Fracture in metal powder compaction

This paper presents a preliminary assessment and qualitative analysis on fracture criterion and crack growth in metal powder compact during the cold compaction process. Based on the fracture criterion of granular materials in compression, a displacement based finite element model has been developed to analyse fracture initiation and crack growth in metal powder compact. Approximate estimation of fracture toughness variation with relative density is established in order to provide the fracture parameter as compaction proceed. A single crack initiated from the boundary of a multi-level component made of iron powder is considered in this work. The finite element simulation of the crack propagation indicates that shear crack grows during the compaction process and propagates in the direction of higher shear stress and higher relative density. This also implies that the crack grows in the direction where the compaction pressure is much higher, which is in line with the conclusion made by previous researchers on shear crack growth in materials under compression. In agreement with reported work by previous researchers, high stress concentration and high density gradient at the inner corner in multi-level component results in fracture of the component during preparation.