Multiscale modelling of the response of Ti-6AI-4V sheets under explosive loading

•A multiscale numerical modelling method is presented to predict the plastic deformation of Ti-6Al-4V sheets under blast loading, taking into account anisotropy.•Main advantage is that the method opens the possibility to avoid performing extensive series of dynamic or impulsive experiments on the examined material by using only the results of quasi-static tensile tests and one dynamic tensile test.•The approach is illustrated and validated by explosive forming experiments on two types of Ti-6Al-4V sheets.•High speed cameras and the digital image correlation (DIC) technique are used to measure the evolving strains in the specimens.•In addition, an analytical model is used to calculate the maximum displacements. The objectives of the current study are to develop a multiscale numerical modelling method to predict the plastic deformation of Ti-6Al-4V sheets under blast loading, validate the method with experiments and characterise, at room temperature, the impulsive mechanical behaviour of the alloy. The numerical modelling technique relates the microstructure of the alloy with its macroscopic behaviour taking into account anisotropic effects by combining the viscoplastic self-consistent polycrystal model (VPSC7c) with the Cazacu–Barlat orthotropic yield criterion (CPB06) as implemented in the finite element (FE) solver of LS-DYNA. Sheet specimens of two thicknesses are tested using an experimental setup which applies a planar blast load. High speed cameras and the digital image correlation (DIC) technique are used to measure the evolving strains in the specimens. In addition, an analytical model is used to calculate the maximum displacements. The obtained values are compared with the outcome of the tests and FE simulations.