A reappraisal of nonlocal mechanics

A new approach to nonlocal damage coupled to nonlocal plasticity within a s mall strain formalism will be discussed. Elasticity remains local and the n onlocal framework is set up by the definition of the free energy function, which depends on nonlocal measures of damage and plasticity. The potential functions for damage and plasticity follow in a straightforward manner, as well as the evolution laws for the internal variables using the thermodynam ics of irreversible processes. Numerical algorithms for the integration of the nonlocal damage/plasticity evolution equations have been derived. In th e second part of the paper, the modelling of interfacial damage is consider ed and a material surface model for a thin adhesive undergoing nonlocal dam age coupled to nonlocal plasticity is derived. The numerical scheme for the integration of the constitutive equations is further elaborated and illust rated for an adhesive joints problem. (C) Elsevier, Paris.