A Misorientation Dependent Criterion of Crack Opening in FCC Single Crystal

Abstract

This paper proposes a criterion for crack opening in FCC single crystals based on analyses of lattice orientation and interface energy of two adjacent crystals in a crystal plasticity finite element model (CPFEM). It also demonstrates the implementation of the criterion in Abaqus/Standard to simulate crack initiation and propagation in single-edged notch single crystal aluminium samples. Elements in the FEM mesh that have crystalline structures satisfying the crack opening criterion are removed from the mesh at the end of every loading step and FEM analyses are restarted on the new mesh in the next loading step. Removed elements effectively act as voids in the material due to crack nucleation. Similarly, the coalescence of newly removed elements at the end of a loading step with the existent ones simulates crack growth in the material. Two advantages of this approach are noted. Firstly, crack nucleation and its subsequent growth in the material is simulated solely based on lattice evolution history in the material without any presumptions of crack paths or regions where cracks are likely to occur. Secondly, as the criterion for crack nucleation is evaluated based on, and thus changes with, the lattice evolution during loading, a predefined energy criterion for crack opening, which could be erroneous, is avoided. Preliminary results of void nucleation and void growth around the notch tip in Cube and Brass oriented samples using CPFEM modelling appear to agree with molecular dynamics simulations of void growth in FCC single crystals.