Rutgers, The State University was awarded a $622,248 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation under the Engineering federal grant program (CFDA 47.041).
The grant supports research to develop improved physics-based machine learning models of metal fracture that account for interactions between the crack tip and plastic zone. Rutgers will create a three-dimensional discrete dislocation dynamics simulation incorporating relevant dislocation and bond-breaking processes. Atomistic simulations will quantify factors influencing fracture such as dislocation nucleation and emission. Insights will inform engineering design fracture models, embrittlement prediction, and alloy design. Additionally, Rutgers will develop a multi-day lesson plan on metal fracture for high school science classes using computer simulations. Research findings and the lesson plan will be disseminated nationally to science teachers. The five-year project period is from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2028.