Implications due to different loading programs in inelastic materials

In the present paper the effects of different loading procedures on the response of rate-sensitive inelastic materials are analysed. The elasto/viscoplastic model problem is developed by taking advantage of the postulate of maximum dissipation in order to derive an associated formulation of the evolutive laws. A non-dimensional loading program parameter is introduced which accounts for the loading procedure and the intrinsic properties of the material. An appropriate solution method is applied and specific numerical examples are reported so that the implications due to different loading programs on the inelastic behaviour of rate-sensitive materials are suitably illustrated.