Modeling elasto-viscoplasticity in a consistent phase field framework

Existing continuum level phase field plasticity theories seek to solve plastic strain by minimizing the shear strain energy. However, rigorously speaking, for thermodynamic consistency it is required to minimize the total strain energy unless there is proof that hydrostatic strain energy is independent of plastic strain which is unfortunately absent. In this work, we extend the phase-field microelasticity theory of Khachaturyan et al. by minimizing the total elastic energy with constraint of incompressibility of plastic strain. We show that the flow rules derived from the Ginzburg-Landau type kinetic equation can be in line with Odqvist's law for viscoplasticity and Prandtl-Reuss theory. Free surfaces (external surfaces or internal cracks/voids) are treated in the model. Deformation caused by a misfitting spherical precipitate in an elasto-plastic matrix is studied by large-scale three-dimensional simulations in four different regimes in terms of the matrix: (a) elasto-perfectly-plastic, (b) elastoplastic with linear hardening, (c) elastoplastic with power-law hardening, and (d) elasto-perfectly-plastic with a free surface. The results are compared with analytical/numerical solutions of Lee et al. for (a-c) and analytical solution derived in this work for (d). In addition, the J integral of a fixed crack is calculated in the phase-field model and discussed in the context of fracture mechanics.