Sensitivity analysis of GTN damage parameters: Application to notched plate ductile fracture simulation

Abstract

The evolution of preexisting voids causes damage to metal structures with large plastic deformation. In the ABAQUS-Explicit computer code, the damage by the Gurson–Tvergaard–Needleman model (GTN model) is included in the porous failure criteria law. The numerical predictions using the GTN model are very sensitive to the calibrations of these parameters of the experimental results. This model describes until the damage, the mechanism of the evolution of the voids, which begins with their growth and their nucleation with the particles until the coalescence of these voids of a critical level, which causes the damage to the structure. This analysis uses Voce’s hardening model and von Mises’ equivalent stress flow theory. After validation with experimental results, this work aims to analyze the sensitivity of these GTN parameters to the response to damage and to the evolution of the gaps. This objective is applied on a plate notch.