Prestress behaviour and ductility requirements in structures: solutions from a unified algebraic approach

This paper presents an algebraic approach that unifies both the elastic and limit theories of static structural analysis. This approach reveals several previously unpublished improvements, which are based on several dualities in the mathematical description. Firstly, we show a novel duality between the solutions to two different problems: the elastic solution to the internal forces of an externally loaded structure, and the nodal displacements induced by prestressing in one or several elements of the same structure. This duality is proven and discussed. The application of this solution to the limit state analysis is very productive, and includes the determination of the ductility requirements necessary to achieve full plastic behaviour, and the assessment of the prestress needed to limit or eliminate such requirements. The unified framework also allows to obtain the elasto-plastic deformed state at the beginning of the plastic structural collapse. We have also detailed the theoretical duality between two classes of structures—hyperstatic and hypostatic—which was derived from the linear algebra principles that define these solutions. Finally, we studied and exposed the dimensionality reduction of structural problems given by the singular value decomposition and the eigenvalues problem. An illustrative example that clearly illustrates all these points is provided.