A comprehensive failure model for crashworthiness simulation of aluminium extrusions

Abstract A correct representation of the plastic deformation and failure of individual component parts is essential to obtaining accurate crashworthiness simulation results. The aim of this paper is to present a comprehensive approach for predicting failure in a component based on macroscopic strains and stresses. This approach requires the use of a number of different failure mechanism representations, such as necking (due to local instabilities), as well as ductile and shear fracture. All failure criteria have been developed in a way to include the influence of non-linear strain paths. The effectiveness of this approach in predicting failure is then discussed by comparing numerical results with test data by…