In this work we review the opportunities given by the use of local maximum-\ud
entropy approximants (LME) for the simulation of forming processes. This approximation can\ud
be considered as a meshless approximation scheme, and thus presents some appealing features\ud
for the numerical simulation of forming processes in a Galerkin framework.\ud
Especially the behavior of these shape functions at the boundary is interesting. At nodes\ud
on the boundary, the functions possess a weak Kronecker-delta property, hence simplifying the\ud
prescription of boundary conditions. Shape functions at the boundary do not overlap internal\ud
nodes, nor do internal shape functions overlap nodes at the boundary. Boundary integrals can be\ud
computed easily and efficiently compared to for instance moving least-squares approximations.\ud
Furthermore, LME shapes also present a controllable degree of smoothness.\ud
To test the performance of the LME shapes, an elastic and a elasto-plastic problem was\ud
analyzed. The results were compared with a meshless method based on a moving least-squares\ud
approximation
