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This paper presents an anisotropic elasto-plastic material model for injection-molded long fiber-reinforced thermoplastics. It considers local heterogeneities which are attributed to process-induced variations of fiber orientation distributions and fiber volume fractions. These inhomogeneities have an effect on the mechanical properties and need to be considered in structural computations. In the material model, this is realized through a two-step homogenization procedure. First, an anisotropic stiffness tensor is approximated using mean field homogenization. Second, the plastic behavior is described using Hillâs transversely isotropic yield criterion averaged over the three principal directions of the fiber orientation. The advantage in combining these two approaches is a micro-mechanically based, yet fast numerical calculation of the composite material behavior within an explicit finite element code. The anisotropic material model is calibrated by simulating tensile tests on specimens taken in different directions from an injection-molded plate of fiber reinforced thermoplastic. The spatial variation of fiber orientation distribution and fiber volume fraction throughout the plate is determined from numerical mold filling simulations and is compared with computer tomography scans at different positions. A validation of the model is performed through simulating position-dependent tensile tests on smooth and notched specimens as well as a punch test which is well reproduced

Many metals tend to develop edge cracks during hot and cold rolling. Edge cracks need to be removed by a trimming operation, and they may cause rupture of the sheet in the rolling mill. Hence, there is a strong motivation to understand the mechanisms of edge crack formation and to develop predictive tools for controlling the phenomenon. The present work explores the applicability of damage mechanics models to this problem. In conjunction with a plausible failure criterion the Gologanu-Leblond model, which is based on non-spherical ductile void growth, is able to predict edge cracking and the characteristic zigzag damage pattern on the edge of the rolled sheet. The experimental determination of the model parameters remains a challenging task, since the stress and strain history at the edge of a rolled sheet is substantially different from the situation in a tensile test, and also from that in other conventional laboratory tests.

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