Variational principles and convergence of finite element approximations of a holonomic elastic-plastic problem (Q1089159)

It is shown that a boundary-value problem based on a holonomic elastic- plastic constitutive law, due to \textit{B. D. Reddy}, \textit{J. B. Martin} and \textit{T. B. Griffin} [Extremal paths and holonomic constitutive laws in elastoplasticity, Quart Appl. Math. (to appear)], may be formulated equivalently as a variational inequality of the second kind. A regularized form of the problem is analyzed, and finite element approximations are considered. It is shown that solutions based on finite element approximation of the regularized problem converge.