Implicit yield function formulation for granular and rock-like materials

The constitutive modelling of granular, porous and quasi-brittle materials is based on yield (or damage) functions, which may exhibit features (for instance, lack of convexity, or branches where the values go to infinity, or false elastic domains) preventing the use of efficient return-mapping integration schemes. This problem is solved by proposing a general construction strategy to define an implicitly defined convex yield function starting from any convex yield surface. Based on this implicit definition of the yield function, a return-mapping integration scheme is implemented and tested for elastic-plastic (or -damaging) rate equations. The scheme is general and, although it introduces a numerical cost when compared to situations where the scheme is not needed, is demonstrated to perform correctly and accurately.Comment: 19 page

On the formulation of closest-point projection algorithms in elastoplasticity. Part II: Globally convergent schemes. With applications to deviatoric and pressure-dependent plastic models.

Report UCB/SEMM 2000-02 - Dept. of Civil Engineering - University of California at Berkeley, USAPreprin

On the formulation of closest-point projection algorithms in elastoplasticity. Part I: The variational structure.

Report UCB/SEMM 2000-01 - Dept. of Civil Engineering - University of California at Berkeley, USAWe present in this paper the characterization of the variational structure behind the discrete equa- tions defining the closest-point projection approximation in elastoplasticity. Rate-independent and viscoplastic formulations are considered in the infinitesimal and the finite deformation range, the later in the context of isotropic finite strain multiplicative plasticity. Primal variational prin- ciples in terms of the stresses and stress-like hardening variables are presented first, followed by the formulation of dual principles incorporating explicitly the plastic multiplier. Augmented La- grangian extensions are also presented allowing a complete regularization of the problem in the constrained rate-independent limit. The variational structure identified in this paper leads to the proper framework for the development of new improved numerical algorithms for the integration of the local constitutive equations of plasticity as it is undertaken in Part II of this work.Preprin

A TFETI Domain Decomposition Solver for Elastoplastic Problems

We propose an algorithm for the efficient parallel implementation of elastoplastic problems with hardening based on the so-called TFETI (Total Finite Element Tearing and Interconnecting) domain decomposition method. We consider an associated elastoplastic model with the von Mises plastic criterion and the linear isotropic hardening law. Such a model is discretized by the implicit Euler method in time and the consequent one time step elastoplastic problem by the finite element method in space. The latter results in a system of nonlinear equations with a strongly semismooth and strongly monotone operator. The semismooth Newton method is applied to solve this nonlinear system. Corresponding linearized problems arising in the Newton iterations are solved in parallel by the above mentioned TFETI domain decomposition method. The proposed TFETI based algorithm was implemented in Matlab parallel environment and its performance was illustrated on a 3D elastoplastic benchmark. Numerical results for different time discretizations and mesh levels are presented and discussed and a local quadratic convergence of the semismooth Newton method is observed

Formulation, analysis and solution algorithms for a model of gradient plasticity within a discontinuous Galerkin framework

Includes bibliographical references (p. [221]-239).An investigation of a model of gradient plasticity in which the classical von Mises yield function is augmented by a term involving the Laplacian of the equivalent plastic strain is presented. The theory is developed within the framework of non-smooth convex analysis by exploiting the equivalence between the primal and dual expressions of the plastic deformation evolution relations. The nonlocal plastic evolution relations for the case of gradient plasticity are approximated using a discontinuous Galerkin finite element formulation. Both the small- and finite-strain theories are investigated. Considerable attention is focused on developing a firm mathematical foundation for the model of gradient plasticity restricted to the infinitesimal-strain regime. The key contributions arising from the analysis of the classical plasticity problem and the model of gradient plasticity include demonstrating the consistency of the variational formulation, and analyses of both the continuous-in-time and fully-discrete approximations; the error estimates obtained correspond to those for the conventional Galerkin approximations of the classical problem. The focus of the analysis is on those properties of the problem that would ensure existence of a unique solution for both hardening and softening problems. It is well known that classical finite element method simulations of softening problems are pathologically dependent on the discretisation