An energy release rate approach to cemented carbide fracture toughness for computational materials design

• Integrated computational materials engineering and computational materials design have the potential to greatly accelerate materials development at reduced cost compared to conventional experimentally-based methods. These methodologies, however, require physically-based property models to be truly predictive. Fracture toughness is a critical material property of cemented carbides for high-performance mining and metal cutting tools. In the present work, a fracture toughness model framework based on the energy release rate formalism is presented and applied to conventional and alternative-binder cemented carbides. The framework is physically-based and designed to be modular, where each sub-model can be independently modified or replaced without disturbing the calculation-flow of the overall framework. In the presented examples, the sub-models are based on e.g. finite element simulations and atomistic calculations as well as limited calibration to experimental data. The model framework is intended for integration with previously developed computational tools and models, such as a composite hardness model and a grain growth model, for computational design of novel and improved cemented carbides with the aim to potentially substitute cobalt as the dominating binder phase in cemented carbides.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Fracture toughness; Energy release rate; Composite; Computational materials design; Cemented carbide

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)