Abstract
This paper is concerned with a general method of formulation and iterative solution of small displacement plasticity problems, using the Hencky-Nadai hardening law as mathematical model for the material behavior. Beginning with a minimum energy principle for small thermal-mechanical strains under simple external loading, quasi-linear partial differential equations are formulated and a method of iteration by successive solutions is proposed. A finite-difference discretization of the equations (in two dimensions) is obtained through minimization of the total potential energy function, leading to positive definite symmetric matrices for general boundary configurations.