Rate-dependent strength and deformation heterogeneity of B4C-reinforced Al composite: Time-resolved imaging with synchrotron X-rays

摘要

Dynamic (up to 5500 s- 1) and quasi-static compression tests are conducted on a 15 wt% B4C particle-reinforced Al (B4C/Al) composite. In situ, high-speed synchrotron X-ray phase contrast imaging and digital image correlation are employed to map mesoscale deformation fields at ?m and ?s scales. The bulk stress?strain curves show significant strain and strain-rate hardening under dynamic compression. The strain-rate sensitivity exponent is an order of magnitude higher at high strain rates ( 103 s- 1) than that at low strain rates (< 10-2 s-1). Strain field mapping demonstrates distinct compressive strain localizations for both quasi-static and dynamic loading. Nevertheless, compressive strain localizations appear denser in spacing under dynamic loading, owing to spontaneous dislocation nucleation in both weak and strong zones. This results in a higher density of geometrically necessary dislocations, which contributes to the higher strain and strain-rate hardening of B4C/Al under dynamic loading. The ratio of the maximum local strain to the bulk average is ti 1.5, and the local strain-rate enhancement cannot explain the increased rate sensitivity of B4C/Al under dynamic loading. Therefore, the rate-dependent deformation heterogeneity dominates the strain-rate hardening of B4C/Al. Postmortem analyses help correlate deformation features to particle- and grain-scale microstructures, yielding consistent results with mesoscale strain fields.

关键词