REVIEW OF LIMIT LOAD AND SHAKEDOWN THEOREMS FOR THE ELASTIC-PLASTIC ANALYSIS OF STEEL STRUCTURES.

A consistent set of theorems is presented in this paper which permits the determination of ultimate and shakedown loads of steel structures with small displacements by solving an optimization problem. The proofs of the theorems show that all theorems depend on the linear superposition of load cases to form load combinations. If the behavior of the structure becomes geometrically nonlinear because it is affected by large displacements, load cases can no longer be superimposed. New concepts are therefore required for the limit and shakedown analysis of structures with significant geometric nonlinearity.

steel structures, plasticity, shakedown