Elastic-plastic stress-strain calculation in notched bodies subjected to non-proportional loading

An analytical method for calculating notch tip stresses and strains in elastic-plastic isotropic bodies subjected to non-proportional loading sequences is presented. The key elements of the two proposed models are generalized relationships between elastic and elastic-plastic strain energy densities, and the material constitutive relations. These two models form the lower and the upper limits of the actual energy densities at the notch tip. Each method consists of a set of seven linear algebraic relations that can easily be solved for elastic-plastic strain and stress increments, knowing the hypothetical notch tip elastic stress history and the material stress-strain curve. Results of the validation show that the proposed methods compare well with finite element data and each solution set forms the limits of a band within which actual notch tip strains fall.