Nucleation and the Spall Strength of Liquid Metals

This article presents calculation of the nucleation rate for liquid metals (Al, Fe, Mo) based on molecular dynamic simulation for embedded atom method (EAM) potentials. The dependence of nucleation rate on pressure and temperature could be approximated accurately in the form of classical nucleation theory taking into account surface tension dependency on pore radius σ = σ0/(1 + 2δ/r), where σ—surface tension, δ—the Tolman length. Basing on the results of the calculations, we have developed a model allowing calculating the spall strength of liquid metals under tension using such parameters as surface tension, viscosity, which could be measured experimentally. The obtained results for Mo and Al are consistent with experimental data and direct MD calculations at strain rates approx. 1010-1011 s-1.