PLASTIC ANALYSIS OF

THE STRUCTURES
DR. AZRUL A. MUTALIB
UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA
azrulaam@ukm.edu.my

Elastic Analysis
Example 1

Determine the maximum moment at the supports and mid span

Solution

Conventional stress-strain diagram

Introduction
Suitable for structures that match with plastic theory
Mostly used for steel structures
Plastic Analysis vs. Elastic Analysis
Plastic analysis is based on ULS (ultimate stress)
Elastic analysis is based on SLS (yield stress)
Elastic analysis is overdesigned and not
economical
In the building life cycle, the life load might be
increased caused the ultimate stress > yield stress
hence the building is failed. Therefore, plastic
analysis can be used.

Plastic Analysis
1. The ultimate load is the load that can
caused the failure of the structures
2. The concept of the analysis is to
determine the collapse load & collapse
mechanisms
3. The collapse mechanisms can be divided
to independent mechanism or combine
mechanisms

Example 2

Example 3

Plastic Analysis
Only the behavior of beams and frames in
the plastic range will be discussed
In the plastic analysis, this diagram can be
idealized as an ideal elastic-plastic /
perfectly elasto-plastic materials for easy
calculation
y
w

Fully plastic
moment
Elastic
region

Plastic region

Example 4 : Analysis of rectangular cross section

Load Factor & Shape Factor

The additional load work, Wk from the
elastic conditionj to plastic condition can
be stated as Wk
= load factor
Example 5

Wk
L/2

L/2

My
Mp

 Load factor increases, bending moment is increases

from elastic condition to the yield condition
Load factor increases, the elastic area decreases & at
the end all under load area will be in the plastic area &
plastic hinge is develop

The ratio of the plastic moment to yield moment is

called shape factor,

 = 1.5 = The section can carry 50% more

moment than My before it reaches Mp

 Different section has different shape factor!!

Example 5
310 mm
32 mm
293 mm
650 mm
293 mm

18 mm
32 mm

Determine the load shape and load factor for the I-beam
as above
Solution

General Collapse Condition

The collapse mechanisms must satisfy 3
conditions;
1.Equilibrium
Bending moment distribution must be in
equilibrium with the external imposed loads.
StaJc equilibrium equaJon can be used i.e. M =
0, V = 0 & H = 0 to get any forces.
2.Mechanism
The number of plastic hinge should be sufficient
in order for a structure to form a mechanism.

General Collapse Condition

3. Yield
Bending moment should not exceed Mp
In practice 3 theorems are of considerable use in
plastic collapse;
1. Lower bound theorem
Also known as static theorem or safe
theorem
Load system calculated or collapse load
obtained is smaller or equal to the true
collapse conditions
W < Wp

Fulfill equilibrium & yield conditions

General Collapse Condition

2. Upper bound theorem
Also known as kinematic theorem or unsafe
theorem
Load system calculated or collapse load
obtained is greater or equal to the true
collapse conditions
W > Wp

Fulfill only mechanism conditions.

General Collapse Condition

3. Uniqueness theorem
Load system calculated or collapse load
obtained is true collapse conditions
W = Wp

Fulfill only equilibrium, yield & mechanism

conditions.

Plastic Hinges Development

Normal hinge
No moment (M=0)
Allowed rotation
M=0

VS.

Plastic hinge
Caused by Mp
M = Mp

M=Mp
M=Mp

Plastic Hinges Development

Plastic hinge develop at certain area;
1. Internal support

2. Under the loads

3. Fixed supports

Collapse mechanism
Example 6

Mp

Mp

Mp

Mp

Mp
P

Mp

Collapse mechanism
P

Mp

Mp

2P

First collapse
mechanism

Mp

Second collapse
mechanism

Mp

General Collapse Condition

Structural problem condition solution in plastic
theory can be carried out using various
method.
Two methods that normally used are;
i. Graphical method
ii. Virtual work method
Graphical method
Combination of free bending moment diagram
and rotation moment

General Collapse Condition

i.

Free bending moment diagram

By assuming every spans are simply supported

ii. Reaction moment diagram

Resistance moment value at fixed end
moment
Collapse load is obtained by solving the moment
equilibrium equations at any section along the
span
Example 7