Institute of Fundamental Technological Research

The applicability of the tensor function theory to the development of elaborate and rational constitutive equations of inelasticity is discussed to facilitate the description of the complicated inelastic response of structural components. After a brief review of the representation theory of scalar-valued as well as tensor-valued functions of a set of vector and tensor variables, previous results in this line of approach are first presented. Then, the formulation of some non-classical constitutive equations of inelasticity is discussed in some detail to elucidate the utility and the practical procedures of this theory; a yield criterion and a non-associated flow law of prestrained plastic materials, those of transversely isotropic materials, isotropic and anisotropic hardening theories of creep, and a constitutive equation of anisotropic creep damage in metals. It is shown that the present approach provides the general framework to materialize accurate constitutive equations of inelasticity.