Numerical Simulation of High Strain Rate and Temperature Properties of Laser Powder Bed Fusion Ti6Al4V(ELI) Determined Using a Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar

Numerical models can be useful for analysis of the ability of structural engineering materials to withstand harsh environmental conditions such as dynamic loading. In the present study, a microstructure-variable-based numerical model for predicting the high strain rate and temperature properties of different microstructures of Ti6Al4V (ELI-Extra Low Interstitial) produced by laser-based powder bed fusion is proposed. The model was implemented in two different subroutines, VUMAT and VUHARD, available in ABAQUS/Explicit for simulating dynamic conditions. The two subroutines were then used to simulate the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) experiments to study the flow properties of various forms of the direct metal laser sintered Ti6Al4V(ELI) alloy at various conditions of strain rate and temperature. Comparison of the results obtained through simulation and those obtained from experimental testing showed high degrees of correlation and accuracy with correlation coefficients and absolute percentage errors >0.97 and <4%, respectively. The numerical model was also shown to give good predictions of the strain hardening and dynamic recovery phenomena that prevail for deformations at high strain rates and temperatures.