We prove that the vector play operator with a uniformly prox-regular characteristic set of constraints is continuous with respect to the $BV$-norm and to the $BV$-strict metric in the space of rectifiable curves, i.e., in the space of continuous functions of bounded variation. We do not assume any further regularity of the characteristic set. We also prove that the non-convex play operator is rate independent.

Let $F^{\mathrm{p}}\in \mathrm{GL}\left(3\right)$ be the plastic deformation from the multiplicative decomposition in elasto-plasticity. We show that the geometric dislocation density tensor of Gurtin in the form $\mathrm{Curl}\left[F^{\mathrm{p}}\right]·{\left(F^{\mathrm{p}}\right)}^T$ applied to rotations controls the gradient in the sense that pointwise $\forall R\in C^1({ℝ}^3,\mathrm{SO}\left(3\right)):\parallel \mathrm{Curl}\left[R\right]·R^T{\parallel }_{{𝕄}^{3\times 3}}^2\ge \frac{1}{2}{\parallel \mathrm{D}R\parallel }_{{ℝ}^{27}}^2$. This result complements rigidity results [Friesecke, James and Müller, Comme Pure Appl. Math. 55 (2002) 1461–1506; John, Comme Pure Appl. Math. 14 (1961) 391–413; Reshetnyak, Siberian Math. J. 8 (1967) 631–653)] as well as an associated linearized theorem...

Let $F^{\mathrm{p}}\in \mathrm{GL}\left(3\right)$ be the plastic deformation from the multiplicative decomposition in elasto-plasticity. We show that the geometric dislocation density tensor of Gurtin in the form $\mathrm{Curl}\left[F^{\mathrm{p}}\right]·{\left(F^{\mathrm{p}}\right)}^T$ applied to rotations controls the gradient in the sense that pointwise $\forall R\in C^1({ℝ}^3,\mathrm{SO}\left(3\right)):\parallel \mathrm{Curl}\left[R\right]·R^T{\parallel }_{{𝕄}^{3\times 3}}^2\ge \frac{1}{2}{\parallel \mathrm{D}R\parallel }_{{ℝ}^{27}}^2$. This result complements rigidity results [Friesecke, James and Müller, Comme Pure Appl. Math.55 (2002) 1461–1506; John, Comme Pure Appl. Math.14 (1961) 391–413; Reshetnyak, Siberian Math. J.8 (1967) 631–653)] as well as an associated linearized theorem saying...