Abstract
This paper presents recent advances in the computational analysis of the failure mechanisms in high-strength steel. Computational issues are described regarding modeling of the geometry, distribution, and material behavior of the dispersed phases present in the microstructure of steel. The investigation of the failure mechanisms using computational cell model methodology in two and three dimensions is then presented with an emphasis on microvoid-induced shear failure occurring at the scale of submicrometer grain-refining carbide precipitates. The failure of a three-dimensional particle cluster extracted from tomographic analysis of an engineering alloy is simulated. Finally the cell model results are used to simulate the failure of the material at the macro-scale.