Welcome to the new version of CaltechAUTHORS. Login is currently restricted to library staff. If you notice any issues, please email coda@library.caltech.edu
Published August 1996 | public
Journal Article

Computational modelling of impact damage in brittle materials

Abstract

A Lagrangian finite element method of fracture and fragmentation in brittle materials is developed. A cohesive-law fracture model is used to propagate multiple cracks along arbitrary paths. In axisymmetric calculations, radial cracking is accounted for through a continuum damage model. An explicit contact/friction algorithm is used to treat the multi-body dynamics which inevitably ensues after fragmentation. Rate-dependent plasticity, heat conduction and thermal coupling are also accounted for in calculations. The properties and predictive ability of the model are exhibited in two case studies: spall tests and dynamic crack propagation in a double cantilever beam specimen. As an example of application of the theory, we simulate the experiments of Field (1988) involving the impact of alumina plates by steel pellets at different velocities. The calculated conical, lateral and radial fracture histories are found to be in good agreement with experiment.

Additional Information

© 1996 Elsevier. The work has been funded by the Army Research Office University Research Initiative through grant DAAL 03-92-G-0107. The authors are indebted to Profs R. Clifton, L. B. Freund and A. Bower of Brown University, to Prof. G. Ravichandran of the California Institute of Technology and to Drs 1. Nagtegaal and D. Flanagan of HKS Inc. for helpful suggestions and discussions. The helpful comments and suggestions of the first reviewer are greatly appreciated

Additional details

Created:
August 19, 2023
Modified:
October 18, 2023