---
type: concept
title: "Plasticity Benchmark and Input Data Cases"
complexity: intermediate
domain: computational-mechanics
created: 2026-06-02
updated: 2026-06-02
address: c-000141
aliases:
  - plasticity verification cases
  - plasticity input data cases
tags:
  - concept
  - finite-element-method
  - plasticity
  - verification
  - implementation
status: current
related:
  - "[[Finite Element Plasticity Program Architecture]]"
  - "[[Finite Element Modeling and Convergence Checks]]"
  - "[[Finite Element Plasticity]]"
  - "[[Elasto-Plastic Mindlin Plate Analysis]]"
  - "[[Transient Dynamic Elasto-Plastic Analysis]]"
sources:
  - "[[Finite-Elements-in-Plasticity-Theory-and-Practice|Finite Elements in Plasticity: Theory and Practice]]"
source_refs:
  - source: "[[Finite-Elements-in-Plasticity-Theory-and-Practice|Finite Elements in Plasticity: Theory and Practice]]"
    raw_path: ".raw/FiniteElementsinPlasticityTheoryandPractice/"
    raw_files:
      - "FiniteElementsinPlasticityTheoryandPractice_054.md"
      - "FiniteElementsinPlasticityTheoryandPractice_005.md"
      - "FiniteElementsinPlasticityTheoryandPractice_052.md"
      - "FiniteElementsinPlasticityTheoryandPractice_022.md"
    md_indices:
      - 54
      - 5
      - 52
      - 22
    match: "heuristic-heading-keyword"
    confidence: high
---

# Plasticity Benchmark and Input Data Cases

## Definition

Plasticity benchmark and input data cases are small finite element models used to verify elasto-plastic, elasto-viscoplastic, structural plasticity, and dynamic plasticity implementations.

## Source Cases

The appendices in [[Finite-Elements-in-Plasticity-Theory-and-Practice|Finite Elements in Plasticity: Theory and Practice]] document input data for several program families:

- `PLANET` for elasto-plastic plane and axisymmetric solids.
- `VISCOUNT` for elasto-viscoplastic two-dimensional solids.
- `MINDLIN` and `MINDLAY` for nonlayered and layered elasto-plastic Mindlin plates.
- `DYNPAK` and `MIXDYN` for transient dynamic elasto-plastic or viscoplastic analysis.

The cases include element selections, material parameters, yield-criterion flags, load data, boundary conditions, and output expectations.

## Why It Matters

For a custom solver, these cases are useful as a verification pattern even when the original FORTRAN programs are not reused. A good plasticity test harness should compare displacement, reactions, element forces, stress components, and plastic state variables against a reference solver or a trusted benchmark.

## Harness Use

- Start with single-element elastic and plastic patch cases.
- Add small plane stress, plane strain, and axisymmetric plasticity cases.
- Add beam and Mindlin plate section-yielding cases.
- Add rate-dependent and transient dynamic cases only after the static plasticity state update is stable.
- Record tolerances separately for nodal, element, and stress/state outputs.

## Sources

- [[Finite-Elements-in-Plasticity-Theory-and-Practice|Finite Elements in Plasticity: Theory and Practice]]