(4) = 𝑞 x (4)
3
16𝑞
8m =
3
16𝑞
m =
24
 Example 2

■ Determine collapse maximum moment

L Load q kN/m2

2L
■ Solution
Example 3
Similar with Example 2 but all edge supported by fixed
support
Influence of other load type
■ Line load
– Example: P per unit length
– Work due to line load = P x length x deflection
at centre
■ Point Load
– Work due to point load = w x deflection()

x
Line load +W
y
Point
load
Example 4
The figure shows a square slab with simple support on all edge.
Determine Collapse load P if the point load P acting on the centroid.
Example 5
A Figure shows a slab with opening at the middle. Given ultimate
design load q = 10 kN/m2 and m’= m. Determine collapse moment
for the yield line given.

Opening
Example 6 (Line Load)
Given line load = 5 kN/m2 , UDL, (q) = 10 kN/m2. Determine collapse moment.

Line Load

Yield line
Example 7
 Example
■ The slab shown in Figure is isotropically reinforced and is required to carry
an ultimate design load of 12kN/m2. If the ultimate moment of resistance
of the reinforcement is m per unit width of slab in the direction shown,
calculate the value of m for the given yield line pattern