Accurate determination of the plastic collapse loads of shells when using finite element analyses

Publisher Summary The chapter presents a new method by which plastic collapse load may be accurately and repeatedly extracted from the results of a materially nonlinear finite element analysis using small displacement theory. It is of critical importance that the methodology should lead to a unique result because this load is a vital component of the strength evaluation of the structure. The method is recommended for wide adoption to ensure that quoted finite element plastic collapse loads are always based on the same criteria. The method can be applied to finite element analyses of all forms of structure and is not limited to shell structures alone. This plastic reference load is a vital part of the global numerical analysis provisions of the European Standard for Shells.