Computerized Relaxation Applied to the Plane-Strain Indenter

A computer adaptation of Southwell’s Relaxation Method was developed for the solution of elastic-perfectly plastic stress distribution problems. This method was employed to study some aspects of the problem of the plane-strain indenter. For two ratios of strip thickness to indenter width, the load for, and location of, initial yielding and the load for the onset of indentation were found. The results are compared with slip-line solutions.