Elastic-plastic behavior of a shallow two bar truss

The elasto-plastic theory of a shallow two bar truss is developed. The beha vior of this structural system under tension loading or compression loading is formulated, as well as for reversal loading, where the structure underg oes loading, unloading and reloading. The simple straightforward expression s enable one to correlate the external work to the central displacement and follow the elasto-plastic stresses and strains in the bars along the loadi ng history. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .