Yield Line Theory

for Slabs
By
Dr. Prem Pal Bansal
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala
 Introduction
• Normal method of slab analysis based upon elastic
behaviour.
• Inelastic deformations before failure not considered
• Slabs with simple geometry and end conditions of which
solutions are available can be analyzed by elastic method.
• To get more realistic failure loads and to analyze non regular
shapes, we need another method.
 Introduction
• Yield Line Method can be used to analyze any type of slab
with different end conditions, complex shapes.
• Based on inelastic behaviour before failure.
• This is Ultimate Load Method of analysis of slabs.
• Normally applicable to Under-reinforced slabs.
 Basic Principle
• Consider rectangular slab supported on all four sides and
subjected to uniformly distributed load.
• As intensity of load increases gradually, slab behaves
elastically up to a certain limit.
• Then crack develops on tension face at a point of maximum
bending moment
Basic Principle
 Basic Principle
• Further increase in load results in redistribution of the moments
to uncracked zone.
• This results in cracking of slab/yielding of steel along the line of
maximum moment
• Cracks keep propagating till reaches the boundary of slab.
• At this point slabs start deflecting without further increase in load
 Basic Principle
• At ultimate load slab cracks with reinforcement yielding at
point of maximum BM.
• Finally slab brake into number of segments.
• The crack lines are called Yield Lines/Fracture Lines/Rupture
Lines/Failure Lines.
• Theory consider only under reinforced bending failure.
• Does not consider failure due to shear, bond and deflection.
 Assumptions
• Reinforcing steel is fully yielded along yield lines at failure
• The slab deform plastically at failure and is separated into
segments by the yield lines. These individual segments of the slab
behave elastically.
• The elastic deformations are negligible as compared to plastic
deformations. Thus entire deformation take place only in the
yield lines and individual segments of the slab are plane segments
in the collapse conditions.
 Assumptions
• The bending and twisting moments are uniformly distributed
along the yield line and have the maximum values provided
by ultimate moment capacities.
• The yield lines are straight lines since the intersections
between the inclined planes are straight lines.
 Yield Line Theory
for Slabs
By
Dr. Prem Pal Bansal
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala
 Location of Yield Lines
• Depending upon boundary conditions and assumptions the
location of possible formation of yield lines can be estimated
• In one way simply supported slab the yield line will form at
the centre of slab at bottom. The yield line due to sagging is
referred as positive yield line.
 Location of Yield Lines
• In one way continuous slab the yield line will form at the
support in addition to positive yield line. The yield line due
to hogging moment is referred as negative yield line.
 Location of Yield Lines
• In two way slabs the individual slab segments separated at the
yield undergo rigid body plane rotation with compatibility of
deflections.
• To predict yield lines in two way slabs following guide line
can be used.
• Yield line ends at slab boundary
 Location of Yield Lines
• Yield line between two slab segments passes through the
intersection of the axes of rotation of two adjacent slab
segments.
• The axis of rotation lie along lines of supports or pass
over column supports.
 Symbols and Sign Conventions
Type of Support Symbol Type of Line Symbol
Free Edge Positive Yield
Line
Simply Supported Negative Yield
Edge Line
Fixed or Axis of Rotation
Continuous Edge
Column
Typical Yield Line Patterns
 The Virtual Work Method
• Based upon principle of virtual work
• According to principle of virtual work
External work done = Internal work done
• When slab is loaded, under the action of external loads slab
deflects, this cause the load to do work – External Work
Done
 Methods of Analysis
• The Virtual Work Method
• The Equilibrium Method
• In both methods, firstly the location of yield line is assumed, then
• Using any of the method exact location and ultimate load is
calculated
• In order to determine most critical case, alternative yield line
patterns may be investigated
 The Virtual Work Method
• At ultimate load as per assumption individual segments of
the slab are plane segments so entire energy will be absorbed
by yield lines.
• So, there will be Internal work done by bending moments
along yield lines and resulting rotation.
 The Equilibrium Method
• Method based on equilibrium of individual slab segments
• Equilibrium equations are used to determine the location of
yield lines and collapse load.
• Equations are formulated equating the total external loads to
the total internal forces.
• Maintaining the compatibility of deflections.
 Analysis of One way Slabs
• Consider one meter wide strip of one way continuous slab
• Assume mid span positive reinforcement have MOR ‘Mo’
• Negative reinforcement at left support ‘i’ has MOR ‘Mi’
• Negative reinforcement at right support ‘j’ has MOR ‘Mj’
• Degree of indeterminacy of structure is 2
• For mechanism to form three hinges are required.
 Analysis of One way Slabs
• At ultimate load, two plastic hinges/yield lines will form at
support
• One hinge will form in span, assume at distance ‘x’ from left
support w/m
• Let ‘w’ is collapse load i j

x
 Analysis of One way Slabs
•
w/m
i j

x
 Analysis of One way Slabs
•
w/m
i j

x
 Analysis of One way Slabs
•

w/m
i j

x
 Analysis of One way Slabs
•

w/m
i j

x
 Analysis of One way Slabs
•
Mi Mo Mo Mj

Ri V=0
Rj
 Analysis of One way Slabs
•
Mi Mo Mo Mj

Ri V=0
Rj
 Analysis of One way Slabs
•
Mi Mo Mo Mj

Ri V=0
Rj
 Analysis of One way Slabs
• Substituting value of ‘w’
(Mj – Mi) x2 + 2 (Mi + Mo) Lx – (Mi + Mo) L2 = 0
• This equation is same as obtained in virtual work method.
• Special Cases Case – I Simply Supported Slab
• Mi = Mj = 0; Substituting the values
• x = L/2; w = 2Mo/x(L-x); w = 8Mo/L2
 Analysis of One way Slabs
• Case – II Mi = Mj = 2Mo
• Substituting the values
• 6Mo Lx – 3MoL2 = 0
• w = 4Mo/ L(L/2) + 2Mo/L2/4 + 4Mo/L2/2
• w = 24Mo/L2
 Work Done by Yield Line Moments
Mt
Mx
• L
Ly
Mb
My
Lx
 Work Done by Yield Line Moments
Mt
Mx
• L
Ly
Mb
My
Lx
 Work Done by Yield Line Moments
•
 Yield Line Theory
for Slabs
By
Dr. Prem Pal Bansal
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala
 Analysis of Two Way Slab
• Consider two way slab supported on all four sides with
corners held down
• Typical Yield Line patterns will be

Pattern - I Pattern - II
 Analysis of Two Way Slab
• Typical rectangular two way slab has two way reinforcement
near the bottom face at centre.
• One way reinforcement across edges at top face at support
• Let bottom reinforcement provide MOR
• Mpx - Positive reinforcement in X-direction
• Mpy - Positive reinforcement in Y-direction
 Analysis of Two Way Slab
• Similarly top reinforcement at support provide MOR
• Mnx - Negative reinforcement in X-direction
• Mny - Negative reinforcement in Y-direction
• Mnx & Mny will be considered on all continuous edges.
• At discontinuous/Simply Supported edge MOR = 0
 Analysis of Two Way Slab
• Pattern –I A B

• Yield lines AC & BD divide the slab into four 1

4 2 Ly
segments 1-2-3-4
3
• Segment 1 & 3 are identical, and
• Segment 2 & 4 are identical D C
Lx
 Analysis of Two Way SlabA B
1
2 Ly
• Drawing FBD for segment 3 & 4 4
3
D C
Mpy Mpy Lx

Mpx Mpx
3

Mny
Analysis of Two Way Slab
•

Mpy Mpy
Mpx Mpx
3

Mny
 Analysis of Two Way Slab
•
 Analysis of Two Way Slab
• Case I Simply Supported Square Slab
• Lx = Ly = L; Mnx = Mny = 0; Mpx = Mpy = Mo (Say)
w = 12 { (Mnx + Mpx /L2x) + (Mny + Mpy/L2y) }
w = 24 Mo/L2
 Analysis of Two Way Slab
• Case II Square Slab, All edges fixed, MOR at Support equal
to moment at cente of span
• Lx = Ly = L; Mnx = Mny = Mpx = Mpy = Mo (Say)
w = 12 { (Mnx + Mpx /L2x) + (Mny + Mpy/L2y) }
w = 48 Mo/L2
 x 1
Ly
Analysis of Two Way Slab 4 3
2

• Mpy Mpy Mpy Lx

Mpx Mpx Mpy

3A 3B 3C Mpx
Mnx
Mny
Mpx
Mpy
 x 1
Ly
Analysis of Two Way Slab 4 3
2

• Mpy Mpy Mpy Lx

Mpx Mpx Mpy

3A 3B 3C Mpx
Mnx
Mny
Mpx
Mpy
 x 1
Ly
Analysis of Two Way Slab 4 3
2

• Lx
 x 1
Ly
Analysis of Two Way Slab 4 3
2

Lx
4 (Mpy + Mny)Lx x2 + 4(Mpx + Mnx)L2y x – 3 (Mpx + Mnx)LxL2y = 0
This quadratic equation in terms of ‘x’. Solve for ‘x’
If x = Lx/2 ; (Mnx + Mpx )/ + (Mny + Mpy) = L2x/L2y
Gives same equation as in Pattern I and
if LHS < RHS Pattern II will form
Example: Find collapse load in 5m x 4m rectangular slab fixed at all
edges. Assume support moments are same as mid span moments and
Mpx = Mnx = 0.5 Mpy = 0.5 Mny.

Given
Mpy = Mny = Mo; Mpx = Mnx = 0.5 Mo
Lx = 5m; Ly = 4m
Check for type of pattern
(Mnx + Mpx )/ + (Mny + Mpy) = L2x/L2y
(0.5 + 0.5)Mo / (1 + 1)Mo = ½ = 0.5
L2x/L2y = 25/16 = 1.56 > 0.5
So, yield line Pattern II will form
4 (Mpy + Mny)Lx x2 + 4(Mpx + Mnx)L2y x – 3 (Mpx + Mnx)LxL2y
=0
4 (1 + 1) 5 x2 + 4 (0.5 + 0.5) 42 x – 3 (0.5 +0.5)5 x 42 = 0
40x2 + 64x – 240 = 0; x = 1.77m
w = {12 (Mpx + Mnx)L2y + 24x Lx(Mpy + Mny)}/
{L2y(3xLx-
2x2)}
w = {12(0.5 +0.5)42 + 24x 1.77 x 5 x (1 + 1)}/ {42 (3x5 – 2x1.772)}
= 616.8 / 139.75 = 4.41 Mo
 References
• IS:456-2000, Code of Practice for Plain and Reinforced Concrete,
Bureau of Indian Standard, New Delhi, 2000
• IS:875 (Part 1 to 4)-1987, Code of Practice for Design Loads for
Buildings and Structures, Bureau of Indian Standard, New Delhi, 1989
• SP:24 – 1983, Explanatory Handbook on IS:456-1978, Bureau of Indian
Standard, New Delhi, 1982
• SP:34 – 1983, Handbook on Concrete Reinforcement and Detailing,
Bureau of Indian Standard, New Delhi, 1987
 References
• Dayaratnam, P., Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures, Oxford &
IBH, New Delhi, 1984.
• Gambhir, M.L., Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures, Prentice-
Hall of India, New Delhi, 2010
• Jain, A.K., Reinforced Concrete, Nem Chand & Bros, Roorkee, 2002.
• Varghese, P.C., Limit State Design of Reinforced Concrete, Prentice-
Hall of India, New Delhi, 1994