Dynamic response of pulse loaded structures as a linear complementarity problem

The problem of rigid-plastic framed structures subjected to load pulses of arbitrary form, and of intensity such that substantial plastic deformation takes place, is treated by approximate means. Mesh and nodal descriptions of the kinetic and kinematic laws are given under the restriction of small displacements, while the structural material is assumed rigid, perfectly plastic and strain rate insensitive. The vectorial relations of the finite element representation of the structure are integrated numerically by means of Newmark’s method. For each increment of time, there emerges a linear complementarity problem which can be solved by a varient of Wolfe’s algorithm.