Study of the formation of adiabatic shear bands in steels

Effect of prior heat treatment on the dynamic impact behavior of 4340 steel and formation of adiabatic shear bands

Investigation of the twin-induced adiabatic shear bands evolution in a Mg-Al-Mn alloy under ballistic impact

Both metals and other materials may exhibit the formation of narrow bands of extreme strains when impacted at high strain rates and large strains. These are known as Adiabatic Shear Bands (ASBs). They are observed during material processing such as forging and machining as well as wear and in armor plates during impact by projectiles. The prevailing theory for their formation is that they form in narrow bands because of two competing mechanisms occurring sequentially: strain hardening followed by thermal softening from the retained heat due to the impact. However, recent studies suggest that the formation of ASBs may be a simultaneous occurrence of different mechanisms which starts with the emergence of dislocations depending on the imposed local strain and strain rate. This study uses different methodologies to explore the microstructure of ASBs in a hardened low alloy steel. The study includes the effect of the initial microstructure on the formation of ASBs. The Focused Ion Beam technique was used to prepare transmission electron microscopy samples from regions within the shear bands to eliminate the induced further deformation which could be produced by conventional approaches of electropolishing. The present study reveals that each of these methodologies complements each other. Also more complex series of mechanisms including dislocation cell formation, texture development, dynamic recrystallization and carbide dissolution accommodate the excessive strains that occur during the evolution of the shear bands.

The transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) effect is examined at high strain rate of over 104 s−1 compression during adiabatic shear band (ASB) formation to determine whether the TRIP effect proceeds smoothly and whether it can restrain ASB formation. Results show two distinct stages of TRIP during dynamic straining: the smooth occurrence of TRIP before ASB formation and its suppression during ASB formation, which is attributed to grain refinement, accumulated crystal defects, and adiabatic temperature rising. Compared with copper and martensitic armor steel, TRIP steel demonstrates a higher work hardening effect attributed to the strong interaction of austenite (γ), ϵ-martensite, and α′-martensite. Such interaction effectively postpones ASB formation.

This paper investigates numerically the effect of damage evolution on adiabatic shear banding (ASB) formation and its transition to fracture during high-speed blanking of 304 stainless steel sheets. A structural-thermal-damage-coupled finite element (FE) analysis is developed in LS-DYNA considering the modified Johnson-Cook thermo-viscoplastic model for both plasticity flow rule and damage law, while further, a temperature-dependent fracture criterion is implemented by introducing a critical temperature. The modeling approach is initially validated against experimental data regarding the fracture profile and ASB width. Next, FE simulations are conducted to examine the effect of strain rate and temperature dependence on damage law, while the effect of damage coupling is also evaluated, aiming to highlight the connection between thermal and damage softening and attribute them a specific role regarding ASB formation and transition to fracture. Also, the influence of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) softening is studied macroscopically, while further, a parametric analysis of the Taylor-Quinney coefficient is conducted to highlight the effect of plastic work-to-internal heat conversion efficiency on ASB formation. The results revealed that the implementation of damage coupling reacts to reduced ASB width and provides an S-shaped fracture profile, while it also decreases the peak force and results in an earlier fracture. Both findings are enhanced when accounting further for DRX softening and a higher value of the Taylor-Quinney coefficient. Finally, the simulations indicated that thermal softening precedes damage softening, showing that the temperature rise is responsible for ASB initiation, while instead, damage evolution drives ASB propagation and fracture.

This review paper discusses the formation and propagation of adiabatic shear bands in nickel-based superalloys. The formation of adiabatic shear bands (ASBs) is a unique dynamic phenomenon that typically precedes catastrophic, unpredicted failure in many metals under impact or ballistic loading. ASBs are thin regions that undergo substantial plastic shear strain and material softening due to the thermo-mechanical instability induced by the competitive work hardening and thermal softening processes. Dynamic recrystallization of the material’s microstructure in the shear region can occur and encourages shear localization and the formation of ASBs. Phase transformations are also often seen in ASBs of ferrous metals due to the elevated temperatures reached in the narrow shear region. ASBs ultimately lead to the local degradation of material properties within a narrow band wherein micro-voids can more easily nucleate and grow compared to the surrounding material. As the micro-voids grow, they will eventually coalesce leading to crack formation and eventual fracture. For elevated temperature applications, such as in the aerospace industry, nickel-based superalloys are used due to their high strength. Understanding the formation conditions of ASBs in nickel-based superalloys is also beneficial in extending the life of machining tools. The main goal of the review is to identify the formation mechanisms of ASBs, the microstructural evolutions associated with ASBs in nickel-based alloys, and their consequent effect on material properties. Under a shear strain rate of 80,000 s−1, the critical shear strain at which an ASB forms is between 2.2 and 3.2 for aged Inconel 718 and 4.5 for solution-treated Inconel 718. Shear band widths are reported to range between 2 and 65 microns for nickel-based superalloys. The shear bands widths are narrower in samples that are aged compared to samples in the annealed or solution treated condition.

Adiabatic shear banding reflects an unstable and dynamic plastic deformation mechanism occurring at high strain and strain rates which is strongly conjugated to fracture. Current work carries out a numerical study on the initiation and development of adiabatic shear bands (ASBs) in blanking process of AISI 4340 steel sheet. A structural-thermal coupled finite element analysis is developed in LS-DYNA software by implementing a thermo-viscoplastic flow rule for material plasticity and a damage criterion considering dynamic failure. The numerical simulations are focused on capturing ASB genesis through intense shear localization by evincing strain instability. Also, the evolution of ASB mechanism is investigated, aiming to contribute a stage-by-stage propagation and highlight its connection to dynamic failure. Further, the effect of ASB temperature and strain field on fracture is analysed, while the influence of strain/strain rate hardening and thermal softening on strain instability, peak force and the blanked surface is studied. The results revealed an S-shaped ASB due to severe shear localization and significant temperature increase, leading to dynamic recrystallization around punch-die corners and reacting to strain instability and dynamic. Finally, high magnitude thermal softening during ASB development resulted in earlier ASB generation and reduction of the peak blanking force, while further it decreased shear zone expansion and increased fractured length in the blanked surface.

The formation of adiabatic shear band (ASB) and its damage behaviour in AZ31 alloy under high strain rate compression (2000 s−1) were investigated in this study by using a split Hopkinson pressure bar. Microstructure of the ASB was characterised by electron back-scattering diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, and the adiabatic shear damage behaviour was analysed through finite element simulation by LS-DYNA. The results show that the ASB and the surrounding microstructure form a gradient microstructure distribution, and the formation of ultra-fine grains in the ASB is due to rotational dynamic recrystallisation. The combination of work hardening and grain refinement in ASB leads to a high microhardness. Micro-voids grow in the ASB and eventually form macro-cracks, leading to material failure.

Prolonged work hardening range in high manganese TRIP steel during adiabatic shear band formation

On adiabatic shear localization in nanostructured face-centered cubic alloys with different stacking fault energies

Effects of process parameters and loading direction on the impact strength of additively manufactured 18%Ni-M350 maraging steel under dynamic impact loading

The formation of multiple adiabatic shear bands

Investigations on microstructure evolution of TA1 titanium alloy subjected to electromagnetic impact loading

Experiments are described in which the local temperature and local strain distribution are measured during the formation of adiabatic shear bands in steels. The specimen employed is a short thin-walled tube loaded dynamically in a torsional Kolsky bar (split-Hopkinson bar). Local temperature is determined by measuring the infrared radiation emanating at 12 neighboring points on the specimen's surface, including the shear band area. Indium-antimode elements are employed for this purpose to give the temperature history during deformation. In addition, high-speed photographs are made of a grid pattern deposited on the specimen's surface, thus providing a measure of the strain distribution at various stages during shear band formation. The results provide a picture of the developing strain localization process, of the temperature history within the forming shear band, and of the consequence loss in the load capacity. It appears that plastic deformation follows a three-stage process that begins with a homogeneous strain state followed by a generally inhomogeneous strain distribution, and finally by a narrowing of the localization into a fine shear band. Experimental results are compared with predictions of various models.

Dynamic failure of titanium: Temperature rise and adiabatic shear band formation