A Comment on the Low Speed Impact of a Clamped Beam by a Heavy Striker∗

Abstract

An approximate theoretical analysis is presented for a rigid, perfectly plastic clamped beam struck transversely at the mid-span by a mass which produces Finite transverse displacements. An alternative quasi-static procedure is proposed for estimating the dynamic plastic response of a beam when struck by a heavy mass that travels at a low speed. The theoretical basis of this method is explained and the accuracy is examined by an error analysis. Finally, it is suggested that this quasi-static procedure could be used for estimating the dynamic plastic response of other structures that are struck by a heavy mass traveling at a low speed,