Modeling and simulation of dynamic compression of Bulk Metallic Glasses at room and elevated temperatures using split Hopkinson pressure bar setup

This paper presents a modeling and simulation study of dynamic compression behavior of Bulk Metallic Glasses (BMGs) at room and elevated temperatures using the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) setup. The primary objective of this study is to develop and validate a constitutive model and simulation methodology capable of predicting the high strain rate response of BMGs at different temperatures. We propose a constitutive model for BMGs that accounts for the effects of high strain rates and elevated temperatures. We numerically implemented this model in ABAQUS/Explicit Finite Element Analysis software by writing a Vectorized User Material (VUMAT) subroutine. The methodology for modeling and simulation of dynamic compression of BMG specimens using the SHPB setup is developed. The present simulations are able to correctly predict the rate -independent response of Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 (Vitreloy1) BMG under dynamic compression at room and elevated temperatures. Furthermore, the present simulations are also able to correctly predict the negative strain rate sensitivity (SRS) of Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10Ti5 (Vitreloy-105) BMG at room temperature. Finally, the present simulations correctly predict that the failure stress of Zr64.13Cu15.75Ni10.12Al10 BMG decreases with increasing temperature and exhibits a minimal positive SRS. The present study is the first successful attempt to model the mechanical response of various BMGs under dynamic compression and at room and elevated temperatures. In particular, the experimentally observed negative SRS in some BMGs has been successfully simulated. The present work has important implications for the design of next generation spacecraft shields that are based on BMGs for mitigating the effects of hypervelocity impacts from debris in space.