This paper is focused on the utilisation of double edge notched tension, staggered and shear tests to determine fracture toughness and the formability limits by fracture in principal strain space. The experiments were performed in test specimens with different geometries and ligament angles, and the influence of strain hardening was taken into consideration by selecting two materials (aluminium AA1050-H111 and pure copper), with very different strain hardening exponents. Results are plotted in principal strain space, and the discussion is focused on the link between formability limits, fracture toughness and macroscopic fractography characteristics of the specimens that fail by mode I, mode II or mixed-mode.
Keywords: formability limits; fractography; fracture toughness; sheet metal forming.