Solid Mechanics-19

Plastic deformation
19.1 Plastic deformation
A ductile material when stress beyond a point yields to the stress. In such cases it elongates
more easily that before yielding. An idealized case is termed as elastoplastic material, which has
the stress-strain diagram as shown below. Here, stress remains constant beyond yield stress. If the
yielded material at point C, is allowed to relax by removing the stress, it will retain residual strain
at zero stress, such that
=

19.2 Example The 30 square mild steel bar has a length = 2.2. It is elastoplastic
with = 200 and = 345. A force is applied to the bar until end has moved by
an amount . Determine the maximum value of the force and the permanent set of the bar
after the force has been removed, knowing that (a) = 4.5 (b) = 8
Solution: Area of cross section of the bar is
= 30 30 = 900 2 = 9 104 2 .
The strain at the yield is
=

345 106
=
= 1.725 103

200 109

The displacement at the yield is

= = 2.2 1.725 103 = 3.795
The stress at yield is
= = 200 109 1.725 103 = 345 106

The axial load at yield is

= = 9 104 345 106 = 310.5
Since in both cases (a) and (b), the displacement is beyond the value at yield, in both cases the
load needed is 310.5. The permanent displacement after removal of stress will be
(a) = 4.5 3.795 = 0.705 (b) = 8 3.795 = 4.205
19.3 Example: Rod consists of two cylindrical portions and , each with a crosssectional area of 1750 2 . Portion is made of mild steel with = 200 and =
250 , and portion is made of a high strength steel with = 200 and = 345.
A load is applied at as shown. Assuming both steels to be elastoplastic, (a) determine the
maximum deflection of if is gradually incresed from zero to 975 and then reduced back
to zero., (b) the maximum stress in each portion of the rod and (c) permanent deflection of .

Let us calculate the minimum value of needed to make portion of the rod to yield. To do
this we first compute the displacement of point at yield point
, = , =

, , 0.19 250 106

=
= 0.2375 103

200 109

Since the portion of the rod , must contract by the same amount
2

 = , = 0.2375 103
, =

200 109 0.2375 103

=
= 2.5 108

0.19

The tensile force acting on at yield point is

= , = 250 106 1750 106 = 4.375 105
The corresponding compressive force acting on is
= , = 250 106 1750 106 = 4.375 105
Consider free body diagram of portion AC of the rod.

It is pulled from upper side by ( reaction from the fixed support) pulled on the lower side by
and pushed on the lower side by . Hence the force balance gives
+ = 0
Or
= + = 437 437 = 875
Since the actual force applied is 975, the portion AC will yield.
Force acting on when = 975 is
= + = 437.5 975 = 537.5
(a) Maximum displacement of point will be governed by compression of
3

0.19 537.5 103
=
=
= 0.292 103 = 0.292

200 109 1750 106

(b) Maximum stress in portion will be the yield stress , = 250 . The maximum
stress in will be
=

537.5 103
=
= 307 106 = 307

1750 106

Both these stresses are when = 975

(c) When is reduced to zero, the total length of the rod AB must remain the same since it is
confined by rigid supports. Since before reducing the load, the AC has lengthened, it will
contract after reduction of the load. On the other hand, BC will extend. Since the total length of
the rod AB must remain the same, displacement of AC and BC after load removal should add to
zero.
+ = 0
Note that will be negative and positive
Again the free body diagram of shows that in the absence of
= 0, Hence = =
is compressive and hence negative
=

And

Here and are the forces acting on the respective portions when load was present.
+ =

+

+
= 0

Noting that = , Rearrangement gives

2 = +
But =

= 2 =

975
2

= 487.5

487.5 103
=
=
0.19 = 0.264 103 = 0.265
6
9

1750 10 200 10
4

Before removal of the load = 0.292. Hence permanent set is

= 0.292 0.265 = 0.027