Plastic Strength of Steel Frames

In order to demonstrate the applicability of plastic analysis to structural design in steel, the results of large-scale experiments are examined on the basis of theoretical predictions and correlated with current (1957) design specifications. The fundamentals of plastic analysis are described briefly. It is shown how the design of ordinary structurnl frames may be based on the maximum load the structure will support, as against the conventional methods which are based on the load at “first yield.” Although this paper does not purport to be a complete review of current investigations into the behavior of steel structures loaded beyond the elastic limit, sufficient evidence is presented to show that in many instances design may properly be based on maximum strength.