Plastic variational principle based on the least work consumption principle

Abstract

Plastic variational principles are foundation to solve the boundary-value problems of plastic mechanics with the variational method (or energy method) and finite element method. The most convenient way of establishing different kinds of variational principles is to set up the extreme principle related to the studied problem. Based on a general new extreme principle-the Least work consumption principle, the variational principles of the rigid-plastic and rigid-viscoplastic material were derived. In comparison with existing methods, the method in this paper is more clear and direct, and the physical meaning is clear-cut. This method can offer a new way for establishing other kinds of variational principles.

Keywords

rigid-plastic / rigid-viscoplastic / variational principle / the least work consumption principle