Atomistic simulations of fracture in the B2 phase of the Nb–Ti–Al system

Atomistic simulations of the crack tip configuration in the B2 phase of Nb-rich alloys in the Nb–Ti–Al are presented. The alloy compositions studied are Nb–16Al–16Ti and Nb–16Al–33Ti. The simulations were carried out using molecular statics and empirical embedded atom method (EAM) potentials for the ternary system developed in previous work. The behavior of a semi-infinite crack was studied under mode I loading for different crack tip geometries. The crack was embedded in a simulation cell with periodic boundary conditions along the direction parallel to the crack front and fixed boundary conditions along the periphery of the simulation cell. The quasi-static simulations were carried out using a molecular statics relaxation technique to obtain the minimum energy configuration of the atoms starting from their initial elastic positions, under increasingly higher stress intensities. The competition between dislocation emission and cleavage was studied in these alloys as a function of Ti content. Cracks along {110}-type planes with crack fronts oriented along different directions were studied. The alloys showed increased ductility with increased Ti content. The simulations show more ductile behavior than other intermetallics, due to easier dislocation emission processes at the crack tip.