Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems

Macroscale equations accounting for void growth and coalescence are based on two-dimensional finite element analysis. Since voids in materials are three-dimensional volumes, can these equations correctly account for void growth and coalescence?

Damage Evolution


Scientific Merit
Examining the effects of void orientation and void spacing on void growth and coalescence in a three-dimensional context will help improve our understanding of damage evolution in ductile metals.

Macroscale Equations



Mesoscale Nickel Analysis vs. Experiments

• Perform finite element (FE) analysis of nickel experiments with single and
double cylindrical holes
• Compare stress-strain and hole growth-strain curve
• If the FE results are consistent with experiments then this will give assurance that the FE code can capture the effects of void orientation and spacing

Mesoscale 2D to 3D

• Rerun two-dimensional single and double void FE analyses, upon which the macroscale equations are based, as three-dimensional simulations
• The analyses can determine if the macroscale damage equations need modifications
• Nickel and magnesium will be used in the three-dimensional finite element simulations
• Magnesium is currently being investigated by USCAR for use in a Corvette engine cradle

Atomic Structure & Orientation


Status
• Running nickel finite element simulations with single & multiple holes in material
• Creating three-dimensional spherical void finite element meshes

Future Work
•Run three-dimensional spherical void simulations for nickel and magnesium
• Determine if macroscale damage equations need modification
• Examine effects of lattice structure and crystallographic orientations