The three-dimensional measurements (length, height, and width) of each submitted specimen were recorded.
The computer program MATLAB® (The MathWorks, Inc., Natick, Massachusetts) was used to assist in the calculation the surface area of an ellipsoid from the three-dimensional measurements (length, height, and width) of each BCS specimen.
The average of individual measures (width and thickness) of each specimen was introduced in the software just before testing.
The fractured area was determined by measuring the width and length of each specimen using a digital caliper (CD-15CPX, Mitutoyo, Kawasaki, Japan).
The width of the specimen was varied.
However, another parameter that may affect the ability to achieve efficient forming is the specimen's planar area, i.e., the length and width of the specimen.
The concentrated load was applied by means of bearing plates, which act across the full flange width of the specimen sections.
The predicted failure loads, based on the energy release rates, showed good agreement with the experiments, particularly when the distribution of energy release rate across the width of the specimen was taken into account.
In particular, after the critical volume fraction of the ductile constituent is attained, surface edge crazes are inhibited from tunneling across the width of the specimen which then leads to reduced crazing/cracking and increased shear yielding.
Two variables were investigated during analyses; the distance from the free edge of plate to the diameter of the first hole (E/D) ratio (2, 3, 4, 5), and the width of the specimen to the diameter of the holes (W/D) ratios (2, 3, 4, 5).
