l~t. J. Mech. Sci. Pergamon Press Ltd. 1967. Vol. 9, pp. 143-155.

Printed in Great Britain

ELASTIC-PLASTIC ANALYSIS OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL

STRESS SYSTEMS BY THE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

P. V. M~RCAL* and I. P. KI~CG~

(Received 11 August 1966)

S u m m a r y - - A method is described for the incremental elastic-plastic analysis of two-

dimensional stress systems (plane stress, plane strain and axisymmetrically loaded body
of revolution). The procedure is based upon the finite element method of stress analysis
and uniformly stressed triangular elements are used. The derivation of the incremental
stress-strain relationship from the P r a n d tl - R e u s s equations and the Von Mises yield
criterion is presented. Numerical examples are presented and are compared with
experimental and theoretical results in the literature.

NOTATION
cylindrical co-ordinate system
0"0, ~0 stress and strain in 0 co-ordinate direction
O'r, ~r stress and strain in r co-ordinate direction
az, ez stress and strain in z co-ordinate direction
(Trz~ Erz shear stress and strain in rz plane
equivalent stress and plastic strain
(~ t deviatoric stress
H" slope of 5 vs. ~v curve
Y Poisson's ratio
E Young's modulus
G shear modulus
[am] matrix occurring in elastic-plastic stress-strain relationship
{R} nodal force vector
{v} nodal displacement vector
[g] stiffness matrix

INTRODUCTION
Ix A previous paper one of the authors suggested a stiffness method for
elastic-plastic problems. 1 The method enabled the differential equations
describing equilibrium to be expressed in terms of displacements. More recently,
the method of finite elements has been found to be a powerful approach to
stress analysis problems. Part of its advantage stems from the ability to
handle irregular shapes of boundaries and mixed boundary conditions.
It seemed to the authors that it would be useful to modify the partial
stiffness method developed in Ref. 1 for the finite element solution of elastic-
plastic problems. The term 'partial stiffness method' is used here in order to
avoid confusion with the term 'stiffness method' usually used in the finite
element field to describe a force-displacement approach.

* Imperial College of Science and Technology, Exhibition Road, London, S.W.7.

t University of Wales. Formerly at : Berkeley Nuclear Laboratories, C.E.G.B.
l0 143
144 P.V. MARCALand I. P. KInG
R E V I E W OF L I T E R A T U R E
T u r n e r e t a l . 2 f o r m u l a t e d the stiffness a p p r o a c h for a plane triangular element
in plane stress. S u b s e q u e n t l y m a n y investigators, Clough 3, Argyris 4, Melosh",
Gallagher e t a l . 6 a n d Zienkiewicz:, have p r o d u c e d elements for different stress
conditions and with more refinement, covering bending a n d three-dimensional
elements with triangles, rectangles, quadrilaterals a n d tetrahedra.
Gallagher 6 a n d Argyris e t a l . s have e x t e n d e d the m e t h o d to elastic-plastic
stress problems b y m a k i n g use of the so-called t h e r m a l strain a p p r o a c h similar
to t h a t suggested b y Mendelson and Manson 9. Pope 1° has suggested a t a n g e n t
modulus a p p r o a c h for the solution of elastic-plastic problems b y finite elements.
I n m a n y respects our m e t h o d is similar to t h a t of Pope, the present a p p r o a c h
differing b y the use of m e a n partial stiffness coefficients for elements which
yield in the n e x t increment. Pope a d v o c a t e d the use of small increments of
load which just caused yield in the n e x t element. I t will be shown t h a t this m a y
be avoided b y the use of the mean partial stiffness concept.
Swedlow n, b y requiring t h a t the stresses a n d strains remained within certain
limits of the equivalent stress vs. equivalent plastic strain curve, has developed
a t a n g e n t modulus a p p r o a c h to elastic-plastic plane stress problems. The two
m e t h o d s referred to above are only applicable to work-hardening materials.
S u m m a r i z i n g the state of the literature, it appears t h a t in general, in finite
differences as well as in finite elements, there are two possible solutions of
elastic-plastic problems. One based on the t h e r m a l strain a p p r o a c h a n d the
other on the t a n g e n t modulus approach. As y e t it seems p r e m a t u r e to decide
which is superior. The formulation of a decision is n o t helped b y the lack of
detailed information in the literature on the c o m p u t i n g requirements ~ff each
method.

A S T I F F N E S S C O N C E P T F O R AN E L A S T I C - P L A S T I ( '
FINITE ELEMENT
Ill this section we obtain the stiffness relations for a triangular ring element of a solid
body of revolution, see Fig. l, subjected to symmetric loading. Subsequently we shall
show in Appendix 2 how the plane stress and plane strain formulations may be obtained
t)y removing the relevant terms. We shall use an elastic-plastic material of the Prandtl
Reuss type which obeys the yon Mises yield criterion. The method is developed for a
material with arbitrary work hardening but most of the examples are solved for an
elastic-perfectly plastic material. As argued in Ref. 1, the elastic-perfectly plastic material
forms the most stringent test of the method. Curiously this situation is reversed in formal
analysis.
First of all, we obtain the incremental stress vs. strain relation for an elastic-plastic
material in terms of partial stiffness coefficients. The partial stiffness coefficients fi)r a
general three-dimensional stress system have been given in Ref. 1; but for the sake of
completeness we briefly review here the equations appropriate to a solid body of rev()lul loll
with symmetrical loading.
With symmetrical co-ordinates 0, r, z and using the conventional notation fin' 1he
stresses, we have the Von Mises yield criterion :
( ao -- a t ) 2 + (at -- a~) ~ + (a~ -- ao) 2 + 6a~z = 25 ~ (la)
This equation can be put in the form of an implicit differential :
3a~ da~ + 3a~ da~ + 3a~ d(r: + 6(rr~ ( t ~ = 2~ (1~ (Ib)
 E l a s t i c - p l a s t i c a n a l y s i s o f t w o - d i m e n s i o n a l stress s y s t e m s 145

where a' d e n o t e s a d e v i a t o r i c stress, e.g.

a~ = ~ ( 2 a 0 - a . - -.)
a n d t h e prefix d is u s e d t o d e n o t e c h a n g e s o v e r a small i n c r e m e n t of load.

Z~

I i ~r

FIG. 1. R o t a t e d t r i a n g u l a r e l e m e n t w i t h d i m e n s i o n s .

A tensile or c o m p r e s s i v e t e s t o n t h e m a t e r i a l c a n b e used to p r o v i d e a r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n
t h e e q u i v a l e n t stress 5 a n d t h e e q u i v a l e n t plastic s t r a i n ev. H e n c e a t a p a r t i c u l a r v a l u e
of e q u i v a l e n t p l a s t i c s t r a i n we h a v e
d 5 = H" d~v
w h e r e H ' is t h e slope of t h e e q u i v a l e n t stress 5 vs. t h e e q u i v a l e n t p l a s t i c s t r a i n ev curve.
S u b s t i t u t i n g for d 5 in e q u a t i o n ( l b ) ,

32aO'd~°+~5 ~da,_ ±2
a" 5 a.±' 3 a'*
' 3-U'd 5 da,: - H ' d~, = 0 (2)

T h e P r a n d t l - R e t L u s s t r e s s - s t r a i n r e l a t i o n s t o g e t h e r w i t h e q u a t i o n (2) f o r m a linear
s y m m e t r i c m a t r i x r e l a t i n g t h e stress i n c r e m e n t s t o t h e s t r a i n i n c r e m e n t s .
- l v v 3 a~ -
dso
E E
0
2(}
dao
v 1 v 3 ~
der 0
25
da~
v v 1 3 ~'~
de, = doz (3a)
E E E 0 25
1
der, o o o 3~ ~
(Y
da,~

0 3 aa 3 a, 3 d~
_25 25 2~ a
146 P . V . MARCAL a n d I. P. Kt~G

We n e w use m a t r i x n o t a t i o n a n d let t h e a b o v e e q u a t i o n be r e p r e s e n t e d b y
{de~ = [a,,] {de} (:~b)
where [a,,,] is t h e 5 x 5 s y m m e t r i c m a t r i x a n d {da} a n d {ds} are t h e e o h m m v e c t o r s o f stress
(with t h e e x c e p t i o n of d ~ ) a n d s t r a i n .
M u l t i p l y i n g b o t h sides b y t h e inverse m a t r i x [a,,] 1 we h a w ,
{da} = [a,,,] -~ (de} (4)
a n d because of t h e l i n e a r i t y o f t h e e q u a t i o n s we see t h a t t h e e l e m e n t s o f t h e inverse real rix
[a,,~] -1 m a y be w r i t t e n as
~a~ for i , j = O,r,z, rz, p

H e r e for ease o f r e p r e s e n t a t i o n a~ is used t o r e p r e s e n t ~ a n d s~ equals zero. T h u s t h e last

c o l u m n of t h e inverse m a t r i x m a y be n e g l e c t e d . B e c a u s e of its p h y s i c a l i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , ~ e
refer to t h e ?a~/~si coefficients as t h e p a r t i a l stiffness coefficients.

THE TRANSITION REGION

T h e s o l u t i o n of t h e p r o b l e m is carried o u t in i n c r e m e n t s o f load in o r d e r to t a k e
a d v a n t a g e of t h e l i n e a r i t y o f e q u a t i o n (4). H o w e v e r , c o m p l i c a t i o n s arise w h e n t h e elasti(.
p a r t of t h e s t r u c t u r e w i t h stresses n e a r yield b e c o m e s plastic w i t h t h e n e x t i n c r e m e n t of
load. This region w h i c h is usually a d j a c e n t to t h e e l a s t i c - p l a s t i c i n t e r f a c e has b e e n called
t h e t r a n s i t i o n region in Ref. 1.
The t e c h n i q u e u s e d for dealing w i t h e a c h e l e m e n t in t h e t r a n s i t i o n region is to ()btab~
a n e s t i m a t e o f t h e s t r a i n i n c r e m e n t f r o m t h e results o f t h e p r e v i o u s load i n c r e m e n t . This
e s t i m a t e o f s t r a i n is t h e n a s s u m e d to a c t in t h e following m a n n e r as t h e load is applied.
I n i t i a l l y a p r o p o r t i o n o f this s t r a i n a c t s elastically so as to cause yield a t a p a r t i c u l a r ratio
o f stresses. S u b s e q u e n t l y t h e b e h a v i o u r is a s s u m e d to be e l a s t i c - p l a s t i c a n d t h e p a r t i a l
stiffness coefficients for t h i s s t r a i n i n g arc o b t a i n e d on t h e basis of t h e a b o v e - m c n t i o n e ( l
r a t i o o f s t r e s s e s a t yiehl. H e n c e we can define a m e a n stiffness coefficient of the eh,me~,t
by w e i g h t i n g of t h e elastic a n d e l a s t i c - p l a s t i c stiffnesses in t h e ratio

~'J/mean ~ \ 8ffelas~ic \~Ei/elastic-plastic

where m = s t r a i n r e q u i r e d to cause y i e l d / e s t i m a t e d s t r a i n .
T h e first e s t i m a t e of t h e s t r a i n s is o b v i o u s l y n o t going to be correct, but t h e use of t h~.
r e s u l t i n g m e a n stiffnesses for t h e s o l u t i o n of t h e e q u i l i b r i u m e q u a t i o n s d e s c r i b i n g the
p r o b l e m will p r o v i d e a closer e s t i m a t e of t h e s t r a i n s . I n fact t h e s t r a i n estimat(,s at(,
usually quite good a n d because t h e t r a n s i t i o n region a t a n y s t a g e is q u i t e small c o m p a r e d
with t h e whole s t r u c t u r e , t h e m e a n stiffness coefficients c o n v e r g e r a p i d l y . I n p r a c t i c e an
a d e q u a t e a p p r o x i m a t i o n t o c o n v e r g e n c e o f t h e m e a n stiffness coefficients is o b t a i n e d a f t e r
t w o i t e r a t i o n s . W e n o t e h e r e t h a t t h e m e a n stiffness coefficients are t h e only stiffness
coefficients t o c h a n g e d u r i n g t h e solution for a n i n c r e m e n t o f load a n d , in o r d e r t o get t h e
b e s t o u t o f t h i s a p p r o a c h , we m u s t use a n u m e r i c a l a p p r o a c h for t h e solution o f t h e
e q u i l i b r i u m e q u a t i o n s w h i c h can t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f t h e p r e v i o u s results t h a t are a l r e a d y
close t o t h e c o r r e c t a n s w e r . I n this p a p e r we use t h e m e t h o d o f s y s t e m a t i c o v e r - r e l a x a t i o n
w h i c h satisfies t h e a b o v e r e q u i r e m e n t s .

ELEMENT STIFFNESS
I n o r d e r to o b t a i n t h e e l e m e n t stiffnesses (i.e. forces a t n o d e s caused by unit displace-
m e n t s a t t h e nodes), we h a v e u s e d t h e f o r m u l a t i o n o f Clough a n d R a s h i d TM for a toroidal
r i n g o f t r i a n g u l a r cross-section. The e l e m e n t stiffnesses in Ref. 12 were o b t a i n e d b y virtual
w o r k principles a n d t h i s is s t r i c t l y n o t a p p l i c a b l e t o a n e l a s t i c - p l a s t i c s i t u a t i o n . H o w e v e r ,
b e c a u s e we h a v e linearized t h e stress vs. s t r a i n r e l a t i o n s for a n i n c r e m e n t o f load, we haw,
a r g u e d t h a t t h i s c o n v e r t s t h e n o n - l i n e a r e l a s t i c - p l a s t i c p r o b l e m t o a series o f successiv(.
elastic p r o b l e m s w i t h c h a n g i n g coefficients, so t h a t we are jtmtified in using a v i r t u a l w(~rk
 E l a s t i c - p l a s t i c a n a l y s i s of t w o - d i m e n s i o n a l stress s y s t e m s 147

f o r m u l a t i o n . More r e c e n t l y , b e c a u s e of possible o b j e c t i o n s t o t h e use of v i r t u a l w o r k for

e l a s t i c - p l a s t i c p r o b l e m s , we h a v e o b t a i n e d a n a l t e r n a t i v e f o r m u l a t i o n b y m e a n s of force
c o n s i d e r a t i o n s . T h i s p r o d u c e d t h e s a m e v a l u e s for t h e stiffness coefficients a n d t h e s a m e
r e s u l t s for t h e e x a m p l e of a t h i c k c y l i n d e r u n d e r i n t e r n a l pressure. T h i s l a s t f o r m u l a t i o n is
d e s c r i b e d in A p p e n d i x 1. W e q u o t e h e r e t h e m a i n r e s u l t s g i v i n g t h e stiffness [k] for a n
element
[k] = [F] [a,,] ~ IV] (5)
w h e r e [ V] is a d i s p l a c e m e n t to s t r a i n t r a n s f o r m a t i o n m a t r i x , [F] is a stress t o n o d a l force
t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s m a t r i x a n d [~,,]-1 is t h e stress vs. s t r a i n m a t r i x g i v e n b y t h e p a r t i a l
stiffness m a t r i x d e s c r i b e d a b o v e .
T h e n o d a l p o i n t stiffnesses a r e t h e n a s s e m b l e d to o b t a i n t h e s t r u c t u r a l stiffness m a t r i x
[K].

METHOD OF SOLUTION
T h e r e a r e 2 N l i n e a r e q u a t i o n s of e q u i l i b r i u m for t h e N n o d a l p o i n t s . F o r a n i n c r e m e n t
of load, t h e s e m a y b e w r i t t e n
N
{dR}= ~,K,~dv~ for n= 1,N (6)
J-1
w h e r e {dR} is t h e 2 N x 1 m a t r i x g i v i n g t h e a p p l i e d loads a t t h e n o d a l p o i n t s , {dv} is t h e
2 N × 1 m a t r i x g i v i n g t h e d i s p l a c e m e n t s a t t h e n o d a l p o i n t s a n d [K] i s t h e s t r u c t u r a l
stiffness m a t r i x .
E q u a t i o n (6) is s o l v e d b y t h e a c c e l e r a t e d G a u s s - S e i d e l i t e r a t i o n w i t h a n a c c e l e r a t i o n
f a c t o r b e t w e e n 1.8 a n d 1.9. T h i s i t e r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e is well s u i t e d to t h e p r e s e n t a p p r o a c h ,
b e c a u s e a f t e r a few cycles of i t e r a t i o n , a n i m p r o v e d a p p r o x i m a t i o n to t h e s o l u t i o n is
a v a i l a b l e a n d m a y b e u s e d t o m o d i f y t h e m e a n p a r t i a l stiffness coefficients. As n o t e d
earlier o n l y t h e m e a n p a r t i a l stiffnesses c h a n g e d u r i n g t h e s o l u t i o n for a n i n c r e m e n t of load.
T h e flow s e q u e n c e of t h e p r o g r a m d e s c r i b e d b e l o w i n d i c a t e s t h e s t e p s t a k e n in t h e s o l u t i o n
of a n e l a s t i c - p l a s t i c p r o b l e m .

FLOW SEQUENCE
1. C a l c u l a t e p a r t i a l {fully elastic) stiffness coefficient for u n i t l o a d a n d elastic b e h a v i o u r .
2. F o r m f o r c e - d i s p l a c e m e n t r e l a t i o n s a n d solve b y s y s t e m a t i c r e l a x a t i o n .
3. Scale all elastic v a l u e s in o r d e r to cause yield a t t h e p o i n t of m a x i m u m e q u i v a l e n t
stress. L e t L r e p r e s e n t t h e load a t yield.
4. A p p l y a n i n c r e m e n t of l o a d (say 0.1 L).
5. Store stresses f r o m p r e v i o u s l o a d i n g a n d e s t i m a t e s t r a i n i n c r e m e n t s t h a t will b e
c a u s e d b y t h e n e x t i n c r e m e n t of load.
6. C a l c u l a t e p a r t i a l stiffness coefficients Oa~/~j for e a c h e l e m e n t a f t e r d e c i d i n g w h e t h e r
a p o i n t is elastic, e l a s t i c - p l a s t i c or in t h e t r a n s i t i o n region.
7. F o r m f o r c e - d i s p l a c e m e n t r e l a t i o n s a n d solve for e q u i l i b r i u m .
8. R e p e a t 6 a n d 7 t h r e e times.
9. C a l c u l a t e i n c r e m e n t of e q u i v a l e n t p l a s t i c s t r a i n s
~-
d ~ = ~ d ~ i, j = O,r,z, rz

if d~v n e g a t i v e , s t o p ; if p o s i t i v e or zero, c o n t i n u e .
10. C a l c u l a t e s t r e s s i n c r e m e n t s a n d a d d t o p r e s e n t stresses. Calculate a n d s t o r e s t r a i n
i n c r e m e n t s as e s t i m a t e for n e x t i n c r e m e n t of load.
11. O u t p u t d i s p l a c e m e n t s a t e a c h n o d e , s t r a i n s a n d stresses a t e a c h e l e m e n t .
12. R e t u r n t o 4 for a n o t h e r i n c r e m e n t of load if t o t a l l o a d n o t a p p l i e d .

RESULTS
W h e n t h e c o m p u t e r p r o g r a m was d e v e l o p e d it was u s e d t o i n v e s t i g a t e t h e following
t h r e e cases. T h e first case s t u d i e d w a s t h a t of a t h i c k c y l i n d e r s u b j e c t e d t o i n t e r n a l
p r e s s u r e b e c a u s e it w a s possible t o c o m p a r e t h e r e s u l t s w i t h t h e l i t e r a t u r e (e.g. H o d g e a n d
148 P . V . MAROAL a n d I. P. KI~(~

Whitela). T h e second case s t u d i e d was t h a t of a fiat t e n s i o n s p e c i m e n w i t h a c e n t r a l hole.

T h i s e x a m p l e was s t u d i e d b y m e a n s of a b i r e f r i n g e n t c o a t i n g t e c h n i q u e b y T h e o c a r i s a n d
M a r k e t o s . 14 F i n a l l y t w o s h a p e s of n o t c h e d t e n s i o n s p e c i m e n s were s t u d i e d in c o n d i t i o n s
of p l a n e stress, p l a n e s t r a i n a n d a x i s y m m e t r i c l o a d i n g of a b o d y of revt)lution. T h e flank
n o t c h e s were of s e m i - c i r c u l a r a n d 90 ° i n c l u d e d a n g l e r e s p e c t i v e l y a n d are s i m i l a r in shal)e
to t h o s e st ll(tied b y A l l e n a n d Southwell. '~

(it Thiet" cylinder with internal pressure

T h e w r i t e r s h a v e o b t a i n e d some r e s u l t s for t h e t h i c k c y l i n d e r u n d e r i n t e r n a l pressur(~
w i t h v a r i o u s e n d c o n d i t i o n s , in o r d e r to m a k e a c o m p a r i s o n w i t h t h e m a n y e x a m p l e s giveH
in t h e l i t e r a t u r e . H o w e v e r , some difficulty was m e t w i t h in t r y i n g to i m p o s e t h e s a m e e n d
c o n d i t i o n s as t h e e x a m p l e s in t h e l i t e r a t u r e . T h e m a i n eattse of t h i s was t h a t in all t h e
e x a m p l e s t h e a s s u m p t i o n was m a d e t h a t t h e c y l i n d e r d e f o r m e d in a p l a n e - s t r a i n c o n d i t h m
in a l o n g i t u d i n a l d i r e c t i o n (e~ = c o n s t a n t ) . I n general s u c h a c o n d i t i o n does n o t exist aml
t h e finite e l e m e n t r e s u l t s do n o t show it. T h e o n l y p l a n e - s t r a i n e n d c o n d i t i o n t h a t could
be i m p o s e d on t h e c y l i n d e r b y t h e finite e l e m e n t p r o g r a m is t h a t of zero s t r a i n in t h e
l o n g i t u d i n a l d i r e c t i o n a n d t h i s c o r r e s p o n d s to t h e case t r e a t e d b y H o d g e a n d W h i t e i)l
Ref. 13. T h e b r o k e n line in Fig. 2 shows t h e r e s u l t for t h e p r e s e n t a n a l y s i s for a c y l i n d e r
with ~ d i a m e t e r r a t i o of 2 to 1. T h e r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d b y H o d g e a n d W h i t e are p l o t t e d as a
full line in Fig. 2. T h e r e is a r e a s o n a b l e a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e results. A similar a g r e e m e n t
was o b t a i n e d for t h e t h i c k c y l i n d e r w i t h o p e n - e n d c o n d i t i o n w h e n c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e
)'esults of Mareal ~6. n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e s l i g h t l y different longitu(linal e n d con(tition.~.

I-0

0.g

0-6 S"

o-( / ' 4 <

/ ---- HOOOE~,~WH,TE
f,[,,j1
0.2 ..... FINITE ELEMENT
/

,/
z_
0 0"2 0"4 0"6 O~ I'0

OUTSIDE 'F CE STRAIN

FI(~. 2. Pressure a g a i n s t o u t s i d e st~rfaee strain.

T h e case of t h e t h i c k c y l i n d e r w i t h i n t e r n a l p r e s s u r e was also used to d e v e l o p a s u i t a b l e

t e s t of c o n v e r g e n c e in o r d e r to t a k e a d v a n t a g e of t h e f e a t u r e s of t h e stiffness m e t h o d . 'VIi(-
r a t i o in a b s o l u t e v a l u e s of t h e s u m of t h e c h a n g e of d i s p l a c e m e n t s o v e r one cycle t o t h e s u m
of t h e d i s p l a c e m e n t s for t h e p r e s e n t i n c r e m e n t of load was used as a t e s t for convergent'(,.
A t o l e r a n c e of 0.00001 in t h i s r a t i o r e s u l t e d i n a h a l v i n g of t h e m m a b e r of i t e r a t i o n s in a
s o l u t i o n a n d y e t t h e r e s u l t s o n l y differed f r o m a f u l l - l e n g t h s o l u t i o n in t h e t h i r d significant
figure a f t e r s e v e n i n c r e m e n t s of load. Some effort was d e v o t e d t o d e v e l o p i n g t h i s t e s t for
c o n v e r g e n c e b e c a u s e it was realized t h a t a n e l a s t i c - p l a s t i c s o l u t i o n b y t h e i n c r e m e n t a l
p r o c e d u r e w o u l d r e q u i r e s m a l l e r i n c r e m e n t s of load w h e n large a r e a s of plastic yielding
develop. W i t h a c o n v e r g e n c e test, s m a l l e r load i n c r e m e n t s c a n be specified w i t h o u t
i n c u r r i n g a p e n a l t y in c o m p u t i n g time. H o w e v e r , m o r e effort is still r e q u i r e d to deveh) t)
a s e n s i t i v e t e s t for c o n v e r g e n c e .
 E l a s t i c - p l a s t i c a n a l y s i s of t w o - d i m e n s i o n a l stress s y s t e m s 149

(ii) Perforated tension strip

T h e r e s u l t s of T h e o c a r i s a n d M a r k e t o s 14 for t h i s s h a p e of s p e c i m e n were o b t a i n e d for
a l i n e a r w o r k - h a r d e n i n g a l u m i n i u m s t r i p w i t h t h e m e c h a n i c a l p r o p e r t i e s as listed below :
yield stress = 24-3 k g / m m ~,
slope of w o r k - h a r d e n i n g c u r v e = 225.0 k g / m m 2,
Yotmg's modulus -- 7000.0 k g / m m 2.
Fig. 3 shows t h e v a r i a t i o n of m a x i m u m s t r a i n in t h e l o n g i t u d i n a l d i r e c t i o n w i t h a p p l i e d
load for a tensile s p e c i m e n w i t h a r a t i o of hole d i a m e t e r t o s t r i p w i d t h of 1 to 2. Two
finite e l e m e n t c a l c u l a t i o n s were p e r f o r m e d . One a s s u m e d a n e l a s t i c - p e r f e c t l y plastic
m a t e r i a l while t h e o t h e r a s s u m e d t h e w o r k - h a r d e n i n g slope of t h e aluminilLm s p e c i m e n as

,.s[-
!

i
bllb

0:75

/ n JC22;.,2
0~.~ ~ - - / "i'~iOCARIS & ~AQKW'rOS ~ S " O O32.

/
i I I i _ t I
O t'O ~.'O 3"0 4'O 5"O
M A X , STrAiN Ee.
i
FIO. 3. E n d l o a d vs. m a x i m u m s t r a i n for p e r f o r a t e d strip.
Dis. : w i d t h of s t r i p = 1 : 2.

listed b y T h e o c a r i s a n d M a r k e t o s 14. T h e difference b e t w e e n t h e c a l c u l a t i o n s a r e o n l y

a p p a r e n t a t t h e h i g h e r loads. T h e e x p e r i m e n t a l r e s u l t d u e t o T h e o c a r i s a n d M a r k e t o s is
also s h o w n a n d t h e t h e o r e t i c a l r e s u l t s a r e in r e a s o n a b l e a g r e e m e n t w i t h it. Fig. 4 shows
t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e p l a s t i c e n c l a v e s d u r i n g t h e p r o g r e s s i o n of yielding. Fig. 4(a) gives
t h e p l a s t i c e n c l a v e s for t h e w o r k - h a r d e n i n g c a l c u l a t i o n s a n d Fig. 4(b) t h e e n c l a v e s f o u n d
by Theocaris and Marketos.

(iii) Notched tension specimens

T h e r e s u l t s for t h e n o t c h e d t e n s i o n s p e c i m e n s are s h o w n in Figs. 5 a n d 6 for s p e c i m e n s
w i t h a n o t c h d e p t h t o h a l f - w i d t h r a t i o of 1 t o 2 ; a n e l a s t i c - p e r f e c t l y p l a s t i c m a t e r i a l was
a s s u m e d . Fig. 5 shows t h e l o a d vs. m a x i m u m l o n g i t u d i n a l s t r a i n c u r v e s for t h e s p e c i m e n s
in p l a n e stress, p l a n e s t r a i n a n d a x i s y m m e t r i c s h a p e a n d loading. T h e r e s u l t s a r e p l o t t e d
i n a d i m e n s i o n l e s s f o r m w i t h o n e u n i t of l o a d e q u a l t o t h e l o a d a t first yield a n d one u n i t
of s t r a i n e q u a l t o t h e s t r a i n a t yield of a u n i f o r m tensile s p e c i m e n .
W i t h t h i s m e t h o d of p r e s e n t a t i o n t h e effects of y i e l d i n g o n t h e m a x i m u m s t r a i n is seen
t o b e s i m i l a r for a p a r t i c u l a r s h a p e of s p e c i m e n u n d e r t h e t h r e e d i f f e r e n t c o n d i t i o n s of
s t r a i n i n g . T h e a p p l i e d m e a n stress to cause first yield is g i v e n i n T a b l e 1. T h e m a x i m u m
stresses a t y i e l d i n T a b l e 1 s h o w t h e effect of t r i a x i a l i t y . T h e b o d y of r e v o l u t i o n a p p e a r s t o
b e t h e m o s t severe c o n d i t i o n a n d t h i s is b e c a u s e t h e minim~Lm cross-sectional a r e a is less
t h a n for t h e o t h e r t w o cases. T h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e p l a s t i c e n c l a v e s is s h o w n i n Fig. 6
for t h e r i g h t - a n g l e n o t c h . T h e n u m b e r s p l a c e d n e x t to t h e e l a s t i c - p l a s t i c b o u n d a r i e s give
t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g a p p l i e d loads in u n i t s of t h e first yield load. T h e e n c l a v e s o b t a i n e d b y
150 P . V . MARCAL a n d I. P. KING

FIG. 4(a). P r o g r e s s i v e y i e l d i n g o f p e r f o r a t e d strip, calculated.

Dia. : w i d t h of s t r i p = 1 : 2.
 E l a s t i c - p l a s t i c analysis of two-dimensional stress systems 151

o '/..45 %'15 I,~ I'S 1'5 ~ 4f-~1

iy
FIG. 4(b) Progressive yielding of perforated strip, experimental.
Dia. : w i d t h of strip -- 1 : 2.

t-?
J f

o
o

~ O O Y OF ~EVO~.O~IOS,I

o ~ ~ 3 ¢

FIO. 5. L o a d vs. m a x i m u m strain for notched tension specimen.

 152 l'. V. MARCAL and I. P. KING

D ~ ~

c~

\~ o
o
z
0
¥

z
i
b
I
I

'd

G
.... [

v
,°
o[

\\\\ z

w
\\\
o \

b ,2

i 7

i Z
~L

:f_
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tu

=5

2~

~J
 E l a s t i c - p l a s t i c a n a l y s i s of t w o - d i m e n s i o n a l stress s y s t e m s 153

A l l e n a n d Southwel115 w h e n yield p r o g r e s s e d t o t h e m i d d l e of t h e s p e c i m e n a r e super-

i m p o s e d o n Fig. 6. T h e s e a r e a s a r e of a s i m i l a r c h a r a c t e r b u t do n o t a g r e e in d e t a i l s w i t h
t h e e n c l a v e s o b t a i n e d b y t h e p r e s e n t m e t h o d . T w o r e a s o n s m a y h a v e c o n t r i b u t e d t o this.
A l l e n a n d S o u t h w e l l ' s m e t h o d i m p l i e d t h e use of a P o i s s o n r a t i o of 0.5 a n d also, as p o i n t e d
o u t b y H i l P 7, t h e s o l u t i o n of t h e s t r e s s f u n c t i o n u s e d m a y n o t b e v a l i d a t h i g h e r loads.

TABLE 1. LONGITUDINAL S T R E S S E S A T Y I E L D I N U N I T S O F (7/~

Longitudinal Plane Plane B o d y of Geometry

stress stress strain revolution

Applied mean stress 0.220 0.278 0.175 Right-angle notch

Max. stress a t yield 0-967 1.235 1.24
Applied mean stress 0.245 0.370 0.207 Circular n o t c h
Max. stress a t yield 1.037 1.237 1.174

DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
T h e r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d b y t h e finite e l e m e n t m e t h o d d e s c r i b e d h e r e shows a r e a s o n a b l e
b e h a v i o u r for all cases. F r o m t h e p l o t of t h e l o a d vs. m a x i m u m s t r a i n c u r v e s it c a n b e s e e n
t h a t n o t h i n g d r a m a t i c h a p p e n s d u r i n g c o n t a i n e d p l a s t i c flow. T h i s m a k e s t h e c o m p a r i s o n
of e x p e r i m e n t a l a n d t h e o r e t i c a l r e s u l t s difficult.
T h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e p l a s t i c e n c l a v e s in t h e t e n s i o n s p e c i m e n s is of some i n t e r e s t ,
a n d b e c a u s e t h e finite e l e m e n t r e s u l t s are s i m i l a r t o t h o s e of T h e o c a r i s a n d M a r k e t o s 14 it
m a y b e a s s u m e d t h a t in t h e n o t c h e d t e n s i o n s p e c i m e n s t h e finite e l e m e n t r e s u l t s are a
b e t t e r reflection of t h e t r u e b e h a v i o u r t h a n t h a t of A l l e n a n d S o u t h w e l l is. A l l e n a n d
S o u t h w e l l p r e s e n t e d c u r v e s of l o a d vs. c o n t r a c t i o n a t t h e m i n i m u m section. T h i s r e s u l t
was h i g h l y d e p e n d e n t o n t h e v a l u e of t h e P o i s s o n r a t i o a s s u m e d , a n d as i t was n o t clear
w h a t v a l u e was u s e d b y A l l e n a n d S o u t h w e l l in t h a t p a r t of t h e i r c a l c u l a t i o n , n o a t t e m p t
was m a d e to c o m p a r e t h i s p o r t i o n of t h e results.
I t m a y b e of i n t e r e s t to n o t e here t h a t t h e n o t c h e d t e n s i o n s p e c i m e n s were r e p r e s e n t e d
b y a b o u t 150 n o d a l p o i n t s a n d 250 e l e m e n t s . O n a v e r a g e t h e c o m p u t e r a n a l y s i s of t h i s
p r o b l e m r e q u i r e d 15 m i n o f I B M 7090 t i m e for a t o t a l of 8 i n c r e m e n t s of load.

CONCLUSIONS
A p a r t i a l stiffness c o n c e p t for e l a s t i c - p l a s t i c a n a l y s i s h a s b e e n s u g g e s t e d for use w i t h
t h e finite e l e m e n t m e t h o d . T h e c o n c e p t h a s b e e n u s e d t o s t u d y t h e p l a n e stress, p l a n e
s t r a i n a n d t h e s y m m e t r i c a l l y l o a d e d b o d y of r e v o l u t i o n , m a d e of a v o n Mises m a t e r i a l a n d
o b e y i n g t h e P r a n d t l - R e u s s s t r e s s - s t r a i n relations.
A c o m p u t e r p r o g r a m h a s b e e n w r i t t e n t o t e s t t h e t h e o r y . T h e r e s u l t s for a n infinitely
long c y l i n d e r w i t h i n t e r n a l p r e s s u r e s h o w e d r e a s o n a b l e a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e r e s u l t s of
H o d g e a n d ~Thite13. R e s u l t s were o b t a i n e d for a tensile s p e c i m e n w i t h a c e n t r a l hole in
p l a n e stress. T h e c a l c u l a t i o n s s h o w e d a r e a s o n a b l e a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l
r e s u l t s o b t a i n e d b y T h e o c a r i s a n d M a r k e t o s 14. F i n a l l y , a s t u d y was m a d e of n o t c h e d
tensile specimens. T h e s h a p e s of t h e p l a s t i c e n c l a v e s d e v e l o p e d were s i m i l a r in c h a r a c t e r
b u t s h o w e d a difference in d e t a i l f r o m t h o s e o b t a i n e d b y A l i e n a n d S o u t h w e l P ~.

A c k ~ o w l e d g m e ~ t s - - T h e a u t h o r s are i n d e b t e d t o Mr. A. L e e c h for his p r o g r a m m i n g

a s s i s t a n c e a n d are g r a t e f u l t o t h e Science R e s e a r c h Council for a g r a n t in s u p p o r t of his
work. T h e c o m p u t i n g was c a r r i e d o u t a t I m p e r i a l College a n d a t t h e C e n t r a l E l e c t r i c i t y
G e n e r a t i n g B o a r d . T h e a u t h o r s are g r a t e f u l t o b o t h c o m p u t i n g c e n t r e s for t h e p r o v i s i o n
of c o m p u t i n g t i m e .

REFERENCES
1. P. V. MARCAL, I n t . J . mech. Sci. 7, 229 (1965).
2. M. J . TURNER, R. W. CLOUGH, H. C. MARTIN a n d L. J . ToPe, J . aeronaut. Sei. 23, 805
(1956).
 154 P. V. MARCAL a n d I. P. KING

3. R . W . CLOUGH, Proc. 2nd A S C E Conf. on Electro,tic Computation, P i t t s b u r g h ,

P e n n s y l v a n i a (1960).
4. J . H . ARGY~IS, Ing.-Arch. 34, 1 (1965).
5. R. J . MELOSH, J. ASCE Struct. Div. 89, 574 (1963).
6. R . H . GALLAOHER, J . PADLOO a n d P. P. BIJLAARD, J. Am. Rocket Soc. 32, 700 (I962).
7. O. C. ZIENKIEWICZ, Stress Analysis, e d i t e d b y O. C. Zienkiewicz a n d G. S. Hollister,
C h a p t e r 8. P e r g a m o n P r e s s (1965).
8. J . H . ARGYRIS, S. KELSEY a n d W. H . KAMEL, Matrix Methods of Structural A,.alysL~..
A Precis of Recent Developments, e d i t e d b y F. de V e u b e k e . P e r g a m o n Press (1963).
9. A. MENDELSON a n d S. S. MAI~SON, Practical Solution of Plastic Defor~atio, Problems
in the Elastic-plastic Range. N A S A , T.R., R 2 8 (1959).
10. G. POPE, A Discrete Element Method for Analysis qf Pla~m Elastic-plastic Ntres.~
Problems. R . A . E . , T . R . 65028 (1965).
l l. J . SWEDLOW, p r i v a t e c o m m u n i c a t i o n (1966).
12. 1%. W. CLOUGH a n d Y. 1%. RASmD, J. ASCE Engng Mechanics Di~,. 91, 71 (1965).
13. P. G. HODGE a n d W. G. WHITE, J. appl. Mech. 17, 190 (1950).
14. P. S. THEOCARIS a n d E . MARKETOS, J. Mech. Phys. Solids 12, 377 (1964).
15. D. N. DE G. ALLE~ a n d R . V. SOVTHWELL, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A242, 379 (1950).
16. P. V. MARCAL, Int. J. mech. Sci. 7, 84I (1965).
17. R . HILL, The Mathematical Theory of Plasticity, p. 243. C l a r e n d o n Press (1950).
18. E. L. WILSON, Finite Element Analysis of Two.dimensional Structures. P h . D . Thesis,
U n i v . of California, B e r k e l e y , R . 6 3 - 2 (1963).

APPENDIX 1
The Stiffness of a Toroidal Ring Triangular Eleme~t
T h e u s u a l a s s u m p t i o n s are m a d e of a l i n e a r d i s t r i b u t i o n of t h e d i s p l a c e m e n t s in th("
t r i a n g u l a r e l e m e n t , i.e.

~?z

for t h e t h r e e v e r t i c e s we h a v e
=
I ° ° ° l I']
0 (~ ~) 1 r z
i (A 1 )

Iv] = [A] {a} (A2)

w h e r e [A]sxs is t h e m a t r i x f o r m e d b y s u b s t i t u t i n g t h e n o d a l c o - o r d i n a t e s in e q u a t ion (A 1)
a n d {v} is t h e v e c t o r r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e n o d a l d i s p l a c e m e n t s . B y i n v e r s i o n

{~} = [ A ] - ' Iv} (A3)

t h e s t r a i n s a r e o b t a i n e d b y a p p r o p r i a t e d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n of e q u a t i o n (A1) a n d u s i n g t i~e
v a l u e s of {a} f r o m e q u a t i o n (A3). T h i s d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n m a y b e r e p r e s e n t e d b y t h e tbllowing
e q u a t i o n w h e r e a t e r m h a s b e e n i n t r o d u c e d to accoLmt for t h e c i r c u m f e r e n t i a l s t r a i n .
(The c i r c u m f e r e n t i a l s t r a i n of t h e whole e l e m e n t is a s s u m e d t o t a k e t h e v a l u e of t h e s t r a i n
a t t h e c e n t r o i d of t h e t r i a n g u l a r e l e m e n t . )

eo -- 1 -"* 0 0 0
rm rm ~1
er = 0 1 0 0 0 0 i (A4a)
e~ 0 0 0 0 0 1 ~
e'rz 0 0 ] 0 1 0
where
r., = ½(rl+r2+ra)

z,. = ~(z 1 + z2 + z~)

in m a t r i x f o r m
{el = [B] {a} (A4b)
 E l a s t i c - p l a s t i c analysis of two-dimensional stress systems 155

and s u b s t i t u t i n g for (a} from e q u a t i o n (A3)

{e} - [B] [A] -1 (v} = [V] (v} (A5)
where [ V] m a y be considered as a displacement strain t r a n s f o r m a t i o n m a t r i x .
F o r a linear-stress-strain relation we h a v e
(a} = [D] (e} (A6)
where [D] is a m a t r i x describing the m a t e r i a l constants.
The stresses are balanced b y forces acting across the b o u n d a r y of t h e triangular ring.
F o r u n i t angle of the triangular ring a n d replacing these forces by e q u i v a l e n t forces at
the nodal points, we h a v e
(1} = rm A/2 [V] T {a} (A7)
= IF] (~}
where {f} = nodal force vector.
A/2 = area of t h e t r i a n g u l a r cross-section,
[ V] T -- transpose of the m a t r i x [V]
and [F]~x~ m a y now be t h o u g h t of as a stress to force t r a n s f o r m a t i o n matrix.
We n o t e t h a t to be consistent w i t h the concept of small elements, we h a v e neglected
the local v a r i a t i o n of the radius r in the calculation of e q u a t i o n (A7).
By e q u a t i n g (AS), (A6) and (AT) we h a v e
(f} = IF] [D] [V] (v} (A8)
= [k] {v}

where [/~] is the required element stiffness matrix.

Finally, we n o t e t h a t in the elastic-plastic p r o b l e m the m a t m x is given by the partial
stiffness coefficients, i.e.
[D] = [a~] -1.

APPENDIX 2
A N o t e on P l a n e - s t r e s s a n d P l a n e - s t r a i n P r o b l e m s
I n the above, we essentially described the stresses, strains and forces in a triangular
element in a plane (the yz-plane) w i t h special t e r m s i n t r o d u c e d to a c c o u n t for the effect
of circumferential stresses and strains. Clearly, it is possible to r e v e r t to t h e plane p r o b l e m
by leaving out these terms. I n d e e d the c o m p u t e r p r o g r a m s used here h a v e been obtained
b y m o d i f y i n g a plane-stress elastic p r o g r a m due to Wilson is.
B y eliminating the coefficients in the first row of e q u a t i o n (A4a) a n d the corresponding
first c o l u m n of the transpose in e q u a t i o n (A7) we eliminate, respectively, t h e strain in the
direction n o r m a l to t h e plane and the contribution t h a t t h e stress in this direction m a k e s
to the nodal forces. H e n c e we o b t a i n a f o r m u l a t i o n for t h e plaxm-strain p r o b l e m (e0 = 0).
I n a d d i t i o n to this, if we eliminate t h e first row a n d c o l u m n in t h e m a t r i x stress-strain
relation [equation (3a) in the text], we o b t a i n t h e plane-stress formulation.