when is a shakedown analysis required?

[abusementpark]

When is a shakedown analysis required? i.e. when do we need to analyze a structure to its ultimate failure mechanism?

I hear shakedown analysis mentioned fairly frequently, but it has never been explained to me when this is actually required. My work is primarily on commercial buildings in a non-seimic zone and I have never heard of such refined analysis used.

Are there some industrial applications where it is necessary? Or it is needed for some seismic applications? I am curious to hear from anyone with experience in performing limit analysis. Thanks.

 

[Ron]

Ultimate failure analysis can be done on anything you want...it just isn't usually done on buildings or static structures. Manufactured products, fracture critical structures, and other fatigue-oriented structures can benefit from such analyses.

 

[dik]

Shakedown can/should be used for plastic design whenever there is a possiblilty of load reversal. Lateral loads from wind and 'rigid' frames, for example. I have a pretty decent power point discription of what it is... I'll try to dig it up later.

Dik

 

[abusementpark]

Dik,

I'd be happy to view your powerpoint if you will post it.