AN UPPER BOUND FINITE ELEMENT PROCEDURE FOR SOLVING LARGE PLANE STRAIN DEFORMATION

Abstract

A unique and robust upper bound finite element procedure is developed for the analysis of large plastic deformation problems under plane strain condition. It can consistently treat problems with isotropic strain varying materials. It can also effectively solve problems with any initial ‘guessed’ velocity field, even from an random number generator. To explore and demonstrate the capability of this new approach, strip tension and plane strain compression problems are solved. For validation, the computed results are compared with existing analytical or experimental solutions in good agreement. The phenomenon of shear band formation can be simulated and, as expected, is found to develop more distinctly in strain softening materials than in perfectly plastic and strain hardening materials. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.