Cohesive Zone Model for Crack Propagation in a Viscoplastic Polycrystal Material at Elevated Temperature

This study looks at the crack propagation characteristics based on the cohesive zone model (CZM), which is implemented as a user defined element within FE system ABAQUS. A planar crystal model is applied to the polycrystalline material at elevated temperature in which grain boundary regions are included. From the point of energy, interactions between the cohesive fracture process zones and matrix material are studied. It’s shown that the material parameter such as strain rate sensitivity of grain interior and grain boundary strongly influences the plastic and cohesive energy dissipation mechanisms. The higher the strain rate sensitivity is, the larger amount of the external work will be transformed into plastic dissipation energy than into cohesive energy which could delay the rupturing of cohesive zone. By comparisons, when strain rate sensitivity decreases, plastic dissipation energy is reduced and the cohesive dissipation energy increases. In this case, the cohesive zones fracture more quickly. In addition to the matrix material parameter, influence of cohesive strength and critical displacement in CZM on stress triaxiality at grain interior and grain boundary regions are also investigated. It’s shown that enhancing cohesive zones ductility could improve matrix materials resistance to void damage.