Implicit integration of composite yield surfaces with corners

Numerical solutions in computational plasticity are severely challenged when concrete and geomaterials are considered with non‐regular yield surfaces, strain‐softening and non‐associated flow. There are two aspects that are of immediate concern within load steps which are truly finite: first, the iterative corrector must assure that the equilibrium stress state and the plastic process variables do satisfy multiple yield conditions with corners, Fi(σ, q) = 0, at discrete stages of the solution process. To this end, a reliable return mapping algorithm is required which minimizes the error of the plastic return step. Second, the solution of non‐linear equations of motion on the global structural level must account for limit points and premature bifurcation of the equilibrium path. The current paper is mainly concerned with the implicit integration of elasto‐plastic hardening/softening relations considering non‐associated flow and the presence of composite yield conditions with corners.