onent <img src="ContactForceN_ElastoPlasticLinear_eq03313484026905533924.png" alt="$F_{n}^{e}$" style="width:16px;height:14px;"> that is provided by a hysteric linear spring.</p><p>The hysteric spring stiffness adopts different values depending on whether elements approach or depart from each other. The unloading stiffness is always greater than the loading stiffness.</p><p>The energy dissipation in this model is due to the spring hysteresis and it is able to simulate the plastic deformation of elements dur