Fracture criteria evaluation and finite element modelling of plate shearing

This paper summarizes the results of a study conducted to evaluate a finite element model of the plate shearing process. A plane strain model, employing the element destruction method, was developed and tested using the tensile strain and Cockroft-Latham fracture criteria. To test the model, simulated edge geometry and microhardness for each criterion were compared with results from an AISI 1020 steel plate. Results showed that the model provides a reasonable approximation of the process although it is dependent on the fracture criteria used. The normalized Cockroft-Latham criterion was found to provide the best representation of shearing behaviour and yielded good agreement with results for edge geometry and microhardness.