Numerical simulation of fracture in Taylor rod impact problem with stochastically distributed inherent damage

Abstract High strain rate deformation behavior studies in structures always hold importance in many areas of science and technology. The high strain rate deformation behavior is generally determined by the Taylor rod impact tests. During the impact process, the front portion of the Taylor rod undergoes a large deformation that results in the evolution of the voids leading to damage/fracture in the rod. A process of fracture phenomenon and mechanics of blunt-shaped projectile impacting a rigid target at high-velocity results in different fracture modes viz. mushrooming, petalling, shear cracks, tensile splitting, fragmentation, or mixed modes of failure. The deformation and evolution of these practically observed fracture modes are investigated due to the introduction of stochastically distributed inherent damage in the flat-faced Taylor rod. The process is simulated in the mild steel Taylor rod using continuum damage mechanics. The evolution of the damage and fracture growth has been presented. The process of deformation, the phenomenon of stress propagation, and the effect of stochastically distributed inherent damage on the fracture mode in the Taylor rod have been discussed. As the stresses initially evolve at the outer edge of the Taylor rod, the damage initially grows at the outer edge leading to the tensile splitting and petal formation. It is found that the introduction of stochastically distributed inherent damage and critical damage inside the Taylor rod changes the fracture modes. The results are found to be consistent with the literature.