This research project deals with nonlinear evolution problems that arise in the study of the inelastic behaviour of solids, in particular in plasticity and fracture. The project will focus on selected problems, grouped into three main topics, namely: 1. Plasticity with hardening and softening, 2. Quasistatic crack growth, 3. Dynamic fracture mechanics. The analysis of the models of these mechan...

Converged normalized stress intensity factors for a matrix crack interacting with an elastic cylinder are presented. The new results differ from previously published results in several examples. The need for better error analysis in computational fracture mechanics is emphasized.

Isogeometric analysis (IGA) represents a recently developed technology in computational mechanics that offers the possibility of integrating methods for analysis and Computer Aided Design (CAD) into a single, unified process. The implications to practical engineering design scenarios are profound, since the time taken from design to analysis is greatly reduced, leading to dramatic gains in effi...

Background: Gradient damage models can be acknowledged as a unified framework of dynamic brittle fracture. As a phase-field approach to fracture, they are gaining popularity over the last few years in the computational mechanics community. This paper concentrates on a better understanding of these models. We will highlight their properties during the initiation and propagation phases of defect ...

The paper attempts a broad overview of the vast ®eld of stability of structures, including elastic and anelastic structures, static and dynamic response, linear and non-linear behavior, energy approach, thermodynamic aspects, creep stability and fracture or damage-induced instability. The importance of stability theory to various ®elds of engineering and applied science is pointed out and the h...

It is demonstrated that the removal of material or the creation or extension of cracks always reduces the total potential energy of any non-linear or linear stable elastic body under fixed load and displacement boundary conditions. A weaker statement that crack extension releases potential energy in excess of plastic dissipation is established for stable elastic-plastic bodies, with certain str...

We present a brief survey of nonclassical linear theories continuum mechanics. Thus, we give concise characterization the Eringen–Edelen nonlocal theory elasticity, polar and micropolar media, Toupin couple-stress Eringen–Suhubi–Mindlin micromorphic theory, Mindlin gradient also local deformation elastic media that takes into account mass displacements.

Plain concrete structures such as dams or retaining walls, as well as rock structures such as tunnels, caverns, excavations, and rock slopes, have commonly been designed by elastic-perfectly plastic analysis in which the tensile yield strength of the material is taken as zero. The paper analyzes the safety of this "notension" design in the light of the finiteness of the tensile strength of conc...