Influence of Triaxial Stress State on Ductile Fracture Strength of Polycrystalline Nickel

In this contribution, the effect associated with stress triaxiality on ductile damage evolution in high purity nickel has been investigated from both experimental and theoretical points of view. Tensile tests on smooth and notched round bar specimens were performed to calibrate the fracture strain in a wide range of stress triaxiality. The capability of the Gurson model to reproduce and predict physical failure behaviour was examined. It was shown that stress triaxiality played a major role on damage evolution as demonstrated by the progressive reduction of material ductility under increasing triaxial states of stress.