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Plasticity theorems
Proof of virtual work theorem
Stress " Body load per unit volume p Boundary load per unit area F Displacement u Strain increment #
" = "T # " + p = 0 within body F = n " on boundary T( 1% $ = '#u + (#u) * ) 2&
Using divergence theorem

" p udV = # " ($ % ) udV

V

= # " $ (% u) dV +
V

" % $udV

= # " n % udA +
&V

" % 'dV

Thus

" p udV + " F udA = " $ %dV .

#V
V

This is the virtual work theorem.

Upper bound theorem

Assume distributions of loads are known, but collapse load factor, Thus

"collapse , is unknown.

pcollapse = "collapsepknown Fcollapse = "collapseFknown

and assume a collapse mode,

u, ":

! !

% ( "collapse' # pknown udV + # Fknown udA* = &V ) $V

# + ,dV
"collapse even if we use the WRONG (virtual)
".

Note that this will give us the CORRECT value of

collapse mode shape PROVIDED that we use the CORRECT However

!
Yield Surface

$ " #dV % $ "

V

#dV

where

" Yield Surface is the stress corresponding

to the plastic strain increment

" . The " is

there if we assume the normality condition

! and that the yield surface is convex. ! !

The normality condition states that the plastic strain increment is perpendicular to the yield surface. Thus if we use

$"

Yield Surface

#dV on the right hand side we must obtain an upper bound for

"collapse .
! bound theorem Lower
!
Postulate state of stress which satisfies

" # + $collapsepknown = 0 within body

$collapseFknown = n # on boundary
everywhere and does not violate the yield condition.

Then

% ( "collapse' # pknown udV + # Fknown udA* = &V ) $V

for any (virtual) mode of deformation,

# + ,dV

u, " .

If we have the true collapse state of stress then the right hand side is equal to

$"

Yield Surface

#dV . Again ! using !

$ " #dV % $ "

V

Yield Surface

#dV we must now have a

lower bound on the collapse load.