Experimental and Numerical Investigations of Lamellar Copper-Silver Composites

Srihari Dodla1, Prof. A. Bertram1, Jr. Prof. M. Krüger2

1Institute for Mechanics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg
2Institute for Materials and Joining Technology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg

Introduction.
The primary purpose of material science is to resolve the microstructure of materials and also link the microstructure to the material properties.
Researchers have been fabricated various materials for magnetic applications. In the magnet research and applications, the development of high strength
and high conductive materials is required to sustain the high magnetic fields. Pulsed magnets can generate extremely high magnetic fields and the
maximum peak of the magnetic field depends on the strength and conductivity of the wire used to manufacture the magnet. Copper-silver wires are
proposed for use as conductors in high field magnets such as 60-80 Tesla pulse magnets [Asano,1993].

Problem Definition Objectives Cooperation

Metal forming is one of the fabrication processes in the
manufacturing industry. During the forming process, the
metal deforms plastically in order to obtain a new shape
of material. The mechanical properties of the material
after cold working results in an increase in strength and
hardness.
• To understand the microstructure and texture Prof. M. Heilmaier (KIT, Germany)
evolution of Cu-Ag composites as a function of the Dr. J. Freudenberger (IFW Dresden, Germany)
drawing strain. Prof. Thorsten Halle (OVGU, Germany)
• To characterize the lamellar microstructure and
properties of material.
• To simulate the influence of the microstructure on
the macroscopic behavior.

Experimental Setup Material Model: Crystal Plasticity

• The Cu-Ag rod having a diameter of 12.42 mm and 6.73 mm produced by cold
drawing (Fig. 1) is provided by IFW, Dresden. Material Parameters
• The investigation of the microstructure includes sample preparation and the
observation of the microstructure in the microscope. Cu Ag
• In order to analyze the microstructure in different directions, the specimens (MPa) (MPa)
are prepared in the both longitudinal and transversal directions. The samples C1111 170x103 124x103
are metallographicallly prepared for microscopy and the investigation of the
microstructure has been done using optical and scanning electron microscope C1122 124x103 93.7x103
(Fig. 2).
• The compression tests are carried out on a universal testing machine at room C1212 75x103 46.1x103
temperature for a constant strain rate (10-4 s-1 and 10-2 s-1) (Fig. 3). The
dimensions of this sample are diameter 1.68 mm and height 2.5 mm. τ0 33.5 33
Comparison of the strain rates of both the samples in longitudinal and
transversal direction is shown in Fig. 4. τ1 1200 466.8

θ0 100 65

(a) (b) θ1 5 2

[Beyerlein,2011]

Finite element method (Abaqus)

Figure 1. Samples with diameter (a) 6.73 mm and (b) 12.42 mm.
• Linear element (C3D8)
• Cubical RVE = 32x32x32 = 32768 elements
(a) (b) (c) (d) • Element size = 62.5 nm Grain
• Compression Test (10%)
• Periodic boundary conditions
500 µm 2 µm 100 µm 2 µm

Ag Cu

Figure 2. Large and small sample in transverse direction (a) lower (grain Lamellar 300 nm 100 nm
structure), (b) higher magnification (Cu, Ag lamellae), (c) lower (grain structure), thickness
(d) higher magnification (Cu, Ag lamellae)
RVE 20 grains- two phases Cu, Ag
Lamellae Cu & Ag
(a) (b)
(a) (b)

(a) (b)
Figure 3. Sample before and after
the compression test for a constant
strain rate (10-2 s-1) (a) before the
test, (b) at the time of shearing.
Figure 4. Comparison of the true
stress-strain curves for a constant
strain rate of 10-2 s-1 and 10-4 s-1 (a)
large sample (transversal), (b) small
sample (transversal). Figure 5. (a) SDV462 – grain number (b) SDV461(=1 (Cu), =2 (Ag))

Results and Discussion Conclusions

• In the micrographs, the eutectic image in Figure 2(b) & 2(d) clearly show the presence of the • The microstructure is investigated using
alternating Cu (dark regions) and Ag (light regions) forming the alternate lamellae microstructure of optical and scanning electron microscopy.
the Cu-Ag. • Lamellae behavior of a copper-silver
• The compression tests on Cu-Ag alloy provide data for calibration of material parameters and composites has been implemented in Abaqus.
validation of the computational model. • The finite element based simulations has been
• To capture the critical deformation when the material becomes inhomogenous, we took the videos implemented to simulate large plastic
of sample during the tests (Figure 3(a) & (b)). deformations.
• RVE simulations are in progress.

DFG-Graduate School 1554 “Micro-Macro-Interactions in Structured Media and Particle Systems”