Fundamental solutions of cavitation in porous solids: a comparative study

The expansion of internally pressurized cavities, embedded in infinite bodies, in spherical and cylindrical (plane strain and plane stress) configurations, is investigated within the framework of finite plasticity. Material response is modeled by the Gurson theory for porous solids and includes strain hardening. Numerical results, obtained under the assumption of nearly universal loading histories, reveal limit cavitation states for all three deformation patterns. Cavitation is identified with asymptotic levels of the specific cavitation energy, which is highest for the spherical cavity and smallest for plane stress (plate) holes. The influence of material porosity is assessed in context of weight optimization of protective plates. A limited comparison with experimental data for porous titanium plate perforation reveals close prediction of ballistic limit velocity.