Numerical simulation of ductile fracture during high strain rate deformation

A numerical integration scheme is presented for integration of the pressure -sensitive yield criterion due to Gurson, suitable for explicit dynamic fin ite element calculations. This scheme utilizes a sub-increment approach to maintain stability for the large strain increments and intense triaxiality that can occur under high strain rate loading. A number of validation probl ems are presented after which two laboratory-scale high strain experiments are simulated. The integration scheme is shown to be stable and to capture the onset of tensile fracture under high strain rate loading conditions.