A method of finding stress solutions for a general plastic material under plane strain and plane stress conditions

A general plastic material under plane strain and plane stress is classified by a yield criterion that depends on both the first and second invariants of the stress tensor. The yield criterion together with the stress equilibrium equations forms a statically determinate system. This system is investigated in the principal lines coordinate system (i.e. the coordinate curves of this coordinate system coincide with trajectories of the principal stress directions). It is shown that the scale factors of the principal lines coordinate system satisfy a simple equation. Using this equation, a method for constructing the principal stress trajectories is developed. Therefore, the boundary value problem of plasticity theory reduces to a purely geometric problem. It is believed that the method developed is useful for solving a wide class of boundary value problems in plasticity.