This research focuses on the spall properties of aluminum-magnesium (Al-Mg)alloys.Aluminum alloy 5083 (Al 5083) was used as a model alloy for the work performed in this study. Al-Mg alloys represent a light-weight and corrosion resistant alloy system often used in armor plating. It is desirable to process armor plate material to yield a microstructure that provides maximum resistance to spall failure due to blast and projectile impacts. The blast and impact resistance has often been quantified based on the measurement of the spall strength and the Hugoniot elastic limit (HEL). The spall properties of Al-Mg alloys were measured for four different microstructural states resultant from varying processing conditions. The four microstructures include: (a) textured grain structure from a rolled Al 5083-H116 plate, (b) sub-micron grain structure produced using equi-channel angular pressing (ECAP),(c) equiaxed grain structure, and (d) precipitation hardened microstucture from an Al-9wt.% Mg alloy. The overall results show that grain size is not the most dominant microstructural feature affecting spall strength in aluminum alloys, when the impact conditions are the same. Texture, especially if brittle inclusions align along the grains, appears to have the most dominant effect resulting in decreased spall strength. Furthermore, one-dimensional modeling shows that the inclusion size and distribution is the controlling factor for void formation during spalling. Grain size does affect the decompression rate dependence of each microstructure, whereby smaller grain sizes result in a larger power law exponent for fits of spall strength versus decompression rate. Unlike the spall strength, the HEL shows an increasing trend with decreased grain size, as would be expected from a Hall-Petch type effect, indicating that a smaller grain size is best for penetration resistance. Samples processed using ECAP alone provide the best combination of spall strength and HEL and therefore the most promise for improved blast and penetration resistance of aluminum-magnesium alloy armor plates.

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.

The main aim of this thesis is to generate a deeper understanding of the mechanical behaviour of cellular materials, specifically for their use in aerospace applications. A closed-cell polymer foam material (Rohacell) of various foam densities was chosen for this investigation, and a comprehensive experimental study was conducted which generated significant findings that hitherto have not been reported in the literature. The research presented in this study revealed the following: The quasistatic response of Rohacell foam displays a compression/tension asymmetry in moduli and strength. In-situ experiments revealed that different macroscopic collapse mechanisms at different foam densities drove this behaviour. Improved experimental methods were developed to characterise the material response at various loading rates. Under compressive loading, as the relative density and loading rate increased, a transition in material behaviour from a ductile to brittle response at very high rates (~5x10^3 s^-1) was found, and tests conducted at different temperatures were used to validate and provide a better understanding of the causes for the observed rate dependency. The compression and tension properties of pre-crushed Rohacell foam loaded in different directions were measured, and with the use of three-point-bend tests it was shown that when the foams’ tension/compression asymmetry, or the changes in stiffness and strength due to pre-crushing (i.e. strain-induced anisotropy), are neglected, this leads to incorrect predictions of the foams’ structural response. Finally, a review of some existing Finite Element foam material models was conducted, and their ability to predict the foam response under complex loading was identified. The new data and understanding generated from this thesis will allow engineers and researchers, who are developing constitutive models for predicting the response of foam materials, specifically in aerospace applications, to account for more aspects of the mechanical behaviours in their Finite Element models.

The Malmberget apatite iron ore deposit is one of the most important iron producers within Europe located within an area of world-renowned mines and mining companies. It is becoming increasingly accepted that in order to increase our resources it is essential to gain a better understanding of the formation and evolution of our known mineral deposits. This thesis is part of an ongoing multi-scale 4-dimensional geological modeling project as part of a collaboration between Vinnova, LKAB, Boliden &amp; LTU. The aim of the which is to piece together the series of geological events that are responsible for the entire Gällivare mining district as seen today. This project looks at three smaller old open pits on the outer limbs of the synform fold structure that forms the Malmberget deposit. This thesis aims to gain a better understanding of the structures that have defined this current shape, and relating them to the regional-scale structural evolution. The results show two distinct deformation events, D1and D2, with each event leaving their own signature on the region. D1 deformation resulted in the formation of high strain zones and a gneissic cleavage within the volcanic rocks. D2 deformation subsequently folded the S1 gneissic cleavage and high strain zones but without developing its own fabric. / Multi-scale 4-dimensional geological modeling of the Gällivare area

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.

abstract: The study of response of various materials to intense dynamic loading events, such as shock loading due to high-velocity impacts, is extremely important in a wide variety of military and industrial applications. Shock loading triggers extreme states, leading to high pressures and strain rates, and neglecting strength is a typical approximation under such conditions. However, recent results have shown that strength effects are larger than expected, so they must be taken into account. Recently, hydrodynamic instabilities, the most common being the Rayleigh-Taylor (RTI) and Richtmyer-Meshkov (RMI) instabilities, have been used to infer the dynamic strength of materials at high pressure conditions. In our experiments and simulations, a novel RMI approach is used, in which periodic surface perturbations are made on high purity aluminium target, which was laser ablated to create a rippled shock front. Due to the slow linear growth rate of RMI, the evolution of the perturbations on the back surface of the sample as a result of the rippled shock can be measured via Transient Imaging Displacement Interferometry (TIDI). The velocity history at the free surface was recorded by spatially resolved laser velocimetry. These measurements were compared with the results from the simulations, which were implemented using rate independent and rate dependent material models, to characterize the dynamic strength of the material. Simulations using the elastic-perfectly plastic model, which is rate independent, failed to provide a value of dynamic yield strength that would match experimental measurements of perturbation amplitudes. The Preston-Tonks-Wallace (PTW) model, which is rate dependent model, worked well for aluminium. This model was, in turn, used as a reference for calibrating the rate dependent Steinberg-Lund model and the results from simulations using the calibration models were also compared to experimental measurements. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Mechanical Engineering 2017

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.