A strain-gradient plasticity theory with a corner-like effect: a thermodynamics-based extension

A higher-order strain gradient plasticity theory with a corner-like effect, which was recently proposed by the author, is updated to a form suitable for its thermodynamics-based extensions. It is assumed that the free energy is augmented by a defect energy that has a non-quadratic dependence on the plastic strain gradients. Predictive feature of the extended theory is examined via finite element analyses of a constrained simple shear problem and a plane strain tension problem involving plastic flow localization.