Elastic‐Plastic Bar under Changes in Temperature and Axial Load

Abstract

Quantitative examples of the hysteretic behavior of an elastic‐plastic bar are presented by making use of the basic equations that have been derived in a preceding paper in a simple closed form. The prismatic bar is subjected repeatedly to axial loading, which may be applied by changes in temperature or forced displacements. Behavioral demonstration is preceded by a brief description of the basic equations with underlying assumptions. Thermal cycling beginning with a rise in temperature can cause bending combined not only with the compressive but also with the tensile force due to plastic deformation in an axially constrained bar. Similarly, a recurring reduction in the distance between the bar ends can bring about bending in combination with tension as well as with compression, and can give rise to an eventual plastic elongation. A comparison of the theoretical behavior to the experimental behavior indicates the validity of the theory as a reasonable first‐order approximation.