Finite element analysis of void growth in elastic-plastic materials

Abstract

Three-dimensional finite element computations have been carried out for the growth of initially spherical voids in periodic cubic arrays and for initially spherical voids ahead of a blunting mode I plane strain crack tip. The numerical method is based on finite strain theory and the computations are three-dimensional. The void cubic arrays are subjected to macroscopically uniform fields of uniaxial tension, pure shear and high triaxial stress. The macroscopic stress—strain behavior and the change in void volume were obtained for two initial void volume fractions. The calculations show that void shape, void interaction and loss of load carrying capacity depend strongly on the triaxiality of the stress field. The results of the finite element computation were compared with several dilatant plasticity continuum models for porous materials. None of the models agrees completely with the finite element calculations. Agreement of the finite element results with any particular constitutive model depended on the level of macroscopic strain and the triaxiality of the remote uniform stress field. For the problem of the initial spherical voids directly ahead of a blunting mode I plane strain crack tip, conditions of small scale yielding were assumed. The near tip stress and deformation fields were obtained for different void-size-to-spacing ratios for perfectly plastic materials. The calculations show that the holes spread towards the crack tip and towards each other at a faster rate than they elongate in the tensile direction. The computed void growth rates are compared with previous models for void growth.