The densification behaviour of sintered molybdenum is investigated experime
ntally and by modelling using a pressure dependent plasticity model. Theref
ore the yield condition of Gurson, extended by Tvergaard is used. The uniax
ial compression test is applied to determine the evolution of the density a
s well as the stress-strain curves for the porous metal. Powder metallurgic
al molybdenum exhibits closed porosity after consolidation due to sintering
with nearly spherical shaped pores. The experimental results show that the
densification, especially during the first stage of deformation, is differ
ent from that of powder compacts or partially consolidated powder materials
with open porosity. During hot upsetting, the pores change their size and
shape. This behaviour strongly affects the densification rate. For an accur
ate prediction of the evolution of the density using Gurson's model, the pa
rameters q(1) and q(2) introduced by Tvergaard, will be defined as internal
variables. The use of internal variables is justified by the fact that the
pores change their shape during deformation, although the link between the
internal variables and the pore shape is not explicitly established in thi
s paper. If the loading is proportional (which means that the ratio of the
stress-components does not change with plastic strain), the pore shape can
be associated with the applied plastic strain. With this association the pa
rameters qi can be defined as a function from the invariant quantity equiva
lent plastic strain, which can be used as the internal variable in the fini
te element simulation. The influence of the porosity on the flow stress at
different levels of plastic strain will also be investigated and is used as
a second information to fit both parameters q(1) and q(2). (C) 1999 Elsevi
er Science S.A. All rights reserved.