Focuses on a finite element computational model for the Timoshenko bea
m which is idealized as an elasto-plastic-damage medium governed by Le
maitre's continuum damage mechanics (CDM) model for ductile fracture.
Response under monotonically increasing loading does not show any devi
ation from elasto-plastic simulation, However, a marked difference in
the residual stress field is noted by virtue of the unloading phase, i
n which the CDM model allows far stiffness degradation in contrast to
classical elasto-plasticity which requires unloading at the (frozen) i
nitial stiffness of the material.