No CrossRef data available.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 October 2008
In the classical theory of plane deformations in isotropic plastic media, the field equations are hyperbolic and the orthogonal families of characteristics are known as Hencky-Prandtl nets. Their distinctive geometry has been given symbolic expression by Collins (1968), in an algebra of infinite matrices associated with canonical series representations of the general solution. This has become the standard technique when investigating boundary-value problems, both analytically and numerically. The basic framework of the algebra is here reorganized and developed. A systematic approach then leads to new identities which are shown to be fundamental in the algebraic hierarchy.