Topological properties of elastoplastic lattice spring models that determine terminal distributions of plastic deformations

Abstract: A recent result by Gudoshnikov et al [SIAM J. Control Optim. 2022] ensures finite-time convergence of the stress-vector of an elastoplastic lattice spring model under assumption that the vector $g'(t)$ of the applied displacement controlled-loading lies strictly inside the normal cone to the associated polyhedral set (that depends on mechanical parameters of the springs). Determination of the terminal distribution of stresses has been thereby linked to a problem of spotting a face on the boundary of the polyhedral set where the normal cone contains vector $g'(t)$. In this paper the above-mentioned problem of spotting an eligible face is converted into a search for an eligible set of springs that have a certain topological property with respect to the entire graph (of springs). Specifically, we prove that eligible springs are those that keep non-zero lengths after their nodes are collapsed with the nodes of the displacement-controlled loading after a finite number of eligible displacements of the nodes of the graph. The proposed result allows to judge about possible distribution of plastic deformations in elastoplastic lattice spring models directly from the topology of the associated graph of springs. A benchmark example is provided.