Mechanical performance and crashworthiness of plates and extrusions subjected to cutting: An overview

Abstract

Abstract Understanding the mechanical response of structures such as plates and thin-walled extrusions subjected to cutting and tearing by hardened wedges (blades) is of great interest to scientists and engineers. This complex problem arises in a plethora of disciplines, including but not limited to the broad spectrums of manufacturing, construction and engineering design. Furthermore, studying this topic is a comprehensive endeavor which incorporates advanced concepts within stress analysis and materials science. Despite these challenges, a multitude of advancements were achieved through extensive physical testing, followed by the subsequent development of theoretical explanations and modeling efforts. This paper reviews the major contributions in recent decades towards understanding cutting-induced plastic deformation through experimental, analytical and numerical modeling techniques. The plate tearing problem was historically of interest to the ocean engineering community as an approximation for ship grounding incidents. More recently, the potential for cutting to serve as a means of energy dissipation for enhanced vehicular safety was identified due to the characteristic near-constant force response. Experimental studies were conducted from quasi-static to high rate blast loading conditions (V > 100 m/s). Numerical modeling with Eulerian mechanics and meshfree element formulations were identified as the most accurate techniques, although these schemes are computationally expensive. Analytical solutions are highly sought after since they provide valuable information almost instantaneously. Early modeling efforts yielded purely empirical relationships with gradual improvement, followed by the development of fully analytical formulations which rely upon approximations of the strain fields in combination with the principle of virtual power to obtain resultant forces.