Enhanced ductility in round tensile bars produced by cladding a ductile ring

The effect of cladding a ductile ring on necking and fracture in round bars under tension is studied numerically using the finite element method based on the Gurson damage model. It is demonstrated that the cladding increases both the necking strain and the fracture strain. The effects of topological arrangement of cladding ring on necking and fracture are numerically investigated. It is indicated that while a topological arrangement of cladding has no noticeable effect on necking, it significantly influences the fracture strain. For a given volume fraction of cladding, the fracture strain could increase about 11% if the ductile ring is moved from the outmost to the innermost. It is also found that the subtle appearance of fracture surface due to cladding displays strong mesh sensitivity and may even be an artefact of the mesh.