Theoretical spall strength

Orowan (1949) suggested a method for estimating the theoretical tensile fracture strength based on a simple model for the intermolecular potential of a solid. These calculations indicate that the theoretical tensile strength of solids is an appreciable fraction of the elastic modulus of the material. Following these ideas, a theoretical spall strength of Bq/ti, where Bq is the bulk modulus of the material, is derived through an application of the Orowan approach based on a sinusoidal representation of the cohesive force (Lawn and Wilshaw, 1975). 

A proportionality between the theoretical spall strength and the bulk modulus is obtained when a two-parameter model is chosen to represent the intermolecular potential. Other two-parameter representations of the intermolecular potential, such as the Lennard-Jones 6-12 potential, will yield a similar proportionality although the numerical coefficients will differ slightly. 

With a three-parameter model of the intermolecular potential, the theoretical spall strength is not simply a constant times the bulk modulus. Although the slightly greater accuracy obtained is not critical to the present investigation, an energy balance is revealed in the analysis which is not immediately transparent in the Orowan approach. 

To derive an explicit expression for the theoretical spall strength, an ana-... 

Figure 8.1. The cold compression-tension behavior of condensed matter. The volume dependence of energy and pressure or tension are illustrated. The cohesive energy and maximum tension (theoretical spall strength) are properties of the material.

Within the present analysis, the theoretical spall strength is determined from the minimum of (8.3)... 

Table 8.1. Theoretical Spall Strength of Selected Materials.

Note that the theoretical spall strength now depends upon the cohesive energy as well as the bulk modulus. Representative values for selected metals are shown in Table 8.1. These can be compared with experimental spall strengths in later sections. 

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