Finite Strip Method for Analysis of Structures with Material Nonlinearity

Abstract

A finite strip method for the analysis of plate, beam, and thin‐walled sections with material nonlinearity is presented. In order to simplify the solution, the components of elastic and plastic strain increments are calculated separately for each loading step. The plastic stress increments were evaluated by following the Prandtl‐Reuss flow rule for isometric hardened materials and utilizing the elasto‐plastic matrix. A computer program has been developed for the finite strip procedures. Several materially nonlinear structural problems are analyzed and included in this paper to serve as numerical examples. A general theoretical approach for calculating deflections of beams composed of perfectly elasto‐plastic materials is also presented in the paper. Finite strip results are compared with theoretical solutions or other known solutions. Excellent agreements are observed in all cases.