An integrated material characterization-multiscale model for the prediction of strain to failure of heterogeneous aluminum alloys

Engineering: 2nd Place (The Ohio State University Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum)Aluminum cast alloys and metal matrix composites are widely used in automotive, aerospace, nuclear and other engineering systems due to their advantageous strength/density properties. Their microstructure is characterized by a dispersion of hard and brittle heterogeneities in a softer aluminum matrix. The distribution, shape, and size of these heterogeneities affect their failure properties like fracture toughness and ductility in an adverse manner. Important micro-mechanical damage modes that are responsible for deterring the overall properties include particulate fragmentation, debonding at interfaces and ductile matrix failure due to void initiation, growth and coalescence. To address the needs of a robust methodology for ductility, a comprehensive model for deformation and failure of ductile materials integrating both a material characterization and a multiscale computational model has been developed. The material characterization is used as a preprocessor to the multiscale model and is an important step for the incorporation of microstructural features in predictions of strain to failure. The capabilities of the integrated material characterization-multiscale model are demonstrated for a cast aluminum alloy.No embarg