Numerical and experimental evaluation of the impact performance of advanced high-strength steel sheets based on a damage model

Abstract

The impact performance in a Charpy impact test was experimentally and numerically studied for the advanced high-strength steel sheets (AHSS) TWIP940 and TRIP590 as well as the high-strength grade known as 340R. To characterize the mechanical properties, uni-axial simple tension tests were conducted to determine the anisotropic properties and strain rate sensitivities of these materials. In particular, the high-speed strain-rate sensitivity of TRIP590 and 340R (rate sensitive) was also characterized to account for the high strain rates involved in the Charpy impact test. To evaluate fracture behavior in the Charpy impact test, a new damage model including a triaxiality-dependent fracture criterion and hardening behavior with stiffness deterioration was introduced. The model was calibrated via numerical simulations and experiments involving simple tension and V-notch tests. The new damage model along with the anisotropic yield function Hill 1948 was incorporated into the ABAQUS/Explicit FEM code, which performed reasonably well to predict the impact energy absorbed during the Charpy impact test.