Explicit Runge–Kutta methods for the integration of rate-type constitutive equations

摘要

Modern constitutive models have the potential to improve the quality of engineering calculations involving non-linear anisotropic materials. The adoption of complex models in practice, however, depends on the availability of reliable and accurate solution methods for the stress point integration problem. This paper presents a modular implementation of explicit Runge–Kutta methods with error control, that is suitable for use, without change, with any rate-type constitutive model. The paper also shows how the complications caused by the algebraic constraint of conventional plasticity are resolved through a simple subloading modification. With this modification any rate-independent model can be implemented without difficulty, using the integration module as an accurate and robust standard procedure. The effectiveness and efficiency of the method are demonstrated through a comparative evaluation of second and fifth-order formulas, applied to a complex constitutive model for natural clay, full details of which are given.