Eurocode 3 Part 1-5 Annex C - Query about limiting strain as design criteria

[SuG89]

Hello,

Please refer to the above mentioned Eurocode meant for design of plated structural elements. Section C.8 states the following-

The ultimate limit state criteria should be used as follows:
1. for structures susceptible to buckling:
attainment of the maximum load.
2. for regions subjected to tensile stresses:
attainment of a limiting value of the principal membrane strain.
NOTE 1: The National Annex may specify the limiting of principal strain. A value of 5% is
recommended.
NOTE 2: Other criteria may be used, e.g. attainment of the yielding criterion or limitation of the
yielding zone.

I am modelling a steel structural component in FEM using solid elements and the component thickness varies from 8 mm to 35 mm. My design criteria is failure of component at loads which lead to 5% plastic strain. This is how I interpret the code statement. Do you agree with the interpretation or have a different opinion?

Thanks,
Su

 

[Istructeuk]

Yes, I do. Just make sure they are in tensile regions.

 

[SuG89]

Thanks for your response. And for the non-tensile regions can the attainment of maximum load in FEM software be taken as the design criteria? If so then I think the 5 percent strain criteria will be governing in most of the cases. What do you say?