Microstructure dependence of dynamic fracture and yielding in aluminum and an aluminum alloy at strain rates of 2 × 10⁶ s⁻¹ and faster Available to Purchase

Experiments investigating fracture and resistance to plastic deformation at fast strain rates (>10⁶ s⁻¹) were performed via laser ablation on thin sheets of aluminum and aluminum alloys. Single crystal high purity aluminum (Al-HP) and a single crystal 1100 series aluminum alloy (AA1100) were prepared to investigate the role of impurity particles. Specimens of aluminum alloy +3 wt. % Mg (Al+3Mg) at three different grain sizes were also studied to determine the effect of grain size. In the present experiments, high purity aluminum (Al-HP) exhibited the highest spall strength over 1100 series aluminum alloy (AA1100) and Al+3Mg. Fracture characterization and particle analysis revealed that fracture was initiated in the presence of particles associated with impurity content in the AA1100 and at both grain boundaries and particles in Al+3Mg. The Al+3Mg specimens exhibited the greatest resistance to plastic deformation likely resulting from the presence of magnesium atoms. The Al-HP and AA1100, both lacking a strengthening element such as Mg, were found to have the same Hugoniot elastic limit (HEL) stress. Within the single crystal specimens, orientation effects on spall strength and HEL stress appear to be negligible. Although the fracture character shows a trend with grain size, no clear dependence of spall strength and HEL stress on grain size was measured for the Al+3Mg. Hydrodynamic simulations show how various strength and fracture models are insufficient to predict material behavior at fast strain rates, and a revised set of Tuler-Butcher coefficients for spall are proposed.