Abstract
The symmetry issue of the interaction matrix between multiple slip-systems in the theory of crystal plasticity at finite deformation is revisited. By appealing to possibly non-uniform distribution of slip-system activity in a representative space-time element of a crystal, symmetry of the slip-system interaction matrix for the representative element is derived under assumptions that have a physical meaning. This conclusion refers to active slip-systems only. Accordingly, for any given hardening law, a new symmetrization rule is proposed that is restricted to active slip-systems and leaves the latent hardening of inactive slip-systems unchanged. Advantages of the proposal in comparison with full symmetrization are illustrated by a simple example of uniaxial tension.
