Abstract
In this paper, utilizing the theory of ductile fracture a chevron crack in a 4-stage open cold extrusion process is predicted by the finite element methods and then compared with previous experiments. The normalized Cockcroft-Latham damage model is employed and the material is identified using a tensile test based material identification technique that gives fracture information as well as flow stress at large strain. A large difference between the predicted cracks and actual experiments is observed, specifically narrower width and greater maximum height of the crack. This reveals the limitation of this approach based on the conventional theory of ductile fracture. Based on the observations and the related criticisms, a new approach for predicting the chevron crack is proposed, suggesting that either the critical damage should not be a fixed material constant, or that the conventional fracture theory should be considered with the effects of embrittlement due to accumulated plastic deformation while the duration of crack generation and plastic deformation should be reduced.