Damage evolution in single crystal iron at high strain rate:A molecular dynamics study

We simulate triaxial deformation of a single crystal iron at 10^6 s^-1 strain rate to investigate the void evolution dynamics in a single crystal iron. We find that the peak tensile pressure is very close to the spall strength of the single crystal iron. As strain rate decreases, the peak tensile pressure approaches the void nucleation threshold of the single crystal iron. The damage of the single crystal iron takes place due to nucleation, growth and coalescence of many voids and not due to the growth of a single void. The void growth rate is very high indicating rapid growth of the voids once nucleated.