ON ELASTIC-PLASTIC STRUCTURES UNDER CYCLIC LOADS

The response of elastic-plastic solids (or structures) subjected to cyclic loads is investigated in the hypothesis of small displacements and strains. Results previously obtained by the author for temperature-independent material data are reviewed and improved. These results include a variational method for the evaluation of the post-transient residual stresses (i.e. residual stresses at the end of the transient response), as well as a sensitivity analysis of the steady-state response to the loads. Methods for analysing the plastic shakedown state are provided, including the direct determination of the border between the non-ratchetting and ratchetting load domains. The above results are extended to materials with temperature-dependent yield stress.