Fracture prediction and necking analysis

Abstract In the present paper, a curve of true stress vs natural strain and the value of the fracture criterion (fracture combinatorial work density WF) for BB503 steel are obtained by the method of necking analysis through tracing the experimental curve of tensile load vs axial extension [K. S. Zhang and Z. H. Li, Numerical analysis of the stress-strain curve and fracture initiation for ductile material. Engng Fracture Mech. 49, 235–241 (1994)]. Furthermore, applying this stress-strain curve and the value of WF, the deformation and fracture of a series of notched specimens with different notch radii made of BB503 steel under tension loading are predicted by computer simulation, and the predictions are all in good agreement with experimental data. It is further confirmed that the method to determine both the stress-strain curve and fracture criterion for ductile materials through necking analysis suggested by the author is reasonable and efficient.