Effects of superimposed hydrostatic pressure on fracture in round bars under tension

The effect of superimposed hydrostatic pressure on fracture in round bars under tension is studied numerically using the finite element method based on the Gurson damage model. It is demonstrated that while the superimposed hydrostatic pressure has no noticeable effect on necking, it increases the fracture strain due to the fact that a superimposed pressure delays or completely eliminates the nucleation, growth and coalescence of microvoids or microcracks. The experimentally observed transition of the fracture surface, from the cup-cone mode under atmospheric pressure to a slant structure under high pressure, is numerically reproduced. It is numerically proved that the superimposed hydrostatic pressure has no effect on necking for a damage-free round bar under tension.