Linearized plasticity is the evolutionary \Gamma-limit of finite   plasticity
  We provide a rigorous justification of the classical linearization approach in plasticity. By taking the small-deformations limit, we prove via \Gamma-convergence for rate-independent processes that energetic solutions of the quasi-static finite-strain elastoplasticity system converge to the unique strong solution of linearized elastoplasticity. 
Alexander Mielke and Ulisse Stefanelli
math.AP math.FA