Global Characterization of Failure Modes Under Impact Loading in Structural Components Made of Low Ductility Materials

Abstract

This study reviews the impact failure modes of structural components made of materials with low ductility such as aluminum and magnesium. Tensile failure is observed at large stretch area or on the tension side of large bending deformation. Material breakage due to shear may also occur. There are several approaches to simulate the material failure process in explicit finite element software used for crashworthiness analysis. Evaluation of the effective applications of these material models is presented with a finite element simulation of bi-axial loading tests. The forming limit diagram is used to evaluate various failure criteria. Component crash simulations are presented to demonstrate the applications of failure criteria.