When one uses a tool to cut a sheet metal, or a tube according to his axis, as one propagates the crack which translates cutting it arrives that undulations of buckling disturb the two free edges generated by the propagation of the crack. This study aims at analyzing the origins of this behavior. We conducted an experimental campaign, in which stainless steel tubes with various geometries (radius/thickness) are « cut out » according to a generator. An adequate instrumentation, coupling of specific measurements, using strain gauges, and a field method, by digital image correlation, allowed us accurately to put forward phenomenology, in particular the kinematics at the scale of the crack (ahead of crack tip) and at the level of tube, with the wavelengths of buckling observed at the downstream of the crack tip. The numerical modeling taking into account nonlinearities of material (ductile tear), geometry (buckling) and boundary conditions (contact) is also approached using the code Abaqus/Standard. For the management of the crack propagation, two rupture models are proposed. The first model called cohesive zone is developed and implemented in the Abaqus code via the user routine UEL. For the second modeling, we used the model called “ductile damage model” in the Abaqus code. Modeling via solid elements or shell continuum elements as well as the use of these rupture models make it possible to corroborate the experimental observations. These studies show that the increase of the load inherent in the displacement of the tool of « cutting » induced a circumferential extension of the tube that leads to a local necking in the radial direction bringing the rupture finally. During the failure, a “plastic wake” appears, relatively wide, close and parallel to crack lips. Constrained by other parts of the tube which remain elastic, sufficient axial residual compressive stresses produced in this plastic wake produce the undulations which represents a local buckling. The residual stresses related to the operation of cutting thus induce buckling.
