Nucleation and evolution of dynamic damage at Cu/Pb interfaces using molecular dynamics

Abstract

For ductile metals, the process of dynamic fracture occurs through nucleation, growth and coalescence of voids. For high purity single-phase metals, it has been observed by numerous investigators that voids tend to heterogeneously nucleate at grain boundaries and all grain boundaries are not equally susceptible to void nucleation. However, for materials of engineering significance, especially those with second phase particles, it is less clear if the type of bi-metal interface between the two phases will affect void nucleation and growth. To approach this problem in a systematic manner two bi-metal interfaces between Cu and Pb have been investigated: {111} and {100}. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the collected data from molecular dynamics shock and spall simulations suggests that Pb becomes disordered during shock compression and is the preferred location for void nucleation under tension. Despite the interfaces being aligned with the spall plane (by design), they are not the preferred location for void nucleation irrespective of interface type.