‘Plastic Theory 26'1. INTRODUCTION A-structuie may reach its limit of usefulness through instability, fatigue or excessive deflection. Alternatively, if none of these failure modes occur, then the structure will continue to carry load beyond the elastic limit until it reaches its ultimate load through. plastic deformation, and then collapse. Plastic analysis is based on this mode of failure. The concept of ductility of structural steel forms. the basis for the plastic theory of bending. The rigorous analysis of a structure according to the theory of elasticity demands that the stress satisfy two sets of conditions : (1) the equilibrium conditions and (2) compatibility conditions. The first set of conditions must be invariably satisfied in any material. How- ever, the second condition ceases to be valid as soon.as plastic yield- ing occurs. The elastic method of design assumes that a frame will become useless af soon as yield stress is reached. The working stress is, therefore, kept much below the yield stress. The design so produced gives a structure of unknown ultimate strength. The elastic methods of analysis are also very cumbersome, specially for redund- ant frames. In plastic method of design, the limit load of a system is a statically determinate quantity. The limit load is independent of all imperfections of the structure, such as faulty length of bars, settle- ment of supports and residual stresses caused by rolling or welding. The plastic method of design’Bives an economical design. The margin of safety provided in this’ method is not less than that provided according to the past practice. The need for the study of plastic behaviour was appreciated by A.E.H. Love in 1892. . The posibility of the development of plastic hinge was first suggested by G.V. Kazinezy in 1914. Prof. H. Maier- Leibnitz of Germany carried out load tests on eneastre and conti- 837 ‘Scanned wih CamScanner838 STRENGTH OF MATERIALS AND THEORY OF sTRUCy ‘URES uous beams, carrying them out of the elastic into the plastic rangg and showed that the ultimate capacity was not effected by settlement of supports of continuous beams. Further work was done by Vander Brock in United States and J.F. Baker and his associates in Grea: Britain. 262. THE DUCTILITY OF STEEL The'plastic theory is based on the ductility:of steel. Through structural steel has capacity of absorbing large deforma- ductility, However, in tion beyond elastic limit without the danger of fracture. the plastic range, the behaviour of steel depends strongly not only on its chemical composition but also.on the mechanical and thermal treatments to which it has been subjected. > STRESS (N/mm2.) o a : STRAIN (a) COMPLETE STRESS-STRAIN CURVE. ~ ¢ § 2 20 a ISO 3 7100 ‘5. 50 0 0.05 107 20.0 O05 21: FO 5 STRAIN (%) STRAIN (%) (b) PORTION ABC ENLARGED” (c) IDEALISED cuRVE ts. Tig. 266, ‘Stress-Strain curves. Scanned wth CamSe[oe ames | PLASTIC THEORY 339 Fig. 26°1 (a) shows the complete stress-strain curve of mild steel. Fig. 2671 (6) shows the portion ABC enlarged. It will be seen that the stress-strain relation is linear in the elastic range. The upper yield is reached at point A, and. then the stress suddenly drops to Jower yield stress at B. The strain then increases upto C at constant stress. This represents the plastic range. Beyond C the sirain increases with further increase of stress and the material is said to be in strain hardening range. For ordinary steel the elastic strain is about 1/12 to 1/15 of strain at the beginning of the strain hardening and about 1/200 of maximum strain. Experience shows that the metal of rolled beams does not usually exhibit any upper yield point and that even when an upper yield point ‘exists, it can be removed by cold working such as strai- ghtening. Hence the theory of plastic bending is based on the assumption of a steel without upper yield point. The strain upto point C is about 1°5%. In plastic design, at ultimate load the critical t strains will not have exceeded about 1°5% elongation. Hence the strain hardening range is neglected in simple theory of plastic bend- ing. This reduces complications in the calculations, and still leaves available a major portion of reserve ductility of steel which can be used as an added margin of safety. Fig. 2671 (c) shows the idealised stress-strain curve which forms the basis of plastic design. 263. ULTIMATE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY OF BERS CARRYING AXIAL FORCES Consider three bars OA, OB and OC, meeting at a common point O and hinged at the other ends 4, B and C respectively (Fig. 26:2). Let a vertical load P be applied at the point 0. We shall first solve the problem by elastic method. Let P, be the tensile force in OB and P2 be the force in OA and OC. Point O moves vertically to O" after the application of the load. Let A, and Aq be the axial deformations of rods BO and AO (or CO) respectively. The dotted lines show the deformation portion i of the structure. From Statics, P,+2P, cos 0=P soll) The structure is statically indeterminate to single degree. The ‘second equation is obtained from the compati As=Ax cos 0 Poly _ PyL: . AEB eo |EM- ity of deformations : 2 @l | ‘Scanned with CemScannerLUCTURES, AGTH OF MATERIALS AND THEORY OF STRUCTUR EN 840 STR =Length of Od. ber OB and Ly ae ee ee i of each bar (assumed equal). “ (2) " From (1) and (2), we get Py Pn = T#2 cos 8 P Aa, ne eee E) Uk2e0s@) YO Hy Ly ELASTIC. TANT DUNRESTRICTED “E~ “ETSeckq DEFORMATION CONTAINED FLOW E § PLASTIC FLOW () : () Fig, 262, s less than unity, Point of view of ee cos O is alway: oP; From the itis clear that P, is greater elastic theory, the system. ‘Scanned with CamScanner841 “(or becomes useless) when the central bar ri i At the yied condition, the force P, in the a ee to A.cy while the force Pz (from Bq. 2) will be aie <# 9. Hence the total load, called the elastic limit foad is ° +2P2 cos 0=Aay+2Asy cos? 9 : jay (1+2 cos? 0) (261) “The corresponding elongation of OB is given by ie oly Aa=~ FE ++(26°2) © In Fig. 262 (0), OB and OA represent the increase in P, and ively, as the external force is increased from zero to P. Let us now analyse the structure on the basis of Plastic theory. |. (1) above holds good in this case also. However, when the load P, in the central rod reaches a value doy. the structure does not sllapse, but continues to take further load. When the external load eased above P,:the force in the: central bar retains the he yield point. When all the three bars have yielded, we have P,\=P,=Acy +) From (1) and (3), the load at the yield, called the plastic © collapse or limit load, is given by PL=P,-+2P. cos 0=Aay-+2Aay.cos 6 or Pu=Asy (1+2 cos 8) 4(26°3) When all the three bars have reached the plastic stage, UB. 2 —_ovls 2 be OG eet Hence the vertical deflection of the joint 0 is given by wordy E cos? 6 It isto be observed that this defiection is sec® 6 times the elastic deflection A.; given by Eq. 26°2. If 0=45°, we get bv=2d..= 7B. Mies «..(26°4) Fig. 26°2.(e) shows a piot between the load P versus the vertical: defiection A(=A,). ‘Scanned wih ComScannerS42 STRENGTH OF NATERIALS AND THGORY OF STRUCTURES When the external loud P.: is increased, the central rod! is fully in plastic stage while the end rods are still in elastic stage. This condition is generally called the contained plasie flow condition re. Presented by lines KC and AC of Fig, 26°2 (6). When all the three rods have become plastic, the condition is known as the unrestricted Flow condition, The toad Pi given by Eq. 263 may be considered as the Sailure load. The service load may be taken as a certain portion Get load Pi, where Q is a safety factor, usually called a load factor in plastic analysis. Thus, > +(26"9) saving achieved by designing according to the plastic as shown in Fg. 26°33, Find the value of Wat collapse. on Fig, 26°33 Fig. 26°34 18, Apportal frame shown in Fig, 26°34 has tiroughout. Determine the value of the plastic mom in terms of the load parameter Wc at collapse. 19, A portal frame of height L and span L is hinged at the base and is of uniform plastic moment Mp. It carries a single central vertical load. Find the value of W at collapse. 20, A fixed rectangular portal frame of height L and span 21, is of uniform section with fully plastic moment Me. A horizontal load W is applied at the top of the column and another load W is applied vertically at the centre of the beam, Find the value of W at collapse. uniform. section ent of resistance ANSWERS 1. 0'868 d. 2. (@). 115'2 kN (b) 139 kN. 3. Po=( 1+ Jz) 408 s P= doe (+2). 4 @ Sond (if) 2oy.A. .6Mp 7 ro 3, Me ra ‘Scanned wih CamScanner882 10. il. 12. 13. 14, 15. 16. 17. 18. 19, 20. STRENGTH OF MATERIALS AND THEORY op stave 8 16M; @ 5 AM. We=146 t ; Safe, W=73 t. We=235'6 KN. + at either ends and 4 at the middle, Wea te Ab ae | a=0°586. a(1—a)