Abstract:Shear localization in linear strain softening heterogeneous material under simple shear was investigated analytically. The closed-form solutions obtained based on gradient plasticity theory considering interactions and interplaying among microstructures due to heterogeneity of metal material show that in the normal direction of shear band, elastic shear displacement is linear; while plastic and total shear displacement are non-linear. Elastic shear strain in the band is uniform and the non-uniformity of total shear displacement stems from localized plastic shear displacement. In the center of the band, plastic and total shear displacement all reach their maximum values. In strain-softening process, elastic displacement decreases as flow shear stress decreases. Contrarily, plastic and total shear displacement increase and manifest shear localization occurs progressively. Under the same shear stress level, plastic and total shear displacement increase as strain softening modulus and elastic shear modulus decrease. The present analytical solutions were compared with many experimental results and the agreement is good. 

Key words: gradient-dependent plasticity; microstructure; shear band; localization; ductile metal; shear deformation