Uncertainties of Failure in Bending Experiments

During the manufacture of mechanical structures, their calculation and experimental investigation, deviations from the deterministic state arise, which are based on uncertainties in the mechanical parameters. The propagation of such uncertainties is evaluated in two experimental setups here. A four‐point bending experiment with a notched specimen and its numerical simulation are considered first. The deviations due to inexact geometric parameters were estimated using Monte Carlo simulations and correlated with deviations in the numerical calculation due to unclear model parameters in the phase‐field fracture approach. As a second example, the manufacturing process of rotary draw bending is investigated. Here, we focus on the condition for failure during the bending process, and the analysis considers the propagation of geometric uncertainties to the maximum strain and the influence of the uncertain material parameter on the uniform tensile elongation. Although the examples are greatly simplified, the method presented provides a strategy for robust predictions of variability, model verification, and safety assessment.