Effect of plastic anisotropy on the limit load of highly under-matched joints: a conceptual approach to plane strain problems

Abstract

The present paper is concerned with a general approach to determine semianalytical limit loads for a class of highly under-matched plastically anisotropic welded joints. The definition for highly under-matched welded joints is that the weld is much softer than the base material. Therefore, plastic deformation is confined within the weld whereas the base material is rigid. The approach proposed is based on two principles. First, the general kinematically admissible velocity proposed accounts for singular behavior of real velocity fields near bi-material interfaces. Second, the thickness of the weld is usually much smaller than other geometric dimensions of specimens.