Damage and ductility in forming

Ductility is the ability of a material to undergo irreversible deformation without breaking. Thus, in the context of metal forming, ductility is a property that it is very important to know, control and, if necessary, modify.

In most cases, such as in uniaxial tension, ductility is limited by two factors that can combine their effects: instability and damage. The first of these, which can take very different forms depending on the geometry of the sample and the stress imposed (e.g. diffuse or localized necking), plays a predominant role in the case of flat products (sheet metal stamping).

Damage, on the other hand, is the main factor limiting ductility in solid products.