Analytical and numerical analysis of sheet metal instability using a stress based criterion

Strain based Keeler–Goodwin diagrams are widely used in forming processes to predict onset of local necking. Plastic instability is determined once the forming limit strain is exceeded. Use of these diagrams requires proportional strain paths, which is not necessarily the case in sheet metal forming operations. In many forming processes, the strain path changes during deformation. This may change the forming limit curve significantly. In the paper, a stress based forming limit criterion is adopted to deal with strain path non-linearities. Comparisons with earlier published work on forming limits are made through analytical considerations. Furthermore, the criterion is implemented into the finite element code LS-DYNA and verified numerically against results from large scale bulge tests.