In situ experimental characterization and numerical investigation of Fe-TiB2 Steel Matrix Composite behavior considering fully coupled damage model: Simulation during incremental forming process

Abstract

The recent and increasing use of Steel Matrix Composites (SMCs) reinforced with titanium particles (TiB2) in engineering applications highlights the need for a deeper understanding of their behavior under various complex loading and forming processes. This paper aims to predict the mechanical behavior related to damage of SMC of reinforced with TiB2 via both experimental techniques and numerical investigations. In situ four-point bending test conducted on Fe-TiB2 SMC highlights a rather heterogeneous plastic deformation accompanied by TiB2 mono and polycrystalline transgranular rupture under bend loading. A fully coupled damage model is considered to simulate the progressive failure and deformation behavior of Fe-TiB2 SMC undergoing plastic deformation and applies it to an incremental forming process. The proposed elastoplastic constitutive equations incorporate a non-linear mixed (isotropic and kinematic) hardening with isotropic damage model. The identified damage parameters obtained provide a satisfactory prediction of composite incremental forming capability and illustrates valuable guide to predict Fe-TiB2 composite sheet's behavior deformation via an SPIF (Single-Point Incremental Forming) process.