Elastic versus 1.1 1.

2
Plastic Analysis Stress-Strain
Relationships
Plastic Design
Versus
of Structures Elastic Design

Chapter 1
1.3 1.4 1.5
Basic Concepts of Moment -
Elastic-Plastic Plastic
Plastic Analysis Bending of Curvature
Hinge
Beams Relationship
Concept

Asssoc. Jia-Bao Yan 1.6 1.7

Plastic Effects of Axial
Collapse and Shear
Forces on Plastic
Moment
 :: chapter 1::
1.1 Stress-Strain Relationships
Stress-strain relation (or constitutive relation) describes the material
behaviour. A number of basic types can be identified in
unidirectional stress-strain.

σ σ σ

ε ε ε
Linearly Elastic Non-linearly Elastic Non-linearly Inelastic
 most commonly  difficult  difficult
used  computer is
 computer
solutions by required to obtain
iterations are solutions
necessary
 :: chapter 1::
Stress-Strain Relationship of Mild Steel

 u
y A
p
Failure

0.26
0.0012 0.016

0.001
σy - yield stress (≈ 275 MPa)
σp - proportional limit stress
σu - ultimate stress (≈ 410 MPa)

Question: Load the mild steel coupon to point A and then release the
load. Draw the recovery path on the stress-strain diagram.
 :: chapter 1::
Idealised Stress-Strain Curves

plastic 1) Elastic-plastic strain
Es
hardening model
E strain hardening
elastic Es ≈ 0.04E
 
2) Elastic-plastic model
E Ignoring strain


 hardening

3) Rigid-plastic model
(simple plastic)


Rigid plastic model is particularly suitable for structural analysis
(and design) but a more complete model (2, say) is needed to
describe details of the structural behaviour of individual members

1.2 Plastic Design Versus Elastic Design
Philosophy of Design
Elastic
(max permissible stress design)
 max   permissible
where
 permissible
 0.5 to 0.7
 yield
 Based on LOCAL stress-state,
so that the overall structural
safety depends on (a) the
degree of redundancy (more
redundancy implies greater
safety) and (b) weakest element
may dominate design. In
practice σpermissible is often
determined from the ultimate
load tests (i.e. plastic theory)
and scaled down appropriately
:: chapter 1::
Plastic
(ultimate load)
q ultimate
qdesign 
load factor
where load factor ≈ 1.3 to 1.7
 Based on STRUCTURE as a whole
 May get local yielding at low loads
 Simplified procedures when
compared to that in elastic design
 May give cheaper structures when
compared to that designed
elastically
 More realistic representation of
actual behaviour of structures
 :: chapter 1::
1.2 Plastic Design Versus Elastic Design
The advantages of plastic design are due to the fact that it fully uses
the important property of ductility. Thus, the general description of
plastic analysis applies to any structural material with sufficient
ductility. It is particularly suitable to mild steel with its sharply
defined yield point and large strain value before the beginning of
strain hardening. The plastic reserve strength cannot be fully
realized for structures made of brittle materials that will crack or
soften under relatively small strains, or for structures made of
slender bars that will buckle in compression within either the elastic
or plastic range.
 :: chapter 1::
1.2 Plastic Design Versus Elastic Design
Redistribution of forces in a three-bar structure

1 3
L
2 Purely elastic
A A A L/2

Equlibrium: 2T1 + T2 = P where T3 = T1 owing to symmetry

Compatibility: δ1 = δ2 = δ3 which implies that T1 = T2/2 = T3
 :: chapter 1::
Redistribution of forces in a three-bar structure

1 σyA 3
L Partially plastic

A A L/2

Since the force in Bar 2 is greater, Bar 2 will yield first.

Therefore Py = 2T2 = 2σyA
The corresponding displacement at this yield load is
δy = εyL2 = σyL/(2E)
 :: chapter 1::
Redistribution of forces in a three-bar structure

σyA σyA σyA

Fully plastic
P

After yielding of Bar 2, the structure reduces to a two-bar

structure which is now statically determinate. This two-bar
structure will carry further loading until the two outer bars
also yield at the plastic limit load Pp given by
Pp = 3σyA
with the corresponding deflection δp = εyL1 = σyL/E where
beyond it, the deflections increase without limit while the
load remains constant. Note how simple one can compute
the ultimate load, i.e. the sum of the yield loads of each
bar.
 :: chapter 1::
Redistribution of forces in a three-bar structure

Load

Unrestricted plastic flow

Pp

Py
Contained “plastic
flow”
Elastic

δy δp Deflection

Load deflection relationship

 :: chapter 1::
Problem to be solved in class
Consider the three-bar truss. All bars have the same equal
cross-sectional area A, and are made of steel with yield
stress σy and Young’s modulus E.
Plot (i) the load-deflection (P-∆) relationship for the truss and
(ii) the relationships between member forces and the total
force P. Determine the ultimate load and the plastic reserve
strength beyond the elastic limit.

L
45o 45o