A multiscale framework for atomistic–continuum transition in nano-powder compaction process using a cap plasticity model

Abstract

In this paper, a computational atomistic-continuum multiscale framework is presented for the simulation of the nano-powder compaction process using a cone-cap plasticity model. The atomistic representative volume element (RVE) comprises of nano-powder particles that is used to perform the molecular dynamics analysis in order to capture the mechanical behavior of nano-powder material. The periodic boundary condition is applied over the atomistic RVE to satisfy the inter-scale kinematic compatibility, and the stress tensor is derived according to the inter-scale energetic consistency principals from the nanoscale at each material point of the powder component. A multiscale framework is performed using the constitutive law of the coarse-scale domain enhanced by the molecular dynamics results of the fine-scale domain. The coarse-scale constitutive law is conformed to the cone-cap plasticity model as a robust and capable constitutive relation in modeling the powder compaction process, in which the cap plasticity parameters are determined using the data derived from the molecular dynamics simulations. The mechanical response of nano-powder particles within the RVE is obtained from the confining pressure test and true-triaxial test, where a sensitivity analysis is accomplished on the computed parameters of the cone-cap plasticity model. The enhanced cap plasticity model is then employed to simulate various industrial nano-powder components that illustrates the performance and efficiency of the proposed multiscale computational homogenization method.