AbstractA reliable prediction of ductile failure in metals is still a wide-open matter of research. Among different models, Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman (GTN) has been used extensively. One major issue is the accurate identification of GTN model parameters, which it is not possible to perform experiments for their evaluation. In the present paper a novel inverse procedure aimed to estimate the material parameters of the GTN porosity-based plastic damage model by means of RSM method is represented. The results showed good agreement between experimental and predicted forming limit diagrams when determined GTN parameters were utilized. FE-simulation by means of Abaqus software used to predict FLDs. © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of ICM11