Predicting ductile fracture of low carbon steel sheets: Stress-based versus mixed stress/strain-based Mohr–Coulomb model

Two distinct implementations of the Mohr–Coulomb failure model are used in conjunction with a non-associated quadratic plasticity model to describe the onset of fracture in low carbon steel sheets. The stress-based version corresponds to the original Mohr–Coulomb model in stress space. For the mixed stress/strain-based version, the Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion is first transformed into the space of stress triaxiality, Lode angle parameter and equivalent plastic strain and then used as stress-state dependent weighting function in a damage indicator model. Basic fracture experiments including tensile specimens of different notch radii and a punch test are performed to calibrate the material parameters of the respective models. Subsequently, the models are used to predict the crack initiation in a Hasek test and during the stamping of an anticlastic structure. Unlike for the calibration experiments, the loading history during stamping is highly non-linear. Both models can be calibrated with similar accuracy, but the strain-based model predicts the instant of onset of fracture with greater accuracy in the stamping experiment which is an advantage of the empirical damage accumulation rule.