Finite element analysis of elastic–plastic materials displaying mixed hardening

The problem of non-radial loading (in the stress space) of structures of elastic–plastic metals is discussed. A concept of combined isotropic and kinematic hardening is proposed. For a material displaying such mixed hardening, constitutive equations are derived and incorporated in a finite element program for the analysis of elastic–plastic 2D-structures. When determining the numerical solution of the non-linear equations, the program enables the investigator to select an optimal combination of step by step and iteration procedures. The computed results are compared with experimental results and with results from calculations based on the overlay model, Reference 25.