The influence of the graphite mechanical properties on the constitutive response of a ferritic ductile cast iron – A micromechanical FE analysis

In the present paper a micro-mechanical approach is used to investigate the influence of the graphite mechanical properties on the loading response in the early deformation range of ductile cast iron. A periodic unit cell composed by a single graphite nodule embedded in a uniform ferritic matrix is considered and elasto-plastic behavior of both constituents is assumed; damage evolution in the ductile matrix is taken into account via Lemaitre’s isotropic model. Full 3D and 2D plane-stress finite element analyses are performed to simulate the loading conditions experienced by nodules located in the bulk as well as on the material surface. The effects of residual stresses arising during the manufacturing process are also accounted for. It is shown that the constitutive response of the equivalent composite medium can match ductile cast iron only if the graphite Young’s modulus value lies within a certain interval, which differs from that reported in previous works on the subject. Experimental support for the numerical results is provided

Extraction of material parameters for the simulation of heat treatments of cast aluminium alloys through unified models

The objective of this work, which is part of the IDEAL (Integrated Development Routes for Optimized Cast Aluminium Components) project, financed by the EU in frame work 6 and born in collaboration with the automobile and foundry industries, is to simulate creep behavior of aluminum cast samples subjected to high temperature. In this paper a two-state variables unified model is applied in order to simulate creep behavior and time-dependent metallurgical changes. The fundamental assumption of the unified theory is that creep and viscoplasticity, which are both irreversible strains developed because of dislocations motion in the material structure, can be modelled through the implementation of a similar plastic strain velocity law, generally called flow rule. The paper shows how to obtain the material data needed for the simulation of the stress-strain behavior of aluminum at high temperature. As an example, the analysis of several tests performed at various temperatures and strain rates on a particular aluminum alloy, is presented as well. Furthermore, the one dimensional code developed during this project is illustrated and a simulation is run using the material data obtained through the mentioned experimental study. The results obtained for the simulation of tensile tests and of creep tests are compared with experimental curves, showing a good agreement