On Aifantis' strain gradient plasticity theory accounting for plastic spin

This paper examines the effect of codirectionality hypothesis on Aifantis' distortion gradient plasticity theory. The system of microforces includes microstress, power-conjugate to'the Burgers tensor rate. The proposed codirectionality hypothesis assumes, that the flow direction and the plastic microstress are in the same direction. It is obtained that the power expended by the microstress power-conjugate to the Burgers tensor rate, can be additively decomposed to power expended by scalar and vector microscopic stresses power-conjugate to the accumulated plastic distortion rate and gradient of plastic distortion rate respectively. Following the proposed codirectionality hypothesis, it is obtained that the microstress power-conjugate to the Burgers tensor rate is purely energetic. The obtained flow rule accounts for plastic spin and generalizes the Aifantis' flow rule. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.