Influence of nanoscale interfaces on the dynamic deformation and spall failure of Cu–Fe alloy microstructures

P Phillip Tsurkan (Materials Science and Engineering, and Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut 1 , Storrs, Connecticut 06269,) M Marco J. Echeverria (Materials Physics Applications Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545,) A Avanish Mishra (Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School) A Avinash M. Dongare (Materials Science and Engineering, and Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut 1 , Storrs, Connecticut 06269,)

Abstract

Additively manufactured immiscible Cu–Fe alloys can exhibit a distribution of nanoscale interfaces due to the distribution of nanoscale clusters in the equilibrium and metastable phases. Molecular dynamics simulations investigate the role of such interfaces on the phase stability and transformation behavior during shock compression, as well as the mechanisms of damage nucleation during spall failure. The model multiphase Cu–Fe systems studied here comprise a distribution of Fe clusters in an FCC Cu matrix, as well as Cu clusters in a BCC Fe matrix. The length scales of the nanoscale clusters determine the energetics of the interfaces that can result in FCC/BCC (equilibrium) or FCC/FCC (metastable) interfaces in the Cu system matrix, and BCC/FCC (equilibrium) or BCC/BCC (metastable) interfaces in the Fe matrix. The MD simulations demonstrate that nanoscale metastable interface microstructures can induce plastic deformation and also stabilize phases or suppress phase transformations in metastable phase clusters. In contrast, equilibrium interfaces can influence phase transformation thresholds and serve as additional void nucleation sites during failure.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 138, Issue 22
Published December 14, 2025
ISSN 0021-8979
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Journal of Applied Physics

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0021-8979 Physical Sciences

Authors (4)

P

Phillip Tsurkan

Materials Science and Engineering, and Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut 1 , Storrs, Connecticut 06269,

M

Marco J. Echeverria

Materials Physics Applications Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545,

A

Avanish Mishra

Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School

A

Avinash M. Dongare

Materials Science and Engineering, and Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut 1 , Storrs, Connecticut 06269,