47-110 The Civil Engineering Handbook, Second Edition
1995). First-order plastic analysis is finding considerable application in continuous beams and low-rise
building frames where members are loaded primarily in flexure. For tall building frames and frames with
slender columns subjected to side sway, the interaction between yielding and instability may lead to
collapse prior to the formation of a plastic mechanism (SSRC, 1988). If an incremental analysis is carried
out based on the updated deformed geometry of the structure, the analysis is termed second order. The
need for a second-order analysis of steel frames is increasing in view of the modern codes and standards
that give explicit permission for the engineer to compute load effects from a direct second-order analysis.
This section presents the virtual work principle to explain the fundamental theorems of plastic hinge
analysis. Simple and approximate techniques of practical plastic analysis methods are then introduced.
The concept of hinge-by-hinge analysis is presented. The more advanced topics, such as second-order
elastic-plastic hinge, refined plastic hinge analysis, and spread of plasticity analysis, are covered in the
Stability of Structures section.
Ductility
Plastic analysis is strictly applicable for materials that can undergo large deformation without fracture.
Steel is one such material, with an idealized stress–strain curve, as shown in Fig. 47.92. When steel is
subjected to tensile force, it will elongate elastically until the yield stress is reached. This is followed by
an increase in strain without much increase in stress. Fracture will occur at very large deformation. This
material idealization is generally known as elastic-perfectly plastic behavior. For a compact section, the
attainment of initial yielding does not result in failure of a section. The compact section will have reserved
plastic strength that depends on the shape of the cross-section. The capability of the material to deform
under a constant load without decrease in strength is the ductility characteristic of the material.
Redistribution of Forces
The benefit of using a ductile material can be demonstrated from an example of a three-bar system,
shown in Fig. 47.93. From the equilibrium condition of the system,
(47.198)
Assuming the elastic stress–strain law, the displacement and force relationship of the bars may be written
as:
(47.199)
FIGURE 47.92 Idealized stress–strain curve.
2
12
TT P+=
d= =
TL
AE
TL
AE
11 2 2
Perfectly plastic
Elastic
Strain
Stress
1
E
σ
y
ε
y