Evaluating shakedown under proportional loading by non-linear static analysis

A lower bound method for calculating shakedown loads under proportional loading by static non-linear finite element analysis is presented. Stress fields obtained by static analysis and stress superposition are substituted into Melan’s lower bound shakedown theorem. The proposed method is applied to two sample problems: a thick cylinder under internal pressure and a square plate with a central hole under proportional biaxial loading. The results indicate that the method gives accurate lower bound shakedown loads for these problems.