Abstract
Plastic strain distributions at the net section of notched bars subjected to large deformation are obtained using the Vickers microhardness test and the numerical calculation proposed. Each notched bar is loaded up to 0.7 Pmax (Pmax: maximum tensile load), 0.8 Pmax, 0.9 Pmax, 0.95 Pmax, Pmax, 0.98 Pmax beyond Pmax and 0.95 Pmax beyond Pmax. Strains at a point are calculated by making an assumed curve of radial displacement touch the real curve of radial displacement distribution at that point. The distributions of the equivalent and axial plastic strains are concave at all load levels tested. The equivalent plastic strain is only slightly greater than the axial plastic strain, even at the notch root where the difference between these two strains is the largest. The magnitude of the axial plastic strain at the notch root at Pmax is about twice as large as that of the axial plastic strain at Pmax of the unnotched specimen.
