Elastoplastic axisymmetric Cosserat continua and modelling of strain localization

The theory and finite-element formula of the axisymmetric Cosserat continuum are presented by introducing an independent rotational degree of freedom into the axisymmetric continuum. A pressure-dependent elastic-plastic model and the corresponding consistent algorithm for the constitution integration of the model are presented in the framework of the axisymmetric Cosserat continuum theory. The numerical examples illustrate that the developed model can maintain the well-posedness of the boundary value problems; overcome the problems of mesh-dependency, which commonly occur in the classical continuum when the strain softening behaviour is incorporated; and capture the entire progressive failure process.