Multiresolution continuum modeling of micro-void assisted dynamic adiabatic shear band propagation

A thermal–mechanical multiresolution continuum theory is applied within a finite element framework to model the initiation and propagation of dynamic shear bands in a steel alloy. The shear instability and subsequent stress collapse, which are responsible for dynamic adiabatic shear band propagation, are captured by including the effects of shear driven microvoid damage in a single constitutive model. The shear band width during propagation is controlled via a combination of thermal conductance and an embedded evolving length scale parameter present in the multiresolution continuum formulation. In particular, as the material reaches a shear instability and begins to soften, the dominant length scale parameter (and hence shear band width) transitions from the alloy grain size to the spacing between micro-voids. Emphasis is placed on modeling stress collapse due to micro-void damage while simultaneously capturing the appropriate scale of inhomogeneous deformation. The goal is to assist in the microscale optimization of alloys which are susceptible to shear band failure.