Projects

	Project A3: Design of structures for enhanced ductility

Project Leader: Dr. Matthew Barnett - Deakin University		Staff/students

The objective of the project is to develop new principles for the design of microstructures with the primary goal of enhancing ductility – the extent by which the material can deform prior to ductile failure – without compromising its strength (or any other key property).		Haley, Daniel Sha, Gang Al-Buhamad, Oday Burhan, Nanang Ferry, Michael Lau, Kai Dick Laws, Kevin Quadir, Zakaria Robin, Lalu Sokolova, Julia Chun, Young Davies, Chris Lapovok, Rimma Taouti, Abdelghani Humphreys, John Hutchinson, WB Savvides, N Barnett, Matthew Beer, Aiden Cizek, Pavel Keshavarz, Zohreh Morgans, Katrina Setty, Mohan Stanford, Nicole

Material ductility is required for manufacture so that, for example, automotive panels can be stamped into shape. It is also required when components are unintentionally overloaded. In this case increased ductility can reduce the level of harm by permitting greater amounts of energy to be absorbed.

The project is split into two distinct parts according to temperature. Part i) is concerned with room and low temperature ductility where slip and twinning are the predominant deformation mechanisms and Part ii) is concerned with high temperature deformations where diffusional flow and boundary sliding become more important and superplasticty occurs. The microstructural design considerations are very different for these two cases.

The project couples scientific investigation with development. The method employed is based on the generation of prototype or model metal alloys and the subsequent characterization of the interaction between their microstructure the mechanical response. This characterization primarily involves mechanical testing and electron microscopy.