Contemporary perspectives in finite strain plasticity

From an internally consistent theory of finite strain plasticity in which are introduced a new stress tensor that includes rigid body rotation and a compatible finite strain tensor amenable to simple geometrical interpretation, a close correlation with experiment is obtained for stress paths of arbitrary composition and direction. Measured material constants are proportional to the elastic shear modulus, as indicated for dislocation theory. At large strain there exists a quantum mechanical structure for the continuum, in which are defined a series of relative reference configurations and second order transitions.