Damage initiation and growth in metals. Comparison between modelling and tomography experiments

Damage in heterogeneous model materials was measured using high-resolution X-ray absorption tomography. The material consisted of an aluminium matrix containing 1% and 4% of spherical ceramic particles acting as nucleation sites for an interface decohesion mechanism of damage. The damage initiation stage was quantified using the global population of particles in the 4% material. A strain path change experiment was then applied to the 1% material. The sample was first deformed in tension in order to create elongated cavities and then compressed at 45∘45∘ to rotate and close these cavities. The results of a model based on the Rice and Tracey approach accounting for the presence of particles inside the cavities and calculating their rotation with assuming a linear hardening plastic behaviour of the matrix were compared with the observations. The model was modified to account for the damage initiation phase. It was shown to give a good global prediction of the void volume fraction provided that the physical, mechanical and morphological information are corresponding in the experimental and the model cases. The cavity rotation experiment was also shown to compare well with the calculation although only one cavity was sufficiently opened after compression to allow the comparison.