A theory of strain-gradient plasticity for isotropic, plastically irrotational materials. Part I: Small deformations

This study develops a small-deformation theory of strain-gradient plasticity for isotropic materials in the absence of plastic rotation. The theory is based on a system of microstresses consistent with a microforce balance; a mechanical version of the second law that includes, via microstresses, work performed during viscoplastic flow; a constitutive theory that allows:

•

the microstresses to depend on , the gradient of the plastic strain-rate, and

•

the free energy ψ to depend on the Burgers tensor .

The microforce balance when augmented by constitutive relations for the microstresses results in a nonlocal flow rule in the form of a tensorial second-order partial differential equation for the plastic strain. The microstresses are strictly dissipative when ψ is independent of the Burgers tensor, but when ψ depends on G the gradient microstress is partially energetic, and this, in turn, leads to a back stress and (hence) to Bauschinger-effects in the flow rule. It is further shown that dependencies of the microstresses on lead to strengthening and weakening effects in the flow rule.Typical macroscopic boundary conditions are supplemented by nonstandard microscopic boundary conditions associated with flow, and, as an aid to numerical solutions, a weak (virtual power) formulation of the nonlocal flow rule is derived.     

Modelling of the interface between a thin film and a substrate within a strain gradient plasticity framework

Interfaces play an important role for the plastic deformation at the micron scale. In this paper, two types of interface models for isotropic materials are developed and applied in a thin film analysis. The first type, which can also be motivated from dislocation theory, assumes that the plastic work at the interface is stored as a surface energy that is linear in plastic strain. In the second model, the plastic work is completely dissipated and there is no build-up of a surface energy. Both formulations introduce one length scale parameter for the bulk material and one for the interface, which together control the film behaviour. It is demonstrated that the two interface models give equivalent results for a monotonous, increasing load. The combined influence of bulk and interface is numerically studied and it is shown that size effects are obtained, which are controlled by the length scale parameters of bulk and interface.     

A theory of strain-gradient plasticity for isotropic, plastically irrotational materials. Part II: Finite deformations

This paper generalizes to finite deformations our companion paper [Gurtin, M.E., Anand, L., 2004. A theory of strain-gradient plasticity for isotropic, plastically irrotational materials. Part I: Small deformations. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, submitted]. Specifically, we develop a gradient theory for finite-deformation isotropic viscoplasticity in the absence of plastic spin. The theory is based on the Kröner–Lee decomposition F = F^eF^p of the deformation gradient into elastic and plastic parts; a system of microstresses consistent with a microforce balance; a mechanical version of the second law that includes, via microstresses, work performed during viscoplastic flow; a constitutive theory that allows:

• the microstresses to depend on D^p, the gradient of the plastic stretching,

• the free energy ψ to depend on the Burgers tensor G = F^pCurlF^p.

The microforce balance when augmented by constitutive relations for the microstresses results in a nonlocal flow rule in the form of a tensorial second-order partial differential equation for F^p. The microstresses are strictly dissipative when ψ is independent of the Burgers tensor, but when ψ depends on G the microstresses are partially energetic, and this, in turn, leads to backstresses and (hence) Bauschinger-effects in the flow rule. The typical macroscopic boundary conditions are supplemented by nonstandard microscopic boundary conditions associated with viscoplastic flow, and, as an aid to numerical solution, a weak (virtual power) formulation of the nonlocal flow rule is derived. Finally, the dependences of the microstresses on D^p are shown, analytically, to result in strengthening and possibly weakening of the body induced by viscoplastic flow.     

Multiscale modeling of the plasticity in an aluminum single crystal

This paper describes a numerical, hierarchical multiscale modeling methodology involving two distinct bridges over three different length scales that predicts the work hardening of face centered cubic crystals in the absence of physical experiments. This methodology builds a clear bridging approach connecting nano-, micro- and meso-scales. In this methodology, molecular dynamics simulations (nanoscale) are performed to generate mobilities for dislocations. A discrete dislocations numerical tool (microscale) then uses the mobility data obtained from the molecular dynamics simulations to determine the work hardening. The second bridge occurs as the material parameters in a slip system hardening law employed in crystal plasticity models (mesoscale) are determined by the dislocation dynamics simulation results. The material parameters are computed using a correlation procedure based on both the functional form of the hardening law and the internal elastic stress/plastic shear strain fields computed from discrete dislocations. This multiscale bridging methodology was validated by using a crystal plasticity model to predict the mechanical response of an aluminum single crystal deformed under uniaxial compressive loading along the [4 2 1] direction. The computed strain-stress response agrees well with the experimental data.     

On the equivalence between traction- and stress-based approaches for the modeling of localized failure in solids

This work investigates systematically traction- and stress-based approaches for the modeling of strong and regularized discontinuities induced by localized failure in solids. Two complementary methodologies, i.e., discontinuities localized in an elastic solid and strain localization of an inelastic softening solid, are addressed. In the former it is assumed a priori that the discontinuity forms with a continuous stress field and along the known orientation. A traction-based failure criterion is introduced to characterize the discontinuity and the orientation is determined from Mohr's maximization postulate. If the displacement jumps are retained as independent variables, the strong/regularized discontinuity approaches follow, requiring constitutive models for both the bulk and discontinuity. Elimination of the displacement jumps at the material point level results in the embedded/smeared discontinuity approaches in which an overall inelastic constitutive model fulfilling the static constraint suffices. The second methodology is then adopted to check whether the assumed strain localization can occur and identify its consequences on the resulting approaches. The kinematic constraint guaranteeing stress boundedness and continuity upon strain localization is established for general inelastic softening solids. Application to a unified stress-based elastoplastic damage model naturally yields all the ingredients of a localized model for the discontinuity (band), justifying the first methodology. Two dual but not necessarily equivalent approaches, i.e., the traction-based elastoplastic damage model and the stress-based projected discontinuity model, are identified. The former is equivalent to the embedded and smeared discontinuity approaches, whereas in the later the discontinuity orientation and associated failure criterion are determined consistently from the kinematic constraint rather than given a priori. The bi-directional connections and equivalence conditions between the traction- and stress-based approaches are classified. Closed-form results under plane stress condition are also given. A generic failure criterion of either elliptic, parabolic or hyperbolic type is analyzed in a unified manner, with the classical von Mises (J₂), Drucker–Prager, Mohr–Coulomb and many other frequently employed criteria recovered as its particular cases.     

A formulation of anisotropic continuum elastoplasticity at finite strains. Part I: Modelling

A constitutive model for anisotropic elastoplasticity at finite strains is developed together with its numerical implementation. An anisotropic elastic constitutive law is described in an invariant setting by use of structural tensors and the elastic strain measure C_e. The elastic strain tensor as well as the structural tensors are assumed to be invariant in relation to superimposed rigid body rotations. An anisotropic Hill-type yield criterion, described by a non-symmetric Eshelby-like stress tensor and further structural tensors, is developed, where use is made of representation theorems for functions with non-symmetric arguments. The model also considers non-linear isotropic hardening. Explicit results for the specific case of orthotropic anisotropy are given. The associative flow rule is employed and the features of the inelastic flow rule are discussed in full. It is shown that the classical definition of the plastic material spin is meaningless in conjunction with the present formulation. Instead, the study motivates an alternative definition, which is based on the demand that such a quantity must be dissipation-free, as the plastic material spin is in the case of isotropy. Equivalent spatial formulations are presented too. The full numerical treatment is considered in Part II.     

Multi-scale defect interactions in high-rate brittle material failure. Part I: Model formulation and application to ALON

Within this two part series we develop a new material model for ceramic protection materials to provide an interface between microstructural parameters and bulk continuum behavior to provide guidance for materials design activities. Part I of this series focuses on the model formulation that captures the strength variability and strain rate sensitivity of brittle materials and presents a statistical approach to assigning the local flaw distribution within a specimen. The material model incorporates a Mie–Grüneisen equation of state, micromechanics based damage growth, granular flow and dilatation of the highly damaged material, and pore compaction for the porosity introduced by granular flow. To provide initial qualitative validation and illustrate the usefulness of the model, we use the model to investigate Edge on Impact experiments (Strassburger, 2004) on Aluminum Oxynitride (AlON), and discuss the interactions of multiple mechanisms during such an impact event. Part II of this series is focused on additional qualitative validation and using the model to suggest material design directions for boron carbide.     

Stress channelling in extreme couple-stress materials Part I: Strong ellipticity,wave propagation,ellipticity, and discontinuity relations

Materials with extreme mechanical anisotropy are designed to work near a material instability threshold where they display stress channeling and strain localization, effects that can be exploited in several technologies. Extreme couple stress solids are introduced and for the first time systematically analyzed in terms of several material instability criteria: positive-definiteness of the strain energy (implying uniqueness of the mixed b.v.p.), strong ellipticity (implying uniqueness of the b.v.p. with prescribed kinematics on the whole boundary), plane wave propagation, ellipticity, and the emergence of discontinuity surfaces. Several new and unexpected features are highlighted: (i) Ellipticity is mainly dictated by the ‘Cosserat part’ of the elasticity; (ii) its failure is shown to be related to the emergence of discontinuity surfaces; and (iii) ellipticity and wave propagation are not interdependent conditions (so that it is possible for waves not to propagate when the material is still in the elliptic range and, in very special cases, for waves to propagate when ellipticity does not hold). The proof that loss of ellipticity induces stress channeling, folding and faulting of an elastic Cosserat continuum (and the related derivation of the infinite-body Green’s function under antiplane strain conditions) is deferred to Part II of this study.     

The role of dissipation and defect energy in variational formulations of problems in strain-gradient plasticity. Part 1: polycrystalline plasticity

A general set of flow laws and associated variational formulations are constructed for small-deformation rate-independent problems in strain-gradient plasticity. The framework is based on the thermodynamically consistent theory due to Gurtin and Anand (J Mech Phys Solids 53:1624–1649, 2005), and includes as variables a set of microstresses which have both energetic and dissipative components. The flow law is of associative type. It is expressed as a normality law with respect to a convex but otherwise arbitrary yield function, or equivalently in terms of the corresponding dissipation function. Two cases studied are, first, an extension of the classical Hill-Mises or J ₂ flow law and second, a form written as a linear sum of the magnitudes of the plastic strain and strain gradient. This latter form is motivated by work of Evans and Hutchinson (Acta Mater 57:1675–1688, 2009) and Nix and Gao (J Mech Phys Solids 46:411–425, 1998), who show that it leads to superior correspondence with experimental results, at least for particular classes of problems. The corresponding yield function is obtained by a duality argument. The variational problem is based on the flow rule expressed in terms of the dissipation function, and the problem is formulated as a variational inequality in the displacement, plastic strain, and hardening parameter. Dissipative components of the microstresses, which are indeterminate, are absent from the formulation. Existence and uniqueness of solutions are investigated for the generalized Hill-Mises and linear-sum dissipation functions, and for various combinations of defect energy. The conditions for well-posedness of the problem depend critically on the choice of dissipation function, and on the presence or otherwise of a defect energy in the plastic strain or plastic strain gradient, and of internal-variable hardening.     

The role of dissipation and defect energy in variational formulations of problems in strain-gradient plasticity. Part 2: single-crystal plasticity

Variational formulations are constructed for rate-independent problems in small-deformation single-crystal strain-gradient plasticity. The framework, based on that of Gurtin (J Mech Phys Solids 50: 5–32, 2002), makes use of the flow rule expressed in terms of the dissipation function. Provision is made for energetic and dissipative microstresses. Both recoverable and non-recoverable defect energies are incorporated into the variational framework. The recoverable energies include those that depend smoothly on the slip gradients, the Burgers tensor, or on the dislocation densities (Gurtin et al. J Mech Phys Solids 55:1853–1878, 2007), as well as an energy proposed by Ohno and Okumura (J Mech Phys Solids 55:1879–1898, 2007), which leads to excellent agreement with experimental results, and which is positively homogeneous and therefore not differentiable at zero slip gradient. Furthermore, the variational formulation accommodates a non-recoverable energy due to Ohno et al. (Int J Mod Phys B 22:5937–5942, 2008), which is also positively homogeneous, and a function of the accumulated dislocation density. Conditions for the existence and uniqueness of solutions are established for the various examples of defect energy, with or without the presence of hardening or slip resistance.     

Structural interfaces in linear elasticity. Part I: Nonlocality and gradient approximations

Many biological and optimal materials, at multiple scales, consist of what can be idealized as continuous bodies joined by structural interfaces. Mechanical characterization of the microstructure defining the interface can nowadays be accurately done; however, such interfaces are usually analyzed employing models where those properties are overly simplified. To introduce into the analysis the microstructure properties, a new model of structural interfaces is proposed and developed: a true structure is introduced in the transition zone, joining continuous bodies, with geometrical and material properties directly obtained from those of the interfacial microstructure. First, the case of an elliptical inclusion connected by a structural interface to an infinite matrix is solved analytically, showing that nonlocal effects follow directly from the introduction of the structure, related to the inclination of the connecting elements. Second, starting from a discrete structure, a continuous model of a structural interface is derived. The usual zero-thickness linear interface model is shown to be a special case of this more general continuous structural interface model. Then, a gradient approximation of the interface constitutive law is rigorously derived: it is the first example of the analytical derivation of a nonlocal interface model from the microstructure properties. The effects introduced in the mechanical behavior by both the continuous model and its gradient approximation are illustrated by solving, for the first time, the problem of a circular inclusion connected to an infinite matrix by a structural interface and subject to remote uniform stress.     

Stress across an elastoplastic boundary of a mode I crack: parabolic to hyperbolic plasticity transition

In previous work, the stresses of a mode I elastic–plastic fracture mechanics problem were analytically continued across a prescribed elastoplastic boundary for plane stress loading conditions involving a linear elastic/perfectly plastic material obeying the Tresca yield condition. Immediately across the elastic-plastic boundary, a nonlinear parabolic partial differential equation governs the plastic stress field. The present solution deals with stresses extending beyond the parabolic region into the hyperbolic region of the plastic zone. This analytical solution is obtained through a tranformation of the original system of nonlinear partial differential equations into a linear system with constant coefficients. The solution, so obtained, is expressible in terms of elementary transcendental functions. It also exhibits a limiting line which passes through the crack tip. This feature of the solution suggests the formation of a plastic hinge in the material.     

Stress channelling in extreme couple-stress materials Part II: Localized folding vs faulting of a continuum in single and cross geometries

The antiplane strain Green's functions for an applied concentrated force and moment are obtained for Cosserat elastic solids with extreme anisotropy, which can be tailored to bring the material in a state close to an instability threshold such as failure of ellipticity. It is shown that the wave propagation condition (and not ellipticity) governs the behaviour of the antiplane strain Green's functions. These Green's functions are used as perturbing agents to demonstrate in an extreme material the emergence of localized (single and cross) stress channelling and the emergence of antiplane localized folding (or creasing, or weak elastostatic shock) and faulting (or elastostatic shock) of a Cosserat continuum, phenomena which remain excluded for a Cauchy elastic material. During folding some components of the displacement gradient suffer a finite jump, whereas during faulting the displacement itself displays a finite discontinuity.     

Three-dimensional modeling and numerical analysis of rate-dependent irrecoverable deformation in shape memory alloys

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) provide an attractive solid-state actuation alternative to engineers in various fields due to their ability to exhibit recoverable deformations while under substantial loads. Many constitutive models describing this repeatable phenomenon have been proposed, where some models also capture the effects of rate-independent irrecoverable deformations (i.e., plasticity) in SMAs. In this work, we consider a topic not addressed to date: the generation and evolution of irrecoverable viscoplastic strains in an SMA material. Such strains appear in metals subjected to sufficiently high temperatures. The need to account for these effects in SMAs arises when considering one of two situations: the exposure of a conventional SMA material (e.g., NiTi) to high temperatures for a non-negligible amount of time, as occurs during shape-setting, or the utilization of new high temperature shape memory alloys (HTSMAs), where the elevated transformation temperatures induce transformation and viscoplastic behaviors simultaneously. A new three-dimensional constitutive model based on established SMA and viscoplastic modeling techniques is derived that accounts for these behaviors. The numerical implementation of the model is described in detail. Several finite element analysis (FEA) examples are provided, demonstrating the utility of the new model and its implementation in assessing the effects of viscoplastic behaviors in shape memory alloys.     

A new crystal plasticity scheme for explicit time integration codes to simulate deformation in 3D microstructures: Effects of strain path,strain rate and thermal softening on localized deformation in the aluminum alloy 5754 during simple shear

The predominant deformation mode during material failure is shear. In this paper, a crystal plasticity scheme for explicit time integration codes is developed based on a forward Euler algorithm. The numerical model is incorporated in the UMAT subroutine for implementing rate-dependent crystal plasticity model in LS-DYNA/Explicit. The sheet is modeled as a face centered cubic (FCC) polycrystalline aggregate, and a finite element analysis based on rate-dependent crystal plasticity is implemented to analyze the effects of three different strain paths consisting predominantly of shear. Finite element meshes containing texture data are created with solid elements. The material model can incorporate information obtained from electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and apply crystal orientation to each element as well as account for texture evolution. Single elements or multiple elements are used to represent each grain within a microstructure. The three dimensional (3D) polycrystalline microstructure of the aluminum alloy AA5754 is modeled and subjected to three different strain rates for each strain path. The effects of strain paths, strain rates and thermal softening on the formation of localized deformation are investigated. Simulations show that strain path is the most dominant factor in localized deformation and texture evolution.     

Large-deformation properties of wheat dough in uni- and biaxial extension. Part I. Flour dough

Rheological and fracture properties of optimally mixed flour doughs from three wheat cultivars which perform differently in cereal products were studied in uniaxial and biaxial extension. Doughs were also tested in small angle sinusoidal oscillation. In accordance with previously published results the linear region was found to be very small. The rheological properties at small deformations hardly depended on the cultivar. A higher water content of the dough resulted in a lower value for the storage modulus and a slightly higher value for tan . For both uniaxial and biaxial extension a more than proportional increase in stress was found with increasing strain, a phenomenon called strain hardening. In uniaxial extension (i) stresses at a certain strain were higher and (ii) the stress was less dependent on the strain rate than in biaxial extension. This indicates that in elongational flow orientational effects are of large importance for the mechanical properties of flour dough. This conclusion is consistent with published data on birefringence of stretched gluten. Fracture stress and strain increased with increasing deformation rate. The observed time-dependency of fracture properties can best be explained by inefficient transport of energy to the crack tip. Presumably, this is caused by energy dissipation due to inhomogeneous deformation because of friction between structural elements, e.g. between dispersed particles and the network. Differences in the rheological properties at large deformations between the cultivars were observed with respect to (i) stress, (ii) strain hardening, (iii) strain rate dependency of the stress, (iv) fracture properties and (v) the stress difference between uniaxial and biaxial extension.     

Analysis of vertical cracking phenomena in tensile-strained epitaxial film on a substrate: Part I. Mathematical formulation

This paper presents an analysis of a single vertical crack and periodically distributed vertical cracks in an epitaxial film on a semi-infinite substrate where the cracks penetrate into the substrate. The film and substrate materials have different anisotropic elastic constants, necessitating Stroh formalism in the analysis. The misfit strain due to the lattice mismatch between the film and the substrate serves as the driving force for crack formation. The solution for a dislocation in an anisotropic trimaterial is used as a Green function, so that the cracks are modeled as the continuous distributions of dislocations to yield the singular integral equations of Cauchy-type. The Gauss–Chebyshev quadrature formula is adopted to solve the singular integral equations numerically. Energy arguments provide the critical condition for crack formation, at which the cracks are energetically favorable configurations, in terms of the ratio of the penetration depth into the substrate to the film thickness, the ratio of the spacing of the periodic cracks to the film thickness, and the generalized Dundurs parameters between the film and substrate materials.     

Interfacial energy and dissipation in martensitic phase transformations. Part I: Theory

A model of evolving martensitic microstructures is formulated that incorporates the interfacial energy and dissipation on three different scales corresponding to the grain boundaries attained by martensite plates, the interfaces between austenite and martensite plates, and the twin interfaces within martensite plates. Three different time scales are also considered in order to clarify the meaning of rate-independent dissipation related to instabilities at more refined temporal and spatial scales. On the slowest time scale, the process of deformation and martensitic phase transformation is investigated as being composed of segments of smooth quasi-static evolution separated by sudden jumps associated with creation or annihilation of interfaces. A general evolution rule is used in the form of minimization of the incremental energy supply to the whole compound thermodynamic system, including the rate-independent dissipation. Close relationship is shown between the evolution rule and the thermodynamic condition for stability of equilibrium, with no a priori assumption on convexity of the dissipation function. It is demonstrated that the extension of the minimum principle from the first-order rates to small but finite increments requires a separate symmetry restriction imposed on the state derivative of the dissipation function. Formulae for the dissipation associated with annihilation of interfaces are proposed that exhibit limited path-independence and satisfy that symmetry requirement. By exploiting the incremental energy minimization rule with the help of the transport theorems, local propagation conditions are derived for both planar and curved phase transformation fronts. The theory serves as a basis for the algorithm for calculation of the stress-induced evolution of martensitic microstructures along with their characteristic dimensions and related hysteresis loops in shape memory alloys; the examples are given in Part II of the paper.