Simulation of ballistic performance of coarse-grained metals strengthened by nanotwinned regions

Abstract

Coarse-grained (CG) metals strengthened by nanotwinned (NT) regions have both ultrahigh strength and good ductility. The presence of the NT regions contributes to their ultrahigh strength, while their good ductility is attributed to the recrystallized coarse grains. These characteristics make them a potential candidate for bullet-proof material. In this paper, numerical simulations based on the mechanism-based strain gradient plasticity and the Johnson–Cook failure criterion are carried out to investigate the effects of twin spacing and microstructural attributes on the ballistic performance of CG copper strengthened by NT regions. We investigate the performance of fourteen idealized microstructures, and find that smaller twin spacing and regular distribution of NT regions are more conducive to the promotion of the ballistic performance. We also uncover that the role of the shape of NT regions is significantly affected by twin spacing. Furthermore, we make a comparison with its CG counterpart without NTs, and find that microstructures with array arrangement of NT regions have higher limit velocities and smaller relative displacements than the single phase CG structure. This makes them a strong candidate for helmets and other personal protective equipments. It is believed that the simulated results could provide useful insights into the development of this advanced class of metals for ballistic protection.