On the performance of the Prange-Hellinger-Reissner finite element formulation for elasto-plasticity at small strains

This contribution deals with a stress-displacement mixed finite element formulation for elasto-plasticity within the framework of small deformations based on the Prange-Hellinger-Reissner (PHR) functional. The interpolations for the displacements are given by standard Lagrangian shape functions and a 5-parameter discontinuous interpolation is introduced for the stresses which was published by [1]. Based on the principle of maximum plastic dissipation the flow rule and hardening law will be derived by regarding a von Mises yield criterion, see [2]. In contrast to [3], we apply a point-wise enforcement of the flow rule, hardening law and loading/unloading conditions. This work is related to the physically nonlinear mixed finite element based on the Prange-Hellinger-Reissner formulations for elasto-plasticity, [4]. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)