Deformation and fracture of Cu alloy-stainless steel layered structures under dynamic loading

Fracture resistance of the current ITER first wall configuration, a copper alloy-stainless steel layered structure, is a major design issue. The question of dynamic crack propagation into and through the first wall structure is examined using dynamic finite element modeling (FEM). Several layered configurations that incorporate both strain and frictional energy dissipation during the fracture process are considered. With fixed overall specimen geometry, the energy required to extend a precrack is examined as a function of material properties, and the layer structure. It is found that the crack extension energies vary dramatically with the fracture strain of materials, and to a much lesser extent with the number of layers. In addition, it is found that crack propagation through the lower ductility copper alloy layer may be deflected at the stainless steel-copper interface and not result in total fracture of the structure. Although the total energy required is affected only to a small degree by the interface properties, the time to extend the precrack is strongly affected. By making proper selections of the interface and the layered material, crack propagation rates and the possibility of full fracture can be substantially reduced. (orig.)