VCB3022

DESIGN OF STEEL STRUCTURES

 CLO4

Learning outcome:
After the session the students will be able to:

• Understand and apply the concept of plastic

analysis for the design of steel structures

Highlights of Last Lecture
Classification of connections:

• Classified by their stiffness as nominally pinned, semi-rigid or rigid.

• Classified by their capability to transfer moments as nominally pinned,

partial-strength and full-strength connections.

Fillet Weld

Butt Weld
The throat thickness is used to determine the strength of weld
because a weld generally fails along a line bisecting the angle
of the joint.

For a right angle connection, the throat thickness is

taken as 0.7 times the weld size or leg length. i.e.
Throat thickness = 0.7 x size of weld (note that
throat thickness is 0.7 s
 Example
Figure below shows two plates of grade S275 connected by
a fillet weld. Determine the design resistance if the size of
weld is 10 mm and 150 mm overall length. fu
3
The design shear strength fvw,d : f vw,d 
 w M 2
 Solution:
Effective length is determined using 4.5.1 of EC3-1-8: Length
over which the fillet is full size.

This maybe taken as the overall length of the weld reduced by

twice the effective throat thickness “a”.

Throat thickness = 0.7s = 0.7 x 10 = 7mm

Effective length = 150 – 2 x7 = 136 mm. This is greater than

larger of 30 mm or 6 times the throat thickness.
 The value of fu = 430 N/mm2 and β = 0.85

fu 430
f vw,d  3  3  233.66 N / mm 2
 w M 2 0.85 1.25

Design resistance per mm length

Fw, Rd  f v , wd a  233.66  7  1635.62 N / mm

Design Resistance capacity of weld = 1635.62 x 136/1000= 222.44 kN

 Example
The figure below shows an angle connected to a gusset plate by
welding. The angle transmits a force of 185.5 kN through the
centroid. Find the length of the side fillet welds required. Assume
6 mm fillet welds. Assume grade of steel for angle and gusset is
S275.
 Solution:

For 6mm weld ; throat thickness a = 0.7x6 = 4.2 mm

Effective length is determined using 4.5.1 of EC3-1-8: Length
over which the fillet is full size. This maybe taken as the
overall length of the weld reduced by twice the effective throat
thickness.

The design shear strength fvw,d is given section 4.5.4 of EC3-

1-8. f u
3
f vw , d 
 w M 2

The value of fu = 430N/mm2 and β= 0.85

fu 430
f vw,d  3  3  233 N / mm 2
 w M 2 0.85  1.25
SIDE B:
Taking moments about A. Assume weld effective length is L1
Therefore, (0.7 x s x L1 x 233) x (57.4+22.6) = 185.5 x 1000x
57.4
Therefore L1 = (185.5 x 1000x57.4)/(0.7 x 6x233x80)
= 136 mm
Overall length = 136 + 2x 4.2 =144 mm say 150 mm
SIDE A
Moments about B. Assume weld length = L2
0.7 x 6 x L2x233x80 = 185.5x1000x22.6
Therefore L2 = (185.5 x 1000x22.6)/(0.7 x 6x233x80) = 53.5 mm
Overall length = 53.5 +2x 4.2=61.9 mm say 70 mm
But length of the continuous fillet weld must be at least equal to three-quarters
of the width of the narrower plate concerned
i.e. the smaller of 0.75x80 = 60mm and 0.75 x gusset plate width. The width of
the gusset plate is not given but since it is larger than the leg size of angle, it is
OK.
L1= 150mm and L2 = 70 mm both of which are larger than 60 mm, Hence OK.

This must be positioned symmetrically as shown below:

Clause 4.3.2.1(4): Fillet welds finishing at the ends or sides of parts should
be returned continuously , full size, around the corner for a distance of at
least twice the leg length of the weld.
Concept of Plastic
Analysis
Plasticity in Design
Plastic moment of a section

1
7
Fully Plastic Section

Mp is the maximum
bending moment which
can be applied to a
beam before plastic
hinge forms.

Additional loading applied to

the fully plastic structure would
lead to collapse.
 Plastic Design

In plastic analysis and design of a structure, the ultimate load

of the structure as a whole is regarded as the design criterion.

The term plastic has occurred due to the fact that the ultimate
load is found from the strength of steel in the plastic range.

This method is rapid and provides a rational approach for the

analysis of the structure.

Structures are assumed to collapse by the formation of

sufficient plastic hinges to create a collapse mechanism.
 Plastic Design

• Design of structures based on the plastic or limit state

approach is increasingly used and accepted by various codes
of practice, particularly for steel construction.

• Fundamental problems of plastic design

• Prediction of the correct collapse mechanism

• Determination of load factor at collapse

 Plastic Design
For Full collapse of structures three conditions are required:

1-Mechanism: sufficient hinges should be formed.

2-Equilibrium: Bending moment in any collapse mechanism must be in equilibrium
with applied collapse load.
3-Yield: magnitude of bending moment in any mechanism can not exceed Mp.

The number of Plastic Hinges required to convert a structure or a member

into a mechanism is one more than the degree of indeterminacy in terms of
redundant moments usually. Thus a determinate structure requires only one
more plastic hinge to become a mechanism, a stage where it deflects and
rotates continuously at constant load and acquires final collapse.

So Mathematically
N = n+1
where N = Total number of Plastic hinges required to convert a structure into
a mechanism.
and n = (total numbers of reactions) – (the equations of equilibrium)
 Assumptions made in Plastic Theory.

The plastic analysis is primarily based on following assumptions.

1. The length of plastic hinge is limited to a point.

2. Material is very ductile and is capable of undergoing large rotations /
curvatures at the constant moment without breaking.
3. The presence of axial force and shear force does not change the value
of Mp.
4. The structure remains stable until the formation of last plastic hinge and
serviceability would not be impaired till such time.
 Mechanism Method

A mechanism is assumed and plastic hinges are inserted at potential plastic

hinge locations. At plastic hinges the corresponding rotations and deflections
are computed to write work equations which may be written as follows.

σ External work= σ internal work

External work = Load × displacement (for each load)
Internal work = moment × rotation (for each hinge position)

Typically Σ W. δ = Σ Mp. θ.
 Example
Considering a fixed-fixed beam subjected to an uniformly distributed load, W.
Three hinges are required to be formed at A, B and C just before collapse.
The beam portions in between the hinges will remain straight, thus the entire
energy will be absorbed by the rotation of the plastic hinges.

Work done at the three plastic hinges = Mp (θ + 2θ +θ ) = 4Mp* θ

Work done by the displacement of the load = W/L* L*(θ*L/2) = W*θ*L/2

Work done by external loads = Actual loads x Average
displacements

Energy absorbed at Plastic hinges (internal work done) = Mp. θ

Equating those two

4Mp.θ = W*θ*L/2

Mp = WL/8
Collapse load
Collapse load is found for a structure by investigating various possible
collapse mechanisms of a structure under conceivable load systems.

Collapse loads are usually the applied loads multiplied by collapse load
factor λc

The value of λc may indicate a margin of safety for various collapse

mechanisms and steps can be taken in advance to strengthen the
weaker structural elements before erection.
 Example
The beam shown in figure is fixed at both ends. It is subjected to loads 20 kN and 30
kN. If the full plastic moment capacity Mp is 78.0 kNm,then determine the load factor
against collapse.
20 kN 30 kN

4m 2m 4m

20 kN 30 kN

20 kN 30 kN
For first collapse mechanism 30 kN
20 kN

4m 6m

Equilibrium between bending moments and applied loads is satisfied by using the
virtual work method

20 kN 30 kN

𝜃 𝜙

78 𝜃+𝜙
78
4m 6m
The method considers a virtual displacement of the mechanism that is under
investigation assuming that all internal strain is concentrated in the plastic hinges

The members between the plastic hinges are assumed to be perfectly rigid and make
no contribution to the internal work

For compatibility of virtual work: 4𝜃 = 6𝜙

Principle of virtual work, work done by external load = work done internally

The collapse load factor is 𝜆

20 𝜆 . 4𝜃 + 30 𝜆 . 4𝜙 = 78 (2𝜃 + 2𝜙)

20 𝜆 . 6𝜙 + 30 𝜆 . 4𝜙 = 78 3𝜙 + 2𝜙

𝜆 = 390/240 = 1.625
For compatibility of virtual work: 4𝜃 = 6𝜙

Principle of virtual work, work done by

30 𝜆 . 4𝜃 + 20 𝜆 . 4𝜙 = 78 (2𝜃 + 2𝜙)

30 𝜆 . 6𝜙 + 20 𝜆 . 4𝜙 = 78 3𝜙 + 2𝜙

𝜆 = 390/260 = 1.5
All possible collapse mechanisms have been considered, using minimum
principle, we can confidently choose the mechanism with the lowest load factor
Therefore 𝜆= 1.5
 Plastic analysis of portal frames

• The collapse mechanism in portal frames is not obvious

• Necessary to consider several possibilities
The rectangular frame shown in figure has a uniform full plastic moment of 20
kN.m. The loads shown are unfactored. Find the load factor 𝜆 against collapse.

10 kN

C
5 kN D
B
3.75 m 3.75 m

5m

A E
• The only possible locations for plastic hinges are at point
A, B, C, D and E where there is a change of slope in the
bending moment diagram.
• It is impossible for plastic hinges to form between these
points which are termed as Critical Sections
• Hence, there are only 3 Valid Mechanism as shown
 10λ 10λ
B D
B D
5λ 𝜃 𝜃
5λ
2𝜃

𝜃 𝜃

A E A
E
Sway mechanism
10λ Beam mechanism
B D
𝜃 2𝜃
5λ
2𝜃

𝜃 𝜃

A
E

Combined mechanism
 10λ
B D
5λ

𝜃 𝜃

A E

For a small, rigid-link movement of the mechanism, the beam moves bodily
sideways and there is no downward movement of 10 kN load.
Work equation is
5𝜆 . 5𝜃 = 20 (𝜃 + 𝜃 + 𝜃 + 𝜃)
80
𝜆= = 3.2
25

In plastic collapse mechanism, the bending moment at a plastic hinge is always related

to the direction of rotation of that hinge, meaning that the plastic hinges always do
positive virtual work.
 B D
5λ 𝜃 𝜃
2𝜃

A
E

For a small movement of the mechanism, the stanchion remains vertical and
there is no movement of the 5 kN load.

Work equation is

10𝜆 . 3.75𝜃 = 20 (𝜃 + 2𝜃 + 𝜃)
80
𝜆= = 2.13
37.5
 10λ
B D
2𝜃
5λ
2𝜃

𝜃 𝜃

A
E

Combination mechanism: this is a combination of 1 and 2. It is essential to carry out

this combination in such a way that the hinge at B is eliminated and replaced by a
rigid joint. If this were not the case, it would be impossible to relate all movements in
the virtual mechanism to a single variable 𝜃.

Work equation is

5𝜆 . 5𝜃 + 10𝜆. 3.75𝜃 = 20 (𝜃 + 2𝜃 + 2𝜃 + 𝜃)
120
𝜆 = 62.5 = 1.92
After considering all possible mechanisms and following the
minimum principle that the combined mechanism with the lowest
load factor is the correct collapse mechanism.

Hence, the load factor against collapse is 1.92

Any questions?
Thank you