Anisotropic ductile fracture: Part II: theory Original Research Article

A theory of anisotropic ductile fracture is outlined and applied to predict failure in a low alloy steel. The theory accounts for initial anisotropy and microstructure evolution (plastic anisotropy, porosity, void shape, orientation and spacing) and is supplemented by a recent micromechanical model of void-coalescence. A rate-dependent version of the theory is employed to solve boundary value problems. The application to the studied steel relies on material parameters inferred from quantitative metallography measurements. The quantitative prediction of damage accumulation and crack initiation in notched bars is achieved without any adjustable factor and is discussed under various stress states and loading orientations.