The Shock Response and Spall Mechanism of Mg-Al-Zn Alloy: Molecular Dynamics Study

XY Yang and S Xu and LS Liu, ACTA MECHANICA SOLIDA SINICA, 35, 495-503 (2022).

DOI: 10.1007/s10338-021-00301-4

Shock responses of Mg-Al-Zn alloy are investigated by the molecular dynamics (MD) method. The wave propagation, plastic deformation behavior and failure mechanism along the 0001 and 10 (1) over bar0 orientations are analyzed. For both orientations, simulation results show that the shock wave has an obvious double-wave structure (plastic- elastic) under a piston velocity of 1200 m/s. A higher Hugoniot elastic limit (HEL) is observed for 0001-oriented shock. When the shock pressure is along the 10 (1) over bar0 direction, the distance between plastic and elastic waves is closer, and higher dislocation density and more twins are observed. Moreover, the spall strength for 10 (1) over bar0-oriented shock is predicted to be higher. In addition, the wave interactions, HEL and spall strength predicted for Mg-Al-Zn alloy are compared with the experimental results and MD simulation results of Mg single crystal in the literature. It is concluded that the shock performance of Mg-Al-Zn is better than that of Mg single crystal.

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