A comparison between analytical calculations of the shakedown load by the bipotential approach and step-by-step computations for elastoplastic materials with nonlinear kinematic hardening

The class of generalized standard materials is not relevant to model the nonassociative constitutive equations. The bipotential approach, based on a possible generalization of Fenchel’s inequality, allows the recovery of the flow rule normality in a weak form of an implicit relation. This defines the class of implicit standard materials. For such behaviours, this leads to a weak extension of the classical bound theorems of the shakedown analysis. In the present paper, we recall the relevant features of this theory. Considering an elastoplastic material with nonlinear kinematic hardening rule, we apply it to the problem of a sample in plane strain conditions under constant traction and alternating torsion in order to determine analytically the interaction curve bounding the shakedown domain. The aim of the paper is to prove the exactness of the solution for this example by comparing it to step-by-step computations of the elastoplastic response of the body under repeated cyclic loads of increasing level. A reliable criterion to stop the computations is proposed. The analytical and numerical solutions are compared and found to be closed one of each other. Moreover, the method allows uncovering an additional ‘2 cycle shakedown curve’ that could be useful for the shakedown design of structure.