Modelling plasticity in finite bodies containing stress concentrations by a distributed dislocation method

Abstract

An efficient method for the analysis of limited plasticity at stress raising features such as notches and holes in finite bodies has been developed. A network of stationary dislocations is used to simulate the plasticity and simple constant displacement boundary elements form the borders of the geometries. The notch or hole itself is implicitly included in the formulation by using specialized kernels for these features in an infinite plane, thereby improving the numerical efficiency. The cyclic plastic behaviour of an edge-notch in an infinite plane and a finite rectangular plate are analysed under elastic-perfectly plastic, plane strain conditions. Examples of the resulting stress state after stress redistribution and plastic shakedown are displayed which aid in the reliable prediction of component life.