Numerical Simulation and Experimental Validation of Taylor Impact Test, Using Johnson-Cook Damage Criterion

Investigation of impact problem is one of the most important challenges, confronting mechanical engineers and has a wide application in the branch of engineering. During the impact time, material endures high strain rate and large plastic deformation. The Taylor impact test is a famous impact test, in which a specimen rapidly impacts to a rather rigid body. In this study first, using Johnson-Cook damage criterion and Johnson-Cook hardening plastic model, Taylor impact test of a copper rod is simulated in the ABAQUS/Explicit finite element code. Then, deformation, damage initiation, and damage evolution of the rod for various velocity conditions are numerically achieved and compared with the experimental tests. The comparison of the numerical and empirical results shows good adaptation and reveals that the fracture zones can be well predicted. Hence, it is concluded that Johnson-Cook damage criterion is a robust model for predicting the damage initiation, evolution, and fracture in the impact problems.