Limit strain predictions for strain-rate sensitive anisotropic sheets

The combined effects of material strain-rate sensitivity and anisotropy on necking or “limit” strain predictions are examined for thin sheets with transversely isotropic properties. Various rate dependent constitutive laws based on flow theory and deformation theory of plasticity are considered.The strong effect of material strain-rate sensitivity in increasing the amount of straining prior to localized necking is first emphasized. We then discuss the joint influence of rate dependence and anisotropy on the theoretical limit strains and forming limit curves. Both strain-rate sensitivity and the local shape of the anisotropic yield surface are shown to significantly affect the predicted limit strains.A necking-band bifurcation analysis is also carried out to reveal in an explicit manner the remarkable sensitivity of overall forming limit diagram shapes to the parameters in the anisotropic yield function.