Impact behavior and constitutive model of nanocrystalline Ni under high strain rate loading

To investigate mechanical properties and deformation mechanisms of nanocrystalline materials under high strain rate, dynamic impact tests for nanocrystalline Ni bulk prepared by high-energy ball milling combined with compaction and hot-pressure sintering were carried out under different high strain rates on Split Hopkinson bar. Compared with the testing results under quasi-static strain rate, the nanocrystalline Ni has higher strength under high strain rate. Meanwhile, the impact stress–strain curves exhibit rate-dependence strength and light strain hardening behavior. Subsequently, a mechanism of dislocation gliding in combination of grain boundary sliding was discussed and a constitutive model was built under high strain rate loading based on the mechanism. The predictions of the constitutive model under high strain rates show good agreements with the experimental data. Finally, the properties of the nanocrystalline Ni were discussed in detail.