Elements of Plasticity Theory

One of the main aims of plasticity theory is to determine the

stress-strain behavior of a solid under a multi-axial stress state given
the behavior under uniaxial loading.

Power law hardening Elastic perfectly Piece-wise linear

plastic Strain hardening

Even a simple power law for the flow curve results in math
complexity when combined with equations from plasticity
theory so idealized flow curves are often used.
 Elements of Plasticity Theory
True stress and strain
L
DL 1
Simple engineering strain e= = ò dL
L0 L0 L
0

However in plasticity strain can be large (>0.01) so a measure

f so-called true strain is used where the change in length is
referenced to the instantaneous length, i.e.,
L1 - L0 L2 - L1 L3 - L2
e =å + + + ...
L0 L1 L1
L
dL L
e=ò = ln
L0
L L0
 Elements of Plasticity Theory
Engineering stress s = F / A0

F F A0
True stress s= =
A A0 A

A0 L
Since volume is constant during plastic deformation = = e +1
A L0
F
s = ( e + 1) = s ( e + 1)
A0

Measures of true stress and strain are used when analyzing

the plastic portion of a stress-strain curve.
 Elements of Plasticity Theory
Plastic yielding under a multiaxial stress state

Generally two models are used:

• Maximum shear stress-Tresca criterion

• Distortional energy-von Mises’ criterion

In order to use the Tresca criterion one must be able to determine

the principal stress; not so with the von Mises criterion.
 Elements of Plasticity Theory
Maximum shear stress-Tresca criterion

Given the 3 principal stresses: s I > s II > s III

s I - s III
t max =
2

If σ0 is the yield stress in uniaxial tension, τmax= σ0 /2. Then

s I - s III s0
t max = =
2 2
s I - s III = s 0
 Elements of Plasticity Theory
Distortional energy-von Mises’ criterion

J2, the 2nd invariant of the stress deviator tensor is proportional

to the distortional energy. The critical value of the distortional
energy is taken to be equal to that in uniaxial loading.

6ë
2 2 2
(
J 2 = ê(s 1 - s 2 ) + (s 2 - s 3 ) + (s 3 - s 1 ) + 6 s 122 + s 23
1é 2
)
+ s 132 ùú
û

J2 = k 2 k2 is the value at yield in uniaxial loading

J 2 = ê(s 0 ) + (s 0 ) ú = s 0
1é 2 2
ù 1 2
6ë û 3
1 2
s0 = k2
3
 Elements of Plasticity Theory
Distortional energy-von Mises’ criterion

3 6ë
2 2
(
s 0 = ê(s 1 - s 2 ) + (s 2 - s 3 ) + (s 3 - s 1 ) + 6 s 122 + s 232 + s 132 ùú
1 2 1é 2

û
)
( )
(êë s 1 - s 2 ) + (s 2 - s 3 ) + (s 3 - s 1 ) + 6 s 122 + s 232 + s 132 ùúû
1/2
1 é 2 2 2
s0 =
2
Elements of Plasticity Theory

Graphical representation of yielding in 2D

Elements of Plasticity Theory
Elements of Plasticity Theory
Elements of Plasticity Theory
Elements of Plasticity Theory
Elements of Plasticity Theory