ABSTRACT
Localization of damage and propagation of damage zones or interacting cracks in structures is characterized by response path bifurcations and instabilities. Stability of inelastic structures is analyzed in general on the basis of the second law of thermodynamics and criteria for stable states and stable paths are given. Examples of application of these criteria in finite element analysis of damage and fracture are presented. For the sake of illustration, analogous path bifurcations and instabilities are also analyzed for an elasto-plastic column. The results show that checks for stable path need to be introduced into finite element programs for damage.
