Plastic accommodation at homophase interfaces between nanotwinned and recrystallized grains in an austenitic duplex-microstructured steel

The plastic co-deformation behavior at the homophase interfaces between the hard nanotwinned grain inclusions and the soft recrystallized matrix grains in a duplex-microstructured AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel is examined through the analysis of long-range orientation gradients within the matrix grains by electron backscatter diffraction and transmission electron microcopy. Our analysis reveals that the mechanical accommodation of homophase interfaces until a macroscopic strain of 22% is realized within a small area of soft grains (about four grains) adjacent to the homophase interface. The activation of deformation twinning in the first two grain layers results in the occurrence of a ‘hump’ in the orientation gradient profile. We ascribe this effect to the role of deformation twinning on the generation of geometrically necessary dislocations. The smooth profile of the orientation gradient amplitude within the first 10 grain layers indicates a gradual plastic accommodation of the homophase interfaces upon straining. As a consequence, damage nucleation at such interfaces is impeded, resulting in an enhanced ductility of the single phase duplex-microstructured steel.     

镁合金塑性变形中孪生的研究

介绍了镁合金变形过程中孪生的晶体学、位错机理以及几何位向学;探讨了孪晶的形核、长大与演变机制;分析了孪生过程对塑性变形的作用;论述了影响孪生的几种基本因素,包括晶粒取向、变形温度、变形速度、晶粒尺寸、预变形.研究结果表明,镁合金塑性变形过程中孪生变形的作用在于,通过孪生过程改变晶粒取向或通过孪晶间或孪晶与滑移之间的相互作用,诱发新的滑移和孪生;孪晶也可抑制裂纹的产生和扩展,从而提高变形镁合金的室温塑性.     

Numerical formability assessment in single crystals of magnesium

In this paper a rate-sensitive elastic–viscoplastic crystal plasticity constitutive model (CPCM) together with the Marciniak–Kuczynski (M–K) approach have been used to assess the formability of a magnesium single crystal sheet by simulating the forming limit diagrams (FLDs). Sheet necking is initiated from an initial imperfection in terms of a narrow band. A homogeneous deformation field is assumed inside and outside the band, and conditions of compatibility and equilibrium are enforced across the band interfaces. Thus, the CPCM only needs to be applied to two regions, one inside and one outside the band. The FLDs have been simulated under two conditions: (a) the plastic deformation mechanisms are basal, pyramidal 〈c + a〉, and prismatic slip systems, and (b) the plastic deformation mechanisms are basal, pyramidal 〈c + a〉, and prismatic slip systems, as well as extension and contraction twinning systems. The FLDs have been generated for two grain orientations. In the first orientation pyramidal 〈c + a〉 and extension twinning systems, and in the second orientation basal and pyramidal 〈c + a〉 slip systems, as well as contraction twinning systems have favourable orientation for activation. The effects of shear strains outside the necking band, strain rate sensitivity, and c/a ratio on the simulated FLDs in the two grain orientations have been individually explored.     

Surface wrinkling of the twinning induced plasticity steel during the tensile and torsion tests

‘Heterogeneous twinning’ is defined as plastic deformation due to the formation and progress of twins resulting in surface wrinkles on the deforming part when the initial grain size is relatively large compared to the typical size of the part. In the case of a Twinning Induced Plasticity (TWIP) steel with an initial grain size of ∼160 m, the heterogeneous twinning generated visible wrinkles, an orange peel effect, under medium uni-axial strains. The heterogeneous twinning did not occur in the material subjected to high shear strains. The complications resulting from this phenomenon on strain hardening characterization of the TWIP steels using two commonly used mechanical tests, tensile and torsion are discussed along with some experimental aspects of heterogeneous twinning.     

Modified twinning behaviour induced by texture evolution in hot rolled Mg–3Al–1Zn alloy

Abstract

Compressive deformation along the rolling direction (RD) of a hot rolled Mg–3Al–1Zn alloy is applied to investigate the texture evolution and the recompressive yield strength (RYST) along the transverse direction (TD). Preferential orientation of the basal and prismatic planes is generated by the plastic deformation. Precompression along RD results in one plane of {10–10} aligned nearly perpendicular to the normal direction to the rolling plane. As the compressive strain along RD increases, the RYST shows an earlier raised and later decreased trend. The modified twinning mechanism is investigated using X-ray diffraction and electron backscattered diffraction observations. The results reveal that {10–12} twinning in the matrix dominates the recompression along TD, while the formation of {10–12}–{10–12} twins becomes comparatively easier to occur in the previous {10–12} twins for large precompressed samples.     

Dependency of deformation twinning on grain orientation in an FCC and a HCP metal

Twinning plays important roles in HCP metals and those FCC metals with low stacking fault energy. The structural difference of two types of metals makes quite different contributions of twinning to plasticity. The variety of grain orientation in polycrystalline metals causes the inhomogeneous occurrence of twinning and further distinct transformation kinetics of twinning as strain increases and texture develops. This changes finally the work hardening behavior and mechanical properties. This paper reveals the dependency of twinning on grain orientation in an FCC TWIP (twinning induced plasticity) steel with high Mn content and in a magnesium alloy using electron-backscatter-diffraction (EBSD) technique, and analyzes the characteristics of twinning in the two types of metals by Schmid factor calculation. In addition, the relation of twinning and shear banding, as well as their influence on properties are discussed.     

Extrusion upsetting multiple processing in sandglass die

Abstract

A new method of producing ultrafine grain sizes, known as extrusion upsetting multiple processing in sandglass die or sandglass extrusion, has been investigated using a Zn–5Al (wt-%) alloy. Since the shape of the test billet can remain unchanged after sandglass extrusion, the billet can be extruded repeatedly in order to obtain a large plastic strain. Ultrafine grain size can be achieved in the billet material due to the large plastic strain and dynamic recrystallisation during sandglass extrusion. The process technology, and the microstructures, superplasticity, and microhardness of the test material after sandglass extrusion have been studied. The experimental results show that equiaxial ultrafine microstructures can be introduced into the bulk test material during sandglass extrusion and high strain rate superplasticity can be realised.     

Grain Boundary Sliding in Fatigue of Pure Aluminum

The distributions of plastic strain near grain boundaries induced by fatigue loading were investigatedby the fiducial grid method in pure aluminum specimens, and the resulted grain boundary sliding(GBS) was systematically analysed. The results show that the strain field near a grain boundary isnonuniform. GBS is restricted by the junction of grain boundaries and causes discontinuities of bothdisplacement and strain. A peak value of shear strain was created in short-range area across the grainboundary. GBS plays an important role in cyclic softening and secondary hardening. The control fac-tor of GBS is the relative orientation between two grains and the macro orientation of the grainboundary rather than the ∑ value of the boundary.     

Investigation of process zone structure in Fe–3Si alloy

Abstract

An in situ fracture experiment was carried out in a scanning electron microscope to investigate plastic deformation and strain distribution in the process zone (PZ) located in the immediate vicinity of the crack tip in an Fe–3Si alloy (wt-%) under mixed mode loading conditions. It was observed that plastic deformation occurred by successive activation of a number of slip systems. The strain distribution and shape of the PZ were strongly dependent on the crystallographic orientation of the grain containing the crack tip. The distribution differed from that predicted using near tip blunting calculations and was best expressed by an exponential equation. Additional strain concentrations created by surface defects caused slight perturbations in the overall distribution. Crack propagation started along a coarse slip band which possessed the highest strain. It was found that the maximum strains in the PZ exceeded the uniaxial tensile fracture strain.

MST/1404     

Microstructure characterisation of Fe–21Cr–15Ni–Nb–V non-magnetic austenitic stainless steel during hot deformation

Hot deformation behaviour of Fe–21Cr–15Ni–Nb–V stainless steel was investigated by isothermal compression in the temperature range of 950–1150°C with a strain rate of 0.01–10?s^?1. The results showed that complete recrystallisation occurred beyond 1050°C, resulting from the pinning effect of (Nb, V)(C, N). The nucleation of dynamic recrystallisation (DRX) was performed by the bulging, sub-grain swallowing and twinning mechanism. With increasing strain rate, new twinning was transformed into the Σ3 regeneration mechanism in the partial DRX region, while an opposite transformation was observed in the complete DRX region. In the partial recrystallisation region, grain rotation resulted in the formation of 110 orientation. In the complete recrystallisation region, the texture tended to distribute randomly at a high strain rate, and the grain growth was accompanied by the emergence of stable 100 orientation.     

Modeling the mechanical behavior of a multicrystalline zinc coating on a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet

Numerical simulations can play a major role in the understanding of deformation mechanisms in zinc coatings of galvanized steel sheets during forming processes. A three-dimensional finite element (FE) simulation of a thin zinc coating on a galvanized steel sheet has been performed taking the multicrystalline structure of the coating into account. Experimental characterization of the gauge length of a real in situ tensile specimen reveals 34 large flat zinc grains; the grain orientations are determined using the electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) technique. The geometry and orientation of the grains and the plastic deformation modes specific to hexagonal close-packed (hcp) metals as plastic slip and twinning are incorporated into the modeling using a classical crystal plasticity framework. The constraint effect of the substrate is evidenced by comparing the results to the computation of a zinc layer without substrate under the same loading conditions. Attention is then focused on, respectively, the initiation of plastic activity at the grain boundaries, the multiaxial stress state of the grains, the development of a strain gradient within the thickness.     

Interpretation of flow stress of textured zinc sheet

Abstract

The dependence of the flow stress on the orientation of the stress axis in the plane of textured zinc sheet has been investigated, both experimentally and theoretically. The theoretical investigation consisted of simulating the deformation process by using a generalized Taylor model (based on the minimum-work condition) and the Sachs model (based on the Schmidt shear-stress law). The deformation modes considered were slip and mechanical twinning. Only with the Taylor model was the orientation distribution consistent with the experimentally determined pole figures. The work done and the flow stress for a given plastic strain were therefore calculated for this orientation distribution using the Taylor model. The calculated and measured quantities exhibited the same directional dependence. This anisotropy can be attributed to the different activations for basal and pyramidal slip systems.

MST/80     

Flow stress and recrystallisation during hot deformation of Cu–9%Sn alloys

Abstract

Compression tests were carried out on two compositions of Cu–Sn bronze: Cu–9·2Sn and Cu–9·1Sn–0·26Zn (wt-%). The experiments were performed at temperatures from ambient up to 750°C and at nominal (initial) strain rates in the range 10^-3 to 10^-1 s^-1. The measured data were converted into true stress–true strain curves; these displayed yield drops as well as single peaks (or maxima) at higher temperatures and lower strain rates. The mean rate sensitivity applicable to the curves was 0·25. Optical metallography indicated that dynamic recrystallisation of the ‘grain refinement’ type was taking place at the higher temperatures and proceeded by necklace formation. Electron backscattered diffraction measurements were also carried out; these revealed that twinning plays an important role in these materials. The present results show that the progress of recrystallisation is considerably slower than in OFHC copper and that the recrystallised grain size is appreciably finer. These observations, taken together, all indicate that the high temperature flow behaviour of the tin bronzes is controlled by solute drag and is not of the conventional ‘pure metal’ type.     

New crystal plasticity constitutive model for large strain deformation in single crystals of magnesium

A new rate-dependent elastic–viscoplastic crystal plasticity constitutive model (CPCM) to simulate the large strain deformation in magnesium alloys is presented. The observed intragranular plastic deformation mechanisms of primary extension, primary contraction, and secondary extension (double) twinning are accounted for. The basal and non-basal slip systems in the parent grain, primary and double twins were also incorporated in the model. The crystallographic planes and directions of various slip and twinning systems are calculated. The slip-induced shear in the parent grain, as well as primary and secondary twinned regions are simulated. The twinning-induced shear from the primary and secondary twinned regions are also computed. In the model the texture evolution in the parent, as well as primary and secondary twinned regions are tracked. Separate resistance evolution functions for all the slip and twinning systems were considered. The interactions between various slip and twinning systems are accounted for in a comprehensive manner. Using the proposed CPCM, the plastic deformation in a magnesium single crystal in simple shear strain path is simulated. The contributions of various plastic deformation mechanisms to the macroscopic plastic deformation of the magnesium single crystal in this strain path are presented. The importance of identifying the active plastic deformation in a given strain path on a magnesium single crystal for a reliable model prediction was shown with an example.     

Effects of prior compression on ductility and yielding behaviour in extruded magnesium alloy AZ31

Abstract

In the present paper, the effects of precompression along extrusion direction (ED) on subsequent compression perpendicular to ED were investigated in an extruded magnesium alloy AZ31. The results showed that the yield stress under compression perpendicular to ED increased if there was precompression along ED. The evolution of deformation mechanism was responsible for increase in yield stress because plastic deformation was dominated by both basal slip and {10–12} twinning under compression perpendicular to ED in samples without prestrain, but basal slip was difficult to be activated and {10–12} twinning dominated deformation in samples with precompression. However, because basal slip had no obvious contribution to plastic deformation, the ductility decreased if there was precompression along ED.     

Analysis of the microstructure evolution during tensile testing at room temperature of high-manganese austenitic steel

The microstructure and texture evolution of low-stacking fault energy high-manganese austenitic steel during tensile testing at room temperature was studied by means of interrupted tests. Untested material shows fully recrystallized austenitic grains and an almost random texture. During deformation, two deformation mechanisms, mechanical twinning and dislocation gliding, compete with each other. The governing mechanism of a single grain will depend on its crystallographic orientation relative to tensile direction. As a result of the strong interaction between grain orientation and twinning activity at low tensile strain, both grains with and without deformation twins can be observed. However, at high strain all the grains exhibited twin bands. Tensile tested samples were characterized by the presence of a fiber texture with the <111> and <100> directions parallel to the tensile direction.     

Hall-Petch behaviour of 316L austenitic stainless steel at elevated temperatures

Abstract

The plastic deformation behaviour of two different batches (having differences in chemical composition) of 316L austenitic stainless steel has been explored in the 200-800°C temperature range as a function of grain size. The plastic behaviour is correlated with microstructural observations of annealed and deformed samples. The microstructural parameters measured in this study are grain size, grain size and shape distribution, grain aspect ratio, and the distribution of dihedral angles. Hardness measurements were also performed to assess the hardness profile across the grains. The applicability of Hall-Petch relationship was tested in the 200-800°C temperature range. It is observed that the Hall-Petch relationship is applicable in the coarse grain regime (d≥6 μm) and Kocks composite relationship (σ versus d^-1) in the fine grain regime (d≤6 μm) of batch 1 samples in the 200-600^°C temperature range. At 800°C, the Hall-Petch data is widely scattered and the scatter increases with increasing strain. The variation of Hall-Petch parameters and Kocks parameters with strain and temperature are analysed on the basis of changes in the microstructural parameters. The operating deformation mechanisms in different temperature and strain ranges are discussed on the basis of variation of microstructural parameters with strain and temperature.     

镁合金AZ31高温形变机制的织构分析

利用X射线衍射和背散射电子衍射方法测定了镁合金AZ3l高温动态再结晶和超塑形变时的宏观和微观织构,分析了晶粒内部的形变机制.结果表明,在动态再结晶和超塑形变过程中,晶粒内部的滑移机制仍起重要作用,表现为再结晶晶粒出现择优取向以及一些晶粒可充分均匀形变成长条状.宏观织构的测定表明,具有不同初始织构的两类样品高温动态再结晶时,新晶粒有不同的取向择优过程,形成相似的织构;长条形变晶粒内部开动的滑移系也有一定的差异.分析了不同温度下相同的织构对应的不同塑变机理取向成像分析表明,基面织构取向的晶粒间总伴随着较高比例的小角晶界和30°(0001)的取向关系,这是六方结构的六次对称性限制了动态再结晶时(亚)晶粒间取向差的有效增大的缘故.     

The polycrystalline plasticity due to slip and twinning during magnesium alloy forming

In order to simulate the magnesium alloy-forming processes accurately, it is necessary to consider the plastic anisotropy. In this paper, a new rate-independent constitutive model for polycrystalline plastic deformation by slip and twinning has been formulated, and then introduced into a FEM program. Metal flow is assumed to occur by crystallographic slip on given slip and twinning systems within each crystal. Each integration point represents a single crystal. Then uniaxial compression and cup drawing of Mg alloy are studied by using a rate-independent polycrystalline plasticity finite element analysis. In this paper, the ear distributions of the polycrystal are predicted for different typical initial orientation cases. The values of the twinning factors associated with slip system deformation are deduced. It is found that the twinning factors vary with the value of the stress. The basal slip and twinning system plays the dominant role in the deformation of magnesium alloy, which might be the most important contribution to strain hardening.     

Tensile deformation behavior of high manganese austenitic steel: The role of grain size

The tensile deformation behavior and microstructural evolutions of twinning induced plasticity (TWIP) steel with the chemical composition of Fe–31Mn–3Al–3Si and average grain sizes in the range of 2.1–72.6 μm have been analyzed. For each grain size, the Hollomon analysis and also the Crussard–Jaoul (C–J) analysis as an alternative method to describe the work hardening behavior were investigated. The results indicated that the optimum mechanical properties as a function of work hardening capacity can be obtained by changing the grain size. The microstructural observations showed that the pile-ups of planar dislocations are necessary for triggering the mechanical twinning and grain refinement suppresses the mechanical twinning in TWIP steel. Furthermore, the mechanical twinning increases with increasing applied strain. As a result, a high instantaneous work hardening due to the mechanical twin boundaries enhances the uniform elongation. The contribution from the strain of twinning and hardening due to an increase in the hardness of the twinned regions (i.e., the Basinski mechanism) may be also useful in achieving the high strength–ductility in TWIP steels.