Limit Analysis

Limit analysis is not related to the limit state philosophy of design. It may seem peculiar to start off this chapter with this statement, but confusion between the two is all too common. Limit state is a philosophy applied to the design of reinforced concrete structures, as embodied in CP 110 [5] and more recently to steel structures, as in the B/20 draft of the Standard for Steelwork Design. [6] Limit analysis is a powerful method for fording the value of, or a range for, the collapse load factor of a structure under a given system of loading, using plastic theory.