Example on yield line analysis of slabs

Definition of symbols

. simply supported edge

. fixed edge

.. free edge

column
Moments
i. A moment acting about Y axis is designated as Mux and Mux for positive and
negative yield lines respectively.
ii. A moment acting about X axis is designated as Muy and Muy for positive and
negative yield lines respectively.
iii. The ultimate uniformly distributed load acting on the slab is designated as Wu.
iv. The ultimate point(concentrated) load acting on the slab is designated as Pu.
Example 1
The simply supported Rectangular slab shown in the figure below has a moment resistance
of m in both x and y direction. Derive an expression for the ultimate load acting on the
slab in terms of m and the dimensions of the slab.

Figure 1

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In order to derive the expression for a simply supported slab using the yield line analysis,
we have two methods which are equally accurate and applicable. The first method is the
method of virtual works and the second is the method of segment equilibrium.
The method of virtual work is the widely used method. This is due to some limitations that
are present in the equilibrium method. This is not to mean equilibrium method is not
applicable but care must be taken while using it in some problems and sometimes it needs
some assistance from the virtual work method in order to apply it.
The computations that are necessary to use the method of virtual work are initially simple
algebra. However, as we go further some calculus (partial differentiation of equations) or
trial and error method are involved to find the minimum ultimate load. While the
equilibrium method involves the solution of simultaneous equations (almost all time in
non-linear form) to determine the ultimate load on the slab.
In using the virtual work method, the following steps could be followed (strictly speaking
they arent steps)
i. Draw all the possible yield line patterns on the slab with the unknown
dimensions properly assigned to variables
ii. Calculate the internal work done by the moments on the positive and
negative yield lines. To calculate the internal work done by the moment the
following general formula can be used and a virtual downward displacement
of is given to the slab

( ) =
Where m: - the moment acting on the yield line (either positive or negative)
: - the length of the yield line
: - the rotation that the yield line undergone on the axis perpendicular to it.
The above formula might be complicated for most cases since finding the rotation
perpendicular to the yield line might be a bit challenging. Instead the following
simplification could be used for yield line that is acting at an angle to the y axis (Park
and Gamble, 1980)
= +

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 iii. Calculate the external work done or the work done by the imposed ultimate
load on the slab. To do so the simplest method is to compute the volume of
the displaced shape of the slab and multiply it with the impose ultimate load.

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