Bounding-surface plasticity for non-linear analysis of space structures

This paper presents a method for the non‐linear analysis of space structures subjected to static and cyclic loading. A bounding‐surface kinematic hardening plasticity model is used to simulate the hardening and hysteritic material behaviour. The model is used in conjunction with the lumped plasticity assumption coupled with the concept of a yield surface in force space. A hardening coefficient matrix which is a function of the plastic strain and the elastic stiffness matrix is introduced while the vectorial nature of the material memory parameters is maintained. This provides a smooth transition from the elastic to the plastic regime which simulates the hysteresis loops quite accurately. An updated Lagrangian formulation is used together with a predictor/corrector solution method. Several examples are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the method.