A model for elastoplastic damage at finite strains: algorithmic issues and applications

This work addresses the computational aspects of a model for elastoplastic damage at finite strains. The model is a modification of a previously established model for large strain elastoplasticity described by Perić et al. which is here extended to include isotropic damage and kinematic hardening. Within the computational scheme, the constitutive equations are numerically integrated by an algorithm based on operator split methodology (elastic predictor—plastic corrector). The Newton—Raphson method is used to solve the discretized evolution equations in the plastic corrector stage. A numerical assessment of accuracy and stability of the integration algorithm is carried out based on iso‐error maps. To improve the stability of the local N—R scheme, the standard elastic predictor is replaced by improvedinitial estimates ensuring convergence for large increments. Several possibilities are explored and their effect on the stability of the N—R scheme is investigated. The finite element method is used in the approximation of the incremental equilibrium problem and the resulting equations are solved by the standard Newton—Raphson procedure. Two numerical examples are presented. The results are compared with those obtained by the original elastoplastic model.