Theory of creep deformation with kinematic hardening for materials with different properties in tension and compression

A constitutive model for creep deformation that describes the loading-history-dependent behavior of initially isotropic materials with different properties in tension and compression under stress vector rotations limited by 50–60° is presented within a thermodynamic framework. In the proposed constitutive model a kinematic hardening rule is adopted. This model also introduces an effective equivalent stress in the creep potential that is based on the first and second invariants of the effective stress tensor, and on the joint invariant of the effective stress tensor and eigenvector associated with the maximum principal Cauchy stress. The formulation of the kinematic hardening rule is presented and discussed. All the material parameters in the model have been obtained from a series of proposed basic experiments with constant stresses. These model parameters are then used to predict the creep deformation of the aluminum alloy under multiaxial loading with constant stresses, and under non-proportional uniaxial and non-proportional multiaxial loadings for both isothermal and nonisothermal processes.     

Continuum thermodynamics of ferroelectric domain evolution: Theory, finite element implementation, and application to domain wall pinning

A continuum thermodynamics framework is devised to model the evolution of ferroelectric domain structures. The theory falls into the class of phase-field or diffuse-interface modeling approaches. Here a set of micro-forces and governing balance laws are postulated and applied within the second law of thermodynamics to identify the appropriate material constitutive relationships. The approach is shown to yield the commonly accepted Ginzburg-Landau equation for the evolution of the polarization order parameter. Within the theory a form for the free energy is postulated that can be applied to fit the general elastic, piezoelectric and dielectric properties of a ferroelectric material near its spontaneously polarized state. Thereafter, a principle of virtual work is specified for the theory and is implemented to devise a finite element formulation. The theory and numerical methods are used to investigate the fields near straight 180° and 90° domain walls and to determine the electromechanical pinning strength of an array of line charges on 180° and 90° domain walls.     

Phase-field modeling of crack propagation in piezoelectric and ferroelectric materials with different electromechanical crack conditions

We present a family of phase-field models for fracture in piezoelectric and ferroelectric materials. These models couple a variational formulation of brittle fracture with, respectively, (1) the linear theory of piezoelectricity, and (2) a Ginzburg–Landau model of the ferroelectric microstructure to address the full complexity of the fracture phenomenon in these materials. In these models, both the cracks and the ferroelectric domain walls are represented in a diffuse way by phase-fields. The main challenge addressed here is encoding various electromechanical crack models (introduced as crack-face boundary conditions in sharp models) into the phase-field framework. The proposed models are verified through comparisons with the corresponding sharp-crack models. We also perform two dimensional finite element simulations to demonstrate the effect of the different crack-face conditions, the electromechanical loading and the media filling the crack gap on the crack propagation and the microstructure evolution. Salient features of the results are compared with experiments.     

Invariant formulation of the electromechanical enthalpy function of transversely isotropic piezoelectric materials

Summary Theoretical and numerical aspects of the formulation of electromechanically coupled, transversely isotropic solids are discussed within the framework of the invariant theory. The main goal is the representation of the governing constitutive equations for reversible material behaviour based on an anisotropic electromechanical enthalpy function, which automatically fulfills the requirements of material symmetry. The introduction of a preferred direction in the argument list of the enthalpy function allows the construction of isotropic tensor functions, which reflect the inherent geometrical and physical symmetries of the polarized medium. After presenting the general framework, we consider two important model problems within this setting: i) the linear piezoelectric solid; and ii) the nonlinear electrostriction. A parameter identification of the invariant- and the common coordinate-dependent formulation is performed for both cases. The tensor generators for the stresses, electric displacements and the moduli are derived in detail, and some representative numerical examples are presented.We thank Dipl.-Ing. H. Romanowski for his support and helpful remarks.     

Constitutive equations of a tensorial model for ductile damage of metals

Based on a micromechanical concept of void growth and change in void shape, a dissipation potential and constitutive equations for ductile damage of metals are presented. Multiplicative decomposition of the metric transformation tensor and thermodynamic formulation of the constitutive equations lead to a symmetric second-order tensor of damage which is physically meaningful. Its first invariant defines the damage related to plastic dilatation of the material due to the void growth. The second invariant of the deviatoric tensor accounts for the damage associated with a change in the void shape. Two physically motivated normalized measures allow us to represent the kinetic process of strain-induced damage by using the equivalent parameter of damage including the limit conditions for the onset of void coalescence and ductile failure. An experimental analysis of the evolution of ductile damage is presented for the case of uniaxial tension of sheet steel specimens with artificial defects.     

An ‘extended’ volumetric/deviatoric formulation of anisotropic damage based on a pseudo-log rate

Following a framework of elastic degradation and damage previously proposed by the authors, an ‘extended’ formulation of orthotropic damage in initially isotropic materials, based on volumetric/deviatoric decomposition, is presented. The formulation is founded on the concept of energy equivalence and makes use of second-order symmetric tensor damage variables. It is characterized by fourth-order damage-effect tensors (relating nominal to effective stresses and strains) built from the underlying second-order damage tensors and decomposed in product-form in isotropic and anisotropic parts. The formulation is developed in two steps. First, secant relations are established. In the isotropic case, the model embeds a path parameter allowing to range between pure volumetric to pure deviatoric damage. With the two undamaged material constants this makes a total of three constant parameters plus an evolving scalar damage variable, giving rise to a four-parameter model with two varying isotropic material coefficients. In the anisotropic case, the model is still characterized by the same three material constants plus three evolving variables which are the principal values of a second-order damage tensor. This leads to a six-parameter restricted form of orthotropic damage. In the second step, damage evolution rules are formulated in terms of a pseudo-logarithmic rate of damage. This allows to define meaningful conjugate forces that constitute a feasible space in which loading functions and damage evolution rules can be defined. The present ‘extended’ formulation is closed by the derivation of the tangent stiffness.     

A coupled temperature and strain rate dependent yield function for dynamic deformations of bcc metals

A coupled temperature and strain rate microstructure physically based yield function is proposed in this work. It is incorporated along with the Clausius–Duhem inequality and an appropriate free energy definition in a general thermodynamic framework for deriving a three-dimensional kinematical model for thermo-viscoplastic deformations of body centered cubic (bcc) metals. The evolution equations are expressed in terms of the material time derivatives of the elastic strain, accumulated plastic strain (isotropic hardening), and the back stress conjugate tensor (kinematic hardening). The viscoplastic multipliers are obtained using both the Consistency and Perzyna viscoplasticity models. The athermal yield function is employed instead of the static yield function in the case of the Perzyna viscoplasticity model. It is found that the static strain rate value, at which the material shows rate-independent behavior, varies with the material deformation temperature. Computational aspects of the proposed model are addressed through the finite element implementation with an implicit stress integration algorithm. Finite element simulations are performed by implementing the proposed viscoplasticity constitutive models in the commercial finite element program ABAQUS/Explicit [ABAQUS, 2003. User Manual, Version 6.3. Habbitt, Karlsson and Sorensen Inc., Providence, RI] via the user material subroutine coded as VUMAT. Numerical implementation for a simple compression problem meshed with one element is used to validate the proposed model implementation with applications to tantalum, niobium, and vanadium at low and high strain rates and temperatures. The analysis of a tensile shear banding is also investigated to show the effectiveness and the performance of the proposed framework in describing the strain localizations at high velocity impact. Results show mesh independency as a result of the viscoplastic regularization used in the proposed formulation.     

A mixed damage model for unsaturated porous media

The aim of this study is to present a framework for the modeling of damage in continuous unsaturated porous geomaterials. The damage variable is a second-order tensor. The model is formulated in net stress and suction independent state variables. Correspondingly, the strain tensor is split into two independent thermodynamic strain components. The proposed framework mixes micro-mechanical and phenomenological approaches. On the one hand, the effective stress concept of Continuum Damage Mechanics is used in order to compute the damaged rigidities. On the other hand, the concept of equivalent mechanical state is introduced in order to get a simple phenomenological formulation of the behavior laws. Cracking effects are also taken into account in the fluid transfer laws. To cite this article: C. Arson, B. Gatmiri, C. R. Mecanique 337 (2009).     

Numerical analysis and elastic–plastic deformation behavior of anisotropically damaged solids

The present paper is concerned with the numerical modelling of the large elastic–plastic deformation behavior and localization prediction of ductile metals which are sensitive to hydrostatic stress and anisotropically damaged. The model is based on a generalized macroscopic theory within the framework of nonlinear continuum damage mechanics. The formulation relies on a multiplicative decomposition of the metric transformation tensor into elastic and damaged-plastic parts. Furthermore, undamaged configurations are introduced which are related to the damaged configurations via associated metric transformations which allow for the interpretation as damage tensors. Strain rates are shown to be additively decomposed into elastic, plastic and damage strain rate tensors. Moreover, based on the standard dissipative material approach the constitutive framework is completed by different stress tensors, a yield criterion and a separate damage condition as well as corresponding potential functions. The evolution laws for plastic and damage strain rates are discussed in some detail. Estimates of the stress and strain histories are obtained via an explicit integration procedure which employs an inelastic (damage-plastic) predictor followed by an elastic corrector step. Numerical simulations of the elastic–plastic deformation behavior of damaged solids demonstrate the efficiency of the formulation. A variety of large strain elastic–plastic-damage problems including severe localization is presented, and the influence of different model parameters on the deformation and localization prediction of ductile metals is discussed.     

A ferroelectric and ferroelastic 3D hexahedral curvilinear finite element

An isoparametric 3D electromechanical hexahedral finite element integrating a 3D phenomenological ferroelectric and ferroelastic constitutive law for domain switching effects is proposed. The model presents two internal variables which are the ferroelectric polarization (related to the electric field) and the ferroelastic strain (related to the mechanical stress). An implicit integration technique of the constitutive equations based on the return-mapping algorithm is developed. The mechanical strain tensor and the electric field vector are expressed in a curvilinear coordinate system in order to handle the transverse isotropy behavior of ferroelectric ceramics. The hexahedral finite element is implemented into the commercial finite element code Abaqus® via the subroutine user element. Some linear (piezoelectric) and non linear (ferroelectric and ferroelastic) benchmarks are considered as validation tests.     

Dissymétrie de comportement élastique anisotrope couplé ou non à l'endommagement

A thermodynamic framework is proposed to model anisotropic elasticity different in tension and in compression. Based on Kelvin decomposition of the compliance tensor, it applies to any 3D loading. Coupling with damage is made considering fourth- and second-order damage tensors. The proposed formulation automatically satisfies the continuity of the stress tensor and of the energy release rate tensor. The particular case of initially isotropic materials is exposed.     

Rate-dependent transition from tensile damage to discrete fracture in dynamic brittle failure

Based on the work for a combined damage/plasticity model of geologic materials and the bifurcation analysis of material failure, an analytical framework is established to study the rate-dependent transition from continuum damage to discrete fracture in dynamic brittle failure. Because of the simple formulation, a vectorized constitutive model solver can be designed for large-scale computer simulation. A continuum tangent stiffness tensor is invoked for the tensile damage evolution such that the bifurcation analysis can be performed to identify the initiation and orientation of tensile failure. It is shown that the orientation of tensile failure is rate-independent although the limit state is rate-dependent for the rate-dependent tensile damage model. Sample problems are considered to demonstrate the features of the proposed approach.     

Constitutive modeling of complex interfaces based on a differential interfacial energy function

An important theory on the dynamics of complex interfaces is the Doi and Ohta theory where the interfacial contribution to the Cauchy stress tensor is determined from an interfacial conformation tensor. For a uniform deformation field in the Eulerian framework, Doi and Ohta adopted a decoupling approximation to reduce a fourth-order tensor into two second-order tensors and derived a differential equation governing the evolution of the interfacial conformation tensor. In this paper, a different formulation is presented for establishing the Cauchy stress tensor based on a path-independent interfacial energy function. By differentiating this interfacial energy function against a Lagrangian strain tensor, a nearly closed-form solution for the stress tensor was determined, involving only elementary algebraic and matrix operations. From this process, the stress-conformation relation proposed by Doi and Ohta is also confirmed from a thermodynamic perspective. The testing cases with uniaxial elongation and simple shear further showed improved fitting to the analytical or exact solutions.     

A thermodynamically-consistent microplane model for shape memory alloys

In microplane theory, it is assumed that a macroscopic stress tensor is projected to the microplane stresses. It is also assumed that 1D constitutive laws are defined for associated stress and strain components on all microplanes passing through a material point. The macroscopic strain tensor is obtained by strain integration on microplanes of all orientations at a point by using a homogenization process. Traditionally, microplane formulation has been based on the Volumetric–Deviatoric–Tangential split and macroscopic strain tensor was derived using the principle of complementary virtual work. It has been shown that this formulation could violate the second law of thermodynamics in some loading conditions. The present paper focuses on modeling of shape memory alloys using microplane formulation in a thermodynamically-consistent framework. To this end, a free energy potential is defined at the microplane level. Integrating this potential over all orientations provides the macroscopic free energy. Based on this free energy, a new formulation based on Volumetric–Deviatoric split is proposed. This formulation in a thermodynamic-consistent framework captures the behavior of shape memory alloys. Using experimental results for various loading conditions, the validity of the model has been verified.     

Chemical potential tensor for a two-phase continuous medium model

Relations for jumps of thermodynamic variables with allowance for inertial terms are derived under conditions of thermal equilibrium and in the absence of dissipation on the interphase surface. The notion of the chemical potential tensor is generalized for this case within the framework of the elastic continuous medium model. A thermodynamically well-posed definition of the chemical potential tensor is proposed for a class of two-phase models of deformable solids. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 46, No. 3, pp. 12–22, May–June, 2005.     

On the thermomechanical modeling of shape memory alloys

In this work, a general inelastic framework for the derivation of general three-dimensional thermomechanical constitutive laws for materials undergoing phase transformations is proposed. The proposed framework is based on the generalized plasticity theory and on some basic elements from the theory of continuum damage mechanics. More specifically, a new elaborate formulation of generalized plasticity theory capable of accommodating the multiple and interacting loading mechanisms, which occur during the phase transformations, is developed. Furthermore, the stiffness variations occurring during phase transformations are taken into account by the proposed framework. For this purpose, the free energy is decomposed into elastic and inelastic parts, not in a conventional way, but in one which resembles the elastic-damage cases. Also, a rate-dependent version of the theory is provided. The concepts presented are applied for the derivation of a three-dimensional thermomechanical constitutive model for Shape Memory Alloy materials. Numerical simulations to show qualitatively the ability of the model to capture the behavior of the shape memory alloys are also presented. Furthermore, the model has been fitted to actual experimental results from the literature.     

Crack driving force and energy-momentum tensor in electroelastodynamic fracture

The energy flux integral and the energy-momentum tensor for studying the crack driving force in electroelastodynamic fracture are formulated within the framework of the nonlinear theory of coupled electric, thermal and mechanical fields based on fundamental principles of thermodynamics. This formulation lays a foundation for in-depth understanding of the fracture behavior of piezoelectric materials. Remarkably, the dynamic energy release rate thus obtained has an odd dependence on the electric displacement intensity factor for steady-state propagation of a conventional (unelectroded) crack with exact, electrically permeable, semi-permeable, or impermeable crack surface condition, which is in agreement with experimental evidence.     

Thermo-mechanically coupled model of diffusionless phase transformation in austenitic steel

A constitutive model of thermo-mechanically coupled finite strain plasticity considering martensitic phase transformation is presented. The model is formulated within a thermodynamic framework, giving a physically sound format where the thermodynamic mechanical and chemical forces that drive the phase transformation are conveniently identifiable. The phase fraction is treated through an internal variable approach and the first law of thermodynamics allows a consistent treatment of the internal heat generation due to dissipation of inelastic work. The model is calibrated against experimental data on a Ni–Cr steel of AISI304-type, allowing illustrative simulations to be performed. It becomes clear that the thermal effects considered in the present formulation have a significant impact on the material behavior. This is seen, not least, in the effects found on forming limit diagrams, also considered in the present paper.