EXPERIMENT TITLE: PLASTIC ANALYSIS

1.0

OBJECTIVE

To find the form factor

To investigate the load deflection relationship for a beam to the point of plastic
collapse.

2.0

LEARNING OUTCOME

Able to apply the structural knowledge in practical application.

To improve the technical efficiency through the laboratory work.
Able to communicate effectively in team work.
Able to recognize the problem, solving and getting the solution through experimental
work
3.0

INTRODUCTION
During the design process for beams it would not be unreasonable for one to

assume that no part of the beam should experience a stress greater than that allowable for
the working material. However, it can be found that a beam will withstand much larger
forces before collapse than simple elastic theory predict.
In the analysis, as the stress increased further the plasticity spread inwards until an
entire cross section of structure has yield point. At the yield point, the steel attain its
maximum possible moment capacity called the plastic moment, M p. The development of
the hinge caused a redistribution enables the structure to carry more loads after first hinge
has formed.
The second plastic hinge forms at the next most critical stage. On further increase
in stress, the bending moments at the section of the two plastic hinges remain constant at
their plastic moments and it keep increasing until the third plastic hinge forms. The
process of the formation of successive plastic hinges continues until collapse of structure.

The purpose of plastic analysis is to determine the collapse load or ultimate load.
Plastic analysis considers the behavior of structure in plastic limit before the structure
collapse.
4.0

THEORY

When a beam is bent around the neutral axis, the stress through the beam section varies
with the distance from the neutral axis, form the greatest at the extreme fibers (y=
maximum) to zero at the neutral axis (y = 0)

If

the

beam is

subjected to an increasing bending moment, the stress will build up through the section to
a maximum at the extreme fibers. This means that although the outer parts of the beam
may well have yielded and are behaving plastically, the inner parts may still be behaving
elastically and resisting load. If the bending moment continues to increase, the plastic
portion will move further into the beam leaving a smaller elastic core. This called the
partially plastic condition. The beam will continue to resist the bending moment although
with an increasing rate of deflection as the plastic portion moves further toward the
neutral axis. (See diagram below)

Eventually the elastic portion will far enough into the beam and the beam will be fully
plastic. It will form a plastic hinge and be unable to resist any further bending moment
(shown below)

The ratio
of

the

fully
plastic
bending
to the just plastic moment is call FORM FACTOR. The form factor is entirely
dependent on the shape of the beam and not on the size, material or fixing condition.

For cantilever beam

For the simply supported beam

Experiment from factor = Mp / My where the text book value is 1.5

5.0

PROCEDURE

Experiment (Simply Supported Beam)

Figure 1 : Specimen beam

1. The specimen beam were taken and the cross section were measured using the
steel ruler, and then the second moment of area for the specimen were calculated.

Figure 2 :
Ruler to measure the specimen

2. The clamp plates were ensure removed and the specimen beam placed were
across the chucks of the unit.
3. The roller mechanism were push outwards to its stop.
4. The pin were put through the load cell fork and winded the load cell down until
the pin just touches the specimen beam zero both the load cell and the indicator.
5. Wind the load cell down to cause a measured deflection of 3mm and the reading
of the force required.
6. Continue to wind the load cell down in 3mm step until there is no or very little
increase in load for each increment of deflection.
6.0

APPARATUS

Sketch the apparatus used in this experiment and named the essential components

1. Digital Vernier calipers

2. Plastic analysis testing frame
3. Digital force display
4. Specimen beam
5. Digital reading display

7.0

RESULT

DEFLECTION (mm)

FORCE (N)

0
3
6
9
12
15
18
21
24
27
30
33

0
66
96
120
136
148
157
157
167
167
167
165

Table 1 : Result for experiment ( Simply Supported Beam)

8.0
1.

DISCUSSION
Plot the graph Force versus Deflection and from your result comment on the shape of
the resulting plot.

Force (N) vs Deflection (mm)

Deflection (mm)

200
150
100
50
0
0

12

15
18
Force (N)

21

24

27

30

33

Figure 6 : The graph force versus deflection

From the graph above, it is show that the graph is increased steadily. We also can
see that when the value of force increase, the value of deflection also increase due to the
increasing of the force.
When the value of deflection reached 24mm, the force is not longer increasing but
steadily uniform with the value of 167N until the deflection reach 30mm. After that, the
value force started to drop gradually until reached the deflection of 165mm.
According to the graph that have been plotted, the maximum load is 167N when
the deflection reaches at 24mm. If we continue to do the experiment with continuous high
load, the beam will collapse.

2.

From Table 1, note the collapse load, and using the bending moment diagram
calculates the plastic moment (Mp).
M=

Y1 - Y2
X1- X2
167 66
24 3

101
21

= 4.809 N/mm

The maximum deflection is 30mm, when the force reaches to 167 N.

Mp = wL
4
= 167 (750)
4
= 31.313 x 103 Nmm

Mp + Mp = PL
2

3Mp = PL
2

P =

6Mp
L

6 (31.313 x 103)
750

3.

250.5 N (collapse load)

Using yield stress of 325 Mpa* Calculate the bending moment (My) to just cause
yielding of the extreme fibers.
My = yI
y
y =

4mm

325 Mpa

= 325 N/mm2
= bd 3

1
= 8.0 mm ( 8.0 mm ) 3
12
= 341.33mm4
My =

(325 N/mm2) (341.33mm4)

4mm

= 27733.06 Nmm

4.

27.73 Nm

Calculate the form factor (Mp/My) . Compare to the text book value.
Form Factor = Mp
My

31.313 x 103 Nmm

27733.06 Nmm

1.129

Compared to the text book value,

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For the rectangular section, S = bh4/4 = 1.5

bh2/6
The form factor is 1.129 < 1.5.

5.

Discuss the advantages of considering the extra available strength due to the plastic
beam theory when designing structures.

The advantages of considering the extra strength when designing the structures are:

9.0

i)

To determine the collapse load or the ultimate load.

ii)

To give additional safety parameter for structure.

iii)

To reduce the risk of failure due to the additional load or calculation error.

iv)

To prevent the structure from collapsing.

v)

To increase the stability of the structure.

CONCLUSION

From this experiment, we are able to understand the load deflection relationship
for a beam to the point of plastic collapse. We also can assumed that in a plastic analysis

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the resulting of the strain distribution is linear about the neutral axis and the resulting of
the stress distribution is nonlinear and is dependent on the beams material.
Note the deflections necessary to develop the stresses indicated in a plastic
analysis are generally excessive, frequently to the point of incompatibility with the
function of the structure. The large deflections and stiffness changes usually associated
with plastic analysis can significantly change the internal load distribution, particularly in
statically indeterminate beams.
We also can know about the advantages of considering the extra strength when
designing the structures which are to determine the collapse load or the ultimate load. It
also can give the additional safety for structure and it also reduce the risk of failure due to
the additional load or calculation error. Beside that it can prevent the structure from being
collapse and it is also to increase the stability of the structure.
Based on the result, we can conclude that the experimental value is a bit different
compare to the theoretical value. It is because the error that occur during the experiment
time happened such as the condition of the beam, wind which make it difficult to get an
exact data and also the material that used in this experiment such as the specimen beam.
We must use the new specimen when doing this experiment instead of using used
specimen. Due to this, it will effect our finding and result.
From this experiment, all the objectives had been achieved.

10.0

REFERENCES

1.

Department of Structure and Material Engineering (2008), Structural

Analysis.

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2.

[Link]

3.

R.C Hibbeler, (2006), Structural Analysis, (Sixth Edition in Unit SI),

PEARSON Education.

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