Computational models for simulation of a lithium-ion battery module specimen under punch indentation

In this paper, macro homogenized material models are adopted to simulate an in-plane constrained punch indentation test of a small-scale lithium-ion battery module specimen. The macro material models are based on the compressive stress strain curves obtained from representative volume element (RVE) module specimens under in-plane constrained compression tests. The ABAQUS implicit solver is used for simulation of the punch test. The hyperfoam and the crushable foam material models in ABAQUS are adopted to fit the nominal stress strain curves of the module RVE specimens under in-plane constrained compression. The load displacement responses and the deformation patterns of the module specimen from the finite element analyses of the punch test based on the hyperfoam and crushable foam material models compare fairly well with the experimental results. However, the initial yielding and the corresponding unloading of the load displacement curves of the module specimen due to micro buckling could not be modeled distinctively by the macro homogenized models. The computational results show that the material models available in commercial finite element software can be used to reasonably model lithium-ion battery modules under non-uniform compression loading conditions. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.