This paper examines the behaviour of beams when subjected to dynamic loads which produce an inelastic response. The external energy is sufficiently large tocause a visible permanent deformed shape, or damage. The governing equations for beams are developed while the dynamic plastic response of a simply supported beam subjected to a uniformly distributed pressure pulse with a rectangular shaped pressure time history is examined. The influence of an impulsive velocity loading and fully clamped supports are explored. A theoretical analysis is presented for the response of a fully clamped beam which is struck at the mid span by a mass travelling with an initial velocity. This analysis is modified for a cantilever beam which is impacted at the tip. Coparisons are also made with experimental results.
Abstract