Consequences of the dissipative restrictions in finite anisotropic elasto-plasticity

The paper is devoted to the dissipation postulate in anisotropic finite elastoplasticity, properly formulated in terms of the total strain histories, on small cycles only. The equivalence between the dissipation postulate and the existence of the stress potential together with the dissipation inequality is proved. The modified flow rules compatible with the dissipation postulate follow as a necessary condition. The convexity and normality properties can be treated as an equivalent issue of the dissipation postulate only within the framework of Sigma-models. We identify such classes of Sigma-models based on the pre-image theorem. The difficulties arise from the non-injectivity of the Mandel's stress measure, as dependent on the elastic strain. We define the yield stress function and the admissible elastic stress range in Sigma-space. The equivalence is achieved only if it possible to construct the elastic range in strain space, having just the topological properties originally assumed as a basis of the dissipation postulate. The normality to the admissible elastic stress range does not mean an associative flow rule. The results are exemplified for transversely isotropic elasto-plastic materials as well as for models with small elastic strains. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.