To transfer a load a structure must be able to withstand that load. When the load is greater than the yield load, the structure will have permanent strain. Depending on the constitutive law of the structure, it can have different behaviours:

-hardening, the load can increase beyond the yield load and the structure will react with a lower modulus (lower slope in the stress-strain curve)

-perfect elastoplastic behaviour, the strain increases at constant stress

-softening, strain increases and stress decreases

To take a load, thera must be a continuous load path from one structure to the other

Thanks Lacourt. From the above answer we are checking wheather the structure is capable of transfering loads. From analysis I understood that we are considering no structures is eating loads but it just trasfering and equalized (constitutive law) by supports.

Again thanks for the answer.

If your mechanical structure is a continuum solid, then from the principles of solid mechanics, your structure will follow elastic behavior until yield, and further follow inelastic deformation beyond the yield limit.

Now, considering that you connect your second structure (assuming it to be isotropic as the first) you are basically increasing the size of the test specimen. Assuming that the loading contact area is the same as before and that the two solids are connected in a continuum. The elastic deformation work done will be directly proportional to the specimen size (e.g.: square root of the diameter in case of a sphere). You may with DEM simulations and compare them with experimental date until yield point using simple force-displacement behavior.

However, there will definitely be a loss of energy due to elastic wave propagation at the contact of the solids. Furthermore, a lot depends on the nature, intensity and velocity of the load applied (e.g.: compression, impact, etc.,).

May be this could help - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241685197_Multiple_compression_of_moist_spherical_elastic-plastic_zeolite_4A_granules?ev=prf_pub

Article Multiple Compression of Moist Spherical Elastic-Plastic Zeol...

Thanks Russell,

You are talking about the energy loss in the contact between the two bodies. But my question is in the first solid itself. Consider a simple bar element (Stress=P/A). I am conatraining it at the one end and Applying load(P) at the other end. So its just transfering the load from the load application point to the constrain. If we apply the load till its elastic limit and remove the load, it will come to ite original position. So the energy observed (stress2/2E) are relesed to come to its original position. So, it is not eating any amount of the load. Have you done any experiment to prove that the first body itself eating some load (ie. energy loss in first body itself with in elastic limit). Otherwise please let me how to do. If I am wrong please correct me.

I cannot get your complete paper. Please let me know how can i see your complete paper.

You are not wrong. :) Although according to theory the energy loss is zero for a perfectly elastic collision, the truth is that there are losses which can be noticed from experimental results. The reasons are the lack of time for the elastic waves to propagate through the entire material (due to the loading velocity), the adhesion between the loading contact and the specimen, van der Waals force interactions (in some solids, there may be interaction of magnetic and electrostatic forces as well - Please refer Intermoelcular and Surface Forces from JN. Israelachvilli), losses due to frictional effects and concentration of elastic waves at the inhomogeneous locations of the material. However, in most cases, the magnitude of these contributions to overall energy loss is not alarming. But it is necessary to do detailed studies on them in the years to come. The best approach we have presently is to perform AFM in microscopic materials to study this phenomena and DEM simulations to understand on an ideal basis. I hope my answer gives at least a yard stick.

I have published the full-text of my paper for your download. If you refer Fig. 6 you can see the curve corresponding to the applied 5 N compressive load. It is within the yield limit of the tested material, yet, there is a certain strain after unloading corresponding to zero normal force.

I am not able to underatand the difference between load taking and load transfering of mechanical structures. Can anybody explain?

your question is what is the difference between load taking and load transferring mechanical structures.

If you take an example of a turss, we have statically determinate and statically indeterminate structures (redundant structures),

Truss is structure made of hinge joints.

for example of a basic truss member a triangle with hinge joints. the structure is rigid.

suppose if we remove any one of the link the structure is collapse,i.e, the removed member is acting as a load transferring member.

like wise in real practical structures we will have load taking member and load transferring member.

the links that are attached to grounding will be load bearing members.

Load bearing structures are structures where the load is transferred to the foundations via load bearing internal and external walls e.g. masonry houses, pyramids in Egypt. They are generally characterized by having a small window to wall ratio (i.e. more structural wall area than window openings) and internal walls. Due to the large stresses within the brick or stone walls the height of load bearing structures is limited.

A framed structure is composed of beams and columns. With the load being transferred into the beams via the floor and then down to foundations through the columns. These types of structures can have open internal spaces and clad in glass (curtain walling) or have large windows. Think of modern day skyscrapers. The first framed building was the Home Insurance Building in Chicago built in 1884-85.

I think you should be looking at Free body Diagrams, the original question seems to suggest some misunderstanding of basic application of Newton's laws of motion. if however the questions is about load sharing due to stiffness then....well the answer is the same. go back to first principles. Good luck

P