A posteriori error control in finite element methods via duality techniques: Application to perfect plasticity (Q1129551)

We present a systematic approach to reliable error control and mesh design for finite element models in linear-elastic perfect plasticity. The mesh refinement or coarsening is based on weighted a posteriori error estimates which are derived by solving linearized dual problems. In this way most economical meshes and error bounds can be generated at acceptable cost. The efficiency and reliability of this technique has been demonstrated at a (plane strain) model problem using a primal-mixed formulation of Hencky and Prandtl-Reuss plasticity.