Gradient plasticity with the tangential-subloading surface model and the prediction of shear-band thickness of granular materials

An extended gradient elastoplastic constitutive equation is formulated, which is capable of describing the plastic strain rate due to the rate of stress inside the yield surface and the inelastic strain rate due to the stress rate component tangential to the subloading surface by incorporating the tangential-subloading surface model. Based on the extended constitutive equation, the postlocalization analysis of granular materials is performed to predict the shear-band thickness. It is revealed that the shear-band thickness is almost determined by the gradient coefficient characterizing the inhomogeneity of deformation, although the stress-strain curve is strongly dependent on material properties. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.