CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, IIT MADRAS

CE3100 STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING LAB

EXPERIMENT 08 PLASTIC BEHAVIOUR OF STEEL BEAMS
DATE OF SUBMISSION : FEBRUARY 18, 2013

J1 BATCH: CE09B069 MAYANK KAKORIYA CE10B023 GOPAKUMAR K CE10B054 SANCHITA CE10B085 ASWATH NARAYANAN R

EXPERIMENT NO. 08- PLASTIC BEHAVIOUR OF STEEL BEAMS

AIM: To study the plastic behaviour of steel beams and to determine the collapse load of the beam. DETAILS OF TEST SPECIMEN: Sketch of the test specimen:
c P a L

Q b

A rod of cross section 12.2 mm x 11.7 mm and length L= 2m was set up such that it is restrained against translation and rotation at one end (A) and against vertical translation at the other end (C). It is subjected to a concentrated load at B, at a distance a=38 cm from the rotationally restrained end. A pair of strain gauges is placed at the top and bottom fibers (P and Q) as shown. A load cell is provided at C to measure the vertical reaction at the right support. A dial gauge is located at B to measure vertical deflection. PROCEDURE: The load is applied at point B from a hanger rod with increments of 10 kg initially and readings (strain gauges, load cell and dial gauge) are taken after each load increment. The increment in load is reduced to 5 kg (after 30 kg) closer to failure load in order to obtain failure load accurately and more readings closer to the failure load. Failure is indicated by large increase in deformation and continuous increase in deformation with time. After failure a piece of the rod (58cm) was taken to perform the tension test. APPARATUS USED: Steel beam 10 kg and 5 kg weights Strain gauges - 4 Load Cell Dial gauge to measure vertical defections.

BACKGROUND: Brief description of the plastic theory and its importance in steel construction. According to the Elastic Theory of bending the maximum stress can be calculated using the Yield or the ultimate stress and the Factor of safety. But Mild steel structures do not fail when the edge stress of any cross section reached Yield point, it continues to withstand load as long as the central core of the section is in the Elastic State. As the load on a particular beam is gradually increased, the greatest stresses occur at the extreme fibres of the weakest section and a hinge is developed. These outer fibres are said to be in the plastic state, and any increase in loading will result in a considerable increase in Strain and hence deflection at that section of the Beam along with redistribution of Stress. Assumptions of Plastic Theory: The material exhibits a marked yield and can undergo considerable Strain at Yield without any further increase in Stress. The Yield Stress is the same in Tension and Compression. Transverse cross-sections remain plane so that the Strain is proportional to the distance from the Neutral Axis. However, in the Plastic region the Stress will remain Constant and is not proportional to the Strain. Once a Plastic Hinge has developed at any cross section, the Moment of Resistance at that point will remain constant until the collapse of the whole structure has taken effect. This will only happen when the required numbers of Plastic Hinges have developed at other points.

 Brief description of the plastic hinge concept and plastic collapse load It is assumed that the stress in the plastic region is constant. When the whole cross section at any point in a structure becomes plastic, no further increase in the moment of resistance is possible without excessive strain (equivalent to an increase in the curvature at that section) and a plastic hinge is developed. One or more such hinges are required for a complete collapse. The number depends upon the type of structure and whether it is, for example, a simply supported beam, a built-in beam or a rigid frame. The value of the load required to produce this state is called the Collapse Load. The ratio of the Collapse Load to the Working Load is called the Load Factor. In plastic design this factor is used instead of the normal Factor of Safety. The diagram shows the variations in Stress and Strain in a beam of symmetrical cross section subjected to a working load

Fig a: Using the Simple Theory of Bending, the maximum working Stress is . The Stress and Strain are proportional to the distance from the Neutral Axis. Fig (b): The load has been increased so that the extreme fibres Yield and the beam is in a partial Plastic state. The value of is the lower Yield Stress. Fig (c): The Load is increased further until a fully Plastic State is obtained. It is now assumed that the stress is uniform over the whole cross section. In fact this is not strictly true, since there will be a very small elastic region around the Neutral Axis (shown on the diagram) but the effect of this on the value of the Moment of Resistance is very small and can be neglected.

 Brief derivation of the formula for finding the plastic moment capacity of a propped cantilever with a concentrated load In a propped cantilever is a statically indeterminate beam. In this case, two plastic hinges are formed. One is due to point concentrated load present at free end, which creates maximum bending moment at the support and the other one is at the propped supported in the cantilever beam which reverses the direction of bending moment. Therefore plastic hinges will produce at these two points when MA = MB = MFP.

PICTURES:

The maximum deflection obtained

Tensile test

Stress vs strain curve

Cup & cone failure

OBSERVATION: Breadth of rod = 12.2 mm, Depth of rod = 11.7 mm Length of the rod (L) = 2m, Distance of loading point from restrained end (a) = 38 cm Distance of loading point from roller end (b) = 162 cm Yield load of rod in tension test = 6.25 tons = 61,250 N Length of the rod used in tensile test = 58 cm Assuming 0.2% strain at yield point, Young modulus (E) = 2.15 * 10 11 N/m2 Moment of inertia of the rod (I) = 1628.31 mm4 Ultimate load capacity of rod in tensile test = 7.9 tons = 77,420 N Table 1: Readings from the load cell and strain gauges
STRAIN GAUGE READINGS LOAD (kg) LOAD CELL READING TOP 0 10 20 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 0 0.6 1.3 1.9 2.3 2.6 3 3.3 3.7 4.2 5.2 6.1 -0.2 134.2 266.9 399.6 466.1 534.7 604.3 707.3 971.8 1587 3724.7 Overflow AT P BOTTOM -0.2 -132.7 -264 -391.9 -455 -519.6 -588.7 -690.1 -913.7 -1418 -3180.8 -5156.7 TOP -0.2 -49.9 -100.6 -150.2 -174.5 -200.2 -226.6 -252.7 -283.9 -326 -399.6 -475.9 AT Q BOTTOM 0 50.4 100.3 151.7 177.1 203 229.9 257.5 288.5 332 409.7 490.8

Table 2: Readings from the dial gauge below the load

LOAD (kg) 0 10 20 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 LVDT reading (mm) 0 5 10.1 15.2 17.8 20.5 23.3 26.2 29.8 35.5 46.3 58.2

DETAILED CALCULATIONS & RESULTS: Table 3: The value of the strains at various locations
STRAIN (*10^-6) LOAD (kg) TOP 0 10 20 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 0 134.4 267.1 399.8 466.3 534.9 604.5 707.5 972 1587.2 3724.9 overflow AT P BOTTOM 0 132.5 263.8 391.7 454.8 519.4 588.5 689.9 913.5 1417.8 3180.6 5156.5 TOP 0 49.7 100.4 150 174.3 200 226.4 252.5 283.7 325.8 399.4 475.7 AT Q BOTTOM 0 50.4 100.3 151.7 177.1 203 229.9 257.5 288.5 332 409.7 490.8

Table 4: Deflection at B
LOAD THEORETICAL DEFLECTION OBSERVED DEFLECTION

0 10 20 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70

0 3.2064 6.4129 9.6193 11.2225 12.8258 14.4290 16.0322 17.6354 19.2386 20.8419 22.4451

0 5 10.1 15.2 17.8 20.5 23.3 26.2 29.8 35.5 46.3 58.2

Figure 1: Experimental and theoretical load versus deflection plots identifying the yield load level

YIELD LOAD

Table 5: Reaction at C
LOAD THEORETICAL REACTION OBSERVED REACTION

0 10 20 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70

0 0.5072 1.0144 1.5216 1.7752 2.0288 2.2824 2.5360 2.7896 3.0432 3.2968 3.5504

0 0.6 1.3 1.9 2.3 2.6 3 3.3 3.7 4.2 5.2 6.1

Figure 2: Experimental and theoretical load versus reactions plots

Table 6: Bending moment at A and B

BENDING MOMENT AT A (N.m) LOAD (kg) ELASTIC ANALYSIS 0 10 20 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 0 -27.2988 -54.5976 -81.8963 -95.5457 -109.1951 -122.8445 -136.4939 -150.1433 -163.7927 -177.4421 -191.0915 BASED ON STRAINS 0 -7.9865 -15.8862 -23.6841 -27.5621 -31.5479 -35.6982 -41.8145 -56.4200 -89.9188 -206.6338 -308.5967 BASED ON OBSERVED REACTION 0.00 -25.48 -49.00 -74.48 -85.26 -98.00 -108.78 -121.52 -132.30 -141.12 -140.14 -141.12 BENDING MOMENT AT B (N.m) ELASTIC ANALYSIS 0 8.0524 16.1048 24.1572 28.1834 32.2095 36.2357 40.2619 44.2881 48.3143 52.3405 56.3667 BASED ON STRAINS 0 2.9953 6.0056 9.0278 10.5150 12.0590 13.6539 15.2608 17.1220 19.6834 24.2108 28.9207 BASED ON OBSERVED REACTION 0 9.5256 20.6388 30.1644 36.5148 41.2776 47.628 52.3908 58.7412 66.6792 82.5552 96.8436

Figure 3: Load versus moment at A (3 curves)

Figure 4: Load versus moment at B (3 curves)

FORMULA USED: Deflection at B = (Wa3b2(3L +b))/(12EIL3) Reaction at C = (Wa2(3L a))/(2L3) Elastic moment at A = (-Wab(b + a/2))/(L2) Elastic moment at B = (Theoretical reaction at C) * b Using strain values: M= EI/y ; y = d/2. Moment at A due to observed reaction = (Observed reaction at C)*L Load*a Moment at B due to observed reaction = (Observed reaction at C)*b DISCUSSION AND INFERENCE: The strain values in the top compression fiber and bottom tension fiber are similar. But the bending moment obtained from these values is incorrect as seen from figure 3 and 4. Since the curve is still a straight line like the other bending moments, there must be some mistake with the calibration of the device. The theoretical deflection predicted and observed deflection at the point of application of the load are similar till the yield point (the slight difference is due to the separation between the load application point and the point where deflection is measured). This indicates that the steel behaves as an elastic material till yield point is reached and after that shows plastic behavior (Drastic increase in deflection). The yield load = 60 kg = 588 N. The load versus reaction curves are also close (with slight difference which may be due to experimental error) until the yield point beyond which the reaction increases more rapidly. The Bending Moment at A and B varies linearly (according to that calculated from the reaction at C) as expected from the elastic analysis till the yield point beyond which the material develops a plastic hinge near fixed support A and behaves like a simply supported beam. The yield strength from tension test is: Yield load = 6.25 tons = 61250 N Yield stress = 429.10 MPa Ultimate strength from tension test is: Ultimate load = 7.9 tons = 77420 N Ultimate stress = 542.38 MPa