GROWTH OF SPHEROIDAL VOIDS IN ELASTIC-PLASTIC SOLIDS

The effect of void shape on the mechanical behaviour of an elastic-pla stic solid containing an isotropic array of aligned axisymmetric voids is examined. The mechanical response of such a material is studied by means of finite element (FE) analyses of an elementary unit cell cont aining an isolated void The void shape is found to have a strong influ ence on both void growth rate and coalescence strain. This effect is s trongest for low stress triaxialities. The numerical results are compa red with analytical models of void growth, but none of the examined mo dels give any good predictions of the results obtained numerically. A simple modification of the classical Gurson model is suggested so as t o give reasonable correspondence with numerical results. Finally, some practical considerations of void shape effects are given.