Bifurcation analysis of frictional materials

Bifurcation analysis of general boundary value problems including solution of the post-bifurcation regime towards a steady-state failure condition, can only be performed by numerical methods. The shear band formation phenomena in a frictional material is considered. Results obtained by the finite element method at the bifurcation point are compared with results from an analytical solution. An isotropic strain hardening, non-associated Mohr Coulomb material model is employed. It is demonstrated why the shear band formation phenomena in frictional materials is so difficult to solve, and proposals are given for how to overcome these problems.