Study of Plastic Shear Localization via the Flow Theory of Mechanism-Based Strain Gradient Plasticity

Abstract

The plastic shear localization is studied via the flow theory of mechanism-based strain gradient plasticity. The shear strain rate displays a rather sharp decrease from the center to the boundary of shear band, and gradually approaches the uniform remote shear strain rate outside the shear band. The shear band thickness obtained analytically is linearly proportional to the (length of) Burgers vector, and also depends on the softening modulus and mesoscale cell size. The maximum shear strain rate in the shear band, however, is sensitive to other material properties such as the ultimate tensile strength and intrinsic material length in strain gradient plasticity.