Ductile tearing predictions with Wellman’s failure model

Predictions for the Sandia National Laboratories fracture challenge (Boyce et al. in Int J Fract 2013) were generated using a transient dynamic finite element code with a multi-linear elastic plastic failure model developed by Wellman (Simple approach to modeling ductile failure. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque 2012). This model is a conventional, rate independent, von Mises plasticity model for metals with user-prescribed hardening as a function of equivalent plastic strain. In addition to conventional plasticity, this model has empirical criteria for crack initiation and growth. Ductile tearing predictions generated with this model were found to be in good agreement with experimental measurements and observations.