Instytut Podstawowych Problemów Techniki

UMO-2019/33/B/ST8/01263

2020-04-01 / 2024-08-31

Uczestnik konsorcjum

NCN

OPUS

17

1. Research project objectives/research hypothesis. The goal of the project is to create a multi-scale model of metal-ceramic interpenetrating phase composites (IPC) under high-velocity impact load and deep penetration up to fragmentation. The results will allow for investigating of new applications of this kind of composites, which will be a starting point in the future to optimise their microstructure for an increase of resistance to cracking under impact load conditions. The interdisciplinary experimental and numerical research is directed to explore relationships between the IPC microstructure and its mechanical performance under impact with the hypotheses: (a) each IPC material has a critical deformation rate (threshold), and below the threshold, a quasi-static description is used, (b) macroscopically observed dynamic resistance to cracking is a function of microstructure and strain rate, (c) description of the destruction process is adequate when taking into account microstructural effects (cracking processes, fragmentation of interphase boundaries, mechanisms of reinforcement, crack tip formation), (d) in silico methods are used when the experimental results cannot be observed for high strain rates, (e) realistic IPCs representative cells are created using micro-tomography, (f) micro-tomography data are processed for the finite element method and meshless methods (peridynamics). 2. Research project methodology The research consists of three steps: • Step 1 concerns preparation of the IPC samples of Al2O3/Al and SiC/Al, SEM analysis of the samples, evaluation of elastic constants, 3-point and 4-point bending strength measurements, fracture toughness. • Step 2 includes micro-CT scans of Al2O3 and SiC foams and creation of discrete models of IPC samples. It concerns dynamic experimental tests with shared Hopkinson rod, 3-point bending test. New ballistic test stand will be prepared in the project. The test stand will be used for ballistic puncture and fragmentation tests. • Step 3 concerns numerical simulations leading to elaboration of Representative Volume Elements of the IPCs using finite element method. The peridynamics will be used for simulation of puncture and fragmentation of the IPCs. The calculations will be performed on HPC computers such as CRAY XC40 with the range of 1000 cores. The model generation and post-processing of the results will be done on a local high-end PC due to the fact that the remote access is still ineffective (generally to slow) for the CAD pre- and post-processing programs. 3. Expected impact of the research project on the development of science The pursuit for an effective and consistent numerical model that will describe the behaviour of complex multiphase materials of which examples are IPCs, requires interdisciplinary research of material science and computational science. The project demands the interests of professionals in both fields, forcing them to cooperate closely. It paves the new paths for the future development of new ceramic composites. The extensive use of the cutting edge achievements of the numerical methods along with the application of high performance-computing will allow for analysing of vast experimental data, building computational models and analysing them. The techniques will stand for prototypes of step-by-step methodology that will be put into operation in engineering practice in future, The new methodologies developed in the framework of the project will serve for both quantitative (or statistical) and qualitative evaluation of existing and new microstructures for industrial applications. The data that are acquisited during the project will help with identifying possibly undesirable microstructural properties at the earliest stages of design. It will accelerate the optimisation process and lead to better application of many well-known advantages of ceramic composites.