In this work, three aluminum sheet alloys, AA5754, AA5182 and AA6111, which are prime candidates for replacing mild steel in automobile structures, are tested in tension at quasi-static and high strain rates. <br /><br /> In order to characterize the constitutive response of AA5754, AA5182 and AA6111 at high strain rates, tensile experiments were carried out at strain rates between 600 s^-1 and 1500 s^-1, and at temperatures between ambient and 300°C, using a tensile split Hopkinson bar (TSHB) apparatus. As part of this research, the apparatus was modified in order to provide an improved means of gripping the sheet specimens. Quasi-static experiments also were conducted using an Instron machine. <br /><br /> The experimental data was fit to the Johnson-Cook and Zerilli-Armstrong constitutive models for all three alloys. The resulting fits were evaluated by numerically simulating the tensile experiments conducted using a finite element approach.

With electronic packaging towards the development of lead free process, the research on the portable electronic devices subject to impact load is emphasized gradually. At present, for drop test and cyclic bending test, most of the failure modes lie on the modes of "fracturing in IMC layer" or "fracturing on IMC/solder boundary". The purpose of this work is to use 3D numerical analysis software ANSYS/LS_DYNA, that were found out a proper numerical model, to further analyze the impact fracture of lead-free solder. From the numerical results, the strain rate of solder joint ranges from 103 s-1 to 104 s-1 under an impact velocity of 2 m/s. At this strain rate, the mechanical properties of solder joint could be effectively investigated. When IMC strength is smaller than 300MPa, the main failure mode is fracturing of IMC; whilst, IMC strength is greater than 300MPa, the failure mode becomes fracturing of bulk solder, but the failure mode of fracturing of IMC and a partial solder requires a model with more fine meshes to simulate. Different velocities did not affect the numerical results significantly, because the material parameters of a solder ball is strongly dependent on strain rate. Also, we found that the impact test in reality does not present a shear-dominant mode alone even when the impact angle is 0¢X. While using simulation to carry out the dynamic experiment, it can be observed that the course of solder joint suffering the damage provides a good reference and contrast for the experimental work in the future.

With the electronic packaging towards the rapid development of lead free process, the related research on the portable electronic devices subject to impact load is emphasized urgently. At present, the failure modes of fracturing in IMC layer and fracturing on IMC/solder boundary are mostly encountered due to drop test and cyclic bending test respectively. The purpose of this work is to use 3D numerical analysis software ANSYS/LS_DYNA, that were found to be a suitable numerical model for further analyzing the impact fracture of lead-free solder. The relationship between simulation and ball impact test system was compared and the effects of variable parameters on solder balls subjected to impact loading was investigated. Also, the transient deformation and fracturing of solder joints subjected to the impact load were studied numerically and experimentally. Then, the transient response and the failure modes of the solder joint due to impact load were predicted by varied strain rate tests. From the numerical results, the strain rate mechanical properties of solder joint due to high can be effectively obtained. The difference of IMC strength caused three kinds of failure modes of the solder ball, however the failure mode of fracturing in IMC and a party of solder requires a model to simulate with more refined meshes. Different velocities affected the numerical results significantly. The higher the velocity of impact test applied, the lower the impact loading received. That is mainly attributed to the material parameters adopted of a solder ball is strongly dependent on the strain rate considered. Also, it is found that the impact test in reality does not result in a shear-dominant failure mode. While using dynamic simulation instead of the experiment, the damage process of solder joint can be observed. That provides a good reference and contrast for the experimental work in the future.

Despite the on-going intensity of research in the field of protective structural design, one topic that has been largely ignored in the literature is the effect of high strain rates on the bond between reinforcing steel and the surrounding concrete. Therefore, a comprehensive research program was undertaken to establish the effect of high strain rates on reinforced concrete bond. The experimental research consisted of the construction and testing of fourteen flexural beam-end bond specimens and twenty-five lap-spliced reinforced concrete beams. The physical and material properties of the specimens were selected based on a range of design parameters known to significantly influence bond strength. In order to establish a baseline for comparison, approximately half of the total number of specimens were subjected to static testing, while the remainder were subjected to dynamic loading generated using a shock tube. The strain rates generated using the shock tube were consistent with those obtained for mid- and far-field explosive detonation. Results of the beam-end and lap splice beam tests showed that the flexural behaviour of reinforced concrete was significantly stronger and stiffer when subjected to dynamic loading. Furthermore, the high strain rate bond strength was always greater than the corresponding low strain rate values, yielding an average dynamic increase factor (DIF) applied to ultimate bond strength of 1.28. Analysis of the low and high strain rate test results led to the development of empirical expressions describing the observed strain rate sensitivity of reinforced concrete bond for spliced and developed bars with and without transverse reinforcement. The predictive accuracy of the proposed DIF expressions was assessed against the experimental results and data from the literature. It was found that the dynamic bond strength of reinforced concrete can be predicted with reasonably good accuracy and that the proposed DIF expressions can be used for analysis and design of protective structures. An analytical method was also developed to predict the flexural load-deformation behaviour of reinforced concrete members containing tension lap splices. The analysis incorporated the effect of reinforcement slip through the use of pseudo-material stress-strain relationships, in addition to giving consideration to the effect of high strain rates on bond-slip characteristics and on the material properties of concrete and steel. A comparison of the analytical predictions with experimental data demonstrated that the proposed analysis technique can reasonably predict the flexural response of beams with tension lap splices. The results also demonstrated that the model is equally applicable for use at low- and high-strain rates, such as those generated during blast and impact.

This work presents a combined theoretical-experimental study of strain rate behavior in metals. The method is to experimentally calibrate and validate an Internal State Variable (ISV) constitutive model with a wide range of strain rate sensitivity. Therefore a practical apparatus and methodology for performing highly sought-after intermediate strain rate experimentation was created. For the first time in reported literature, the structure-property relations of Rolled Homogeneous Armor is quantified at the microscale and modeled with varying strain rates, temperatures, and stress states to capture plasticity and damage with a single set of constants that includes intermediate strain rates. A rolled homogeneous armor (RHA) was used as a material system to prove the methodology. In doing so, a newly implemented strain rate dependent nucleation parameter for RHA was implemented to transition the dominant damage mechanism from void growth to void nucleation as strain rate increased. The ISVs were utilized in finite element analysis for robust predictability of mechanical performance as well as predictability of microstructural evolution with regards to void size and number distribution. For intermediate strain rate experiments, robust load acquisition was achieved using a novel serpentine transmittal bar that allowed for long stress waves to traverse a short bar system; this system eliminated load- ringing that plagues servo-hydraulic systems. A direct hydraulic loading apparatus was developed to provide uniform strain rates throughout intermediate rate tests to improve on the current limitations of the state-of-the-art. Key recommendations on the advancement of predictive modeling of dynamic materials, as well as performing advanced dynamic experimentation, are elucidated.

In this study, impact craters in water ice are modeled using the hydrodynamic code CTH. In order to capture impact craters in ice an equation of state and a material model are created and validated. The validation of the material model required simulating the Split Pressure Hopkinson Bar (SPHB) experimental apparatus. The SPHB simulation was first compared to experiments completed on Al 6061-T6, then the ice material model was validated. After validation, the cratering simulations modeled known experiments found in the literature. The cratering simulations captured the bulk physical aspects of the experimental craters, and the differences are described. Analysis of the crater simulations showed the damaged volume produced by the projectile was proportional to the projectile’s momentum. Also, the identification of four different stages in the crater development of ice (contact and compression, initial damage progression, crater shaping, and ejected damaged material) are described.

The initiation and propagation of adiabatic shear bands is analyzed numerically for an impulsively loaded thick-walled steel tube. A circumferential V-notch located at the outer surface of the center of the tube provides a stress concentration. The material is modeled as strain hardening, strain-rate hardening and thermal softening. The dynamic loading conditions considered are pure torsion, axial pressure combined with torsion, and internal pressure combined with torsion. Because of the stress concentration, a shear band will first initiate in an element adjoining the notch tip and propagate radially inwards through the thickness of the tube. The speed of propagation and the amount of energy required to drive a shear band through the material are calculated. The effects of the pressure preload and the depth of the notch are studied. Also, the influence of thermal softening is investigated by modeling it after a relation proposed by Zhou et al. <i>[Vita removed July 18, 2008 CK/GMc 2/2/2012]<i> / Master of Science

No description available.

The need for efficient, lightweight armour solutions has never been so great as it is today. Increasing numbers of personnel, both military and civilian are being placed in an expanding variety of life-threatening situations, and we must recognise the responsibility to maximise their combat survivability. One way to help protect these people is to provide them with some form of armour. Advanced polymeric materials are finding an increasing range of industrial and defence applications. These materials have the potential to improve the performance of current armour systems, whilst also reducing their cost and weight. Polymers may be reinforced with the addition of nanofillers such as carbon nanotubes or graphene, to produce nanocomposites, an exciting emerging polymer technology. Nanomaterials have been shown to exhibit extraordinary strength, far higher than that of traditional armour materials. Nanocomposites have the possibility of being remarkable materials, with high strength and light weight. The work detailed in this report is an investigation into the mechanical properties of nanocomposites along with some novel blended polymer composites. Two compressive testing techniques have been used to carry out this investigation. The intermediate strain-rate Optical Drop-Weight, and the high strain-rate Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar. The latter required some significant modifications in order to optimise it for use with low-density polymers. Ultimately, nanocomposites were found to behave virtually indistinguishably from the monolithic polymer matrices. Yield strengths and energy absorption characteristics remained inside the ordinary experimental scatter. Blended composites, in which a long chain length polymer is combined with a chemically similar polymer with a shorter chain length, proved to be more interesting. Yield strengths of these novel materials were increased over that of either constituent material, although energy absorption remained low.

The aim of this thesis is to design and build a torsional Kolsky bar apparatus for testing cylindrical specimens in torsion at high strain-rates. In addition to well-established designs, this testing apparatus will include a conical mirror combined with a high speed camera that allows time-resolved optical observation of the shear deformation on the surface of the specimen. The basic design of a Kolsky bar consists of a loading bar, input bar, specimen, and output bar. The experiment is conducted by storing torque in the loading bar and then releasing the torque by breaking the clamp and sending a shear wave pulse through the apparatus into the specimen. This shear wave pulse is monitored by strain gages mounted on the input and output bars. Analysis of the strain waves in the input and output bar is used to extract the shear stress - shear strain profile of the specimen. Several experiments were conducted on 6061-O and 1100-O aluminum with wall thicknesses ranging from 0.3 to 1.5 mm. / text