Analytical study for deformability of laminated sheet metal

While a freestanding high-strength sheet metal subject to tension will rupture at a small strain, it is anticipated that lamination with a ductile sheet metal will retard this instability to an extent that depends on the relative thickness, the relative stiffness, and the hardening exponent of the ductile sheet. This paper presents an analytical study for the deformability of such laminate within the context of necking instability. Laminates of high-strength sheet metal and ductile low-strength sheet metal are studied assuming: (1) sheets are fully bonded; and (2) metals obey the power law material model. The effect of hardening exponent, volume fraction and relative stiffness of the ductile component has been studied. In addition, stability of both uniform and nonuniform deformations has been investigated under plane strain condition. The results have shown the retardation of the high-strength layer instability by lamination with the ductile layer. This has been achieved through controlling the aforementioned key parameters of the ductile component, while the laminate exhibits marked enhancement in strength-ductility combination that is essential for metal forming applications.