BOUNDING-SURFACE PLASTICITY FOR NONLINEAR-ANALYSIS OF SPACE STRUCTURES

This paper presents a method for the non-linear analysis of space stru ctures subjected to static and cyclic loading. A bounding-surface kine matic hardening plasticity model is used to simulate the hardening and hysteritic material behaviour. The model is used in conjunction with the lumped plasticity assumption coupled with the concept of a yield s urface in force space. A hardening coefficient matrix which is a funct ion of the plastic strain and the elastic stiffness matrix is introduc ed while the vectorial nature of the material memory parameters is mai ntained. This provides a smooth transition from the elastic to the pla stic regime which simulates the hysteresis loops quite accurately. An updated Lagrangian formulation is used together with a predictor/corre ctor solution method. Several examples are presented to demonstrate th e accuracy and efficiency of the method.