Design of a low-velocity impact framework for evaluating space-grade materials

Material deformation and failure under impact loading is a subject of active investigation in space science and often requires very specialized equipment for testing. In this work, we present the design, operational analysis and application of a low-velocity ($\sim 100$ m/s) projectile impact framework for evaluating the deformation and failure of space-grade materials. The system is designed to be modular and easily adaptable to various test geometries, while enabling accurate quantitative evaluation of plastic flow. Using coupled numerical methods and experimental techniques, we first establish an operating procedure for the system. Following this, its performance in two complementary impact configurations is demonstrated using numerical and experimental analysis. In the first, a Taylor impact test is performed for predicting the deformed shape of a cylindrical projectile impinging on a rigid substrate. In the second, deformation of a plate struck by a rigid projectile is evaluated. In both cases, physics-based models are used to interpret the resulting fields. We present a discussion of how the system may be used both for material property estimation (e.g., dynamic yield strength) as well as for failure evaluation (e.g., perforation and fracture) in the same projectile impact configuration

Review of Intermediate Strain Rate Testing Devices

Materials undergo various loading conditions during different manufacturing processes, including varying strain rates and temperatures. Research has shown that the deformation of metals and alloys during manufacturing processes such as metal forming, machining, and friction stir welding (FSW), can reach a strain rate ranging from 10−1 to 106 s−1. Hence, studying the flow behavior of materials at different strain rates is important to understanding the material response during manufacturing processes. Experimental data for a low strain rate of 103 s−1 are readily available by using traditional testing devices such as a servo-hydraulic testing machine and the split Hopkinson pressure bar method, respectively. However, for the intermediate strain rate (101 to 103 s−1), very few testing devices are available. Testing the intermediate strain rate requires a demanding test regime, in which researchers have expanded the use of special instruments. This review paper describes the development and evolution of the existing intermediate strain rate testing devices. They are divided based on the loading mechanism; it includes the high-speed servo-hydraulic testing machines, hybrid testing apparatus, the drop tower, and the flywheel machine. A general description of the testing device is systematically reviewed; which includes the working principles, some critical theories, technological innovation in load measurement techniques, components of the device, basic technical assumption, and measuring techniques. In addition, some research direction on future implementation and development of an intermediate strain rate apparatus is also discussed in detail.This project received funding from the European Union’s Marie Skłodowska–Curie Actions (MSCA) Innovative Training Networks (ITN) H2020-MSCA-ITN-2017 under the grant agreement No. 76497

On the quasi-static and dynamic crushing of random foams

textLightweight cellular materials such as foams exhibit excellent energy absorption characteristics and are widely used for impact mitigation in a variety of applications. In this study a modeling framework is developed in order to investigate the crushing behavior of Al-alloy open-cell foams under quasi-static and dynamic loadings. Quasi-static crushing produces a response that exhibits a relatively stiff linearly elastic regime that terminates into a load maximum; it is followed by an extended load plateau during which localized cell crushing initiates and gradually spreads throughout the specimen. When most of the cells are crushed the densified material stiffens again. Quasi-static compression is simulated using micromechanically accurate foam models. Skeletal random models are generated from soap froth using the Surface Evolver software. The linear edges of the skeletal microstructure are then dressed with appropriate distributions of solid to match those of ligaments in the actual foams and their relative density. The ligaments are modeled as shear-deformable beams with variable cross sections discretized with beam elements in LS-DYNA, while the Al-alloy is modeled as a finitely deforming elastic-plastic material. Utilization of the beam-to-beam contact algorithm of the code is an essential component of the simulation of crushing. Such models are shown to reproduce all aspects of quasi-static crushing faithfully. Dynamic crushing experiments on the same foam have shown that specimens impacted at velocities of 60 m/s and above develop nearly planar shocks that propagate at well-defined velocities crushing the specimen. The same modeling framework is used to simulate these impact experiments. It is demonstrated that random foam models reproduce essentially all aspects of the dynamic crushing behavior observed experimentally. This includes the formation and propagation of shocks, the stresses at both ends, the Hugoniot strain, and the linear relationship of shock front vs. impact velocities. The same models are also used to examine the transition from quasi-static to shock front type crushing. In addition, a detailed parametric analysis is performed to examine the effect of relative density on the crushing response, from the quasi-static initiation and plateau stresses to the formation of shocks and the associated Hugoniot.Engineering Mechanic

Temperature dependence of material behaviour at high strain-rate Proceedings of 24th DYMAT Technical Meeting 9-11 September 2019, Stresa (Italy)

In recent years, interest in material characterization at high strain-rates while varying the temperature has been continuously increasing. Consequently, the study and modelling of material behavior in such conditions has been promoted. In many applications such as machining, metal forming, high velocity impact or high energy deposition of metals, materials are deformed at very high rates. This produces self-heating to high temperatures due to adiabatic processes. In this case, the stress-strain response will be a balance between the effects of hardening (due to strain and strain-rate) and thermal softening. In other cases, the working temperature may be different to room temperature. Hence both the mechanical response of the material and the effect of strain-rate should be investigated in the domain of interest. At high temperature, materials generally become much more ductile and can also exhibit microstructural changes due to recrystallization phenomena. By contrast, at low temperatures the material strength usually increases and the mechanical behavior changes from ductile to brittle. From these considerations, it appears evident that temperature and strain-rate are variables of fundamental importance in the prediction of the mechanical response of materials, playing an important role in many deformation processes. Hence, it is clear there is a need to define proper material models which could be implemented in numerical Finite Element simulations from which it should be possible to predict and estimate the responses of structures, components and materials under different loading conditions and scenarios. Of course, the development of methodologies and facilities for the complete investigation of the mechanical response of materials in the whole temperature and strain-rate field of interest is required and has to be addressed, by also taking into account the fact that temperature and strain-rate are mutually related. This means that the thermal effects obtained from quasi-static tests cannot always be used to predict material response under dynamic loading conditions. Moreover, this reveals that in order to consider the coupled effects of temperature and strain-rate, material models should be used in which the thermal component of stress is also considered

Piezo-electromechanical smart materials with distributed arrays of piezoelectric transducers: Current and upcoming applications

This review paper intends to gather and organize a series of works which discuss the possibility of exploiting the mechanical properties of distributed arrays of piezoelectric transducers. The concept can be described as follows: on every structural member one can uniformly distribute an array of piezoelectric transducers whose electric terminals are to be connected to a suitably optimized electric waveguide. If the aim of such a modification is identified to be the suppression of mechanical vibrations then the optimal electric waveguide is identified to be the 'electric analog' of the considered structural member. The obtained electromechanical systems were called PEM (PiezoElectroMechanical) structures. The authors especially focus on the role played by Lagrange methods in the design of these analog circuits and in the study of PEM structures and we suggest some possible research developments in the conception of new devices, in their study and in their technological application. Other potential uses of PEMs, such as Structural Health Monitoring and Energy Harvesting, are described as well. PEM structures can be regarded as a particular kind of smart materials, i.e. materials especially designed and engineered to show a specific andwell-defined response to external excitations: for this reason, the authors try to find connection between PEM beams and plates and some micromorphic materials whose properties as carriers of waves have been studied recently. Finally, this paper aims to establish some links among some concepts which are used in different cultural groups, as smart structure, metamaterial and functional structural modifications, showing how appropriate would be to avoid the use of different names for similar concepts. © 2015 - IOS Press and the authors