Rate-independent elastoplasticity at finite strains and its numerical approximation

Gradient plasticity at large strains with kinematic hardening is analyzed as quasistatic rate-independent evolution. The energy functional with a frame-indifferent polyconvex energy density and the dissipation is approximated numerically by finite elements and implicit time discretization, such that a computationally implementable scheme is obtained. The nonself-penetration as well as a possible frictionless unilateral contact is considered and approximated numerically by a suitable penalization method which keeps polyconvexity and simultaneously bypasses the Lavrentiev phenomenon. The main result concerns the convergence of the numerical scheme toward energetic solutions. In the case of incompressible plasticity and of nonsimple materials, where the energy depends on the second derivative of the deformation, we derive an explicit stability criterion for convergence relating the spatial discretization and the penalizations.

Contact interactions, stress and material symmetry

An argument is given intimating that, for nonsimple materials, the concepts of contact interaction and material symmetry, as well as the bridging concept of stress, should be carefully revised and generalized. .