Dynamic plastic response and failure of a clamped beam struck transversely by a mass

Abstract A theoretical analysis is presented which examines the dynamic response of a rigid-perfectly plastic clamped beam struck transversely by a mass at any point on the span. The analysis employs an interaction yield surface which combines the bending moment, membrane force and transverse shear force required for plastic flow. Material strain rate sensitive effects are examined with the aid of the Cowper-Symonds equation. Good agreement is obtained between the theoretical predictions for the maximum permanent transverse displacements and the corresponding experimental results. An energy density failure criterion is used to predict the dynamic inelastic failure of this impact problem.