material behavior description for a large range of strain rates from low to high temperatures: application to high strength steel

Current needs in the design and optimization of complex protective structures lead to the development of more accurate numerical modelling of impact loadings. The aim of developing such a tool is to be able to predict the protection performance of structures using fewer experiments. Considering only the numerical approach, the most important issue to have a reliable simulation is to focus on the material behavior description in terms of constitutive relations and failure model for high strain rates, large field of temperatures and complex stress states. In this context, the present study deals with the dynamic thermo-mechanical behavior of a high strength steel (HSS) close to the Mars® 190 (Industeel France, Le Creusot, France). For the considered application, the material can undergo both quasi-static and dynamic loadings. Thus, the studied strain rate range is varying from 10−3–104 s−1. Due to the fast loading time, the local temperature increase during dynamic loading induces a thermal softening. The temperature sensitivity has been studied up to 473 K under quasi-static and dynamic conditions. Low temperature measurements (lower than the room temperature) are also reported in term of σ − ε | ε ˙ , T curves. Experimental results are then used to identify the parameters of several constitutive relations, such as the model developed initially by Johnson and Cook; Voyiadjis and Abed; and Rusinek and Klepaczko respectively termed Johnson–Cook (JC), Voyiadjis–Abed (VA), and Rusinek–Klepaczko (RK). Finally, comparisons between experimental results and model predictions are reported and compared.