Chapter Three: Inelastic Moment Redistribution 1
Chapter Three: Inelastic Moment Redistribution
3.1 Introduction
When designing a structure and its components, the designer must decide on the appropriate
structural model. The choice of the model effects:
- the analysis of the structure, which is aimed at the determination of the stress (internal
forces and moments), and
- the calculation of cross section resistance
Thus a model implies the use of a method of analysis combined with a method of cross section
resistance calculation.
There are several possible combinations of methods of analysis and methods of cross-section
calculation, for the ultimate limit state, involving either an elastic or plastic design approach;
the possible combinations are:
a) Plastic-plastic model:
This is related to plastic design of structures. Full plasticity may be developed within cross-
sections, so that plastic hinges can form. These have suitable moment rotation characteristics
giving sufficient rotation capacity for the formation of a plastic mechanism, as the result of
moment redistribution in the structure.
b) Elastic-plastic model:
For structures composed of sections which can achieve their plastic resistance, but have not
sufficient rotation capacity to allow for a plastic mechanism in the structure. The stresses from
the elastic analysis are compared with the plastic section capacity.
c) Elastic-elastic model:
When the cross section of a structure cannot achieve their plastic capacity both analysis and
verification of cross section conducted elastically.
Elastic analysis of reinforced concrete beams gives reasonable results up to working loads.
Beyond working loads the elastic analysis is not applicable because of the non linearity in the
stress-strain curves for the materials and the cracks which develop in concrete. When beam is
loaded beyond working loads, plastic hinges form at certain locations. On further loading of
the beam, bending moments do not increase beyond the ultimate moment capacities of the
these sections, however, rotations at the plastic hinges keep on increasing. A redistribution of
moments takes place, the moment now being received by the less stressed sections. The
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Chapter Three: Inelastic Moment Redistribution 2
rotation at a plastic hinges keeps on increasing with out any increase in the moment until the
ultimate rotation capacity is reached beyond which the section collapses
3.2 Non-Linear Analysis of Indeterminate Structures
The linear elastic analysis of structures is based on the assumption that there is a linear
relationship between the stress and strain in a member, i.e.
E
Where: E is the elastic modulus (young’s modulus)
is strain
For a section in bending (Fig. 1.1a), the linear elastic moment curvature is given by:
M E
M EI * 1 EI (1*)
I R R
Where: I is second moment of area of x-section
R is radius of curvature
= 1/R is curvature
Thus for a linear elastic section, the moment curvature relationship is linear (Fig1.1b).
M
EI = slope
(a)
(b)
Fig. 3.1
The above equation and the second moment of area in this equation are applicable to beams of
homogenous x-section. RC is not homogenous as it consists of two materials (concrete & steel)
which have considerably different values of elastic modulus. However, it is possible to
transform a RC section in to an equivalent homogenous concrete section and to calculate an
equivalent second moment of area.
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Chapter Three: Inelastic Moment Redistribution 3
When the internal moment, M, is very small, the concrete is un-cracked and the equivalent
second moment of area is denoted by Iut. Denoting the elastic modulus of concrete as Ec,
equation (1*) becomes:
M E c I ut (2*)
However, at quite low moment, the section cracks, the equivalent second moment of area drops
to a much lower value, then equation (2*) becomes:
M E c I ct (3*)
Where; Ict is the equivalent second moment of area of the cracked section. This relationship is
diagrammatically shown in Fig. 3.2.
Equation (3*) remains valid until the material behavior becomes non-linear. For a properly
designed reinforced concrete section, the steel yields before the concrete crushes. This happens
at an applied moment of My. As steel is ductile material, the section too is ductile, and beyond
the yield point the curvature increases greatly for a relatively small increase in the moment.
Complete failure of the section occurs when the concrete at the extreme fiber in compression
crushes. The curvature at this stage is denoted by Ψult.
Fig. 3.2 Moment-curvature diagram for RC
Linear analysis is based on the assumption that Ψ < Ψy at all sections of all members. Thus
linear elastic analysis techniques, such as the stiffness methods and moment distribution, are
based on this assumption. In this section non-linear methods of analysis are considered for
which there is no such restriction on Ψ.
3.3 Plastic Hinges and Collapse Mechanisms
Indeterminate structures such as continuous beams or frames normally will not fail when the
ultimate moment capacity of just one critical section is reached. A plastic hinge will form at
that section permitting large rotation to occur at essentially constant resisting moment and thus
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Chapter Three: Inelastic Moment Redistribution 4
transferring load to other locations along the span where the limiting resistance has not yet
been reached. Normally in a continuous beam or frame, excess capacity will exist at those
other locations because they would have been reinforce for moments resulting from different
load distributions selected to produce maximum moments at those other locations.
As loading is further increased, additional plastic hinges may form at other locations along the
span and eventually result in collapse of structure after a significant redistribution of moments.
Reconsider the following simplified moment curvature for an actual ductile RC beam.
Fig. 3.3 Moment-curvature diagram for RC
The diagram is linear up to the cracking moment Mcr, after which nearly straight line of some
what flatter slope is obtained. At the yielding moment My, the unit rotation starts to increase
disproportionately. Further increased in applied moment causes extensive inelastic rotation
until eventually the compressive strain limit of the concrete is reached at the ultimate rotation
.After the ultimate moment Mu is reached, continued plastic rotation is assumed to occur with
no change in applied moment. The beam behaves as if there were a hinge at that point.
If such a plastic hinge forms in a determinate structure, as shown in Fig.3.4, uncontrolled
deflection takes place and the structure collapses
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Chapter Three: Inelastic Moment Redistribution 5
Fig. 3.4 Statically determinate member after the formation of plastic hinge
As the formation of such hinges in indeterminate structures permits a redistribution of
moments with in a beam or frame, stability may be maintained even after the formation of
plastic hinges at several sections.
Consider a symmetrically reinforced propped cantilever shown in Fig. 1.5a. Let the load p be
increased gradually until the elastic moment at the fixed support, 3/16 PL is equal to the plastic
moment capacity of the section Mn. This load is
P = Pel = 16Mn/3L = 5.33Mn/L (a)
At this load, the positive moment under the load is 5/32PL, as shown in Fig.3.5b. the beam still
responds elastically every where but at the left support. At that point the actual fixed support
can be replaced for purpose of analysis with a plastic hinge offering a known resisting moment
Mn. Because a redundant reaction has been replaced by a known moment, the beam is now
determinate. The load can be increased further until the moment under the load also becomes
equal to Mn, at which load the second hinge forms. The structure is converted in to a
mechanism, as shown in Fig. 3.5c, and collapse occurs. The moment diagram at collapse load
is shown in Fig.3.5d.
The magnitude of the load causing collapse is easily calculated from the geometry of Fig.3.5d.
Mn+Mn/2 = pL/4 (b)
By comparison of eqs(b) and (a), it is evident that an increase in P of 12.5 percent is possible
beyond the load which caused the formation of the first plastic hinge, before the beam will
actually collapse.
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Chapter Three: Inelastic Moment Redistribution 6
Fig. 3.5
Rotation Requirement
The amount of rotation required at plastic hinges for any assumed moment diagram can be
found by considering the requirements of compatibility. The member must be bent, under the
combined effects of elastic moment and plastic hinges, so that the correct boundary conditions
are satisfied at the supports. Usually zero support deflection is to be maintained.
The angle of rotation caused by change in bending moment can be calculated using:
ML
M
3EI
My
Where: EI , and EI accounts for the cracked
y
section at yielding of tension steel
Rotation Capacity
The capacity of concrete structures to absorb inelastic rotations at plastic hinge locations is not
unlimited. The designer adopting full limit analysis in concrete must calculate not only the
amount of rotation required at critical sections to achieve the assumed degree of moment
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Chapter Three: Inelastic Moment Redistribution 7
redistribution but also the rotation capacity of the members at those sections to ensure that it is
adequate.
The rotation at the plastic hinge shall be checked and the calculated value shall not exceed
certain ultimate rotation p, given by:
p = (u-y)Lp
Where: u = curvature at the ultimate limit state
cu
= cu
x x
x
1
R
R
strain
stress
y = elastic curvature when yielding of steel just starts
yd
y c
d x el
xel
N.A moves up ward when steel yields
yd d-xel
strain
Lp = length of plastic hinge (as the plastic rotation is not confined to one cross section but is
distributed over a finite length)
Lp
X el d
'
2( ' d )
( ) 1 1
' d
( ' ) 2
Es
Ec
z o 14
L p k1 k 2 k 3 ( ) d
d
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Chapter Three: Inelastic Moment Redistribution 8
0.7 for hot rolled steel
k1 0.9 for cold worked steel
1.0 in case of bending
k 2 Nd
10.5N u when normalforceis present
K3 = 0.6. . . 0.9 depends on concrete grade
Concrete grade C15 C25 C35 C45
K3 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6
zo is the distance between the plastic hinges and zero point of bending
moment
zo
p is the capacity to rotate after the formation of plastic hinge ,before redistribution
3.4 Moment Redistribution as per EBCS
A limited amount of redistribution is permitted by EBCS depending up on the degree of
ductility with out explicit calculation of rotation requirements and capacities.
The amount of redistribution allowed is dependant on the grade of the concrete and on the
ductility characteristics of the reinforcement as well as the neutral axis.
Moments obtained from a linear analysis may be reduced by multiplying by the following
reduction coefficient provided that the moments are increased in other sections in order to
maintain equilibrium. Usually it is the maximum support moments which are reduced, so
economizing in reinforcing steel and also reducing congestion at the columns.
a) For continuous beams and for beams in rigid jointed braced frames with span to effective
depth ratio not greater than 20.
0.44 1.25 x d
The neutral axis height, X, is calculated at the ultimate limit state and the term x/d refers to the
section where the moment is reduced
b) For other continuous beams and rigid jointed braced frames
0.75
c) For sway frames with slenderness ratio of column less than 25
0.9
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