We consider the variational formulation of both geometrically linear and
geometrically nonlinear elasto-plasticity subject to a class of hard
single-slip conditions. Such side conditions typically render the associated
boundary-value problems non-convex. We show that, for a large class of
non-smooth plastic distortions, a given single-slip condition (specification of
Burgers vectors) can be relaxed by introducing a microstructure through a
two-stage process of mollification and lamination. The relaxed model can be
thought of as an aid to simulating macroscopic plastic behaviour without the
need to resolve arbitrarily fine spatial scales.Comment: 15 page
