Effects of plastic anisotropy and yield criteria on prediction of forming limit curves

The effects of yield criteria on predictions of the right-hand side of forming limit diagrams (FLDs) are investigated. Predictions of limit strains are determined from an initial imperfection model based on the early work of Marciniak and Kuczynski (1967). Particular attention is placed on the effect of normal plastic anisotropy on limit strains during biaxial sheet stretching. The anisotropic yield criteria investigated in this paper include Hill’s (1948) quadratic criterion, Hosford’s (1979) higher-order criterion, and case 4 of Hill’s (1979) non-quadratic criterion. Several important characteristics of the yield surface shape are discussed and a new parameter that quantifies some of these aspects is introduced. Similar to the work of Barlat (1987), this parameter is based on the relative position of plane strain on the yield surface and can be used to predict the various effects of yield criteria on limit strains. Results indicate that predictions of FLD are very sensitive to selection of yield criteria.