There exists considerable motivation to reduce vehicle weight through the adoption of lightweight materials, such as aluminum alloys, while maintaining energy absorption and component integrity under crash conditions. To this end, it is of particular interest to study the crash behaviour of lightweight tubular hydroformed structures to determine how the forming behaviour affects the axial crush response. Thus, the current research has studied the dynamic crush response of both non-hydroformed and hydroformed EN-AW 5018 and AA5754 aluminum alloy tubes using both experimental and numerical methods. Experiments were performed in which hydroforming process parameters were varied in a parametric fashion after which the crash response was measured. Experimental parameters included the tube thickness and the hydroformed corner radii of the tubes. Explicit dynamic finite element simulations of the hydroforming and crash events were carried out with particular attention to the transfer of forming history from the hydroforming simulations to the crash models. The results showed that increases in the strength of the material due to work hardening during hydroforming were beneficial in increasing energy absorption during crash. However, it was shown that thinning in the corners of the tube during hydroforming decreased the energy absorption capabilities during axial crush. Residual stresses resulting from hydroforming had little effect on the energy absorption characteristics during axial crush. The current research has shown that, in addition to capturing the forming history in the crash models, it is also important to account for effects of material non-linearity such as kinematic hardening, anisotropy, and strain-rate effects in the finite element models. A model combining a non-linear kinematic hardening model, the Johnson-Cook rate sensitive model, and the Yld2000-2d anisotropic model was developed and implemented in the finite element simulations. This combined model did not account for the effect of rotational hardening (plastic spin) due to plastic deformation. It is recommended that a combined constitutive model, such as the one described in this research, be utilized for the finite element study of materials that show sensitivity to the Bauschinger effect, strain-rate effects, and anisotropy.

There exists considerable motivation to reduce vehicle weight through the adoption of lightweight materials, such as aluminum alloys, while maintaining energy absorption and component integrity under crash conditions. To this end, it is of particular interest to study the crash behaviour of lightweight tubular hydroformed structures to determine how the forming behaviour affects the axial crush response. Thus, the current research has studied the dynamic crush response of both non-hydroformed and hydroformed EN-AW 5018 and AA5754 aluminum alloy tubes using both experimental and numerical methods. Experiments were performed in which hydroforming process parameters were varied in a parametric fashion after which the crash response was measured. Experimental parameters included the tube thickness and the hydroformed corner radii of the tubes. Explicit dynamic finite element simulations of the hydroforming and crash events were carried out with particular attention to the transfer of forming history from the hydroforming simulations to the crash models. The results showed that increases in the strength of the material due to work hardening during hydroforming were beneficial in increasing energy absorption during crash. However, it was shown that thinning in the corners of the tube during hydroforming decreased the energy absorption capabilities during axial crush. Residual stresses resulting from hydroforming had little effect on the energy absorption characteristics during axial crush. The current research has shown that, in addition to capturing the forming history in the crash models, it is also important to account for effects of material non-linearity such as kinematic hardening, anisotropy, and strain-rate effects in the finite element models. A model combining a non-linear kinematic hardening model, the Johnson-Cook rate sensitive model, and the Yld2000-2d anisotropic model was developed and implemented in the finite element simulations. This combined model did not account for the effect of rotational hardening (plastic spin) due to plastic deformation. It is recommended that a combined constitutive model, such as the one described in this research, be utilized for the finite element study of materials that show sensitivity to the Bauschinger effect, strain-rate effects, and anisotropy.

The mechanical behaviour of the three advanced high strength steel grades, Docol 600DP, Docol 1200M and HyTens 1000, has been experimentally investigated under various types of deformation, and material models have been developed, which account for the experimentally observed behaviour. Two extensive experimental programmes have been conducted in this work. In the first, the dual phase Docol 600DP steel and martensitic Docol 1200M steel were subjected to deformations both under linear and non-linear strain paths. Regular test specimens were made both from virgin materials, i.e. as received, and from materials pre-strained in various directions. The plastic strain hardening, as well as plastic anisotropy and its evolution during deformation of the two materials, were evaluated and modelled with a phenomenological model. In the second experimental program, the austenitic stainless HyTens 1000 steel was subjected to deformations under various proportional strain paths and strain rates. It was shown experimentally that the material is sensitive both to dynamic and static strain ageing. A phenomenological model accounting for these effects was developed, calibrated, implemented in a Finite Element software and, finally,validated. Both direct methods and inverse analyses were used in order to calibrate the parameters in the material models. The agreement between the  numerical and experimental results are in general very good. This thesis is divided into two main parts. The background, theoretical framework and mechanical experiments are presented in the rst part. In the second part, two papers are appended.

Le travail s’intéresse aux effets de l’histoire de chargement sur le comportement et la durée de vie en fatigue de deux nuances (THYSSEN et CLI)d’un acier inoxydable austénitique 304L à la température ambiante. Les essais ont été réalisés en utilisant deux catégories d’éprouvettes. Les éprouvettes de la première catégorie (vierges) ont été soumises à des essais classiques de fatigue,alors que celles de la deuxième ont subi, avant les essais de fatigue, un pré-écrouissage monotone ou cyclique en déformation imposée. Les éprouvettes vierges manifestent un adoucissement cyclique suivi d’un durcissement cyclique alors que les éprouvettes pré-écrouies ne présentent qu’un durcissement cyclique. Les résultats montrent une grande influence du pré-écrouissage qui semble bénéfique en contrainte imposée, mais néfaste en déformation imposée,même en présence d'une contrainte moyenne de compression. Ces résultats sont discutés en termes d'évolution cyclique du module d'élasticité, des écrouissages isotropes et cinématiques, et de la densité d’énergie absorbées par cycle, dans différentes configurations : avec ou sans pré-écrouissage, en contrainte ou déformation imposées... / This study deals with the effect of the loading history on the cyclic behavior and the fatigue life of two kinds (THYSSEN and CLI) of 304L stainless steel at room temperature. The experiments have been performed using two specimens’ categories. The first one (virgin) has been submitted to only classical fatigue tests while in the second category, prior to the fatigue test, the specimen is subjected to a pre-hardening process under either monotonic or cyclic strain control. Cyclic softening followed by cyclic hardening are observed for the virgin specimens while only cyclic softening is exhibited by the pre-hardened specimens. The obtained results show that fatigue life is strongly influenced by the pre-hardening: it seems beneficial under stress control but detrimental under strain control, even in the presence of a compressive mean stress. The results are discussed regarding the cyclic evolution of the elastic modulus aswell as the isotropic and kinematic parts of the strain hardening, and strain energy density per cycle, in different configurations: with or without prehardening,stress or strain control...

Fatique life extension of nuclear powerplants lies in the search for project reserves. This work deals with the evaluation of low-cycle fatigue of nuclear installations of the VVER type and the assessment of the influence of the computational model level. Fatigue tests of austenitic steel using optical method of digital image correlation for which the evaluation procedure is designed and used is performed. Selected model of plasticity with kimenatic (Chaboche) and combinated hardening (Chaboche, Voce) are calibrated from the obtained data. Subsequently, the durability of the test specimen is determined by computational modeling for different material models. From the comparison of the results of fatigue tests with the calculation, the material models suitable for the description of fatigue life and their validity are determined.

In den letzten Jahrzehnten hat sich auf dem Gebiet der phänomenologischen Metallplastizität eine schleichende Revolution vollzogen. Dank der gestiegenen Rechenleistung, in Kombination mit ausgereiften numerischen Algorithmen, sind viele technisch relevante Problemstellungen einer zuverlässigen numerischen Analyse zugänglich gemacht worden. Beispielsweise ermöglicht die Metallumformsimulation, als häufigste Anwendung der Plastizitätstheorie, eine Analyse des Eigenspannungszustandes und der Rückfederung in plastisch umgeformten Halbzeugen und Bauteilen. Solche Simulationen sind für die Planung energie- und ressourceneffizienter Herstellungsprozesse sowie für die Ausnutzung der plastischen Tragfähigkeitsreserven von großer Bedeutung. Die Crashtest-Simulation ist die zweithäufigste Anwendung, die in der Automobilindustrie und auch zunehmend im Flugzeugbau eingesetzt wird. Aus der Notwendigkeit, das Verhalten metallischer Werkstoffe auf Bauteilebene hinreichend genau zu beschreiben, resultiert die Motivation für eine breit angelegte Studie zur Materialmodellierung. Dabei führt die beträchtliche Anzahl unterschiedlicher Phänomene und Effekte, die berücksichtigt werden müssen, zu einer großen Vielfalt von Materialmodellen. Da die Lösung komplizierter praktischer Probleme mit einem sehr großen numerischen Aufwand verbunden ist, wird der vorteilhafte phänomenologische Zugang bevorzugt. Bei der Konzeption von neuen phänomenologischen Materialmodellen müssen folgende Aspekte beachtet werden: die Genauigkeit bei der Beschreibung des Materialverhaltens; die Stabilität und Robustheit von zugehörigen numerischen Algorithmen; die numerische Effizienz; die zuverlässige Parameteridentifikation für einen möglichst großen Anwendbarkeitsbereich; die Anschaulichkeit und Einfachheit des Materialmodells. Im Allgemeinen stehen diese Anforderungen an ein "gutes Materialmodell" zwar in einem gewissen Widerspruch zueinander, bilden andererseits aber das Grundgerüst für eine systematische Studie. Obwohl sich die vorliegende Arbeit vordergründig an erfahrene Spezialisten im Bereich der Kontinuumsmechanik wendet, sind die darin präsentierten Modelle und Algorithmen auch für praktisch tätige Berechnungsingenieure von Interesse. / In the last decades, a creeping revolution was taking place in the area of the phenomenological metal plasticity. Due to the increased computational power, combined with refined numerical algorithms, many of technically relevant problems are now available for the numerical analysis. In particular, the metal forming simulation is a typical application of the metal plasticity. It enables the analysis of the residual stresses and spring back phenomena in plastically deformed workpieces and components. Such analysis is advantageous for planning of energy and resource-efficient manufacturing and for exploitation of plastic reserves of bearing capacity. The crash test simulation is the second most common application of metal plasticity, highly celebrated in the automotive industry and gaining increasing popularity in the aircraft industry. The need for sufficiently accurate description of metal behaviour on the macroscale motivates wide-ranging studies on material modelling. The large number of different effects and phenomena contributes to the large manifold of material models. The current work deals with the phenomenological approach, due to its great suitability for the solution of practical problems. The following aspects should be taken into account upon the construction of new phenomenological models: the accurate description of the material behaviour, the stability and robustness of the corresponding numerical algorithms, the numerical efficiency, the reliable parameter identification for a sufficiently large application area, the clearness and simplicity of the material models. In general, these requirements imposed on a "good material model" contradict each other. In this work, however, they are complimentary to each other and build a framework for a systematic study. Although this work is written primarily for experts on the continuum mechanics, the presented models and algorithms can be of interest for practically working engineers.

In den letzten Jahrzehnten hat sich auf dem Gebiet der phänomenologischen Metallplastizität eine schleichende Revolution vollzogen. Dank der gestiegenen Rechenleistung, in Kombination mit ausgereiften numerischen Algorithmen, sind viele technisch relevante Problemstellungen einer zuverlässigen numerischen Analyse zugänglich gemacht worden. Beispielsweise ermöglicht die Metallumformsimulation, als häufigste Anwendung der Plastizitätstheorie, eine Analyse des Eigenspannungszustandes und der Rückfederung in plastisch umgeformten Halbzeugen und Bauteilen. Solche Simulationen sind für die Planung energie- und ressourceneffizienter Herstellungsprozesse sowie für die Ausnutzung der plastischen Tragfähigkeitsreserven von großer Bedeutung. Die Crashtest-Simulation ist die zweithäufigste Anwendung, die in der Automobilindustrie und auch zunehmend im Flugzeugbau eingesetzt wird. Aus der Notwendigkeit, das Verhalten metallischer Werkstoffe auf Bauteilebene hinreichend genau zu beschreiben, resultiert die Motivation für eine breit angelegte Studie zur Materialmodellierung. Dabei führt die beträchtliche Anzahl unterschiedlicher Phänomene und Effekte, die berücksichtigt werden müssen, zu einer großen Vielfalt von Materialmodellen. Da die Lösung komplizierter praktischer Probleme mit einem sehr großen numerischen Aufwand verbunden ist, wird der vorteilhafte phänomenologische Zugang bevorzugt. Bei der Konzeption von neuen phänomenologischen Materialmodellen müssen folgende Aspekte beachtet werden: die Genauigkeit bei der Beschreibung des Materialverhaltens; die Stabilität und Robustheit von zugehörigen numerischen Algorithmen; die numerische Effizienz; die zuverlässige Parameteridentifikation für einen möglichst großen Anwendbarkeitsbereich; die Anschaulichkeit und Einfachheit des Materialmodells. Im Allgemeinen stehen diese Anforderungen an ein "gutes Materialmodell" zwar in einem gewissen Widerspruch zueinander, bilden andererseits aber das Grundgerüst für eine systematische Studie. Obwohl sich die vorliegende Arbeit vordergründig an erfahrene Spezialisten im Bereich der Kontinuumsmechanik wendet, sind die darin präsentierten Modelle und Algorithmen auch für praktisch tätige Berechnungsingenieure von Interesse. / In the last decades, a creeping revolution was taking place in the area of the phenomenological metal plasticity. Due to the increased computational power, combined with refined numerical algorithms, many of technically relevant problems are now available for the numerical analysis. In particular, the metal forming simulation is a typical application of the metal plasticity. It enables the analysis of the residual stresses and spring back phenomena in plastically deformed workpieces and components. Such analysis is advantageous for planning of energy and resource-efficient manufacturing and for exploitation of plastic reserves of bearing capacity. The crash test simulation is the second most common application of metal plasticity, highly celebrated in the automotive industry and gaining increasing popularity in the aircraft industry. The need for sufficiently accurate description of metal behaviour on the macroscale motivates wide-ranging studies on material modelling. The large number of different effects and phenomena contributes to the large manifold of material models. The current work deals with the phenomenological approach, due to its great suitability for the solution of practical problems. The following aspects should be taken into account upon the construction of new phenomenological models: the accurate description of the material behaviour, the stability and robustness of the corresponding numerical algorithms, the numerical efficiency, the reliable parameter identification for a sufficiently large application area, the clearness and simplicity of the material models. In general, these requirements imposed on a "good material model" contradict each other. In this work, however, they are complimentary to each other and build a framework for a systematic study. Although this work is written primarily for experts on the continuum mechanics, the presented models and algorithms can be of interest for practically working engineers.