Mechanics of indentation of plastically graded materials—I: Analysis

The introduction of controlled gradients in plastic properties is known to influence the resistance to damage and cracking at contact surfaces in many tribological applications. In order to assess potentially beneficial effects of plastic property gradients in tribological applications, it is essential first to develop a comprehensive and quantitative understanding of the effects of yield strength and strain hardening exponent on contact deformation under the most fundamental contact condition: normal indentation. To date, however, systematic and quantitative studies of plasticity gradient effects on indentation response have not been completed. A comprehensive parametric study of the mechanics of normal indentation of plastically graded materials was therefore undertaken in this work by recourse to finite element method (FEM) computations. On the basis of a large number of computational simulations, a general methodology for assessing instrumented indentation response of plastically graded materials is formulated so that quantitative interpretations of depth-sensing indentation experiments could be performed. The specific case of linear variation in yield strength with depth below the indented surface is explored in detail. Universal dimensionless functions are extracted from FEM simulations so as to predict the indentation load versus depth of penetration curves for a wide variety of plastically graded engineering metals and alloys for interpretation of, and comparisons with, experimental results. Furthermore, the effect of plasticity gradient on the residual indentation pile-up profile is systematically studied. The computations reveal that pile-up of the graded alloy around the indenter, for indentation with increasing yield strength beneath the surface, is noticeably higher than that for the two homogeneous reference materials that constitute the bounding conditions for the graded material. Pile-up is also found to be an increasing function of yield strength gradient and a decreasing function of frictional coefficient. The stress and plastic strain distributions under the indenter tip with and without plasticity gradient are also examined to rationalize the predicted trends. In Part II of this paper, we compare the predictions of depth-sensing indentation and pile-up response with experiments on a specially made, graded model Ni-W alloy with controlled gradients in nanocrystalline grain size.     

On the modeling of the Taylor cylinder impact test for orthotropic textured materials: experiments and simulations

Taylor impact tests using specimens cut from a rolled plate of tantalum were conducted. The tantalum was experimentally characterized in terms of flow stress and crystallographic texture. A piece-wise yield surface was interrogated from an ODF corresponding to this texture assuming two slip system modes, in conjunction with an elastic stiffness tensor computed from the same ODF and single crystal elastic properties. This constitutive information was used in EPIC-95 3D simulations of a Taylor impact test, and good agreement was realized between the calculational results and the experimental post-test geometries in terms of major and minor side profiles and impact-interface footprints.     

Coupling between experimental measurements and polycrystal finite element calculations for micromechanical study of metallic materials

This paper presents a methodology for multiscale coupling between the morphology and texture of a microstructure as has been characterised experimentally, and the results of mechanical strain field analysis. This methodology is based on a coupling between experimental characterisation of the microstructure, in situ and/or ex situ mechanical tests, local strain field measurements performed at the grain scale, and finite element simulations. First, with orientation imaging microscopy, a map of the microstructure is generated that can be meshed. Then, finite element calculations are carried out on this mesh, using a constitutive law which takes into account the crystallographic orientation of each grain, as has been determined by the orientation imaging itself. These numerical results are then compared to the experimental strain field as obtained by digital image correlation at the scale of the grains.     

节点梯度光滑有限元配点法

配点法构造简单、计算高效,但需要用到数值离散形函数的高阶梯度,而传统有限元形函数的梯度在单元边界处通常仅具有C0连续性,因此无法直接用于配点法分析.本文通过引入有限元形函数的光滑梯度,提出了节点梯度光滑有限元配点法.首先基于广义梯度光滑方法,定义了有限元形函数在节点处的一阶光滑梯度值,然后以有限元形函数为核函数构造了有...     

PREDICTION OF EARING IN TEXTURED ALUMINIUM SHEETS BASED ON CRYSTAL PLASTICITY

The phenomenon of earing is investigated in the present study based on the theory of crystal plasticity with the dynamic explicit finite element program developed. Firstly texture analysis is carried out of rolled aluminium alloy Al5052 by means of X-ray technique. Then from the texture coefficients an analytical expression for the orientation distribution function (ODF) is derived making use of the computer algebraic language Mathematica4.0, which makes it easier to discretize the ODF into a series of Eulerian angles representing the distribution of lattices and further the preferred orientation (texture) of crystals of the original sheets. For the polycrystal model, the material is described using crystal plasticity where each material point in grains with each grain modelled as an FCC crystal with 12 distinct slip systems. The modified Taylor theory of crystal plasticity is used and only the initial texture is taken into consideration during large plastic deformation. Numerical simulation of earing has been performed for an aluminium sheet with texture and one with crystals exhibiting random distribution to demonstrate the effect of texture of materials on their plastic anisotropy and formability. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 59875025).     

Size effects in the constrained deformation of metallic foams

The constrained deformation of an aluminium alloy foam sandwiched between steel substrates has been investigated. The sandwich plates are subjected to through-thickness shear and normal loading, and it is found that the face sheets constrain the foam against plastic deformation and result in a size effect: the yield strength increases with diminishing thickness of foam layer. The strain distribution across the foam core has been measured by a visual strain mapping technique, and a boundary layer of reduced straining was observed adjacent to the face sheets. The deformation response of the aluminium foam layer was modelled by the elastic-plastic finite element analysis of regular and irregular two dimensional honeycombs, bonded to rigid face sheets; in the simulations, the rotation of the boundary nodes of the cell-wall beam elements was set to zero to simulate full constraint from the rigid face sheets. It is found that the regular honeycomb under-estimates the size effect whereas the irregular honeycomb provides a faithful representation of both the observed size effect and the observed strain profile through the foam layer. Additionally, a compressible version of the Fleck-Hutchinson strain gradient theory was used to predict the size effect; by identifying the cell edge length as the relevant microstructural length scale the strain gradient model is able to reproduce the observed strain profiles across the layer and the thickness dependence of strength.     

Using texture components in crystal plasticity finite element simulations

We discuss methods to map crystallographic textures in crystal plasticity finite element simulations. Fourier-type series expansion methods which use spherical harmonic library functions as well as the direct pole figure inversion methods are not well suited to reproduce texture information in a sufficiently localized spherical form onto finite element grids. Mathematically compact Gauss-shaped spherical texture components represent a better approach for including textures in finite element models since they represent an excellent compromise between discreteness (spherical localization), compactness (simple functions), mathematical precision (very good approximation also of complex orientation distribution functions already with small sets of texture components), scalability (the number of used texture components can be systematically varied according to the desired exactness of the texture fit), conceptual simplicity (simple mathematical handling), and physical significance (texture components can be directly linked to characteristic metallurgical mechanisms). The use of texture component functions has also advantages over the use of large sets of discrete single orientations with equal scatter and height since they are more compact, practical, and provide better physical insight into microstructural mechanisms and composition sensitive effects. The article presents a new approach for the mathematical reproduction of such crystallographic texture components in crystal plasticity finite element simulations. It explains in some detail why they are particularly suited for this purpose and how they can be used to map and recover textures in/from plasticity simulations.     

基于分区径向基函数配点法的大变形分析

无网格法因为不需要划分网格, 可以避免网格畸变问题,使得其广泛应用于大变形和一些复杂问题. 径向基函数配点法是一种典型的强形式无网格法,这种方法具有完全不需要任何网格、求解过程简单、精度高、收敛性好以及易于扩展到高维空间等优点,但是由于其采用全域的形函数, 在求解高梯度问题时 存在精度较低和无法很好地反应局部特性的缺点. 针对这个问题,本文引入分区径向基函数配点法来求解局部存在高梯度的大变形问题. 基于完全拉格朗日格式,采用牛顿迭代法建立了分区径向基函数配点法在大变形分析中的增量求解模式.这种方法将求解域根据其几何特点划分成若干个子域, 在子域内构建径向基函数插值, 在界面上施加所有的界面连续条件,构建分块稀疏矩阵统一求解. 该方法仍然保持超收敛性, 且将原来的满阵转化成了稀疏矩阵, 降低了存储空间,提高了计算效率. 相比较于传统的径向基函数配点法和有限元法, 这种方法能够更好地反应局部特性和求解高梯度问题.数值分析表明该方法能够有效求解局部存在高梯度的大变形问题.      

立方晶粒正交板材瑞利波速与织构系数的关系

正交板材是由大量微小晶粒组成的正交多晶体材料,而多晶体中晶粒的取向分布(可通过取向分布函数中的织构系数来描述)影响着多晶体材料的力学性能,也必然影响着瑞利波的传播速度。将多晶体材料的织构系数引入到弹性张量中,通过特征值办法,采用线性化处理,推导出立方晶粒正交板材的瑞利波速与织构系数的关系式,在此基础上可通过正交板材瑞利波速的测量获得织构系数,并与通过超声横波纵波测得结果相比,吻合很好。     

Texture gradient simulations for extrusion and reversible rolling of FCC metals

A texture simulation method is described for some complex plane strain deformation paths during hot shaping of FCC metals. The method employs both finite element calculations and a polycrystal plasticity model based on the Relaxed-Constraints (RC) Taylor hypothesis and a viscoplastic constitutive law. We have considered the {111}<110> slip systems and the {100}, {110}, {112} <110> non-octahedral slip systems. The finite element codes simulate the strain paths of material flow during a shaping process. The local velocity gradients, expressed in the macroscopic reference coordinates, are rewritten in the local flow line coordinates using a kinematic analysis for steady-state flow. Secondly, for the different deformation paths, the RC polycrystal plasticity model is used to numerically simulate the local deformation texture evolutions as a function of depth. Texture simulations are carried out for two deformation processes combining hot compression and shear: extrusion and reversible rolling. For extrusion, the simulated pole figures and ODFs show the typical texture variations through the thickness of an extruded 6082 aluminium alloys, i.e. (β-fibre in the centre and a TD rotated copper component near the surface. It is shown that hot reversible rolling should develop a strong pure shear texture {001}<110> near the surface.     

Nodeless variable finite element method for heat transfer analysis by means of flux-based formulation and mesh adaptation

Based on flux-based formulation, a nodeless variable element method is developed to analyze two-dimensional steady-state and transient heat transfer problems. The nodeless variable element employs quadratic interpolation functions to provide higher solution accuracy without necessity to actually generate additional nodes. The flux-based formulation is applied to reduce the complexity in deriving the finite element equations as compared to the conventional finite element method. The solution accuracy is further improved by implementing an adaptive meshing technique to generate finite element mesh that can adapt and move along corresponding to the solution behavior. The technique generates small elements in the regions of steep solution gradients to provide accurate solution, and meanwhile it generates larger elements in the other regions where the solution gradients are slight to reduce the computational time and the computer memory. The effectiveness of the combined procedure is demonstrated by heat transfer problems that have exact solutions. These problems are: (a) a steady-state heat conduction analysis in a square plate subjected to a highly localized surface heating, and (b) a transient heat conduction analysis in a long plate subjected to a moving heat source. The English text was polished by Yunming Chen.     

Particle Flow Code Method-Based Meso-scale Identification for Seepage Failure of Soil Levee

The development and validation of a grid-based pore-scale numerical modelling methodology applied to five different commercial metal foam samples is described. The 3-D digital representation of the foam geometry was obtained by the use of X-ray microcomputer tomography scans, and macroscopic properties such as porosity, specific surface and pore size distribution are directly calculated from tomographic data. Pressure drop measurements were performed on all the samples under a wide range of flow velocities, with focus on the turbulent flow regime. Airflow pore-scale simulations were carried out solving the continuity and Navier–Stokes equations using a commercial finite volume code. The feasibility of using Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes models to account for the turbulence within the pore space was evaluated. Macroscopic transport quantities are calculated from the pore-scale simulations by averaging. Permeability and Forchheimer coefficient values are obtained from the pressure gradient data for both experiments and simulations and used for validation. Results have shown that viscous losses are practically negligible under the conditions investigated and pressure losses are dominated by inertial effects. Simulations performed on samples with varying thickness in the flow direction showed the pressure gradient to be affected by the sample thickness. However, as the thickness increased, the pressure gradient tended towards an asymptotic value.     

弧形双钢板混凝土组合板抗爆性能数值研究

依据规范设计了3种不同连接件的弧形双钢板混凝土组合板,基于ANSYS/LS-DYNA非线性有限元程序研究了弧形双钢板混凝土组合板在近场爆炸作用下的损伤模式、跨中位移变化以及能量消耗状况等,对比研究了3种不同板的耗能状况及损伤机理。以背爆面钢板跨中位移为指标,分析了用药量、混凝土强度和钢板厚度等参数对弧形双钢板混凝土板抗爆性能的影响规律。结果表明:在近场爆炸作用下,弧形板均保持良好的整体性,没有出现混凝土飞散现象,仍具有持续承载能力,比传统平面双钢板混凝土组合板具有更加优异的抗爆性能;重叠栓钉的连接性能强于栓钉,稍弱于对拉螺栓;提高混凝土强度不能改善混凝土的损伤状况,但能减小跨中位移;增加钢板厚度能显著减小钢板跨中位移,提高弧形双钢板混凝土组合板的抗爆能力。     

Anisotropic yield and plastic flow of polycrystalline solids

Deformation induced anisotropy in polycrystalline solids results mainly from crystallographic slip due to dislocation motion at the grain level and texture development due to grain rotation at the aggregate level. To describe these characteristics, the so-called scale invariance approach is adopted which allows information and constitutive relations pertaining to single slip to be cast in a form of macroscopic constitutive equations. An orientation distribution function (ODF) and a texture tensor are introduced into the earlier version (based on the hypotheses of single slip at the grain level and isotropic distribution of the crystallites at the aggregate level) of the scale invariance framework to describe texture effects in plastically deformed polycrystals. The texture tensor is calculated either directly through the solution of ODF, or indirectly through an appropriate set of evolution equations for the orientation tensors and the use of a closure approximation. Theoretical predictions for anisotropic yield and plastic flow behavior compare well with available experimental data.     

STUDY OF TEXTURE EFFECT ON STRAIN LOCALIZATION OF BCC STEEL SHEETS

Using elastic crystalline viscoplastic finite element (FE) annlysis, the formability of BCC steel sheets was assessed. An orientation probability assignment method in the FE modeling procedure, which can be categorized as an inhomogenized material modeling, was newly proposed. In the study, the crystal orientations of three materials, mild steel, dual phase steel and the high strength steel, were obtained by X-ray diffraction and orientation distribution function (ODF) analyses. The measured ODF results have revealed clearly different textures in the sheets, featured by orientation fibers, skeleton lines and selected orientations in Euler angle space, which are closely related to the plastic anisotropy. Then, the crystal orientations were assigned to FE integration points by using this ODF data, individually. The FE analyses of the standard limiting dome height(LDH) test show how the fiber textures affect the extent of strain localization in the forming processes. It was confirmed by comparison with experimental results that this FE code could predict the extreme strain localization and assess the sheet formability. The third author is indebted to the National Natural Science Foundation of China for financial support (Grant No. 59875025) to the research cooperation with OIT, Japan.     

立方晶粒任意集合下的格林函数和有效弹性刚度张量

为了推导多晶体材料的有效弹性刚度张量,给出立方晶粒任意集合的格林函数封闭但近似的表达式,该格林函数表达式包含三个单晶弹性常数和多晶体材料五个织构系数,它考虑取向分布函数的影响直至织构系数的线性项,它适用于弱织构多晶体材料或具有弱各向异性晶粒的多晶体材料(如金属铝),它与Nishioka格林函数近似式的比较通过三个算例给出;Synge的格林函数积分式则直接通过数值计算完成,它可作为问题的精确解供参考．该文还简单介绍了多晶体材料有效弹性刚度张量的推导过程,并把所得结果和有限元计算结果进行比较。     

Micromechanics of ferroelectric domain switching behavior: Part II: Constitutive relations and hysteresis

A constitutive relation is developed to describe the nonlinear behavior of ferroelectric ceramics subjected to external stress and electric field. The theoretical development considers each domain as an inclusion. The Helmholtz and Gibbs free energy of the constituent element are derived by using a micromechanics approach. They are functionals of the orientation distribution function (ODF) that represents the domain distribution patterns. By applying the internal variable theory and expanding ODF in Fourier series, the yield condition, evolution of ODF, and constitutive relation are obtained. Theoretical results agree with experiments.     

A relaxation-based approach to damage modeling

Material models, including softening effects due to, for example, damage and localizations, share the problem of ill-posed boundary value problems that yield mesh-dependent finite element results. It is thus necessary to apply regularization techniques that couple local behavior described, for example, by internal variables, at a spatial level. This can take account of the gradient of the internal variable to yield mesh-independent finite element results. In this paper, we present a new approach to damage modeling that does not use common field functions, inclusion of gradients or complex integration techniques: Appropriate modifications of the relaxed (condensed) energy hold the same advantage as other methods, but with much less numerical effort. We start with the theoretical derivation and then discuss the numerical treatment. Finally, we present finite element results that prove empirically how the new approach works.     

Bistable characteristics of thick-walled axisymmetric domes

We apply a finite element analysis to examine the stability of spherical, thick-walled domes undergoing large deformation. We identify three energetic states, mono-stable, bi-stable, and pseudo-bi-stable that uniquely characterize the behavior of the dome during deformation. An empirical relation is developed using finite element simulations relating the stability of the dome to pertinent geometric parameters like height, length and thickness, which is verified experimentally. Using this relation, similar domes can be designed to have desired stability characteristics.