Plastic and elastic analysis of 5 span continuous
beams for the most efficient section
Raymon Prakash
Department of Building Engineering and Management
School of Planning and Architecture,
New Delhi-110002, India
Abstract - Elastic analysis of reinforced concrete beams
gives reasonable results upto working load. Beyond the
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 a beam is loaded much beyond the
working loads, plastic hinges form at certain locations.
On further loading the beam, bending moments do not
increase beyond the ultimate moment capacity of 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. This paper includes the comparison between
the section of a five span beam designed using elastic
analysis and the section designed using plastic analysis.
Keywords - Plastic analysis, Elastic analysis, Ultimate
load, Stress distribution, Mechanism, Plastic hinge,
Plastic moment
I. INTRODUCTION
Basically there are two approaches to provide
adequate strength of structures to support a given set
of design loads: Elastic Design and Plastic Design.
Drift checks are also required in actual design
practice, but the focus of discussion herein will be
limited to strength consideration only. Elastic design
is carried out by assuming that at design loads
structures behave in a linearly elastic manner. An
elastic analysis is performed by applying the design
loads and required internal forces in the structural
elements (members and connections) are determined
and adequate design strength is provided. Since the
element forces are determined based on elastic
behavior, the design is governed by elastic stiffness
distribution (ratios) among the system elements. It is
commonly understood that most structures designed
by elastic method possess considerable reserve
strength beyond elastic limit until they reach their
ultimate strength. The reserve strength is derived
from factors, such as structural redundancy, ability of
structural members to deform inelastically without
major loss of strength (i.e., ductility), etc. One
drawback of using elastic method for designing such
structures with ductile members is that the reserve
strength beyond elastic limit is neither quantified nor
utilized explicitly. In flexural members, this is
tantamount to assuming a linear moment-curvature
relationship, even under factored loads. For under-
reinforced sections, this assumption is approximately
true, provided the reinforcing steel has not yielded at
any section. Once yielding takes place (at any
section), the behavior of a statically indeterminate
structure enters an inelastic phase, and linear elastic
structural analysis is strictly no longer valid.
For a proper determination of the
distribution of bending moments for loading beyond
the yielding stage at any section, inelastic analysis is
called for. This is generally referred to as plastic
analysis.
In Plastic analysis the redistribution of bending
moment takes place. That is the distribution of
bending moment from high yield stress to low yield
stress till the stress distribution in the section is
uniform.
A. Assumptions made in elastic analysis
 The material should be homogenous and
isotropic in each direction.
 The stress and strain relationship should be
linear.
 The material follows Hooke's law.
 The force displacement relationship should
be linear.
 The analysis of structures is done under the
service load only.
B. Assumptions made in plastic analysis
 Plane section remains plane implying that
the strain distribution is linear.
 The idealized stress- strain curve for steel is,
Fig. 1: Typical Stress-Strain Diagram of
Structural Steel.
 Fig. 1: Typical Stress-Strain Diagram of Structural Steel
 Deformations are small.
 Stress-Strain curve is same in tension and
compression.
II. LITERATURE SURVEY
The number papers published on Plastic analysis, the
paper “Plastic versus Elastic Design of steel
structures” which was published in 2011 he presents
an overview of plastic design concepts and their
modern applications in designing the structure with a
preselected yield mechanism for enhanced
performance under extreme loading. A design
example is then presented to illustrate the contrasts
between elastic and mechanism-based plastic design
approaches.
Another paper in 2012 by M. Rogac and a
group published “Plastic analysis of Steel Frame
structure” This paper presents the plastic
analysis of steel frame structure loaded by gravity
loads. By applying the cinematic theorem of ultimate
analysis, the ultimate load for the case of elastic -
ideally plastic material is calculated.
Another paper by S R Satish Kumar and
group present the “Basic Plastic Analysis” it gives
the behavior of structure under ultimate load.
Another paper by Van-Long Hoang and a group
published “An Overview of the Plastic hinge analysis
of 3D Steel Frames”.
Another paper in 1990 by Ram Chandra and
group on “Elastic-Plastic Analysis of Steel Space
Structure” a new concept of instantaneous secant
stiffness is proposed and used for nonlinear elastic-
plastic analysis of steel space structure.
 III. CONCEPT OF PLASTIC ANALYSIS
It is an analysis dealing with the study of strength and
behavior of members and structure at collapse. It is
based on plastic theory for structures made of
perfectly plastic material like steel, while it is based
on ultimate load theory for structures of reinforced
concrete, the behavior of which is characterized by
crushing of concrete and yielding of steel at collapse.
The assumption generally made in plastic analysis is
that the moment-curvature relation is an idealized
bilinear elasto-plastic relation. This has validity only
if the section is adequately under-reinforced and the
reinforcing steel has a well-defined yield plateau.
A. Plastic Hinge Formation
With the idealised M – ϕ(strain) relation, the
ultimate moment of resistance is assumed to have
been reached at a ‘critical’ section in a flexural
member with the yielding of the tension steel. On
further straining, the moment at the section cannot
increase. However, the section ‘yields’, and the
curvature continues to increase under a constant
moment. In general (with bending moment varying
along the length of the member), the zone of
‘yielding’ spreads over a small region in the
immediate neighborhood of the section under
consideration, permitting continued rotation, as
though a ‘hinge’ is present at the section, but one that
continues to resist a fixed moment. A plastic hinge is
said to have formed at the section. If the structure is
statically indeterminate, it is still stable after the
formation of a plastic hinge, and for further loading,
it behaves as a modified structure with a hinge at the
plastic hinge location (and one less degree of
indeterminacy). It can continue to carry additional
loading (with formation of additional plastic hinges)
until the limit state of collapse is reached on account
of one of the following reasons:
 formation of sufficient number of plastic
hinges, to convert the structure (or a part of
it) into a ‘mechanism’;
 limitation in ductile behavior or, in other
words a plastic hinge reaching its ultimate
rotation capacity) at any one plastic hinge
location, resulting in local crushing of
concrete at that section.
B. Shape Factor
The ratio of the plastic moment to the yield moment
is known as the shape factor since it depends on the
shape of the cross section. The cross section is not
capable of resisting any additional moment but may
maintain this moment for some amount of rotation in
which case it acts like a plastic hinge. If this is so,
then for further loading, the beam, acts as if it is
simply supported with two additional moments Mp
on either side, and continues to carry additional loads
until a third plastic hinge forms at mid-span when the
bending moment at that section reaches Mp. The
beam is then said to have developed a collapse
mechanism.
The zone of yielding in a flexural member is
known as Plastic hinge. The bending moment at the
section where a plastic hinge form is known as
Plastic moment is always greater than the yield
moment.
Plastic hinge rotates indefinitely at a
constant moment value of plastic moment Mp. The
plastic hinge is identified as a point and assumed to
occur at a particular point in a cross section.
Plastic hinge is spread over a zone in a
structural member called the length of plastic hinge.
Length of plastic hinge depends upon the type and
shape of cross section, end condition of the member
and the type of loading.
In Plastic analysis the redistribution of
bending moment takes place. That is the distribution
of bending moment from high yield stress to low
yield stress till the stress distribution in the section is
uniform.
Shape factor is a measure of reserve in
strength beyond elastic limit in a cross section. The
shape factor indicate the plastic section withstand the
load how higher then the elastic section.
C. Moment Redistribution
As seen in the previous section, the distribution of
bending moments in a continuous beam (or frame)
gets modified significantly in the inelastic phase. The
term moment redistribution is generally used to refer
to the transfer of moments to the less stressed
sections as sections of peak moments yield on their
ultimate capacity being reached (as witnessed in the
example above). From a design viewpoint, this
behavior can be taken advantage of by attempting to
effect a redistributed bending moment diagram which
achieves a reduction in the maximum moment levels
(and a corresponding increase in the lower moments
at other locations). Such an adjustment in the moment
diagram often leads to the design of a more
economical structure with better balanced
proportions, and less congestion of reinforcement at
the critical sections.
IV. THEOREMS OF PLASTIC
ANALYSIS
A. Lower Bound or Static Theorem:
A load factor (λs) computed on the basis of an
arbitrarily assumed bending moment diagram which
is in equilibrium with the applied loads and where the B. Plastic Design
fully plastic moment of resistance is nowhere According to Clause 37.1.1 of IS:456 – 2000,
exceeded will always be less than or at best equal to permissible redistribution of moments is 30%.
the load factor at rigid plastic collapse, (λp). In other
words, λp is the highest value of λs which can be After 30% redistribution of moments,
found.
Maximum Hogging Moment – 63.5964KN.m
B. Upper bound or Kinematic theorem: Design BM – 95.3946KN.m
A load factor (λk) computed on the basis of an Reinforcement for hogging moment– 465.349sq. mm
arbitrarily assumed mechanism will always be greater
than, or at best equal to the load factor at rigid plastic Maximum Sagging Moment – 74.3913KN.m
collapse (λp ). In other words, λp is the lowest value Design BM – 111.5869KN.m
of λk which can be found. Reinforcement required for sagging moment -
550.00989sq. mm
C. The Uniqueness Theorem:
If for a given frame and loading at least one safe C. Comparison between Elastic and Plastic
(strength greater than moment demand condition) and Design
statically admissible bending moment distribution Reinforcement required for Hogging Bending
(equilibrium condition) can be found, and in this Moment using elastic theory – 682.87 sq. mm
distribution the bending moment is equal to the fully
plastic moment at enough cross-sections to cause Reinforcement required for Hogging Bending
failure of the frame as a mechanism due to rotations Moment using plastic theory – 465.35 sq. mm
of plastic hinges at these sections (mechanism
condition), the corresponding load will be equal to Percentage reduction in steel – 31.85%
the collapse (ultimate) load.
It is evident from the calculations that the amount of
reinforcement for hogging moment is reduced by
31.85%.
V. COMPARISON BETWEEN ELASTIC
AND PLASTIC ANALYSIS USING VI. CONCLUSION
AN EXAMPLE Plastic design offers several advantages over the
traditional elastic design. With plastic analysis, a
Example: Design of a 5 span continuous beam structure can be designed to form a preselected yield
Consider a Beam; Fig. 2 mechanism at ultimate load level leading to a known
Width – 0.3m and predetermined response during extreme events.
Depth – 0.6m In case of indeterminate structures, it helps to reduce
Dead Load – 10 KN/m bending moments in the peak regions, such as beam –
Live Load – 15 KN/m column junction or supports of continuous beams,
Concrete – M20 Grade thereby the congestion of reinforcement is reduced
Steel – Fe 415 Grade making detailing and concreting easier. The reduction
in support moment not only helps in reducing steel at
supports but utilizes higher moment resisting
A. Elastic design capacity of a flanged section in the span region.
Maximum Sagging moment – 58.059 KN.m
Design BM – 87 KN.m VII. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Moment of Resistance of section – 298KN.m I would like to thank my respected guide Dr. Chaitali
(>87 KN/m, hence Ok) Basu (Dept. of Building Engineering and
Reinforcement for sagging – 422.179 sq. mm Management) for giving me an opportunity to present
(Fig. 3) this work and for guiding me with attention and care,
Maximum Hogging Moment – 90.852 KN.m spending valuable time.
Design BM – 136.272KN.m
VIII. REFERENCES
Reinforcement for hogging – 682.87 sq. mm
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Analysis of Steel Frame Structure", Civil Engineering
Forum Volume XXI/2, Issue May 2012.
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of Steel Structures", Indian Institute of Technology
Madras.

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