Mesoscale Simulation-based Parametric Study of Damage Potential in Brain Tissue Using Hyperelastic and Internal State Variable Models

Two-dimensional mesoscale finite element analysis (FEA) of a multi-layered brain tissue was performed to calculate the damage related average stress triaxiality and local maximum von Mises strain in the brain. The FEA was integrated with rate dependent hyperelastic and internal state variable (ISV) models respectively describing the behaviors of wet and dry brain tissues. Using the finite element results, a statistical method of design of experiments (DOE) was utilized to independently screen the relative influences of seven parameters related to brain morphology (sulcal width/depth, gray matter (GM) thickness, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) thickness and brain lobe) and loading/environment conditions (strain rate and humidity) with respect to the potential damage growth/coalescence in the brain tissue. The results of the parametric study illustrated that the GM thickness and humidity were the two most crucial parameters affecting average stress triaxiality. For the local maximum von Mises strain at the depth of brain sulci, the brain lobe/region was the most influential factor. The conclusion of this investigation gives insight for the future development and refinement of a macroscale brain damage model incorporating information from lower length scale

An Internal State Variable Elastoviscoplasticity-Damage Model for Irradiated Metals

This study presents an irradiation-dependent internal state variable (ISV) elastoviscoplasticity-damage constitutive model that accounts for nuclear irradiation hardening and embrittlement of the irradiated polycrystalline materials. The irradiation effects were added to the coupled plasticity-damage kinetics with consideration of the structure–property relationships. The present irradiation-dependent elastoviscoplasticity-damage model was compared with the lab deformation experimental data of irradiated oxygen-free high conductivity (OFHC) copper, modified 9Cr-1Mo steel, and Ti-5Al-2.5Sn. The results show excellent agreement over the entire stress–strain curves at various irradiation doses. Because the ISV model, before the irradiation plasticity-damage addition, had been used on over 80 different metal alloys, it is anticipated that this nuclear irradiation supplement will also allow for application to many more irradiated metal alloys.

Temperature-Dependent Fracture Mechanics-Informed Damage Model for Ceramic Matrix Composites

This work presents a temperature-dependent reformulation of a multiscale fracture mechanics-informed matrix damage model previously developed by the authors. In this paper, internal state variable theory, fracture mechanics, and temperature-dependent material properties and model parameters are implemented to account for length scale-specific ceramic matrix composite (CMC) brittle matrix damage initiation and propagation behavior for temperatures ranging from room temperature (RT) to 1200°C. A unified damage internal state variable (ISV) is introduced to capture effects of matrix porosity, which occurs as a result of material diffusion around grain boundaries, as well as matrix property degradation due to matrix crack initiation and propagation. The porosity contribution to the unified damage ISV is related to the volumetric strain, and matrix cracking effects are captured using fracture mechanics and crack growth kinetics. A combination of temperature-dependent material properties and damage model parameters are included in the model to simulate effects of temperature on the deformation and damage behavior of 2D woven C/SiC CMC material systems. Model calibration is performed using experimental data from literature for plain weave C/SiC CMC at RT, 700°C, and 1200°C to determine how damage model parameters change in this temperature range. The nonlinear, temperature-dependent predictive capabilities of the reformulated model are demonstrated for 1000°C using interpolation to obtain expected damage model parameters at this temperature and the predictions are in good agreement with experimental results at 1000°C.

Modeling and Analysis of a Screw Fitting Assembly Process Involving a Cast Magnesium Component

A finite element analysis of a complex assembly was made. The material description used was a physically based material model with dislocation density as an internal state variable. This analysis showed the importance of the materials’ behavior in the process as there is discrepancy between the bolt head contact pressure and the internals state of the materials where the assembly process allows for recovery. The end state is governed by both the tightening process and the thermal history and strongly influenced by the thermal expansion of the AZ91D alloy.