A finite element study on effect of frictional heating in the taylor rod impact problem

In an impact phenomenon the material is subjected to very short duration high force levels resulting large plastic deformations and rise in temperature at high strain rates. A circular rod impacting against a rigid surface called as Taylor rod impact test is widely used for determining the mechanical behaviour of materials subjected to high strain rates with associated increase in temperature. A three-dimensional large deformation, thermo-elasto-plastic, dynamic, contact, finite element formulation is developed to study the effect of temperature rise due to plastic deformation and surface friction on the deformation and stress fields. It is found that the predicted equivalent plastic strain values are influenced by temperature generated due to plastic deformation and surface friction. The values of the coefficient of friction have a profound effect on the location of fracture initiation on the impacting face in a circular rod.