A FINITE ELEMENT FORMULATION OF THE RIGID-PLASTIC LIMIT ANALYSIS PROBLEM

A procedure for the Þnite element computation of the limit load of rigid-perfectly plastic solids is presented. The approach is based on the kinematic theorem of limit analysis, which is formulated so as to reduce the problem to the search of the essentially free minimum of a convex, but not everywhere di¤erentiable, function. A conceptually simple solution strategy is presented and its e¤ectiveness is demonstrated with reference to a few signiÞcant examples. Plane strain solids composed of materials governed by von MisesÕ plasticity condition are considered, but extensions to a more general context can be envisaged