Abstract
After recalling the energy balance form in the case of elastic-plastic material, the relationships between the dissipation, stored energy of cold work and state variables were reviewed. An experimental set-up using an infrared camera was introduced which enables us to establish continuous energy balance during uniaxial excitations. Mechanical tests were made at room temperature with four different materials (duralurninium, brass, carbon and stainless steels) under several uniaxial loading paths (tension, compression, loading-unloading and cyclic loading). Only the tests on duraluminium will be graphically shown in this paper, but results concerning the other materials will be mentioned. In particular, we shall show the energetical behaviour of materials immediately after deformation (time rate independence), during (elastic) unloading and during reversed straining.