Material embrittlement in high strain-rate loading

Abstract Material embrittlement is often encountered in machining, heat treatment, hydrogen and low-temperature conditions among which machining is strain-rate related. More strain-rate evoked embrittlement is expected in material loading processes, such as in high-speed machining and projectile penetration. In order to understand the fundamental mechanisms of the strain-rate evoked material embrittlement, this study is concerned with the material responses to loading at high strain-rates. It then explores the strain-rate evoked material embrittlement and fragmentation during high strain-rate loading processes and evaluates various empirical and physical models from different researchers for the assessment of the material embrittlement. The study proposes strain-rate sensitivity for the characterization of material embrittlement and the concept of the pseudo embrittlement for material responses to very high strain-rates. A discussion section is arranged to explore the underlying mechanisms of the strain-rate evoked material embrittlement and fragmentation based on dislocation kinetics.