Experimental and Numerical Characterization of Johnson–Cook Model for Dog-Bone S355 Structural Steel at High Strain Rates and Elevated Temperatures

The use of finite element software is essential for analyzing engineering materials, as the precision of the results generated depends on how effectively the material models simulate real-world behavior. In this research, the mechanical properties of industrial S355 steel were evaluated across a range of strain rates, and the Johnson–Cook (JC) plasticity model parameters were established through both experimental and numerical methods. The investigation covered a temperature range of $20{}^{\circ }C$ to $700{}^{\circ }C$. The JC plasticity model constants were identified through a variety of experiments and evaluations, including compression, Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) testing, and thermal analysis. These established constants were incorporated into finite element analysis (FEA) software to simulate both the plastic deformation of the material and the initiation of damage during virtual experiments. Furthermore, a descriptive model for the dynamic strain aging (DSA) was proposed to characterize the plastic flow behaviors of S355 steel based on various ranges of temperatures and strain rates. Subsequently, the model predictions were compared with the results obtained from experimental test sets, which showed good agreement.