An analysis of deformation and failure in rectangular tensile bars accounting for void shape changes

A three-dimensional finite deformation study of necking and failure in rectangular tensile bars is carried out using a constitutive relation for porous material plasticity. The fully dynamic formulation accounts for void nucleation and growth along with thermal and rate effects, but here focus is on quasi-static response with a specified initial void volume fraction. The constitutive relation takes into account void shape changes and associated void rotations for three-dimensional voids. The constitutive update is carried out using a generalized rate tangent scheme for an elastic-viscoplastic solid. The sensitivity of necking and failure patterns to the aspect ratio of the rectangular bar is investigated with focus on the plane strain limit and a square tensile bar. The calculations predict the well-known slant fracture in plane strain tension and the emergence of a cup-cone like failure region for a square cross-section. Details are provided for the development of porosity in the bar with a square cross-section, including void shape changes and void rotations. The numerical examples show the capability of a constitutive relation for porous plasticity that can model details of void evolution, thus paving the way for advanced analyses of ductile failure under arbitrary loadings.

Automated summary

This study investigates the three-dimensional finite deformation of necking and failure in rectangular tensile bars using a constitutive relation for porous material plasticity. The research shows the appearance of slant fracture in plane strain tension and the emergence of a cup-cone like failure region in square cross-section bars.