Convergence analysis of discrete approximations of problems in hardening plasticity

The initial boundary value problem of quasistatic elastoplasticity is consi dered here as a variational inequality and equation in the displacement and stress. A variational inequality for the stress only may be obtained by el iminating the displacement. Semidiscrete approximations of the stress probl em and fully discrete finite element approximations of the full problem are considered under assumptions of minimum regularity of the solution. It is shown that the resulting families of approximations converge to the solutio n of the original problem. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserv ed.