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Comparative Study between Small Punch Tests and Finite Element Analysis of Miniature Steel Specimens

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Abstract

The experimental method of small punch tests (SPT) using miniature specimens has great advantages and broad application prospects for material research in space, nuclear plants and other extreme environments. However, at present, the application of this method lacks unified standards and norms, which affects its application effect. Based on these, the mechanical properties of φ3 mm disks miniature specimens of SIMP steel with different thicknesses are investigated through SPT experiments, finite element modeling (FEM) analyses and scanning electron microscopy observations. All the results demonstrate that the relationship of the mechanical properties of standard tensile test samples derived from the data of small punch test is established, and the method of establishing this mechanical relationship is also provided. Most importantly, based on the shear stress analyses of FEM calculations, most mechanical properties, such as yield strength, ultimate strength, fracture toughness and elastic modulus, can be obtained directly through SPT experiments. These findings may improve the possibility of establishing a widely accepted program for obtaining basic materials properties from SPT experimental data by using FEM simulations and provide a new comparison scheme (or norm) for obtaining accurate data from miniature specimens.

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Acknowledgment

This research project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Grant Nos. 12075293 and 91426304), the Instrument Developing Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. E028341Y) and the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. 2016365).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Zhaoyi Cheng, Jianrong Sun, Pengfei Tai, Linqi Zhang & Hailong Chang

  2. School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Zhaoyi Cheng, Jianrong Sun & Linqi Zhang

  3. School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Yuting Wei

  4. School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Rebecca Thuku

  5. College of Engineering and Technology, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, 00200, Kenya

    Kelvin M. Gichuhi

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  1. Zhaoyi Cheng
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Cheng, Z., Sun, J., Tai, P. et al. Comparative Study between Small Punch Tests and Finite Element Analysis of Miniature Steel Specimens. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 30, 9094–9107 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-021-06098-0

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