AN ANALYSIS OF VOID DISTRIBUTION EFFECTS ON PLASTIC-FLOW IN POROUS SOLIDS

A doubly periodic array of clusters of cylindrical voids is used as a model system to study void distribution effects on the plastic flow of porous solids. The model accounts for both discrete void effects and the irregularity of the distribution. Full account is taken of finite deformations in the formulation although the focus is on aggregate behavior at small strains. The aggregate is subject to plane strain tension with a superposed hydrostatic tension and the overall stress-strain response is computed. The elastic properties exhibit a much lower sensitivity to void distribution than the plastic properties. A particular sensitivity of aggregate flow strength is found for distributions of voids aligned at 45 degrees to the tensile axis. Calculations are carried out using increasingly refined meshes to demonstrate numerical convergence. The stress-strain response predicted for clusters is compared with corresponding results for doubly periodic arrays of circular cylindrical voids.

AN ANALYSIS OF VOID DISTRIBUTION EFFECTS ON PLASTIC-FLOW IN POROUS SOLIDS Academic Article