Finite thermoplasticity based on isomorphisms

In real processes involving large plastic deformations, a major part of the stress power will be dissipated and induces thermodynamical changes that cannot be neglected in many cases. A framework for the description of elasto-plastic materials based on the notion of isomorphic thermoelastic ranges is developed. Within this framework, general forms of the consistent flow and hardening rules as well as necessary and sufficient conditions for the second law to hold are derived for the rate-independent case. Within this frame, the concept of (unloaded) intermediate configurations is critically reviewed.