Load step reduction for adjoint sensitivity analysis of finite strain elastoplasticity

In this paper, load step reduction techniques are investigated for adjoint sensitivity analysis of path-dependent nonlinear finite element systems. In particular, the focus is on finite strain elastoplasticity with typical hardening models. The aim is to reduce the computational cost in the adjoint sensitivity implementation. The adjoint sensitivity formulation is derived with the multiplicative decomposition of deformation gradient, which is applicable to finite strain elastoplasticity. Two properties of adjoint variables are investigated and theoretically proved under certain prerequisites. Based on these properties, load step reduction rules in the sensitivity analysis are discussed. The efficiency of the load step reduction and the applicability to isotropic hardening and kinematic hardening models are numerically demonstrated. Examples include a small-scale cantilever beam structure and a large-scale conrod structure under huge plastic deformations.