FURI | Spring 2020

Kinetics of Dynamic Damage Growth in Metals from Characterization and Simulations of Shock Loading Experiments

Understanding the mechanisms of damage evolution (spall) in metallic materials undergoing shock loading is key to predicting the performance of armor systems. Simulations of polyhedral voids will be performed using finite element models to investigate material and geometric effects on the growth behavior of these voids. Results will be compared to geometric and crystal orientation data obtained via specialized crystallographic (OIM) and image (ImageJ) processing software from recovered testing samples. The current working hypothesis is the shape of spall-induced voids is strongly influenced by the directionality in elastic and plastic properties resulting from material anisotrophy.