Plastic Analysis of Beams

Failure (Collapse) Mechanisms

the failure mechanism describes the state in which a beam acts as a
mechanism at the point of failure
in this state we have sections of the beam rotating with respect to
each other about plastic hinges
a statically determinate beam will fail completely when a single plastic
hinge is formed but indeterminate beams may have to develop several
before collapse occurs as shown below

e.g. consider the indeterminate beam below

the elastic bending moment diagram

 the moment at the support is larger so it reaches a value equal

to the plastic moment Mp first and a plastic hinge is formed

as load is further increased the beam now acts as if it is simply

supported until plastic moment reached at B and another hinge is

formed
beam can take NO MORE load

the corresponding bending moment diagram is

 moment distribution occurs in indeterminate beams

i.e. when support A reaches Mp then moment stays constant (at

plastic hinge) and bending increases at B instead
Remember: Yield condition bending moment at any point must
not exceed plastic moment at that point
moment redistribution:
- causes change in shape of bending moment diagram (elastic vs plastic)
- increases ultimate strength of structure (as one section fails then other

sections have to carry extra load)

ultimate load can be found using statics:

Considering BC

and, therefore

plastic analysis of indeterminate simpler than elastic analysis

since we dont have to use elastic bending moment diagram at all

we simply find positions of plastic hinges and calculate using
statics
NB: -ultimate load not affected by imperfections and sinking

supports
- cannot use superposition

- loads assumed to be applied simultaneously and ratio between

them remains constant

Virtual Work Method

considering the propped cantilever again

at collapse the beam is in equilibrium with plastic hinge at A

and B
lets say that AB rotates by a small amount ; BC also rotates by
the same amount

vertical displacement at B is L/2 (small angles)

angle at B is 2
reactions at A and C do not displace vertically
the only force doing work is WU
internal forces doing work are M P at A and B (resist rotation)

and as before

since plastic hinges form at regions of peak bending moment it

follows that for beams with a series of point loads, hinges will form
under the loads

e.g. calculate the minimum value of w required to cause

collapse

largest moments occur at A and some point C between A

and B
rotation of AB and BC are and respectively
vertical deflection of C is

 total load on AC is wx acting at x/2 and will be displaced a distance d/2

total load on CB is w(L-x) and its centroid also displaced d/2
using virtual work

NB: B is a hinge- rotates- no plastic hinge formation

combining equations above

 finally

equation yields more than one value of

we need to find minimum value of w

which reduces to

solving this quadratic and ignoring the negative value of x

gives

 substituting value of x back into expression for w gives

now use lower bound theorem to check we have critical

mechanism
taking moments about A
which gives
taking moments about B

vertical equilibrium is satisfied

 now considering RHS and taking moments about C

substituting for RB and w gives

same result from considering LHS

load satisfies vertical and moment equilibrium
bending moment at any distance x1 from B

and
from which we get

 substituting for RB, x1 and w into

gives

therefore yield criterion is met

so the yield mechanism assumed is correct.