Softening Gradient Plasticity: Analytical Study of Localization under Nonuniform Stress

Abstract

Localization of plastic strain induced by softening can be objectively described by a regularized plasticity model that postulates a dependence of the current yield stress on a nonlocal softening variable defined by a differential (gradient) expression. This paper presents analytical solutions of the one-dimensional localization problem under certain special nonuniform stress distributions. The one-dimensional problem can be interpreted as describing either a tensile bar with a variable cross section or a beam subjected to a nonuniform bending moment. Explicit as well as implicit gradient formulations are considered. The evolution of the plastic strain profile and the shape of the load-displacement diagram are investigated. It is shown that even if the local constitutive law exhibits softening right from the onset of yielding, the global load-displacement diagram has a hardening part. The interplay between the internal length scales characterizing the material and the geometry is discussed.

Locations

• arXiv (Cornell University) - View - PDF
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• International Journal for Multiscale Computational Engineering - View