Constitutive modeling of the dynamic fracture of smooth tensile bars

A recently developed viscoplastic-damage type of constitutive theory for high strain-rate flow processes and ductile fracture is used to model the deformation and fracture of dynamically loaded smooth cylindrical tensile bars. The analysis assumes polycrystalline materials which usually contain microvoids with an average density of the order of 10⁶ per cm³ that are dispersed homogeneously throughout. It is shown that for dynamically imposed loading that produce nominal strain rates ranging between 5 × 10² - 5 × 10³ sec ^-1, the inhomogeneous fields of stress and deformation caused by wave propagation and wave reflection induce necking at different locations along the gauge section, depending upon the strain-rate imposed. This occurs without imposition of any geometrical or material irregularity to preposition the location of the necking. The imposed rate of strain is also shown to affect the magnitude of the strain at which necking initiates, as well as the strain required for fracture.