Since the first reports of anomalous behavior in plate experiments of boron carbide by Grady (1994), no convincing explanation has been given to the observations such as ‚Äúdramatic loss in strength,‚Äù ‚Äúnear fluid-like response,‚Äù ‚Äúheterogeneous deformation,‚Äù ‚Äúanomalous volume compression,‚Äù and ‚Äúphase-change-like volume collapse.‚Äù Through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of high-pressure compression and shock loading of boron carbide (at velocities up to 6 km/s), we investigate the thermodynamics to amorphization and develop Hugoniot curves for comparison with experimental data and draw a link between nanoscale deformation features and the Raman spectra. For the first time, we generate Rayleigh lines via MD shock simulations and constructed Hugoniot which match with experimental data reported in literature. We find that the shock-induced temperature in the ceramic exceeds the melting point at impact velocities as low as 2.5 km/s causing dramatic loss of strength and near fluid like response leading to amorphization. The simulated temperature data was also compared to estimates by other researchers. The anomalous volume compression is reflected in Hugoniot being below the hydrostat. By confirming amorphization to be a thermodynamically driven phenomenon, we resolve the long-lasting scientific issues pertaining to anomalous behavior of boron carbide.

Thermodynamics of Amorphization in Boron Carbide Through Molecular Dynamics

The Virtual Technical Meeting of the Society of Engineering Science 2020 is the first fully virtual meeting of the SES community to envision and connect during the hiatus created by Covid-19, providing a platform for the exchange of ideas, and to showcase the latest research in the field of engineering science.

[Visit the Programme](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BoCPBzrr1IQFANuzQI8a-paXCJoOcCkB/view?usp=sharing) | [Visit the Prerecorded Video/Poster List](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XHLeEXJxEFjCSsNScuLDfMwy1X7oy7oJ/view?usp=sharing) | [View the Session Grid](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VeDOC-Ev5m_ymYjXnjaXSZHR3_DARiLt/view?usp=sharing)