A Compensation Algorithm for Large Element Characterizing the Damage Evolution Process and Its Application to Structure Collisions

Abstract When simulating the process from elastic–plastic deformation, damage to failure in a metal structure collision, it is necessary to use the large shell element due to the calculation efficiency, but this would affect the accuracy of damage evolution simulation. The compensation algorithm adjusting failure strain according to element size is usually used in the damage model to deal with the problem. In this paper, a new nonlinear compensation algorithm between failure strain and element size was proposed, which was incorporated in the damage model GISSMO (Generalized incremental stress state dependent damage model) to characterize ductile fracture. And associated material parameters were calibrated based on tensile experiments of aluminum alloy specimens with notches. Simulation and experimental results show that the new compensation algorithm significantly reduces the dependence of element size compared with the constant failure strain model and the damage model with the linear compensation algorithm. During the axial splitting process of a circular tubular structure, the new compensation algorithm keeps the failure prediction errors low over the stress states ranging from shear to biaxial tension, and achieves the objective prediction of the damage evolution process. This study demonstrates how the compensation algorithm resolves the contradiction between large element size and fracture prediction accuracy, and this facilitates the use of the damage model in ductile fracture prediction for engineering structures.