Application of a second-gradient model of ductile fracture on a Dissimilar Metal Weld

A “micromorphic”, second-gradient model applicable to ductile porous materials has been proposed, as an improvement from the fundamental work of Gurson that take into account the physical mechanisms responsible for ductile damage. The model has been applied to the study of fracture of the decarburized layer of a Dissimilar Metal Weld. The model successfully reproduces the crack path experimentally observed in a notched tensile sample extracted from this weld, different from the one predicted by the first gradient model.