Large-displacement analysis of beam-type structures considering elastic–plastic material behavior

A one-dimensional finite element analysis is presented for large elastic–plastic displacements in beam-type structures. Spatial displacements and rotations are allowed to be large while strains are assumed to be small. The corresponding equilibrium equations are formulated in the framework of co-rotational description, using the virtual work principle. Material is assumed to be homogeneous and isotropic. Elastic–plastic material behavior is modeled supposing isotropic hardening law, while stress–strain curve is approximated as bilinear. An own computer program (BMCA) is developed, and its implementation is tested on several typical examples.