Assessing the Potential of Heterogeneous Mechanical Tests for Sheet Metals Through Experimentally Measured Full-Fields

Abstract Background Numerical simulation is becoming essential in the mechanical design of sheet metal components, requiring advanced material models, composed of many unknown parameters, to accurately describe complex material behavior. Traditionally, these parameters are identified through multiple quasi-homogeneous tests, each providing specific mechanical data on a particular strain state. The emergence of heterogeneous mechanical tests has revolutionized this process by enabling the capture of a wide range of strain states in a single experiment. Objective This study focuses on the experimental analysis of three heterogeneous mechanical tests, previously studied numerically. The main objective is to confirm the quality and relevance of the mechanical deformation observed when using real data and evaluate the sensitivity of these tests to different high-strength steels. Methods Uniaxial loading tests were conducted on three different specimen designs, using Stereo Digital Image Correlation to capture the mechanical fields on the surface. Multi-DIC systems were used to measure the out-of-plane behavior observed for a specimen design to increase the strain richness provided by the test. The repeatability of these tests is checked due to their complex designs. Results The results show that the potential of heterogeneous mechanical tests remains unchanged when tested in real-world experimental settings. Conclusions When combined with full-field measurement techniques, these can provide a wide range of mechanical behavior data from a single test, reducing the number of tests needed for advanced material characterization.