Size effects on void growth in single crystals with distributed voids

The effect of void size on void growth in single crystals with uniformly distributed cylindrical voids is studied numerically using a finite deformation strain gradient crystal plasticity theory with an intrinsic length parameter. A plane strain cell model is analyzed for a single crystal with three in-plane slip systems. It is observed that small voids allow much larger overall stress levels than larger voids for all the stress triaxialities considered. The amount of void growth is found to be suppressed for smaller voids at low stress triaxialities. Significant differences are observed in the distribution of slips and on the shape of the deformed voids for different void sizes. Furthermore, the orientation of the crystalline lattice is found to have a pronounced effect on the results, especially for the smaller void sizes.     

Coupling effects of void size and void shape on the growth of prolate ellipsoidal microvoid

The combined effects of void size and void shape on the void growth are studied by using the classical spectrum method. An infinite solid containing an isolated prolate spheroidal void is considered to depict the void shape effect and the Fleck-Hutchinson phenomenological strain gradient plasticity theory is employed to capture the size effects. It is found that the combined effects of void size and void shape are mainly controlled by the remote stress triaxiality. Based on this, a new size-dependent void growth model similar to the Rice-Tracey model is proposed and an important conclusion about the size-dependent void growth is drawn: the growth rate of the void with radius smaller than a critical radius r_c may be ignored. It is interesting that r_c is a material constant independent of the initial void shape and the remote stress triaxiality.The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (A10102006) and the New Century Excellent Talents in Universities of China. The English text was polished by Keren Wang.     

Extension of the gurson model accounting for the void size effect

A continuum model of solids with cylindrical microvoids is proposed based on the Taylor dislocation model.The model is an extension of Gurson model in the sense that the void size effect is accounted for. Beside the void volume fraction f, the intrinsic material length I becomes a parameter representing voids since the void size comes into play in the Gurson model. Approximate yield functions in analytic forms are suggested for both solids with cylindrical microvoids and with spherical microvoids. The application to uniaxial tension curves shows a precise agreement between the approximate analytic yield function and the “exact” parametric form of integrals.     

Influences of microscope size effect of matrix on plastic potential and void growth of porous materials

Based on approximate theoretical analyses on a typical spherical cell containing a spherical microvoid, the influences of matrix materials' microscopic scale on the macroscopic constitutives potential theory of porous material and microvoid growth have been investigated in detail. By assuming that the plastic deformation behavior of matrix materials follows the strain gradient (SG) plastic theory involving the stretch and rotation gradients, the ratio (λ=l/a) of the matrix materials' intrinsic characteristic lengthl to the microvoid radiusa is introduced into the plastic constitutives potential and the void growth law. The present results indicate that, when the radiusa of microvoids is comparable with the intrinsic characteristic lengthl of the matrix materials, the influence of microscopic size effect on neither the constitutive potential nor the microvoid evolution predicted can be ignored. And when the void radiusa is much lager than the intrinsic characteristic lengthl of the matrix materials, the present model can retrogress automatically to the improved Gurson model that takes into account the strain hardening effect of matrix materials. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. A10102006).     

The indenter tip radius effect in micro- and nanoindentation hardness experiments.

Nix and Gao established an important relation between the microindentation hardness and indentation depth. Such a relation has been verified by many microindentation experiments (indentation depths in the micrometer range), but it does not always hold in nanoindentation experiments (indentation depths approaching the nanometer range). Indenter tip radius effect has been proposed by Qu et al. and others as possibly the main factor that causes the deviation from Nix and Gao's relationship. We have developed an indentation model for micro- and nanoindentation, which accounts for two indenter shapes, a sharp, conical indenter and a conical indenter with a spherical tip. The analysis is based on the conventional theory of mechanism-based strain gradient plasticity established from the Taylor dislocation model to account for the effect of geometrically necessary dislocations. The comparison between numerical result and Feng and Nix's experimental data shows that the indenter tip radius effect indeed causes the deviation from Nix-Gao relation, but it seems not be the main factor. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10121202) and the Ministry of Education of China (20020003023)     

Strain gradient effects on cyclic plasticity

Size effects on the cyclic shear response are studied numerically using a recent higher order strain gradient visco-plasticity theory accounting for both dissipative and energetic gradient hardening. Numerical investigations of the response under cyclic pure shear and shear of a finite slab between rigid platens have been carried out, using the finite element method. It is shown for elastic-perfectly plastic solids how dissipative gradient effects lead to increased yield strength, whereas energetic gradient contributions lead to increased hardening as well as a Bauschinger effect. For linearly hardening materials it is quantified how dissipative and energetic gradient effects promote hardening above that of conventional predictions. Usually, increased hardening is attributed to energetic gradient effects, but here it is found that also dissipative gradient effects lead to additional hardening in the presence of conventional material hardening. Furthermore, it is shown that dissipative gradient effects can lead to both an increase and a decrease in the dissipation per load cycle depending on the magnitude of the dissipative length parameter, whereas energetic gradient effects lead to decreasing dissipation for increasing energetic length parameter. For dissipative gradient effects it is found that dissipation has a maximum value for some none zero value of the material length parameter, which depends on the magnitude of the deformation cycles.     

Vapor pressure and void size effects on failure of a constrained ductile film

To achieve certain properties, semiconductor adhesives and molding compounds are made by blending filler particles with polymer matrix. Moisture collects at filler particle/polymer matrix interfaces and within voids of the composite. At reflow temperatures, the moisture vaporizes. The rapidly expanding vapor creates high internal pressure on pre-existing voids and particle/matrix interfaces. The simultaneous action of thermal stresses and internal vapor pressure drives both pre-existing and newly nucleated voids to grow and coalesce causing material failure. Particularly susceptible are polymeric films and adhesives joining elastic substrates, e.g. Ag filled epoxy. Several competing failure mechanisms are studied including: near-tip void growth and coalescence with the crack; extensive void growth and formation of an extended damaged zone emanating from the crack; and rapid void growth at highly stressed sites at large distances ahead of the crack, leading to multiple damaged zones. This competition is driven by the interplay between stress elevation induced by constrained plastic flow and stress relaxation due to vapor pressure assisted void growth.A model problem of a ductile film bonded between two elastic substrates, with a centerline crack, is studied. The computational study employs a Gurson porous material model incorporating vapor pressure effects. The formation of multiple damaged zones is favored when the film contains small voids or dilute second-phase particle distribution. The presence of large voids or high vapor pressure favor the growth of a self-similar damage zone emanating from the crack. High vapor pressure accelerates film cracking that can cause device failures.     

On the evolution of crystallographic dislocation density in non-homogeneously deforming crystals

A set of evolution equations for dislocation density is developed incorporating the combined evolution of statistically stored and geometrically necessary densities. The statistical density evolves through Burgers vector-conserving reactions based in dislocation mechanics. The geometric density evolves due to the divergence of dislocation fluxes associated with the inhomogeneous nature of plasticity in crystals. Integration of the density-based model requires additional dislocation density/density-flux boundary conditions to complement the standard traction/displacement boundary conditions. The dislocation density evolution equations and the coupling of the dislocation density flux to the slip deformation in a continuum crystal plasticity model are incorporated into a finite element model. Simulations of an idealized crystal with a simplified slip geometry are conducted to demonstrate the length scale-dependence of the mechanical behavior of the constitutive model. The model formulation and simulation results have direct implications on the ability to explicitly model the interaction of dislocation densities with grain boundaries and on the net effect of grain boundaries on the macroscopic mechanical response of polycrystals.     

Void growth and coalescence in ductile solids with stage III and stage IV strain hardening

State of the art ductile fracture models often rely on simple power laws to describe the strain hardening of the matrix material. Power laws do not distinguish between the two main stages of hardening observed in polycrystals, referred to as stage III and stage IV hardening, and which emerge from the evolution of the dislocation substructure. The aim of this study is to couple a physics based strain hardening law including these two stages to a micromechanics based ductile damage model. One of the main motivations is that, the stage IV constant hardening rate stage, occurring only at large strain, will be attained in most ductile failure problems if not at the overall level of deformation, at least locally around the growing voids. Furthermore, proper modelling of the stage III involving dislocation storage and recovery terms and the transition to stage IV provides a link with the underlying physical mechanisms of deformation and with the microstructure. First, in order to evaluate the effects of the stage III and stage IV hardening on void growth and coalescence, an extensive parametric study is performed on two-dimensional (2D) axisymmetric finite element (FE) unit cell calculations, using a Kocks-Mecking type hardening law. The cell calculations demonstrate that accounting for the stage IV hardening can have a profound effect on delaying void coalescence and increasing the ductility. The magnitude of the recovery term during stage III has also a significant effect on the void growth rate. Then, the Kocks-Mecking law is incorporated into the Gologanu-Leblond-Devaux (GLD) porous plasticity model supplemented by two different versions of the Thomason void coalescence criterion. The predictions of the damage model are in good agreement with the results of the FE calculations in terms of the stress-strain curves, the evolution of void shape and porosity, as well as the strain value at the onset of void coalescence.     

Dynamic void nucleation and growth in solids: A self-consistent statistical theory

We present a framework for a self-consistent theory of spall fracture in ductile materials, based on the dynamics of void nucleation and growth. The constitutive model for the material is divided into elastic and “plastic” parts, where the elastic part represents the volumetric response of a porous elastic material, and the “plastic” part is generated by a collection of representative volume elements (RVEs) of incompressible material. Each RVE is a thick-walled spherical shell, whose average porosity is the same as that of the surrounding porous continuum, thus simulating void interaction through the resulting lowered resistance to further void growth. All voids nucleate and grow according to the appropriate dynamics for a thick-walled sphere made of incompressible material. The macroscopic spherical stress in the material drives the response in all volume elements, which have a distribution of critical stresses for void nucleation, and the statistically weighted sum of the void volumes of all RVEs generates the global porosity. Thus, macroscopic pressure, porosity, and a distribution of growing microscopic voids are fully coupled dynamically. An example is given for a rate-independent, perfectly plastic material. The dynamics of void growth gives rise to a rate effect in the macroscopic material even though the parent material is rate independent.     

Effects of voids on postbuckling delamination growth in unidirectional composites

This work examines the effects of manufacturing induced voids on the postbuckling behavior of delaminated unidirectional composites. In the finite element model developed, a through-width delamination is introduced close to one surface of a flat panel, and a void is placed in the delamination plane ahead of each delamination front. The panel is subjected to compression in the fiber direction. The postbuckling delamination growth is studied by calculating the strain energy release rate (SERR) using the virtual crack closure technique. Local stress analyses of the region near the delamination front are also performed to further investigate the void effects. It is found that although the presence of void does not significantly alter the postbuckling transverse displacement of the delaminated panel, the induced stress perturbation by the void affects the SERR. The Mode II SERR as well as the total SERR increase depending on the size of the void and its distance from the delamination front. Since the Mode I SERR shows non-monotonic behavior with the applied load, the effects of voids are studied on its maximum value.     

The size dependence of micro-toughness in ductile fracture

Micro-toughness in ductile fracture is defined as the plastic work dissipated per unit fracture surface area in the material separation processes of void growth and coalescence. A micromechanics model for the estimation of the size dependence of micro-toughness in ductile fracture is presented. Size effects are incorporated in the model using the conventional mechanism-based strain gradient plasticity (CMSG) theory. A finite element model of an axisymmetric representative unit cell with an initial spherical void is used to validate model predictions. Two characteristic length scales emerge from the model. The initial void radius sets the scale for the initial spherical void growth. For the subsequent void coalescence, the scale is set by the width of the intervoid ligament. Energy dissipation in ductile fracture is found to be dominated by the mechanisms of coalescence, and the micro-toughness in ductile fracture is found to be size dependent for dimple sizes approximately one order of magnitude larger than the material length scale.     

On the mechanism of void growth and the effect of straining mode in ductile materials

Finite element analysis is employed to investigate void growth embedded in elastic–plastic matrix material. Axisymmetric and plane stress conditions are considered. The simulation of void growth in a unit cell model is carried out over a wide range of triaxial tensile stressing or large plastic straining for various strain hardening materials to study the mechanism of void growth in ductile materials. Triaxial tension and large plastic strain encircling around the void are found to be of most importance for driving void growth. The straining mode of incremental loading which favors the necessary strain concentration around void for its growth can be characterized by the vanishing condition of a parameter called “the third invariant of generalized strain rate”. Under this condition, it accentuates the internal strain concentration and the strain energy stored/dissipated within the material layer surrounding the void. Experimental results are cited to justify the effect of this loading parameter.     

The effect of straining mode on void growth

Large strain finite element method is employed to investigate the effect of straining mode on void growth. Axisymmetric cell model embedded with spherical void is controlled by constant triaxiality loading, while plane-stress model containing a circular void is loaded by constant ratio of straining. Elastic-plastic material is used for the matrix in both cases. It is concluded that, besides the known effect of triaxiality, the straining mode which intensifies the plastic concentration around the void is also a void growth stimulator. Experimental results are cited to justify the computation results. This paper is jointly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (19872064), the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KJ951-1-201) and the Laboratory for Nonlinear mechanics of Continuous Media of the Institute of Mechanics     

Modeling of crack growth in ductile solids: a three-dimensional analysis

A population of several spherical voids is included in a three-dimensional, small scale yielding model. Two distinct void growth mechanisms, put forth by [Int. J. Solids Struct. 39 (2002) 3581] for the case of a two-dimensional model containing cylindrical voids, are well contained in the model developed in this study for spherical voids. A material failure criterion, based on the occurrence of void coalescence in the unit cell model, is established. The critical ligament reduction ratio, which varies with stress triaxiality and initial porosity, is used to determine ligament failure between the crack tip and the nearest void. A comparison of crack initiation toughness of the model containing cylindrical voids with the model containing spherical voids reveals that the material having a sizeable fraction of spherical voids is tougher than the material having cylindrical voids. The proposed material failure determination method is then used to establish the fracture resistance curve (J–R curve) of the material. For a ductile material containing a small volume fraction of microscopic voids initially, the void by void growth mechanism prevails, which results in a J–R curve having steep slope. On the other hand, for a ductile material containing a large volume fraction of initial voids, the multiple voids interaction mechanism prevails, which results in a flat J–R curve. Next, the effect of T-stress on fracture resistance is examined. Finally, nucleation and growth of secondary microvoids and their effects on void coalescence are briefly discussed.     

Scaling of dislocation-based strain-gradient plasticity

By taking into account the dislocations that are geometrically necessary for producing a curvature or twist of the atomic lattice in crystals, Gao et al. recently developed a theory of strain-gradient plasticity on the micrometer scale and showed that it agrees relatively well with the tests of hardness, torsion and bending of copper on the micrometer scale. This paper subjects this theory to an asymptotic scaling analysis. It is shown that the small-size asymptotic limit of this theory exhibits (1) an unusually strong size effect in which the corresponding nominal stresses in geometrically similar structures of different sizes D vary as D^−5/2, and (2) an asymptotic approach to a load-deflection diagram whose tangent stiffness gradually increases, starting with an infinitely small initial stiffness at infinitely small stress. Although this peculiar small-size asymptotic behavior might not be attainable within the practical applicability range of a continuum theory, it renders questionable any efforts to construct approximations of an asymptotic matching character, with a two-sided asymptotic support, which have previously been proven effective for quasibrittle materials such as concrete, rock, ice and fiber composites. A possible simple modification of the existing theory with respect to the small-size asymptotic properties is suggested. However, the questions of experimental justification of such a modification and its compatibility with the dislocation theory will require further study. The small-size asymptotic properties of other strain gradient theories of plasticity have not been analyzed, except for those of the previous Fleck-Hutchinson theory, which have been found reasonable.     

动载荷下延性材料中微孔洞的增长模型

采用细观动力学的方法,假定基体材料不可压缩,将高加载条件下控制孔洞增长的偏微分方程组化为一阶常微分方程组,从而可利用Euler法或Runge Kutta法求解。模型的数值分析表明,对OFHC铜来说,应变硬化效应、应变率效应阻碍了孔洞的增长,热效应对孔洞增长影响不大,而环境温度的升高促进了孔洞的增长。     

Influence of material parameters and crystallography on the size effects describable by means of strain gradient plasticity

In the context of single-crystal strain gradient plasticity, we focus on the simple shear of a constrained strip in order to study the effects of the material parameters possibly involved in the modelling. The model consists of a deformation theory suggested and left undeveloped by Bardella [(2007). Some remarks on the strain gradient crystal plasticity modelling, with particular reference to the material length scales involved. Int. J. Plasticity 23, 296–322] in which, for each glide, three dissipative length scales are considered; they enter the model through the definition of an effective slip which brings into the isotropic hardening function the relevant plastic strain gradients, averaged by means of a p-norm. By means of the defect energy (i.e., a function of Nye's dislocation density tensor added to the free energy; see, e.g., Gurtin [2002. A gradient theory of single-crystal viscoplasticity that accounts for geometrically necessary dislocations. J. Mech. Phys. Solids 50, 5–32]), the model further involves an energetic material length scale. The application suggests that two dissipative length scales may be enough to qualitatively describe the size effect of metals at the microscale, and they are chosen in such a way that the higher-order state variables of the model be the dislocation densities. Moreover, we show that, depending on the crystallography, the size effect governed by the defect energy may be different from what expected (based on the findings of [Bardella, L., 2006. A deformation theory of strain gradient crystal plasticity that accounts for geometrically necessary dislocations. J. Mech. Phys. Solids 54, 128–160] and [Gurtin et al. 2007. Gradient single-crystal plasticity with free energy dependent on dislocation densities. J. Mech. Phys. Solids 55, 1853–1878]), leading mostly to some strengthening. In order to investigate the model capability, we also exploit a Γ-convergence technique to find closed-form solutions in the “isotropic limit”. Finally, we analytically show that in the “perfect plasticity” case, should the dissipative length scales be set to zero, the presence of the sole energetic length scale may lead, as in standard plasticity, to non-uniqueness of solutions.