The effect of porosity distribution on ductile failure

T HEEFFECT of a nonuniform distribution of porosity on flow localization and failure in a porous material is analyzed numerically. The void density distribution and properties used to characterize the material behavior were obtained from measurements on partially consolidated and sintered iron powder. The calculations were carried out using an elastic viscoplastic constitutive relation for porous plastic solids. Local material failure is incorporated into the model through the dependence of the flow potential on void volume fraction. The region modelled is a small portion of a larger body, subject to various triaxial stress conditions. Both plane strain and axisymmetric deformations are considered with imposed periodic boundary conditions. Interactions between regions with higher void fractions promote plastic flow localization into a band. Local failure occurs by void growth and coalescence within the band. The results suggest a failure criterion based on a critical void volume fraction that is only weakly dependent on stress history. The critical void fraction does. however, depend on the initial void distribution and material hardening characteristics.