Analysis and design of circular plates using the workhardening adaptation criterion (Q1057704)

A unified aproach to both analysis (maximum load multiplier) and optimal design problems for workhardening adaptation of axisymmetrical plates is presented, via a continuous approach. The loads are assumed to vary arbitrarily but in a quasi-static manner and remaining inside a given convex loading domain. In such a framework, the assessment of the plastic deformations developed during the actual (a priori unknown) loading history is crucial, since these deformations may result to be excessive with respect to some given ductility criteria, eventhough workhardening adaptation has occured. The bounds on plastic deformations are formulated by means of a quadratic but convex function depending on some fictitious plastic strain. The nonlinear mathematical programming problem so obtained is linearized by a suitable decomposition of the nonlinear constraint into two equivalent constraints. The analysis problem is identified as a linear constrained maximization problem. The optimal design problem in the presence of limited ductility constraints, is identified as a nonlinear constrained minimization problem, the nonlinearity being due to both the objective function and to only one of the constraints: the latter however are herein shown to be suitably linearized. The optimality conditions of the mathematical programming problem are also studied and discussed, and the theory is applied to a case-study structure.