Three-dimensional elastoplastic analysis by triple-reciprocity boundary element method

In general, internal cells are required to solve elastoplastic problems using a conventional boundary element method (BEM). However, in this case, the merit of BEM, which is ease of data preparation, is lost. Triple-reciprocity BEM can be used to solve two-dimensional elastoplasticity problems with a small plastic deformation. In this study, it is shown that three-dimensional elastoplastic problems can be solved, without the use of internal cells, by the triple-reciprocity BEM. An initial strain formulation is adopted and the initial strain distribution is interpolated using boundary integral equations. A new computer program was developed and applied to solving several problems. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.