Parameter Identification of GTN Model Using Response Surface Methodology for High-Strength Steel BR1500HS

In order to investigate the damage evolution of ultra-high-strength steels at different temperatures, a series of the uniaxial tensile tests were carried out at different temperatures (20-800 °C) with a constant true strain rate (1 s−1). And then, two different deformation mechanisms were employed to describe the flow behaviors of BR1500HS. It is found that dynamic recrystallization (DRX) occurs during the deformation process at high temperatures (600-800 °C), while the tensile flow behaviors exhibit a very long work hardening period before a short flow softening stages without DRX at lower temperatures of 20-400 °C Furthermore, the Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman (GTN) damage model was employed in this work to evaluate the ductile damage phenomena of BR1500HS. To determine the four vital parameters in GTN model, several numerical simulations were designed by central composite design and conducted by finite element simulation, and then the error evaluation functions (R) were established using four GTN parameters. Thereafter, the four parameters of GTN model were determined along with four minimum values of R by use of response surface methodology (RSM) and least square method. The results show that temperature affects the microvoid volume fraction significantly. Additionally, the parameters of GTN model were applied in the finite element simulation model and a comparison between the simulation results and the scanning electron microscopic observations was conducted.