Numerical simulations of Aluminum (Al) and Tungsten (W) granular composite rings under various dynamic loading conditions caused by explosive loading were examined. Three competing mechanisms of fragmentation were observed: a continuum level mechanism generating large macrocracks described by the Grady-Kipp fragmentation mechanism, a mesoscale mechanism generating voids and microcracks near the initially unbonded Al/W interfaces due to tensile strains, and a mesoscale jetting due to the development of large velocity gradients between the W particles and adjacent Al. These mesoscale mechanisms can be used to tailor the size of the fragments by selecting an appropriate initial mesostructure for a given loading condition.
@article{arxiv.1202.3383,
title = {Mechanisms of fragmentation of Al-W granular composites under dynamic loading},
author = {K. L. Olney and V. F. Nesterenko and D. J. Benson},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1202.3383},
year = {2015}
}