Gradient-enhanced large strain thermoplasticity with automatic linearization and localization simulations

The paper deals with the thermomechanical extension of a large strain hyperelasto-plasticity model and focuses on algorithmic aspects and localization simulations. The formulation includes the degradation of the yield strength due to the increase of an averaged plastic strain measure and temperature, thus, three sources for loss of stability are included in the description. A gradient-enhancement of the model is incorporated through an additional differential equation, but localization is also influenced by heat conduction. The finite element analysis is performed for an elongated plate in plane strain conditions, using different finite elements and values of material parameters related to regularization (internal length scales are related to gradient averaging as well as heat conduction). In particular, the influence of the F-bar enrichment on the simulation results is studied. All computational tests are performed using selfprogrammed user subroutines prepared within a symbolic-numerical tool AceGen which is equipped with automatic differentiation options, allowing for automatic linearization of the governing equations.