Finite element modeling of strain rate and grain size dependency in nanocrystalline materials

Nanocrystalline materials show a higher strain-rate sensitivity in contrast to the conventional coarse-grained materials and a different grain size dependency. To explain these phenomenon, a finite element model is constructed that considers both grain interior and grain boundary deformation of nanocrystalline materials. The model consist of several crystalline cores with different orientations and grain boundary phase. The nonlinear behavior of the nanocrystalline core is implemented by a grain size dependent crystal plasticity. The boundary phase is assumed to have the mechanical properties of quasi-amorphous material. The constitutive equations for both grains interior and boundary phase are implemented into the finiteelement software Abaqus. A calibration procedure was used to tune some parameters of the model with the previously published experimental data on the nanocrystalline copper. Then the model is used to predict the material behavior in various strain rates and grain sizes. The stresses obtained from these simulations match well with the experimental data for nanocrystalline copper at different strains and strain rates. Deviation from the Hall-Petch law and inverse Hall- Petch effect are also well illustrated by the model.