Localized necking in thin sheets

By using a simplified constitutive model of a pointed vertex on subsequent yield loci, namely, such that the equations of deformation-theory of rigid-plastic solids apply for fully-active stress increments, the onset of localized necking under biaxial stretching has been predicted. The predictions agree reasonably well with reported experimental observations. Since localized necking under biaxial stretching of a uniform and homogeneous sheet is impossible when flow theories of plasticity with smooth yield-loci are used, this result supports the hypothesis of vertex-formation on the yield locus under continued plastic flow. The implications of this conclusion with respect to the study of the inception of ductile fracture in solids, viewed as a material instability, may be far-reaching. Still, explanations based on a smooth yield-locus but small initial inhomogeneities cannot be ruled out, and both initial imperfections and yield-vertex effects may contribute in general to localization instabilities.