Bound theorem on finite dynamic deformations of plasticity (Q920661)

Recently, the complementarity for nonlinear variational boundary-initial value problem have been studied by the author and \textit{G. Strang} [Q. Appl. Math. 47, No.3, 487-504 (1989; Zbl 0691.73012)]. By introducing a so-called dual gap function, a beautiful symmetry between the primal and dual variational problems is discovered, which yields a series of important results in nonlinear mechanics. The present paper is an application to plastic dynamics. A new bound theorem is constructed for rigid-hardening material. The plastic yield condition in this theorem is relaxed by the complementary plastic superpotential. We will see that in the case of large deformations, the existence of bounds for impulsively loaded plastic structures is closely related to the property of the dual gap function.