A quasi‐static boundary value problem in multi‐surface elastoplasticity: Part 1—Analysis

The quasi-static evolution of an elastoplastic body with a multi-surface constitutive law of linear kinematic hardening type allows the modelling of curved stress–strain relations. It generalizes classical small-strain elastoplasticity from one to various plastic phases. This paper presents the mathematical models and proves existence and uniqueness of the solution of the corresponding initial-boundary value problem. The analysis involves an explicit estimate for the effective ellipticity constant. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.