Elastic-plastic bending analysis of plates and slabs by the finite element method

The finite element method is applied to elastic-plastic plate bending analysis. Square plates are divided into square elements with corner nodes at which plastic rotations are introduced whenever the internal principal generalized stress states satisfy a square yield criterion. The analytical response of plates and. slabs to monotonically increasing applied load is traced in a step-by-step manner by digital computer. A complete history of displacements and generalized stresses is developed through the elastic phase to collapse. Results obtained from experiments on plates and slabs are compared with those produced analytically in order to assess the validity of the finite element model.