Three-dimensional thermo-elastoplastic analysis by triple-reciprocity boundary element method

In general, internal cells are required to solve thermo-elastoplastic problems using a conventional boundary element method (BEM). However, in this case, the merit of the BEM, which is ease of data preparation, is lost. The triple-reciprocity BEM can be used to solve two-dimensional thermo-elastoplasticity problems with a small plastic deformation without using internal cells. In this study, it is shown that three-dimensional thermo-elastoplastic problems with heat generation can be solved by the triple-reciprocity BEM without using internal cells. Initial strain and stress formulations are adopted and the initial strain or stress distribution is interpolated using boundary integral equations. A new computer program is developed and applied to solve several problems.