Effects of texture on shear band formation in plane strain tension/compression and bending

In this study, effects of typical texture components observed in rolled aluminum alloy sheets on shear band formation in plane strain tension/compression and bending are systematically studied. The material response is described by a generalized Taylor-type polycrystal model, in which each grain is characterized in terms of an elastic–viscoplastic continuum slip constitutive relation. First, a simple model analysis in which the shear band is assumed to occur in a weaker thin slice of material is performed. From this simple model analysis, two important quantities regarding shear band formation are obtained: i.e. the critical strain at the onset of shear banding and the corresponding orientation of shear band. Second, the shear band development in plane strain tension/compression is analyzed by the finite element method. Predictability of the finite element analysis is compared to that of the simple model analysis. Third, shear band developments in plane strain pure bending of a sheet specimen with the typical textures are studied. Regions near the surfaces in a bent sheet specimen are approximately subjected to plane strain tension or compression. From this viewpoint, the bendability of a sheet specimen may be evaluated, using the knowledge regarding shear band formation in plane strain tension/compression. To confirm this and to encompass overall deformation of a bent sheet specimen, including shear bands, finite element analyses of plane strain pure bending are carried out, and the predicted shear band formation in bent specimens is compared to that in the tension/compression problem. Finally, the present results are compared to previous related studies, and the efficiency of the present method for materials design in future is discussed.     

A directional crack path criterion for crack growth in ductile materials subjected to shear and compressive loading under plane strain conditions

A directional crack growth criterion in a compressed elastic perfectly plastic material is considered. The conditions at the crack-tip are evaluated for a straight stationary crack with a small incipient kink. Remote load is a combined hydrostatic pressure and pure shear applied via a boundary layer. Crack surfaces in contact are assumed to develop homogenous Coulomb friction.The crack opening displacement of an extended kink is examined in a finite element analysis to judge the risk of opening mode failure. It has been found that the direction that maximizes the crack opening displacement of an extended kink tip coincides very well with a prediction of the crack growth direction obtained by using a criterion for continued crack growth direction discussed by the authors elsewhere [Int. J. Fract. 108 (2001) 351].Moreover, the by the model predicted incipient crack growth directions are qualitatively comparable with reported crack paths obtained in ductile materials in a limited number of experiments performed under a combined load of in-plane shear and compression.     

Local solution of the stress and strain fields in the necking section of cylindrical bars under uniaxial tension

The problem of finding the stress and strain fields over the minimum cross section of necked cylindrical bars under uniaxial tensile load has been solved locally using a new fast numerical method. The scheme delivers both the accuracy of the finite element analysis and the applicability of simple closed-form analytical solutions. The required inputs are the distributions of curvature radii for both isostatic and material lines. It is numerically observed that the mathematical formulas available in the literature fail to adequately predict these distributions. Introducing the stress normalized strain-hardening rate as the most decisive parameter affecting the curvature radii, a database and interpolation technique have been developed in order to estimate the necessary information based on the results of the previously FE analyzed samples. Finally, a practical case has been solved and compared with the FE results.     

Effect of driver behaviours on the formation and dissipation of traffic flow instabilities

This paper extends a non-local second order continuum traffic model to take into account the timid or aggressive driver behaviours. Based on the proposed model, we derive analytically the effect of timid or aggressive driver behaviours on the instability of traffic dynamics. Simulation results are presented to show how the timid or aggressive driver behaviours influence the formation and dissipation of stop-and-go waves. It is found theoretically and numerically that aggressive drivers tend to stabilize traffic flow whereas timid drivers tend to destabilize traffic flow.     

Application of the strain energy density criterion to ductile fracture

The strain energy density criterion due to Sih is used to predict fracture loads of two thin plates subjected to large elastic-plastic deformation. The prediction is achieved with a finite element analysis which is based on Hill's variational principle for incremental deformations capable of solving gross yielding problems involving arbitrary amounts of deformation. The computed results are in excellent agreement with those obtained in Sih's earlier analysis and with an experimental observation.     

Effect of material compressibility on the solution of the elastoplastic plane strain problem

A model problem of plane strain of an elastoplastic material is considered. It is shown that the type of stress state in the loading plane affects the dependence of the solution on Poisson??s ratio. It is found that for the state in which the principal stresses in the loading plane are approximately equal, the effect of compressibility is significant, so that it must be taken into account. It is shown that if the principal stresses in the loading plane have different signs, the solutions for compressible and incompressible materials are almost the same.     

Analyses of steady quasistatic crack growth in plane strain tension in elastic-plastic materials with non-isotropic hardening

Steady state crack propagation problems of elastic-plastic materials in Mode I, plane strain under small scale yielding conditions were investigated with the aid of the finite element method. The elastic-perfectly plastic solution shows that elastic unloading wedges subtended by the crack tip in the plastic wake region do exist and that the stress state around the crack tip is similar to the modified Prandtl fan solution. To demonstrate the effects of a vertex on the yield surface, the small strain version of a phenomenological J₂, corner theory of plasticity (Christoffersen, J. and Hutchinson, J. W. J. Mech. Phys. Solids,27, 465 C 1979) with a power law stress strain relation was used to govern the strain hardening of the material. The results are compared with the conventional J₂ incremental plasticity solution. To take account of Bauschinger like effects caused by the stress history near the crack tip, a simple kinematic hardening rule with a bilinear stress strain relation was also studied. The results are again compared with the smooth yield surface isotropic hardening solution for the same stress strain curve. There appears to be more potential for steady state crack growth in the conventional J₂ incremental plasticity material than in the other two plasticity laws considered here if a crack opening displacement fracture criterion is used. However, a fracture criterion dependent on both stress and strain could lead to a contrary prediction.     

Effect of strain hardening on the lateral compression of tubes between rigid plates

The lateral compression of circular tubes to large deformations is examined. The discrepancy between the theories and experiments reported previously is attributed in the main to an inadequate modelling of the stationary plastic hinges which are produced in the tube as it deforms. A model which utilises standard elastica theory is proposed which shows good agreement with the experimental data produced by the authors and that already published.     

Effect of the grain size on the wavelength of localized strain in aluminum specimens in tension

This paper studies the dependence of the wavelength of localized plastic strain at the parabolic stage of strain hardening on the grain size in polycrystal aluminum. This dependence is determined in the grainsize range 10^–2 – 10 mm. The effect of the grain size on the character of the plasticflow curve is studied.     

A note on calculations concerning the plastic compression of thin material between smooth plates under conditions of plane strain

Summary The solution to this problem was originally given by Green and consists of two distinct slip-line field solutions, and these fields he determined in a relatively complex way using the velocity equations. This note gives a method of approach to the problem which is easy to understand, and gives results demonstrating almost all the features mentioned in his paper. It is very simple to apply, and though it falls short in one important respect, it is offered as an interesting method of attacking the problem.     

Influence of damage on properties of strain localization in geomaterials at plane stress and plane strain

Summary By regarding geomaterials under loading as a mixture of intact and damaged parts, we investigate the influence of damage on the properties of strain localization in elastoplastic geomaterials at plane stress and plane strain. Conditions for the onset of strain localization including the effects of damage are derived for the cases of plane strain and plane stress. Discussed are the inclination of the localized band and the hardening modulus corresponding to the onset of strain localization. It is shown that the properties of the strain localization are dependent on the damage and the capacity of bearing hydrostatic pressure by the damaged part, and that damage may induce an earlier onset of strain localization and lead to instability of a geomaterial.accepted for publication 11 March 2004     

Meso-scale approach to modelling the fracture process zone of concrete subjected to uniaxial tension

A meso-scale analysis is performed to determine the fracture process zone of concrete subjected to uniaxial tension. The meso-structure of concrete is idealised as stiff aggregates embedded in a soft matrix and separated by weak interfaces. The mechanical response of the matrix, the inclusions and the interface between the matrix and the inclusions is modelled by a discrete lattice approach. The inelastic response of the lattice elements is described by a damage approach, which corresponds to a continuous reduction of the stiffness of the springs. The fracture process in uniaxial tension is approximated by an analysis of a two-dimensional cell with periodic boundary conditions. The spatial distribution of dissipated energy density at the meso-scale of concrete is determined. The size and shape of the deterministic FPZ is obtained as the average of random meso-scale analyses. Additionally, periodicity of the discretisation is prescribed to avoid influences of the boundaries of the periodic cell on fracture patterns. The results of these analyses are then used to calibrate an integral-type nonlocal model.