Characterization of forming limits at fracture with an optimized cruciform specimen: Application to DP600 steel sheets

International audienceIn order to identify experimental limit strains at fracture for metallic sheets under in-plane biaxial loadings, a specific specimen shape has to be defined. Ideally, the proposed geometry must lead to fracture at the specimen center whatever the strain path imposed by the experimental device. If such condition is ensured, the whole strain paths ranging from equi-biaxial to uniaxial could experimentally investigated. Based on literature review, four in-plane cross specimen shapes have been selected owing to strong potential to reach large strain and fracture in their central point. From finite element simulations, the behavior of these different shapes is evaluated. Based on these numerical results, a new shape is proposed and optimized for determining the forming limits at fracture of DP600 sheet metal with a thickness of 2mm. The forming limit strains at fracture are identified by a time-dependent method and the forming limit strains at necking are determined by a position-dependent method. The experimental forming limit strains at fracture of DP600 sheet metal are fitted by a forming line. Three ductile fracture criteria are then calibrated with experimental points. The Oyane criterion with two parameters gives the best prediction