Shakedown analysis of elastic-plastic structures

Abstract

Abstract Behavior of elastic-plastic structures under repetitive and fluctuating loads is considered in this paper. Plastic deformation either stabilizes after a finite number of cycles or continues during the cycling. In the first case the structure is said to have shaken down to the boundary at the loading program. If plastic deformation does not stabilize an elastic-plastic structure becomes unserviceable due to either alternating plasticity when yielding occurs repeatedly in the opposite senses or accumulation of plastic strains and progressive increase of permanent displacements. This paper attempts to survey the shakedown theory, including the accommodation of a structure to the prescribed loading range as well as inadaptation and unserviceability. The notion of shakedown, incremental collapse, ratchetting and alternating plastic deformation are first illustrated with examples. The fundamental theorems on shakedown and inadaptation are presented next, attention being directed to generalizations of the classical Melan and Koiter theorems. Applications of the theorems are given. Available methods for determining the shakedown range on generating self-equilibrated stress fields are discussed. Special techniques applicable to problems involving both dead and fluctuating loads are invoked. Recent studies accounting for inertia forces, geometrical changes, material hardening, variation of material properties with temperature, displacement assessment, etc. are referred to.