Numerical analysis of the influence of the Lode parameter on void growth

In the present paper, three-dimensional numerical analyses of a spherical v oid, contained within a cubic cell, under finite deformation have been carr ied out. The calculations took the different stress triaxialities, includin g the common triaxiality parameter and the Lode parameter, into account. Th e analyses were focused on the influence of different Lode parameter values on the directional expansion of a void. According to the analyses, it can be concluded that: (1) the void has a different rate of expansion in differ ent directions depending on the variation of the Lode parameter; (2) variat ion of the Lode parameter changes the critical strain of the void unstable expansion (or void linking) contained within the cubic cell. (C) 2001 Elsev ier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.