Bounding Surface Plasticity. I: Mathematical Foundation and Hypoplasticity

The mathematical foundation of the general bounding surface constitutive formulation in plasticity is presented. Along these lines the concept of hypoplasticity is formally introduced, and it is shown that a particular class of hypoplastic formulations arises naturally from certain bounding surface models, with the distinguishing feature being the dependence of the elastoplastic moduli and/or the plastic strain rate direction on the stress rate direction. The general analytical perspective allows the better understanding and improvement of existing bounding surface plasticity and hypoplasticity models, which are briefly discussed, and suggests the proper way to construct new ones for future applications.