Simulations of ductile fracture in an idealized ship grounding scenario using phenomenological damage and cohesive zone models

Two complementary simulation methodologies for ductile fracture in large sheet metal components are presented and evaluated in this paper. The first approach is based on the phenomenological dilatational plasticity-damage model developed by Woelke and Abboud [46], which accounts for pressure-dependent volumetric damage growth through a scalar damage variable. The damage function represents phenomenologically micromechanical changes the material undergoes during the process of necking. Secondly, the cohesive zone model with an opening mode traction–separation law is employed to simulate the same ductile fracture problems accounting for significant variation of the multiaxial stress state along the crack path. Both methods are examined as to their capabilities to reproduce and predict the outcome of large-scale experimental fracture tests of welded and un-welded ductile plates subjected to large-scale penetration, simulating an idealized ship grounding. The results of the current study indicate that, with appropriate calibration, both approaches can be successfully employed to simulate ductile fracture in structural components under multiaxial stress. The advantages and shortcomings of each approach is discussed from the point of view of post-test numerical investigation as well as its predictive capabilities as an engineering tool.