D. R. Forrest, Naval Surface Warfare Center, West Bethesda, MD; D. Backman, Worchester Polytechnic Institute, Worchester, MA; M. J. Hayden, The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, West Bethesda, MD; J. A. Christodoulou, Office of Naval Research, Arlington, VA
Accelerated Insertion of Materials (AIM) is a methodology that was recently developed for streamlining the difficult task of optimizing and qualifying new materials for service in critical applications. Computer models, developed from both commercial software and custom-written packages, can calculate the evolution of microstructure and properties of materials during the fabrication of components. These calculations can reduce the amount of mechanical testing required by narrowing the test matrix: only the most promising and relevant combinations of composition and processing conditions need be explored. The challenge is to integrate these disparate computer models in a way that is useful to the materials design and optimization process. As an entry point for implementing a fully-capable package, we have developed a simplified AIM system for AA6082 extrusions. Using DEFORM 3D, the system calculates the thermomechanical history of the material during the extrusion of sidewall panels for a Littoral Combatant Ship. Then the precipitate distribution is derived from thermodynamic and kinetic data using Thermo-Calc and PrecipiCalc. Finally, strength and hardness are estimated from the microstructural constituents. The software package iSight provides a framework to integrate these models and an environment for materials design.
