A general theory of finite deformation of viscoplastic thin shells (Q5961837)

The authors give a way to solve numerically the difficult title problem. The presentation is divided into two parts. The first one deals with the three-dimensional theory of viscoplastic constitutive equations and with the associated computational strategy. The theory, truly nonlinear, is applied to an inelastic continuum through the decomposition of the transformation gradient into a product of two gradients, one for the elastic part, and the other for the plastic behavior. The consideration of elastic and plastic pull-backs and push-forwards allows to define an additional decomposition into elastic and plastic strains through an intermediate configuration. The rate of deformation is defined as the Lie derivation of the Almansi strain tensor, which gives an evolution equation of the plastic part. The gradient polar decomposition defines only the small strain approximation, and the weak form of the equilibrium gives an approach to numerical time integration. The second part deals with the application of the developed theory to a shell structure. The shell is treated as a three-dimensional body, whose displacements and strains are written in tangential and remaining components with respect to the middle surface, and include transverse shear and thickness deformations. The latter being a function of the coordinate along a director in the sense of a Cosserat surface; nevertheless this notion is rejected by the authors owing to the non-existence of relevant constitutive equations, in general. Correspondingly, the different surface stresses are defined through an integration along the director coordinate. Finally, a weak formulation is presented, together with its linearization, and a step by step integration method with respect to the time is employed by using a Newton scheme. In conclusion, the article, carefully deepened and developed, seems to be significant in spite of some ambiguity and approximations.