Numerical methods for the study of localization in elastoplastic solids (Q1338049)

A numerical method dealing with the bifurcation problem is presented. The method is different from the standard approach of considering the singularity of the acoustic tensor as it is based on an approach that involves the detection of the onset of strain discontinuities. The cases for pure elastic loading and plastic loading/elastic unloading are analyzed. The constitutive tensors are represented through square matrices to facilitate engineering analyses. The new approach shows that the bifurcation of an elastoplastic solid can be easily analyzed even if the normality of the plasticity laws is not preserved. The method also indicates a potential loss of uniqueness of the solution under loading/unloading conditions.