A conceptual numerical strategy for rate-independent processes in the
energetic formulation is proposed and its convergence is proved under various
rather mild data qualifications. The novelty is that we obtain convergence of
subsequences of space-time discretizations even in case where the limit
problem does not have a unique solution and we need no
additional assumptions on higher regularity of the limit solution.
The variety of general perspectives thus
obtained is illustrated on several specific examples: plasticity
with isotropic hardening, damage, debonding, magnetostriction, and two
models of martensitic transformation in shape-memory alloys.