On adaptive strategies for large deformations of elasto-plastic solids at finite strains: computational issues and industrial applications Original Research Article

This work is concerned with adaptive strategies for finite element simulation of large deformations of elasto-plastic solids at finite strains. Computational issues relevant for application of adaptive strategies to solution of industrial problems are particularly discussed. The need for a rigorous treatment of both theoretical and algorithmic issues is emphasised and aspects important to the solution of practical problems are discussed. Some possibilities for the choice of error indicators are presented. With the aim of achieving an effective and robust adaptive strategy, computational experience suggests that it is crucial to design an error indicator which represents the essential features of the physical problem under consideration. Detailed analysis is also given to the transfer of variables between moving meshes for history-dependent elasto-plastic materials in the presence of large strains. A set of numerical examples representing a wide range of industrial problems is provided to illustrate the effectiveness and robustness of the developed approach. The application areas covered include metal forming with thermomechanical coupling, high-speed machining and blanking, and projectile impact modelling.