An approximation method for dynamic response of strain-hardening structures

An approximation method is being developed to predict the dynamic plastic response of rigid, strain-hardening structures. This method is analogous to the instantaneous mode techniques used to treat rigid, perfectly plastic structures in that deflection shape involving a number of arbitrary functions of time selected, based on static deformation profiles. Two stress fields are associated with the deflection shape: one satisfies the equations of motion with appropriate boundary and continuity conditions, and the other satisfies the strain-hardening constitutive relation with appropriate boundary and smoothness conditions. The method is illustrated using the case of a simply-supported beam with a central plastic region