Abstract
A micromechanics study is made of the rate-dependent thermal softening behavior of a tungsten matrix composite containing glassy particles. Under adiabatic compression of the composite, the elastic glassy particles thermally soften at relatively high strains, enhancing the thermal softening of the tungsten-based composite, thus reducing the strain rate sensitivity and fostering shear localization. To guide the microstructural design of the particle-modified tungsten-based composite in penetration applications, systematic predictions are made for the stress-strain behavior of the composite under overall adiabatic compression with different temperature-dependent behaviors, sizes, volume fractions of the particle and different applied strain rates. The temperature-dependent behavior of the particles is characterized by a set of exponential functions using two non-dimensional parameters and a reference temperature. The plastic behavior of tungsten is taken to be power-law strain and strain rate hardening. It is found that the radius r of the particles has very little influence on the composite behavior if r ⩽ 10 μm. It is also found that both the onset and the rate of thermal softening of the composite depend critically on the applied strain rate. Owing to thermal softening of the glassy particles, the strain-rate sensitivity of the composite is reduced.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.