Numerical study for dynamic fracture toughness of AA7075-T651 under dynamic loading

Abstract Finite element simulations for three-point bend specimens of aluminium AA7075-T651 were performed by using ABAQUS software. The simulation parameters, load point displacement and crack mouth opening displacement obtained, were used to evaluate the dynamic stress intensity factor. Three-point bend specimens impacted with an incident bar at three different striker velocities on modified Hopkinson pressure bar (MHPB) used to evaluate load point displacements and crack mouth opening displacements during the experiment were simulated. Load point displacements and crack mouth opening displacements were obtained using finite element simulation with maintaining same experimental conditions and it was found a good agreement between experimental and numerical results. These results were used to evaluate dynamic initiation fracture toughness at different loading rates using dynamic stress intensity factor and the time of initiation of fracture obtained with an experimental method using MHPB conjugation with digital image correlation (DIC) method.