Dynamic void collapse in crystals: computational modelling and experiments

Localization of inelastic flow and crack initiation in fcc single crystals are studied experimentally and by numerical simulations, focusing on the an isotropic inelastic response of the crystal, and the mechanism of possible crack initiation and growth, produced upon unloading by the residual inhomo geneous plastic strains. Hollow circular cylinders of single-crystal copper are subjected to externally applied explosive loads which cause the collap se of the cylinder; this procedure is called the thick-walled cylinder (TWC ) method. Then, numerical simulations are performed to understand the defor mation process which leads to localized deformation, and tensile cracking w hen partial collapse is followed by unloading. Various loads and initial or ientations of the lattice are examined in these numerical simulations in or der to study their effects on the flow localization and crack initiation ph enomena.