Finite-Element Simulations of Harmonic Structured Materials

Bimodal harmonic structured (HS) materials, is a new class of multi-scale architected metallic materials having specified topological arrangement of coarse- and ultra-fine grains. HS are experimentally proven to combine both high strength and ductility associated with ultra-fine- and coarse-grained fractions respectively. In this work, finite-element models of HS structured specimens were constructed and their tensile tests were simulated to unravel micro-mechanical mechanisms of plastic deformation. A constructed 2D-model was successful in capturing expected macroscopic behaviours. It also revealed mechanisms behind superior performance of HS materials compared to their counterparts with bimodal randomly distributed grains.Bimodal harmonic structured (HS) materials, is a new class of multi-scale architected metallic materials having specified topological arrangement of coarse- and ultra-fine grains. HS are experimentally proven to combine both high strength and ductility associated with ultra-fine- and coarse-grained fractions respectively. In this work, finite-element models of HS structured specimens were constructed and their tensile tests were simulated to unravel micro-mechanical mechanisms of plastic deformation. A constructed 2D-model was successful in capturing expected macroscopic behaviours. It also revealed mechanisms behind superior performance of HS materials compared to their counterparts with bimodal randomly distributed grains