Plastic analysis and design of axisymmetric plates under thermal and mechanical loads

In the case of nuclear reactors, aerospace structures, and the like, design of structural components for thermal effects merits equal consideration as for the external loads. The thermal effects are severe enough to consume a considerable part of the load carrying capacity of these structures. It becomes, therefore, worthwhile to study the effect of thermal loads on the limit state capacity of structures subjected to mechanical loads. In literature such analysis has been carried out by employing incremental or total strain theories. In this paper 'The Yield Equality Method', a limit analysis method for finding the collapse loads of rigid plastic structures developed by Adidam and Rozvany has been employed. (Auth.)