A tensorial framework for strain induced damage of plastically deformed metals

A tensorial framework for strain induced ductile damage of plastically deformed metals is developed in terms of both plastic flow theory and continuum damage mechanics. A symmetric second order damage rate tensor is used in order to study various processes with large finite deformations in combination with damage analysis. The definition of this tensor is physically meaningful since its volumetric and deviatoric parts describe the damage increments caused by an increase in the void volume and by a change in the shape of the void, respectively. Such a view on damage kinetics leads to the introduction of two measures for damage assessment which allow predicting not only a risk of macroscopic failure but also the onset of void coalescence. Material functions appearing in the constitutive equations for damage are determined both by own experiments and by known results from literature. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)