Thermomechanical Peridynamic Modeling for Ductile Fracture

Area of Science:

• Computational mechanics
• Materials science
• Fracture mechanics

Background:

• High-temperature applications present challenges for material integrity due to ductile fracture.
• Accurate modeling of ductile fracture is crucial for structural safety and performance.
• Existing computational methods may face limitations in simulating complex fracture phenomena at elevated temperatures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an efficient and accurate modeling method for ductile fracture at high temperatures using peridynamics.
• To develop a computational framework that integrates peridynamics with classical continuum mechanics for reduced cost.
• To validate the proposed model through numerical simulations and experimental comparisons.

Main Methods:

• A thermoelastic coupling model combining peridynamics and classical continuum mechanics was employed.
• A plastic constitutive model for peridynamic bonds was developed to capture ductile fracture.
• An iterative algorithm was introduced for ductile-fracture calculations.
• Numerical simulations were performed on superalloy structures at 800°C and 900°C.

Main Results:

• The proposed model successfully simulated ductile fracture processes in superalloys at high temperatures.
• Computational costs were reduced by localizing peridynamics calculations to the failure region.
• Simulated crack modes closely matched experimental observations.
• The model demonstrated strong agreement with experimental data, verifying its predictive capability.

Conclusions:

• The developed peridynamics-based modeling method is effective for simulating high-temperature ductile fracture.
• The integration of peridynamics with continuum mechanics offers an efficient approach to fracture analysis.
• The model's ability to replicate experimental crack modes validates its applicability in engineering contexts.