Generalized Superposition Method in Plastic Analysis

A recent description of the method of combining mechanisms in plastic analysis has been presented. Further refinements in the use of the method have been developed and are presented herein. These include the use of a sign convention in determining plastic rotation angles and a tabular arrangement for the ultimate load of independent and combined mechanisms arising out of two independent mechanisms. Constant comparison of the magnitude of theultimate loads is then possible while the use of the sign convention in calculating the ultimate loads of composite mechanisms immediately eliminates some of the possible combinations from consideration.