THE P-VERSION OF THE FINITE-ELEMENT METHOD IN INCREMENTAL ELASTOPLASTIC ANALYSIS

Whereas the higher-order versions of the -finite element method (p- an d hp-versions) are fairly well established as: highly efficient method s for monitoring and controlling the discretization error in linear pr oblems, little has been done to exploit their benefits in elasto-plast ic structural analysis: In this;paper, we discuss which aspects of inc remental elasto-plastic finite element analysis are particularly amena ble to improvements by the p-version. These theoretical considerations are supported by several numerical experiments. First, we study an ex ample for which an analytical solution is available. It is demonstrate d that the p-version performs very well even in cycles of elasto-plast ic loading and unloading, not only as compared with the traditional h- version but also. with respect to the exact solution. Finally, an exam ple of considerable practical importance-the analysis of a cold-workin g lug-is presented which demonstrates how the modelling tools offered by higher-order finite element techniques can contribute to an improve d approximation of practical problems.