MODULE 6

PLASTIC THEORY
 CONTENTS

Introduction – plastic hinge concepts – plastic

modulus – shape factor – redistribution of moments –
collapse mechanisms –
Plastic analysis of beams and portal frames by
equilibrium and mechanism methods.(Single Storey
and Single bay Frames only)
 WHAT IS PLASTIC ANALYSIS?

• Plastic theory involves the analysis of structures beyond

the elastic limit, i.e, in the plastic region of stress - strain
curve.
Idealised stress - strain curve
ELASTIC ANALYSIS
PLASTIC ANALYSIS
 ASSUMPTIONS IN PLASTIC THEORY

• Material of the beam is homogeneous and isotropic

• The beam material is stressed upto yield value.
• Plane sections remain plane even after bending.
• Each layer of the beam is free to expand or contract,
independent of the layer above or below it.
• Value of Young's modulus is same in tension and
compression.
 PLASTIC HINGE CONCEPT

Consider a beam of symmetrical section,

subjected to any moment, M. Due to this M,
the cross sections of the beam will develop
bending stresses as shown in Fig.1.

Let this bending stress developed at the

extreme fibres be 'f' or 'σ' and let it be within
yield stress, fy or σy.
 3 4
1 2
• If moment M is increased, the bending
stress will increase lineraly until the
extreme fibre stress reaches the yield
stress σy (Fig 2)
• Further increase in moment cannot
produce any increase in bending stress
beyond yield stress σy.
• But it causes yield stress to spread into
the inner fibres as in Fig 3.
• At this stage, beam is said to be in
elasto - plastic stage, as a part of
section is in elastic sage and another
part is in plastic stage.
• Further increase in moment will cause
more and more fibres to reach yield
stress until the whole section reaches
yield stress as in fig 4.
• At this stage, the section has reached its
maximum resistance and canot be
subjected to anymore moment.
• Any increase in load or moment will
cause it to collapse.
 Plastic hinge

• The beam will behave as if it is hinged

at the plastic section. Such a section is
called plastic hinge.
 PLASTIC MOMENT OR COLLAPSE MOMENT

• The resisting moment of a beam section, which has

developed a plastic hinge is called plastic moment or
collapse moment.
C= Total compressive force
T = Total tensile force
 COLLAPSE LOAD and LOAD FACTOR

• COLLAPSE LOAD
– The load which causes collapse moment or plastic
moment in the section of a beam is called collapse
load.
• LOAD FACTOR
– Ratio of collapse load to safe working load is known as
load factor
 SHAPE FACTOR

• The ratio of plastic section modulus to elastic section

modulus of a section is called shape factor.

S>1
SHAPE FACTORS FOR VARIOUS CROSS SECTIONS
Diamond cross section
?Calculate the shape factor
of the following I section.
Take σy=250 N/mm2, find the
plastic moment capacity.
 SECTION MODULUS

4
I=34900166.67mm
PLASTIC SECTION MODULUS

ZP=319350mm3
SHAPE FACTOR AND PLASTIC MOMENT CAPACITY
?Calculate the shape
factor of the following T
section.
 SECTION MODULUS

4
I=3185253.7mm
 PLASTIC SECTION MODULUS

Plastic neutral axis

Assume that the equal area
axis is in the flange at a
distance yp from the top fibre.
Calculate the shape factor
BASIC THEOREMS FOR FINDING COLLAPSE LOADS
 Lower Bound Theorem
• It states that
– For a given structure and loading, if there exists any distribution of
bending moment throughout the structure which is safe and
statically admissible with a set of loads W, the value of W must be
less than or equal to collapse load Wc.
• The term 'safe'means at no • The term 'statically admissible'
point BM is more than MP. means, BMD satisfies static
equilibrium conditions.
The theorem is called lower bound theorem, since the values of
loads obtained are always less than or equal to collapse load.
 Upper Bound Theorem
• It states that
– For a given structure, subjected to a set of loads W, the value of W
found to correspond to any assumed mechanism must be either
greater than or equal to collapse load WC.
 Uniqueness Theorem

• Static and Kinematic theorems can be combined to form a

theorem which gives a unique value for collapse load.
• It states that
– For a given structure and loading, at least one safe and statically
admissble bending moment distribution can be found and in this
distribution, the bending moment equals the fully plastic moment
at enough cross -sections to cause failure of the structure due to
unlimited rotations at plastic hinges, the corresponding load will
be equal to collapse load WC.
 METHODS OF PLASTIC ANALYSIS

• STATICAL METHOD • KINEMATIC METHOD

 STATICAL METHOD

• It is suitable for analysis of structure for which shape of

BMD is easily known.
• The method consists of drawing BMD and equating the
bending moment at sufficient points to plastic moments,
so that collapse mechanism forms
 COLLAPSE LOADS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF BEAMS

1. Simply supported beam with central point load

Let WC be the collapse load and MP

be the plastic moment at collapse.
 2. Simply supported beam with eccentric point load

Let WC be the collapse load and MP

be the plastic moment at collapse.

MP
 3. Simply supported beam with udl

Let wC be the collapse load and MP

be the plastic moment at collapse.

MP
4. Propped cantilever with central point load
Let WC be the collapse load and
MP be the plastic moment at
collapse.

In this beam, maximum negative

bending moment occurs at the fixed
support A, and maximum positive
bending moment occurs under the
load.
From geometry,
5. Propped cantilever with eccentric point load
Let WC be the collapse load and
MP be the plastic moment at
collapse.

In this beam, maximum negative

bending moment occurs at the fixed
support A, and maximum positive
bending moment occurs under the
load.
From geometry,
• Position of load for minimum collpase load

Differentiate this equation w.r.t. a and equating to zero

6. Collapse load for propped cantilever with udl
Let wC be the collapse load and
MP be the plastic moment at
collapse.

In this beam, maximum negative

bending moment occurs at the fixed
support, and maximum positive
bending moment occurs at a
distance x from the simple support.
BMx
7. Fixed beam with point load at centre
Let WC be the collapse load and
MP be the plastic moment at
collapse.

In this beam, maximum negative

bending moment occurs at the fixed
supports, and maximum positive
bending moment occurs under the
load.
From
geometry,

MP
8. Fixed beam with eccentric point load
Let WC be the collapse load and
MP be the plastic moment at
collapse.

In this beam, maximum negative

bending moment occurs at the fixed
supports, and maximum positive
bending moment occurs under the
load.
From geometry,
9. Fixed beam with udl

From
geometry,

MP

MP MP
Find the plastic moment and the
collapse load for the given beam.
Take working stress = 147.1 N/mm2,
yield stress = 220.6 N/mm2,and
shape factor = 1.15
• Determine the collapse load of the fixed beam of
constant section, if MP is the plastic moment.
BM at load point P,
when the
load is applied on a
simply
supported beam
 FREE SPAN BENDING
X
MOMENT DIAGRAM

RA RB
 MP 2.25P

MP MP
Determine the collapse load of the fixed beam of
constant section, if MP is the plastic moment.
 KINEMATIC METHOD

• This method starts with an assumed collapse

mechanism.
• After collapse mechanism is formed, there will not be any
change in curvature at any cross-section, except where
plastic hinges are formed.
• Hence, if a virtual displacement is given to the structure
just after collapse mechanism is formed, the internal work
is done only at plastic hinges.
By equating the internal work done by the plastic moment at
the plastic hinges to the external work done by load, we can
get the collapse load.
1. Determine the collapse load.
Let θ be the slope at A and B, they will
be same as the beam is symmetric in
loading and geometry.

Collapse mechanism is shown with

virtual displacement Δ at C.
2. Determine the collapse load.
Let θ1 and θ2 be the slope at A and B

a b
3. Determine the collapse load.
Let θ be the slope at A and B, they will
be same as the beam is symmetric in
loading and geometry.
4. Determine the collapse load.
Let θ be the slope at A and B, they will
be same as the beam is symmetric in
loading and geometry.
5. Determine the collapse load.
Let θ1 and θ2 be the slope at A and B
 Let θ1 and θ2 be the slope at A and B
6. Determine the collapse load.
7. Determine the collapse load.
Let θ be the slope at A and B, they will
be same as the beam is symmetric in
loading and geometry.
8. Determine the collapse load.
Let θ1 and θ2 be the slope at A and B
9. Determine the collapse load.
Let θ be the slope at A and B, they will
be same as the beam is symmetric in
loading and geometry.
10. Determine the collapse load.

Hinges will be formed at the supports

and any of the load points. So, two
mechanisms should be investigated.
The one giving less WC will be the real
collapse mechanism.
 Mechanism 1
Let θ1 and θ2 be the slope at A and B

B
A

0.2L 0.8L
θ1 θ2
Δ2
Δ1

θ1 θ2
 Mechanism 2
Let θ1 and θ2 be the slope at A and B

B
A

0.75L 0.25L
θ1 θ2
Δ1 Δ2

θ1 θ2
In both cases, the mechanisms give
same collapse load.
In the continuous beam, plastic moment capacity of AB is to be kept
twice that of BC. Determine plastic moment capacity of the beams if
the loads shown are working loads. Take load factor as 1.5.
Let plastic moment capacity of BC be MP. Hence, plastic moment
capacity of AB is 2MP. Two collapse mechanism are possible, one
for AB and another for BC.

Collapse load = 1.5× working load

Collapse mechanism of AB: Lower MP should be
considered
Collapse mechanism of BC:
Calculate the plastic moment capacity required for the
continuous beam with working loads.Take load factor= 1.5.
 Collapse load=Working load x Load factor

The two possible mechanisms are there.

Mechanism of beam BC:
Find the required value of plastic moment in the continuous beam.
The loads shown in the figure are the collapse loads.

There are four possible mechanisms for the collapse of the continuous beam.
Beam mechanism in AB
First beam mechanism in BC
Second beam mechanism in BC
Beam mechanism in CD
Mechanism 3 is the real mechanism and required value of MP = IOOkNm
Therefore, the plastic moment capacity for various spans required is
Plastic analysis of frames

Analysis of single bay, single storey frames is considered.

The frame may fail by forming any one of
the following mechanisms

1. Beam mechanism
2. Sway mechanism
3. Combined mechanism
Beam Mechanism
 Sway mechanism
Due to lateral forces, a frame may sway considerably and form
collapse mechanism

• Two hinges at bottom and two hinges

at the top of the columns are
necessary for this type of collapse.
• Sometimes, hinges at bottom may be
mechanical hinges.
• Work is done by plastic moments
acting at plastic hinges.
 Combined mechanism

Combination of beam mechanism and sway mechanism

 The real mechanism is the one in which internal work done is less and external
work done is more, so that least collapse load or maximum plastic moment
capacity required is existing. Hence, while combining the mechanism, one
should aim at reducing internal work and increasing the external work. In
combined mechanism, sway will be on the windward direction. To this, if we
combine the mechanism in the beam which can eliminate hinge at B and at the
same time adds work done by both horizontal and vertical loads, it may be
critical. Formation of hinges in the intermediate portion of columns ( combining
beam mechanism of columns) increases internal work considerably, hence, it
will not yield real collapse condition.
Determine the plastic moment capacity of the section required for
the frame. The loads shown are the working loads. Take load
factor λ = 1.75. Assume same plastic moment capacity for all the
members.

Frame with collapse

loads.
140 kN
Sway mechanism:
Combined mechanism:
Beam mechanism in AB
Beam mechanism in BC
Sway mechanism
Combined mechanism
Determine the value of collapse load of the frame.

Beam mechanism
Sway mechanism
 Combined mechanism

Real collapse load is:

WC= 1.333 Mp
Beam mechanism: