Numerical simulation of the localization behavior of hydrostatic-stress-sensitive metals

The present paper deals with the numerical simulation of the elastic–plastic deformation and localization behavior of solids which are plastically dilatant and sensitive to hydrostatic stresses. The model is based on a generalized macroscopic theory taking into account macroscopic as well as microscopic experimental data obtained from tests with iron-based metals. It shows that hydrostatic components may have a significant effect on the onset of localization and the associated deformation modes, and that they generally lead to a notable decrease in ductility. The continuum formulation relies on a generalized I₁–J₂–J₃ yield criterion to describe the effect of the hydrostatic stress on the plastic flow properties of metals. In contrast to classical theories of metal plasticity, the evolution of the plastic part of the strain rate tensor is determined by a non-associated flow rule based on a plastic potential function which is expressed in terms of stress invariants and kinematic parameters. Numerical simulations of the elastic–plastic deformation behavior of hydrostatic-stress-sensitive metals show the physical effects of the model parameters and also demonstrate the efficiency of the formulation. Their results are in excellent agreement with available experimental data. A variety of large-strain elastic–plastic problems involving pronounced localizations is presented, and the influence of various model parameters on the deformation and localization behavior of hydrostatic-stress-sensitive metals is discussed.