摘要:The implications of using a viscoplastic theory to study time-dependent failure in solid materials are analyzed considering the elasto-viscoplastic theory of Perzyna (1963, 1966). The crucial aspect is that a viscoplastic failure surface has an intrinsically dynamic nature, which allows us to take advantage of the postulate of maximum dissipation to use a unique formulation to investigate a wide range of engineering problems like dynamic loading, creep or relaxation. Also, the consequences of formulate constitutive models that includes hardening, perfect and softening viscoplasticity are also addressed in the framework of a unique and consistent strategy.