Synchronized Full-Field Strain and Temperature Measurements of Commercially Pure Titanium under Tension at Elevated Temperatures and High Strain Rates

Understanding the mechanical behavior of materials at extreme conditions, such as high temperatures, high strain rates, and very large strains, is fundamental for applications where these conditions are possible. Although tensile testing has been used to investigate material behavior under high strain rates and elevated temperatures, it disregards the occurrence of localized strains and increasing temperatures during deformation. The objective of this work is to combine synchronized full-field techniques and an electrical resistive heating system to investigate the thermomechanical behavior of commercially pure titanium under tensile loading at high temperatures and high strain rates. An electrical resistive heating system was used to heat dog-bone samples up to 1120 °C, which were then tested with a tensile Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar at strain rates up to 1600 s−1. These tests were monitored by two high-speed optical cameras and an infrared camera to acquire synchronized full-field strain and temperature data. The displacement and strain noise floor, and the stereo reconstruction error increased with temperature, while the temperature noise floor decreased at elevated temperatures. A substantial decrease in mechanical strength and an increase in ductility were observed with an increase in testing temperature. The localized strains during necking were much higher at elevated temperatures, while adiabatic heating was much lower or non-existent at elevated temperatures.

Investigation on Strain Rate Sensitivity of 3D Printed sPEEK-HAP/rGO Composites

Nanofillers can be added to polymers to improve their mechanical behavior. However, the yield behaviour of most polymer composites is influenced by strain rate. The majority of the research focused on the behaviour of polymer composites at high strain rates. This work aims to investigate how hydroxyapatite (HAP) and reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) nanofillers affect the mechanical properties of sulphonated polyetheretherketone (sPEEK) at low (tensile and compression behaviour) and high strain rates (compression behaviour). The thermal, mechanical, and energy absorption responses of sPEEK filled with HAP and varying mass fraction (Mf) of rGO (0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%) at different strain are studied in detail. The strong strain rate effect was seen in HAp and rGO loaded sPEEK composites. The strain rate sensitivity factor of sPEEK-HAP/rGO improved as the strain rate increased, but decreased when the Mf of rGO increased. Under low strain rate compression, HAp and rGO loaded sPEEK absorbed more energy at Mf about 4%. SEM micrography was used to study the microstructures of the fractured interfaces of the components, revealing that the HAp and sPEEK materials formed a good compatibility in presence of rGO.