Addis Ababa Institute of Technology (AAiT)

-2-
PLASTIC MOMENT REDISTRIBUTION

2.1 Introduction

t is known that an indeterminate beam or frame normally will not fail when the ultimate

I
moment capacity of just one critical section is reached. After formation of plastic hinges at
the more highly stressed sections, substantial redistribution of moments occurs at the
critical sections as loads are further increased before collapse of the structure takes place.
Redistribution of moments permits the designer to modify, within limits, the moment
diagrams for which the members are to be designed. This enables the designer to reduce the
congestion of reinforcement, which often occurs in high moment areas, such as at the
junction of girders with columns. Method of analysis allowed in EBCS -2, 1995.
i. Elastic, optionally followed by inelastic (plastic) moment redistribution
ii. Plastic analysis
iii. Non-linear analysis

2.2 Moment curvature diagram

Although it is not needed explicitly in ordinary design, the relation between moment applied to a
given beam section and the resulting curvature, through the full range of loading to failure, is
important to the study of member ductility, understanding the development of plastic hinges, and
accounting for the redistribution of elastic moments that occur in most RC structures before
collapse.

Curvature is defined as the angle change per

unit length at any given location along the
axis of a member subjected to loads as
shown in figure 2.2-1.

Figure 2.2-1 Curvature

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=

 = 
1

=

From similarity of triangles,
 
= ⇒  =



= =


2.2.1 Moment of Inertia of Transformed Section

When a beam made of two materials is loaded, the different values of E for the two materials
lead to different stress distribution since one materials is stiffer and accepts more stress for a
given strain than the other. However, the elastic beam theory can be used if the beam is
hypothetically transformed to either an all steel beam or an all concrete beam, customarily the
later. This is done by replacing the area of the steel with an equivalent area of concrete having
centroid at the level of the centroid of the steel. The replaced concrete will experience the same
force and strain as the steel.
 =  
=

  =  

  =
  
  =  

 = 

 =  

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Figure 2.2-2 Transformed Sections

For uncracked section, out of additional concrete for steel replacement nAs, As is the quantity
used to fill the hole in rectangular part when steels are withdrawn. The elastic sections (cracked
and / or uncracked) the NA occurs at the centroid of the area.
With the above transformed sections and the idealized stress-strain relationships for steel and
concrete figure 2.2-3 (b) and (c) the usual assumptions regarding perfect bond and plane
sections, it is possible to calculate the relation between M and ψ for a typical under-reinforced
concrete beam section, subject to flexural cracking as follows.

Figure 2.2-3 Under-reinforced concrete beam section, subject to flexural cracking

In the limit case of figure 2.2-3b


 =  
 = 
=
 ≪




  $%
  = =  # =
! " "

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Where, lut is the moment of inertia of the un-cracked transformed section.

Figure 2.2-4 Moment-Curvature relationship of reinforced beam

These values (ψcr , Mcr) provide information needed to plot point “1”of the M-ψ graph of figure
2.2-4.
When the tensile cracking occurs at the section, the stiffness is immediately reduced, and
curvature increases to point “2” with no increase in moment. In the limit case, the concrete strain
just reaches the proportional limit as shown in figure 2.2-3 (c) and the steel is below the yield
strain.
ε' = ε() , f', = f() and ε0 1 ε2
ε' ε() f() kjbd"
Hence ψ() = = and M() =
c! c! 2
(ψel , Mel) provides point “3” on the graph and the curvature at point “2” can be found from the
ratio Mcr/Mel.
Once the proportional limit is exceeded, the concrete is well into the inelastic range, although the
steel has not yet yielded. The NA depth, C1 is less than the depth a = Kd and is changing with
increasing load as the shape of the concrete stress distribution and the steel stress changes.

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It is now convenient to adopt a numerical solution to find the concrete compressive force 'C' and
the location of its centroid for any arbitrarily selected value of maximum concrete strain εc in the
range εel< εc ≤ εcu.
The compressive strain diagram is divided into an arbitrary number of steps and the
corresponding stress for each strain read from the stress-strain curve concrete. The stepwise
representation of the actual continuous stress block is integrated numerically to find C, and its
point of application is located taking moments of the concrete forces about the top of the section.
The basic equilibrium requirement, C =T, can be used to find the correct location of the NA, for
the particular compressive strain selected, following an iterative procedure.
Alternative to numerical integration, formulae for determining the total compressive force as
stated in EBCS 2-1995 can be used and are given below.
1. εcm ≤ 2‰ and N.A. within the section

= (6 −
= )
< = BC
12
8 −
=
D = B
4(6 −
= ) C
2. εcm ≥ 2‰ and N.A. within the section
3
= − 2
< = BC
3
=

= (3
= − 4) + 2
D = B
2
= (3
= − 2 ) C
3. εcm ≥ 2‰ and N.A. outside the section

(125 + 64
= − 16
=
"
)
1
< =
189
40 (
= − 2)"
D = 0.5 −
7 125 + 64
= − 16
=
"

Then the total compressive force will be,

N = < O P

2.3 Plastic Hinge and Collapse mechanism

It is known that a continuous beam or frame normally will not fail when the ultimate moment
capacity of just one critical section is reached. A plastic hinge will be formed at that section
permitting large rotation to occur with essentially constant resisting moment at the end thus

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transferring the load to other locations along the span where the limiting resistance has not yet
been reached. If such a plastic hinge is formed in a determinate structure, uncontrolled deflection
takes place and the structure collapses. For example in the following fixed end beam

Mu Mu

Mu BMD from elastic analysis

final BM diagram

If a short segment of a reinforced concrete beam is subjected to a bending moment, continued

plastic rotation is assumed to occur after the calculated ultimate moment Mu is reached, with no
change in applied moment. The beam behaves as if there were a hinge at that point. However, the
hinge will not be “friction free”, but will have a constant resistance to rotation. If such a plastic
hinge forms in a determinate structure, as shown in figure below, an uncontrolled deflection
takes place and the structure will collapse. The resulting system is referred to as a mechanism.
This implies that a statically determinate system requires the formation of only one plastic hinge
in order to become a mechanism.

In the case of indeterminate structures, stability may be maintained even though hinges have
formed at several cross sections. The formation of such hinges in indeterminate structures
permits a redistribution of moments within the beam or frame. W and P can be carried by any
section strength combination at the supports and mid span as long as the average of the support
moment plus the positive moments at mid span 0.125Wl2. This allows the designer to reduce

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moments at some critical sections as long as it maintains equilibrium by increasing moments at

adjacent critical sections. The following questions may be raised: why decrease in moment at
critical section is essential while compensation for the decrease is made by increasing moments
at other sections?
Problem of congestion of reinforcement especially at supports can be addressed by adjusting the
moment diagram obtained through elastic analysis. Thus the sections at support can be designed
for less bending moment than predicted by elastic analysis implying less reinforcement and
therefore less congestion. The design load Wd is carried through inelastic moment redistribution
and the method of analysis involves adjustment of elastic bending moment diagram.
N.B. Plastic Moment redistribution is applicable only to statically indeterminate structures where
major load transfer is through bending action

For illustration let us see the behavior of an indeterminate beam of figure 2.3-1. It will be
assumed for simplicity that the beam is symmetrically reinforced, so that the negative bending
capacity is the same as the positive. Let the load P be increased gradually until the elastic
moment at the fixed support, 3PL/16 is just equal to the plastic moment capacity of the section,
Mu. This load is
16#% #%
Q = QRS = = 5.33 (1.1)
3T 3T
At this load the positive moment under the load is 5/32 PL, as shown in figure 2.3-1.

Figure 2.3-1

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The beam still responds elastically everywhere but at the left support. At that point the actual
fixed support can be replaced for purpose of analysis with a plastic hinge offering a known
resisting moment Mu, which makes the beam statically determinate.
The load can be increased further until the moment under the load also becomes equal to Mu, at
which load the second hinge forms. The structure is converted into a mechanism, as shown in
figure 2.3-1 c, and collapse occurs. The moment diagram at collapse is shown in figure 2.3-1d.
The magnitude of the load causing collapse is easily calculated from the geometry of figure 2.3-
1d.
#% QT
#% + =
2 4
From which
6#%
Q = Q% = (1.2)
T
By comparison of equation 1.2 and 1.1, it is evident that an increase of 12.5% is possible beyond
the load which caused the formation of the first plastic hinge, before the beam will actually
collapse. Due to the formation of plastic hinges, a redistribution of moments has occurred such
that, at failure, the ratio between positive moment and negative moment is equal to that assumed
in reinforcing the structure.

2.4 Rotation Requirement

It may be evident that there is a direct relation between the amount of redistribution desired and
the amount of inelastic rotation at the critical sections of a beam required to produce the desired
redistribution. In general, the greater the modification of the elastic-moment ratio, the greater the
required rotation capacity to accomplish that change. To illustrate, if the beam of figure 2.3-1a
had been reinforced according to the elastic-moment diagram of figure 2.3-1.b, no inelastic-
rotation capacity at all would be required. The beam would, at least in theory, yield
simultaneously at the left support and at mid-span. On the other hand, if the reinforcement at the
left support had been deliberately reduced (and the mid-span reinforcement correspondingly
increased), inelastic rotation at the support would be required before the strength at mid-span
could be realized.

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Reinforced concrete members with bending are designed to have certain ductility, which ensures
that the member is capable of undergoing a certain amount of rotation after yielding of the
tension steel reinforcement and before crushing of the concrete in compression.
Generally, the amount of redistribution depends on
• Hinge sections must be able to undergo necessary inelastic deformation. Since the
inelastic rotational capacity is a function of reinforcement ratio as in figure 2.4-1, this
implies an upper limit on the reinforcement,
• Hinges should not occur at service load since wide cracks develop at hinge location, and
• Equilibrium must be maintained.

Figure 2.4-1 Figure Moment-curvature diagram

To ensure that designs remain under-reinforced (ductile), EBCS-2 recommends that the ratio x/d,
at sections of largest moment, does not exceed the values given by the following equations as
functions of percent plastic moment redistribution.

U V 0.44 H 1.25 ⇒ X
W W U @ 0.44
, YZ  X 35#Q
  1.25
W W U @ 0.56
U V 0.56 H 1.25 ⇒ X , YZ  [ 35#Q
  1.25
\]Z]P ^Y^
U
#Y^ PYZ Z]ZP]Y

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For example, for 20% redistribution

W 0.8 @ 0.44
U  0.8 ⇒   0.288 (YZ  X 35#Q
 1.25
W 0.8 @ 0.56
  0.192 (YZ  [ 35#Q
 1.25

In moment redistribution usually it is the maximum support moments, which are (adjusted)
reduced so that economizing in reinforcing steel and also reducing congestion of bars at the
column. Requirements for applying moment - redistribution are:-
• Equilibrium between internal and external forces must be maintained; hence it is
necessary to recalculate the span moments.
• Maximum redistribution is 30% ... (U=_`  0.7)
Redistribution δ kx µ* kz*
0 1.0 0.450 0.295 0.814
10 0.9 0.368 0.252 0.840
20 0.8 0.288 0.205 0.880
30 0.7 0.208 0.143 0.914

Table 2.4-1 Table Moment Redistribution Design Factors

Design procedure using table No. 1a & 1b (with moment redistribution)

b
a ce
d
• Calculate B= = 

a) If B= < B= ∗ , where km* is the value of km shown shaded in general design table No. 1a,
corresponding to %age moment redistribution, section is singly reinforced.

Enter the general design table 1a using km and concrete grade.

Read ks from general design table No. 1a corresponding to steel grade.
B #Og

Evaluate  = 

b) If B= > B= ∗ , the section has to be doubly reinforced.

Calculate km⁄km*

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Read ks and ks' corresponding to km⁄km* and steel grade from table No. 1b and No. 1a
respectively.

Assume d2=d" and read ρ (correction factor) from table No. 1a using km⁄km* and d2/d.

Read ρ' corresponding to d2/d and %age moment redistribution from table No. 1b.

Calculate
B #O 
 = (]h Z]YZ^)

B ′#O ′
 ′ = (Y^jZ]k Z]YZ^)


Design procedure using general design chart (with moment redistribution)

# O
Calculate l = gP " 
O
•

a) If l < l ∗ , section is singly reinforced.

Evaluate Z from chart using Bm = n/
#O

Evaluate  = pn
O

b) If l > l ∗ , section is doubly reinforced.

Evaluate Z* from chart using Bm∗ = n ∗ /

Evaluate #%∗ = l ∗ O P "

Calculate
#%∗ q#
 ! = + (]h Z]YZ^)
nO ( − " )O
q#
 " = (Y^jZ]Y Z]YZ^)
( − " )

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