Background Dependence of strength and failure behavior of anisotropic ductile metals on loading direction and on stress state has been indicated by many experiments. To realistically predict safety and lifetime of structures these effects must be taken into account in material models and numerical analysis. Objective The influence of stress state and loading direction on damage and failure behavior of the anisotropic aluminum alloy EN AW-2017A is investigated. Methods New biaxial experiments and numerical simulations have been performed with the H-specimen under different load ratios. Digital image correlation shows evolution of strain fields and scanning electron microscopy is used to visualize failure modes on fracture surfaces. Corresponding numerical studies predict stress states to explain damage and fracture processes on the micro-scale. Results The stress state, the load ratio and the loading direction with respect to the principal axes of anisotropy affect the width and orientation of localized strain fields and the formation of damage mechanisms and fracture modes at the micro-level. Conclusions The enhanced experimental program with biaxial tests considering different loading directions and load ratios is suggested for characterization of anisotropic metals.

Many experiments indicated the remarkable dependence of the strength and failure behavior of anisotropic ductile metals on the loading direction and on the stress state. These influences have to be taken into account in accurate material models and in the numerical simulation of complex loading processes predicting the safety and lifetime of aerospace structures. Therefore, the present paper discusses the effect of loading direction and stress state on the damage and failure behavior of the anisotropic aluminum alloy EN AW-2017A. Experiments and corresponding numerical analysis with the newly developed, biaxially loaded X0 specimen have been performed and the influence of different load ratios is examined. The formation of strain fields in critical parts of the X0 specimen is monitored by digital image correlation. Different failure modes are visualized by scanning electron microscopy of fracture surfaces. Stress states are predicted by finite element calculations and they are used to explain damage and fracture processes at the micro-level. The experimental–numerical analysis shows that the loading direction and the stress state remarkably affect the evolution of the width and orientation of localized strain fields as well as the formation of damage processes and fracture modes. As a consequence, characterization of anisotropic metals is highly recommended to be based on an enhanced experimental program with biaxial tests including different load ratios and loading directions.

The paper discusses the effect of stress state and of loading direction on the onset and evolution of damage in anisotropic ductile metals. A series of experiments with uniaxially and biaxially loaded specimens covering a wide range of stress states and different loading directions is used in combination with corresponding numerical simulations to develop damage criteria. The underlying continuum damage model is based on kinematic definition of damage tensors. The strain rate tensor is additively decomposed into elastic, plastic and damage parts. The anisotropic plastic behavior of the investigated aluminum alloy sheets is governed by the Hoffman yield condition taking into account the strength-differential effect revealed by uniaxial tension and compression tests. Based on this yield criterion generalized anisotropic stress invariants as well as the generalized stress triaxiality and the generalized Lode parameter are defined characterizing the stress state in the anisotropic ductile metal. A damage criterion formulated in terms of these anisotropic stress invariants is proposed and damage mode parameters allow adequate consideration and combination of different damage processes on the micro-level. At the onset of damage the anisotropic stress parameters are determined. With these experimental-numerical data the damage mode parameters are identified depending on stress state and loading direction.

The paper deals with experiments and numerical simulations of the biaxially loaded H-specimen to study the damage and failure in anisotropic ductile metals. The deformation and failure behavior of anisotropic ductile metals depend both on load ratio and loading direction with respect to the rolling direction. Experiments focusing on shear-compression stress states have been performed and digital image correlation (DIC) is used to monitor the strain fields. Numerical simulations based on the Hill48 anisotropic yield criterion are used to predict the stress states of the investigated anisotropic aluminum alloy EN AW-2017A. The fractured surfaces are visualized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The experimental-numerical technique clearly shows the influence of loading direction and the stress state on the evolution of damage processes.

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