EFFECT OF SUPERIMPOSED HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE ON BENDABILITY OF SHEET METALS

The effect of superimposed hydrostatic pressure on fracture under three‐point bending is studied numerically using the finite element method based on the Gurson damage model. It is demonstrated that superimposed hydrostatic pressure significantly increases the bendability and bending fracture strain due to the fact that a superimposed pressure delays or completely eliminates the nucleation, growth and coalescence of microvoids or microcracks. Numerical results are found to be in good agreement with experimental observations.