Numerical algorithms and mesh dependence in the disturbed state concept

The disturbed state concept (DSC) provides a unified approach for constitutive modelling of engineering materials including such factors as elastic, plastic and creep strains, microcracking, damage and softening, and stiffening responses. The interacting mechanisms in the material mixture composed of the relative intact and fully adjusted states provide implicitly for various factors such as microcrack interaction and characteristic dimension. The DSC model can allow for well-posedness, reduction or elimination of spurious mesh dependence and localization. A number of problems are solved to illustrate convergence and uniqueness of the finite element procedures, localization, spurious mesh dependence, and validation with respect to observed behavior of simulated and practical problems.