Limit analysis of orthotropic structures based on Hill's yield condition

The limit analysis problem, which permits the direct computation of the lim it load of rigid-perfectly plastic solids and structures, is considered wit h reference to anisotropic materials. As a starting step, attention is focu sed on Hill's orthotropic condition, for which an explicit expression of th e dissipation power in terms of strain rates is established. On this basis, numerical procedures successfully employed in the isotropic (von Mises') c ase can be used in this context, as some examples illustrate. (C) 2001 Else vier Science Ltd. Ah rights reserved.