Computational modeling of ductile fracture processes

Abstract

Two fundamental questions in the mechanics and physics of fracture are: (i) What is the relation between observable features of a material’s microstructure and its resistance to crack growth? (ii) What is the relation between observable features of a material’s microstructure and the roughness of the fracture surface? An obvious corollary question is: What is the relation, if any, between a material’s crack growth resistance and the roughness of the corresponding fracture surface? 3D finite element calculations of mode I ductile crack growth aimed at addressing these questions will be discussed. In the calculations, ductile fracture of structural metals by void nucleation, growth and coalescence is modeled using an elastic-viscoplastic constitutive relation for a progressively cavitating plastic solid. A material length scale is introduced via a discretely modeled microstructural feature, such as the spacing of inclusions that nucleate voids or the mean grain size. A particular focus will be on the use of such analyses to suggest the design of material microstructures for improved fracture resistance.

Recording of the presentation

Location: Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), Vertex Building.

Date: 1 - 3 September 2015, Barcelona, Spain.

General Information

• Location: Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), Barcelona, Spain.
• Date: 1 - 3 September 2015
• Secretariat: International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering (CIMNE).

External Links

• Complas XIII Official Website of the Conference.
• CIMNE Multimedia Channel