Modelling of adiabatic shear band development from small imperfections

A model of shear banding is presented which shows how a wide shear band develops from a narrow imperfection in an elasto-viscoplastic material subjected to dynamic shear strain. The model predicts that the width of the shear band is (i) independent of the properties of the initial imperfection and (ii) dependent upon thermal conductivity and strain rate. The dependence upon strain rate is verified qualitatively and quantitatively from experimental results. Finally, the model predicts narrowing of the region of rapid straining with ongoing deformation as is observed in experiment.