Question

What is difference between plastic design and elastic design?

(a) In plastic design, redistribution of bending moment is considered

(b) In plastic design, redistribution of bending moment is not considered

(c) In elastic design, redistribution of bending moment is considered

(d) Both in plastic and elastic design, redistribution of bending moment is considered

This question was posed to me in examination.

Origin of the question is Plastic-Collapse Load in division Plastic and Local Buckling Behaviour of Steel of Design of Steel Structures

Answer 1

Correct answer is (a) In plastic design, redistribution of bending moment is considered

To explain I would say: The difference between plastic design and elastic design is that plastic design takes into account the favourable redistribution of bending moment which takes place in indeterminate structure after first hinge forms at the point of maximum bending moment.