Formulas for Determining Structural Variables to Control the Maximum Deformations and Stored Energies in Structures with Elastic-Perfectly Plastic Springs under Monotonic Loading

Abstract

This study presents formulas for determining structural properties by which the maximum ductility factors and strain energies stored in elastic-perfectly plastic springs composing a structural system subjected to static monotonic loadings are perfectly controlled. The structural system consists of parallel units comprising elastic springs, elastic-perfectly plastic springs, and units arranged in series with them. The proposed formulas are expressed in terms of the target ductility factors and ratios of the strain energies stored in the springs to the total stored energy in the system. The performance of a structural system with properties determined by employing the formulas in an example application is verified with a conventional step-by-step numerical computation. A noniterative technique to determine the properties of structural components by using the formulas is of great advantage for the recently prevalent performance-based design of various industrial products.