Computational modelling of the micromechanics of void growth and coalescence in ductile failure via the Discrete Element Method

R.G. BATISTA; I. ITURRIOZ; A.P. CISILINO

Sao Paulo, Brasil

Congreso; International Symposium on Solid Mechanics; 2007

Brasilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering

The micromechanics of ductile failure due to void growth and coalescence in a micro-porous metal-matrix material are studied in this paper by using the Discrete Element Method (DEM). The DEM was selected for the numerical analyses due its inherent ability to handle crack nucleation and void coalescence. The study is carried out using a series of representative volume elements (RVE) of the pseudo-microstructure of a ferritic nodular cast iron. The DEM models are used to correlate the stress vs strain behaviour of the RVEs with the evolution of the strain and damage energy and the void volume fraction. Special attention is given to the occurrence of void coalescence and ?nal failure. Computed void volume fractions are in good agreement with other visited reports. Obtained results demonstrate the e?ectiveness of the DEM to provide further understanding of the micro-mechanics of failure in nodular cast iron.