High entropy alloys (HEAs) are a new class of solid solution alloys that contain multiple principal elements and possess excellent mechanical properties, from corrosion resistance to fatigue and wear resistance. Even more recently, twinning induced plasticity (TWIP) and transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) non-equiatomic high entropy alloys have been engineered, promising increased strength and ductility as compared to their equiatomic counterparts. However, impact and fracture resistance of these HEAs has not been studied as much as their other mechanical properties. In this thesis, the hardness, tensile properties, and Charpy impact energy of Al0.3CoCrFeNi, a TWIP HEA, and 50Fe-30Mn-10Co-10Cr (at.%), a TRIP HEA, was explored. First, three processing conditions, (1) as-received, (2) recrystallized, and (3) peak hardness, were chosen for each alloy and verified with Vickers microhardness measurements. Next, the tensile properties of each alloy and condition were investigated. Charpy impact specimen size was then selected based on the final plate thickness, and the machined samples were tested. Plastic zone size and change in sample thickness in the deformed region of each condition after testing was measured. Post-impact test inspection of the samples in all conditions showed that the samples were in tension near the V-notch root and in compression at the impact surface. Plastic zone size is seen to change as a function of distance from the V-notch root moving towards the impact surface in conditions that exhibited higher ductility. Overall, the TWIP alloy displayed high fracture resistance, and further microstructural optimization will likely increase the fracture resistance of these alloys.

Diversos critérios de tenacidade à fratura translaminar dinâmica foram determinados para o laminado híbrido metal-fibra TiGra, empregando-se conceitos e metodologias da Mecânica da Fratura Elástica Linear MFEL (fator-K) e da Mecânica da Fratura Elasto-Plástica MFEP (integral-J). Verificou-se que as tenacidades de iniciação elasto-plástica, Jid, e de carga máxima, Jmd, do TiGra são controladas pelo desenvolvimento, ou supressão de delaminações. Os resultados indicaram que o emprego deste material se justifica mais pela sua resistência à propagação de danos (caracterizada por Jmd) do que à iniciação da fratura dinâmica (por Jid). De modo geral, os requisitos de validade de Jid como verdadeira propriedade do material (JId) foram satisfeitos, embora para Jmd boa parte das restrições quanto ao tamanho mínimo do corpo-de-prova tenha sido violada. Mais freqüentemente, velocidades mais rápidas de impacto beneficiaram as tenacidades-J do TiGra, enquanto que temperaturas mais elevadas afetaram negativamente estas propriedades. Quanto à MFEL, a tenacidade KJd do TiGra foi beneficiada pelo incremento na taxa de carregamento sob temperaturas mais elevadas, enquanto que a tenacidade Kid foi negativamente afetada pela taxa de deformação em todas as temperaturas avaliadas. Temperaturas mais altas também degradaram as propriedades de tenacidade-K do TiGra. Em oposição às tenacidades-J, os critérios KJd e Kid não satisfizeram em absoluto os mais exigentes critérios de contenção de plasticidade estabelecidos pela MFEL, se comparados aos propostos pela MFEP. Por fim, o desempenho mecânico do laminado TiGra foi severamente comprometido quando do cômputo da densidade específica para a determinação das tenacidades J e K por unidade de massa, sendo nesta ocasião o laminado híbrido facilmente superado por vários laminados convencionais da classe dos Carbono-Epóxi. / Several dynamic translaminar fracture toughness criteria have been determined for TiGr hybrid fiber-metal laminate through Linear Elastic (K-factor) and Elastic-Plastic (J-integral) Fracture Mechanics (LEFM and EPFM, respectively) concepts and methodologies. Instrumented Charpy impact testing was carried out over a wide range of temperatures under two loading rates. It has been discovered that the elastic-plastic initiation toughness, Jid, and the toughness at maximum load, Jmd, of TiGr are controlled by either delamination favoring or suppression. Impact tests revealed that the in-service use of TiGr must rely on its resistance to dynamic fracture propagation (as characterized by Jmd) rather than on fracture initiation (by Jid). In a broad sense, the requirements for Jid data validity as a material property (JId) were fulfilled, whereas many restrictive demands in regard to the minimum testpiece size were violated by the Jmd criterion. Generally, higher impact velocities were beneficial to TiGrs J-toughnesses, inasmuch as higher temperatures impaired these properties. Regarding the LEFM approach, KJd toughness of TiGr laminate was imparted by faster impacts at higher temperatures, whilst the strain rate negatively influenced the Kid toughness over the whole temperature range tested. Higher temperatures also degraded the K-toughness properties of TiGr hybrid laminate. Differently from J-toughnesses values, the KJd e Kid criteria did not satisfy at all the more stringent criteria set forth by the LEFM approach with regard to plastic constraint, as compared to those established by EPFM. Finally, the mechanical performance of TiGr laminate was overwhelmingly compromised as the materials specific gravity was taken in account to obtain K and J toughness values by unit weight, so that TiGr was by far exceeded in this regard by conventional Carbon/Epoxy composite laminates.

Diversos critérios de tenacidade à fratura translaminar dinâmica foram determinados para o laminado híbrido metal-fibra TiGra, empregando-se conceitos e metodologias da Mecânica da Fratura Elástica Linear MFEL (fator-K) e da Mecânica da Fratura Elasto-Plástica MFEP (integral-J). Verificou-se que as tenacidades de iniciação elasto-plástica, Jid, e de carga máxima, Jmd, do TiGra são controladas pelo desenvolvimento, ou supressão de delaminações. Os resultados indicaram que o emprego deste material se justifica mais pela sua resistência à propagação de danos (caracterizada por Jmd) do que à iniciação da fratura dinâmica (por Jid). De modo geral, os requisitos de validade de Jid como verdadeira propriedade do material (JId) foram satisfeitos, embora para Jmd boa parte das restrições quanto ao tamanho mínimo do corpo-de-prova tenha sido violada. Mais freqüentemente, velocidades mais rápidas de impacto beneficiaram as tenacidades-J do TiGra, enquanto que temperaturas mais elevadas afetaram negativamente estas propriedades. Quanto à MFEL, a tenacidade KJd do TiGra foi beneficiada pelo incremento na taxa de carregamento sob temperaturas mais elevadas, enquanto que a tenacidade Kid foi negativamente afetada pela taxa de deformação em todas as temperaturas avaliadas. Temperaturas mais altas também degradaram as propriedades de tenacidade-K do TiGra. Em oposição às tenacidades-J, os critérios KJd e Kid não satisfizeram em absoluto os mais exigentes critérios de contenção de plasticidade estabelecidos pela MFEL, se comparados aos propostos pela MFEP. Por fim, o desempenho mecânico do laminado TiGra foi severamente comprometido quando do cômputo da densidade específica para a determinação das tenacidades J e K por unidade de massa, sendo nesta ocasião o laminado híbrido facilmente superado por vários laminados convencionais da classe dos Carbono-Epóxi. / Several dynamic translaminar fracture toughness criteria have been determined for TiGr hybrid fiber-metal laminate through Linear Elastic (K-factor) and Elastic-Plastic (J-integral) Fracture Mechanics (LEFM and EPFM, respectively) concepts and methodologies. Instrumented Charpy impact testing was carried out over a wide range of temperatures under two loading rates. It has been discovered that the elastic-plastic initiation toughness, Jid, and the toughness at maximum load, Jmd, of TiGr are controlled by either delamination favoring or suppression. Impact tests revealed that the in-service use of TiGr must rely on its resistance to dynamic fracture propagation (as characterized by Jmd) rather than on fracture initiation (by Jid). In a broad sense, the requirements for Jid data validity as a material property (JId) were fulfilled, whereas many restrictive demands in regard to the minimum testpiece size were violated by the Jmd criterion. Generally, higher impact velocities were beneficial to TiGrs J-toughnesses, inasmuch as higher temperatures impaired these properties. Regarding the LEFM approach, KJd toughness of TiGr laminate was imparted by faster impacts at higher temperatures, whilst the strain rate negatively influenced the Kid toughness over the whole temperature range tested. Higher temperatures also degraded the K-toughness properties of TiGr hybrid laminate. Differently from J-toughnesses values, the KJd e Kid criteria did not satisfy at all the more stringent criteria set forth by the LEFM approach with regard to plastic constraint, as compared to those established by EPFM. Finally, the mechanical performance of TiGr laminate was overwhelmingly compromised as the materials specific gravity was taken in account to obtain K and J toughness values by unit weight, so that TiGr was by far exceeded in this regard by conventional Carbon/Epoxy composite laminates.