Application of the Mathematical Theory of Plasticity for Developing New Methods of Material Testing

The further development of metallic materials demands the determination of characteristics for strength and ductility. Often the volume of metallurgically produced new material compositions is rather small and expensive, so that the use of standardized tension or compression tests is excluded. It is, therefore, desirable to develop new methods of materials testing allowing for relatively small specimens. Stimulated by a research project of the Max-Planck-Institut für Eisenforschung on the development of new intermetallic compounds for high temperature service, three new test methods have been developed, which will be described here in detail: the small-cup drawing test, the mantle compression test, and the ball compression test. In order to analyze the stresses and strains involved in these three deformation processes some of the current methods of the mathematical theory of plasticity have been used successfully.