Numerical analysis of the brittle-ductile transition in the failure-mode in polymeric materials

Proceedings of: 8th International Symposium on Impact Engineering (ISIE 2013). Osaka, Japan, September 02-06, 2013.In this paper we analyze, using the Finite Element Method, the process of brittle-ductile transition in the failure mode observed in polycarbonate notched specimens under impact loads. In order to analyze this transition we have implemented, through a user subroutine, a damage model which combines a tensional fracture criterion and an energetic, acting simultaneously. The competition between both criteria predicts the difference in material behavior from a critical impact velocity, and how this transition is produced on different planes through the thickness of the specimen. These results show the necessity of employing three-dimensional models for its study.Authors thank the Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología of the Spanish Government for the support of this work through the Research Project DPI2011-23191.Publicad