Determination of high strain rate behavior of steel using finite element analysis and high strain rate experimentation

High strain rate properties of materials are often difficult and expensive to obtain. There is a growing interest in the high strain rate behavior of metallic materials. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is being used to simulate these behaviors with the fewest number of experiments needed to characterize the material. A model of a steel ring was developed using the finite element software Abaqus. High strain rate properties of AISI 4340 steel were used for the analysis. The finite element model was coupled with the split Hopkinson pressure bar technique, along with a novel experimental method of characterization. Fracture strain in the FEA was adjusted to induce failure in the ring. Failure was modeled as element deletion. A fracture strain less than 1×10^-5 was needed to initiate element deletion. The effects of mesh type and defects are investigated.