Plastic Analysis of

Structures
EFFECT OF AXIAL LOAD ON PLASTIC
MOMENT
ANALYSIS OF FRAMES

Effect of Axial Load on Plastic

Moment
when a beam section subjected to plastic moment only stress
distribution is as shown

presence of axial load causes additional stresses BUT still cannot

exceed y

 stress distribution in the presence of axial load

region of section under compressive stress increases while that

under tensile stress decreases
A modified stress distribution (for bending) results

 Section is doubly symmetric so we can assume that area under

action of compressive stresses equal to area under action of
tensile stresses
N.A. is in original position
By inspection we can see that the plastic moment has been
reduced

 Za is the plastic section modulus for the area where the axial
load acts
Remember the plastic modulus is given by

Such that

force on the area where the axial load acts is

Rearranging the term gives

And if we substitute this back into the expression for plastic

 Reduced plastic moment MP,R becomes

Now let the mean axial stress over the entire cross-section due
to P be a
We can write
Reduced plastic moment becomes

 Reduced plastic modulus ZP,R can be expressed as

K constant; depends on beam section geometry
n ratio of mean axial stress to yield stress

Expression for MP,R and ZP,R valid as long as N.A. lies in web
NB design of beams subjected to both bending and axial load
must also take into account local and global stability

Plastic Analysis of Frames

Analysis similar to that of beams i.e. assume collapse mechanism
and calculate collapse load using statics or virtual work
However frame collapse mechanisms have 2 components
Beam mechanism
Sway mechanism

Remember sway arises due to asymmetry of loading or supports

Analysis will be illustrated by example

E.g. Determine the collapse load W of the fame. The plastic

moment for all members is 200kNm. Also calculate support
reactions at collapse.
Both frame and loading asymmetric therefore sway will occur.
Bending moment diagram & 3 possible failure mechanisms are
shown below.

Notice the hinge cancellation at B in the combined mechanism

this is due to the fact that the moment due to vertical load
opposes that due to horizontal load- moment at B smallest

Beam mechanism
consider member BD only under action of vertical load
suppose BC given a rotation ; CB also rotates by (due to
symmetry)
angle at C is 2
remember we are assuming small angles therefore tan
consider BC

tan = x/2 =
so, x = 2

therefore vertical distance travelled by load W is 2

Using virtual work & equating external work done by load to

internal work done by plastic moment at hinges

from which we get

Sway mechanism
Now consider whole frame under action of horizontal load
AB rotated by angle
consider AB:

tan = = x/4

so, x = 4 this is the lateral sway of frame

consider DE:

tan = = x/2

= 4/2 = 2
so ED rotates through angle 2
using virtual work again
or

but x = 4

Combined Mechanism
Now consider whole frame under action of both loads and apply
virtual work equation- remember no hinge at B

and

We could get same result by

beam mechanism + sway mechanism contribution from hinge at
B

 i.e.

contribution from hinge B is circled

add the expressions and subtract circled quantities
To get critical mechanism compare the 3 answers
the lowest is

for the combined mechanism

 so
use statics to find
reactions
e.g. for reactions at E,
take moments about
D where internal
moment is MP

and resolving
horizontally

 now take moments about A to get vertical reactions

resolving vertically

but what happens when the members have different plastic

moments?

 say member BCD now has a plastic moment 2M P while AB and

DE have plastic moments MP

 vertical members are weaker so hinges form as shown

beam mechanism
and

 sway mechanism
so

combined mechanism

from which we get

Portal frames with pitched roofs

Find the collapse load W if the collapse mechanism is as shown.

 use concept of instantaneous centres

BC rotates by
Assumptions:
C moves perpendicular to BC to C
DE rotates about E such that D moves horizontally to D
this implies that CD rotates about instantaneous centre
I
Where I is intersection of BC and ED produced
IC and ID rotate through same angle

 considering the
triangles highlighted in
red

now considering
triangles highlighted in
green

 considering triangles highlighted in blue

 example has no sway as load is symmetrical

if a horizontal load is applied, other failure mechanisms possible
as shown