Magnetic properties of silicon iron electrical steel are determined by using standardized measurement setups and distinct excitation parameters. Characteristic values for magnetic loss and magnetization are used to select the most appropriate material for its application. This approach is not sufficient, because of the complex material behavior inside electrical machines, which can result in possible discrepancies between estimated and actual machine behavior. The materials’ anisotropy can be one of the problems why simulation and measurement are not in good accordance.With the help of a rotational single sheet tester, the magnetic material can be tested under application relevant field distribution. Thereby, additional effects of hysteresis and anisotropy can be characterized for detailed modelling and simulation.

Block tearing is a failure mode of steel connections based on rupture of material. In this paper, a numerical model is developed to capture fracture initiation and progression until failure in steel angles connected by one leg using single row of bolts. It was realized using Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman porous material model, which can accurately trace the behaviour of steel at plastic and ultimate range. Obtained results are validated on laboratory test results in global and local terms. Stress distribution along the failure paths in the gross and net area subjected to shear and tension was investigated for different geometrical arrangements of connections. Observation of rupture mechanisms allowed to compare the design procedures given in Eurocode 3 with connections behaviour. Results of analysis indicate that both plastic stress distribution in gross shear area and ultimate stress distribution in net shear area can limit block tearing resistance, which is consistent with the newest code provisions.

This paper deals with problems of failure mechanisms of S235JR structural steel. One of the fundamental parameters of the Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman damage mechanics-based material model is considered in order to describe the behaviour of the material at the plastic range. The analysis was performed on the void volume fraction f_F determined at failure of S235JR steel. The case of low initial stress triaxiality η = 1/3 was taken into consideration. Different from the most popular methods such as curve-fitting, the experimental method based on the digital image analysis of the fracture surface of S235JR steel is proposed in order to determine the critical parameter f_F.