High resolution two-dimensional shear band computations: imperfections and mesh dependence Original Research Article

Very fine meshes, up to 64 000 elements with 5 to 10 elements across a shear band, are used to study dynamic shear band formation in viscoplastic plane-strain specimens under compression. Imperfections are shown to have a crucial effect on shear band structure; they determine the size and location of the shear band. A transition to a pattern of parallel shear bands is observed when the imperfection is reduced in size. It is also shown that the results are independent of element type or stabilization for early stages of localization but as the band narrows in the latter stages, element size and type have marked effects; this element and mesh dependence is attributed to insufficient resolution.