Micromechanical Modeling of Strain-Hardening Behavior in Dual-Phase Steels

A mathematical model is developed to consider the impact of microstructural parameters, including the volume fraction and the average particle size of martensite, on the flow stress and strain-hardening behavior of dual-phase microstructure. In this regard, the micromechanical approach is applied for partitioning the stress and strain in ferrite and martensite. Martensite carbon content and geometrically necessary dislocations, generated from austenite-to-martensite transformation, and strain accommodation at the ferrite–martensite interface, are involved to modify the partitioned stress of martensite and ferrite, respectively. Having partitioned stress in each phase, the global stress is estimated as the function of steel chemical composition, ferrite grain size, martensite particle size, aspect ratio, and volume fraction. To evaluate the applicability of the proposed model, four dual-phase steels containing 12, 25, 34, and 48% volume fractions of martensite are prepared from the intermediate quenching process, and then after the strain-hardening stages are investigated. Comparing the experimental result and model output reveals that the presented model shows good predictive capabilities to identify strain-hardening stages and estimate the inverse of the strain-hardening exponent.     

Second-order stresses and strains in heterogeneous steels: Self-consistent modeling and X-ray diffraction analysis

Theoretical and experimetal methods have been developed to characterize the effect of mechanical loading on the mesoscopic and macroscopic mechanical state of polycrystalline materials. Ferritic and austenitic single-phase materials were first analyzed, then phase interaction was studied in a multiductile phase material (austeno-ferritic duplex steel) and a natural reinforced composite (pearlitic steel). The theoretical method is based on the self-consistent approach in which elastic and plastic characteristics of the phases have been applied through the micromechanical behavior of single-crystal-using slip systems and microscopic hardening. The effects of a crystallographic texture and phase interaction during loading and after unloading were studied. The elastic and plastic anisotropy of the grains having the same crystallographic orientation were assessed by diffraction strain analysis. The simulation was compared with the experiments performed using the X-ray diffraction technique. In the considered duplex and pearlitic steels, it was observed that the ferrite stress state is much lower than the austenite and cementite ones. The results of diffraction strain distribution have showed the pertinence of the models and give valuable information, for example, for the yield stress and the hardening parameters of each phase in a two-phase material.     

Influence of martensite composition and content on the properties of dual phase steels

A study has been made of the mechanical properties of dual phase (martensite plus ferrite) structures produced when Fe-Mn-C alloys are quenched from the austenite plus ferrite phase field, so as to give a series of alloys with constant ferrite and martensite compositions but varying percent martensites. It is found that the strength of a dual phase structure is dependent on the ferrite grain size and the volume fraction of martensite, and is independent of the composition and strength of the martensite. In agreement with previous work the ductility of these steels is superior to that for standard HSLA steels at the same tensile strength. As shown in a previous paper the strength and ductility as a function of percent martensite are in agreement with Mileiko’s theory of composites of two ductile phases. This theory and the results indicate that the superior ductility of dual phase steels is largely a consequence of the high strength (fine grained), highly ductile (low interstitial content) ferrite matrix.     

Development of Ultrahigh Strength TRIP Steel Containing High Volume Fraction of Martensite and Study of the Microstructure and Tensile Behavior

A new transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steel containing high volume fraction of martensite was produced by austempering heat treatment cycle. Microstructure and tensile properties of this TRIP steel were investigated and compared to those of a dual phase (DP) steel with high martensite volume fraction. Microstructural analysis showed a mixture of ferrite, bainite, retained austenite and about 25–30 vol% of martensite in the TRIP steel. As a result of the strain induced transformation of retained austenite to martensite, the TRIP steel showed a strength elongation balance of 86% higher than that for the DP steel. In comparison to the commercial TRIP780 steel, the current TRIP steel showed a 15% higher ultimate tensile strength value while maintaining the same level of ductility. TRIP steel also had a larger work hardening exponent than DP steel at all strains.     

Static strain aging phenomena in cold-rolled dual-phase steels

The effect of low-temperature aging, with aging temperatures up to 170 °C, on a cold-rolled CMn-CrMo dual-phase (DP) ferrite-martensite steel was investigated. This material was processed using three different intercritical annealing treatments, leading to DP structures with different microstructures and properties. It has been found that both the aging in the ferrite phase and the tempering in the martensite play an important role in the mechanical behavior of the material with regard to the strain aging phenomena. The yield stress increase accompanying the aging phenomenon revealed three separate aging stages. In the present study, those stages were determined to be the result of the pinning of dislocations in the ferrite, the C-cluster formation, or low-temperature carbide precipitation in the ferrite and the volume contraction of the martensite due to formation of low-temperature carbides, leading to the relief of residual stresses in the ferrite. In the absence of a clear yield point, a new method is proposed to measure the increase in yield stress due to aging only.     

Static strain aging phenomena in cold-rolled dual-phase steels

The effect of low-temperature aging, with aging temperatures up to 170°C, on a cold-rolled CMn−CrMo dual-phase (DP) ferrite-martensite steel was investigated. This material was processed using three different intercritical annealing treatments, leading to DP structures with different microstructures and properties. It has been found that both the aging in the ferrite phase and the tempering in the martensite play an important role in the mechanical behavior of the material with regard to the strain aging phenomena. The yield stress increase accompanying the aging phenomenon revealed three separate aging stages. In the present study, those stages were determined to be the result of the pinning of dislocations in the ferrite, the C-cluster formation, or low-temperature carbide precipitation in the ferrite and the volume contraction of the martensite due to formation of low-temperature carbides, leading to the relief of residual stresses in the ferrite. In the absence of a clear yield point, a new method is proposed to measure the increase in yield stress due to aging only.     

800～1200 MPa级超高强冷轧双相钢的组织与性能

在实验室试制了800~1200 MPa级超高强冷轧双相钢。DP800和DP1000的热轧组织为铁素体+珠光体,DP1200为铁素体+珠光体+贝氏体复相组织。热轧板经过冷轧和退火后呈现典型的双相钢组织特征,力学性能可以达到相应强度级别的要求。DP800和DP1000马氏体体积分数小于50%,铁素体相为基体;DP1200马氏体体积分数超过50%,马氏体转变为基体相。最后对退火板各力学性能之间的关系进行了对比分析。     

Transformation-Induced, Geometrically Necessary, Dislocation-Based Flow Curve Modeling of Dual-Phase Steels: Effect of Grain Size

The flow behavior of dual-phase (DP) steels is modeled on the finite-element method (FEM) framework on the microscale, considering the effect of the microstructure through the representative volume element (RVE) approach. Two-dimensional RVEs were created from microstructures of experimentally obtained DP steels with various ferrite grain sizes. The flow behavior of single phases was modeled through the dislocation-based work-hardening approach. The volume change during austenite-to-martensite transformation was modeled, and the resultant prestrained areas in the ferrite were considered to be the storage place of transformation-induced, geometrically necessary dislocations (GNDs). The flow curves of DP steels with varying ferrite grain sizes, but constant martensite fractions, were obtained from the literature. The flow curves of simulations that take into account the GND are in better agreement with those of experimental flow curves compared with those of predictions without consideration of the GND. The experimental results obeyed the Hall-Petch relationship between yield stress and flow stress and the simulations predicted this as well.     

Microstructure based modelling of stress–strain relationship on dual phase steels

The deformation in microstructures of DP600, DP800 and DP1000 commercial advanced high strength steels have been researched through using the representative volume element method. For this purpose, deformation analyses have been carried out by transferring geometrical models and mechanical properties of phases of each material to the finite element software. Deformation relation between ferrite and martensite phases was determined. According to the loading direction, Shear bands have been observed to occur in the range of approximately 40°–45°. It has been understood that the failure mode is shear for DP600, DP800 and DP1000 steels. Crack propagation has been observed to occur in the ferrite phase trapped at the martensite grain boundary.     

In-Situ Synchrotron Diffraction Studies on Transformation Strain Development in a High Strength Quenched and Tempered Structural Steel—Part I. Bainitic Transformation

In-situ phase transformation behavior of a high strength (830 MPa yield stress) quenched and tempered S690QL1 (Fe-0.16C-0.2Si-0.87Mn-0.33Cr-0.21Mo (wt pct)) structural steel during continuous cooling under different mechanical loading conditions has been studied. Time-temperature-load resolved 2D synchrotron diffraction patterns were recorded and used to calculate the phase fractions and lattice parameters of the phases during heating and cooling cycles under different loading conditions. In addition to the thermal expansion behavior, the effects of the applied stress on the elastic strains during the formation of bainite from austenite and the effect of carbon on the lattice parameter of bainitic ferrite were calculated. The results show that small tensile stresses applied at the transformation temperature do not change the kinetics of the phase transformation. The start temperature for the bainitic transformation decreases upon increasing the applied tensile stress. The elastic strains increase with increase in the applied tensile stress.     

Influence of Martensite Distribution on the Mechanical Properties of Dual Phase Steels: Experiments and Simulation

The application of multiphase steels in the automotive industry has been rapidly increased according to economic, environmental and safety reasons. To determine an optimal combination of high strength and good formability of multiphase steels by using the FE modelling, their complex microstructures have to be considered. Two‐dimensional Representative Volume Elements (RVEs) were currently developed based on real microstructures for dual phase (DP) steels. In general, the microstructure of DP steels contains hard martensite particles and a soft ferritic matrix. The strain hardening behaviour of the individual phases was described in the model taking the microstructural constituents and the carbon partitioning during intercritical annealing into account. Two dual phase microstructures with same martensitecontent but different martensite distributions were investigated in experiment as well as in FEM simulation by means of the RVE. The resulting mechanical properties of these steels are strongly influenced by the phase distribution and interaction. As validation, calculated flow curves were compared with the experimental results from quasi‐static tensile tests. In addition, the local stress and strain partitioning between both phases depending on the spatial phase distribution and morphology is discussed.     

Spot weldability comparison of high strength steel DP590 with different chemical composition

This paper introduces the cold-rolled DP590 high strength automotive steel sheets produced by Sougang Steel,which involve two different composition systems,one with high Al content and the other with C-Si-Mn.These two materials are pot-welded and the optimized welding current range and the best welding current are obtained.Both the two kinds of materials welding current’s scope is 1 800 A,but the current of C-Si-Mn system DP590 is 1 400 A higher then the high Al content one’ s;when these two kind of materials are welded with the optimal current,the nugget can be get by no defect.There have some difference in these two base materials.High Al DP590 has a bandy metallurgical structure compose with ferrite and martensite,the volume fraction of martensite is 8%,the grain size is 10.5.C-Si-Mn system DP590 compose with ferrite and martensite also while the volume fraction of martensite is 9%,the grain size is 9.5.Weld structure of high Al DP590 are bainite and lath martensite when C-Si-Mn system DP590’s is lath martensite only.The variation of HV is same for these two materials nugget,the length of the are both 10 mm,there have no soft zone in the weld scope.The HV of the both materials are the same of 210 -220.The HV of high Al DP590 weld scope is 280,when C-Si-Mn system DP590 is much more then it with 425.After test these two welded sample get the same failure modes,the maximum shearing resistance and maximum positive tension of high Al DP590 are both less than the C-Si-Mn system DP590.     

逆相变退火中锰钢的组织性能与成形极限

摘要：分别通过SEM、XRD、单轴拉伸试验和FLD等方法对比研究了中锰钢（MMnS780钢）与DP780钢的微观组织、力学性能及成形极限。结果表明，DP780钢获得铁素体和马氏体双相组织，具有连续屈服及较大的加工硬化能力，而MMnS780钢由细小的铁素体和奥氏体构成，具有明显屈服、相对较小的加工硬化能力和较大的均匀伸长率；不同应变状态下MMnS780钢较DP780钢具有更高的极限应变。退火组织以及细小的晶粒尺寸使MMnS780钢产生明显的屈服现象，细小组织以及亚稳奥氏体的TRIP效应使其具有较高的塑性和成形性能。     

CSP流程生产经济型热轧双相钢的工艺与组织性能

 为了在CSP产线上开发新一代经济型热轧双相钢,并确定生产的最佳成分和工艺,介绍了在武钢CSP生产线进行580MPa级热轧双相钢的工业化生产试制情况。分别采用C-Mn-Si系和C-Mn-Si-Cr系钢为原料,通过控制轧制和基于超强冷却设备的控制冷却工艺,成功开发出抗拉强度580MPa级热轧双相钢。通过比较分析2种成分钢的力学性能和微观组织,结果表明：经济型的C-Mn-Si系钢相对于C-Mn-Si-Cr系钢具有屈服强度低、屈强比小、伸长率大的特点,虽然马氏体量相对较少,但具有马氏体呈岛状更加均匀分布在铁素体晶界上等典型双相钢的特征,同时提出了生产过程中控制铁素体析出量和促进马氏体形成的具体措施。     

Local and Global Stress–Strain Behaviors of Transformation-Induced Plasticity Steel Using the Combined Nanoindentation and Finite Element Analysis Method

Transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steels have excellent strain hardening exponents and resistibility against tensile necking using the strain-induced martensite formation that occurs as a result of the plastic deformation and strain on the retained austenite phase. Detailed studies on the microstructures and local mechanical properties, as well as global mechanical properties, are necessary in order to thoroughly understand the properties of TRIP steels with multiple phases of ferrite, bainite, retained austenite, and martensite. However, methods for investigating the local properties of the various phases of the TRIP steel are limited due to the very complicated and fine microstructures present in TRIP steel. In this study, the experimental and numerical methods, i.e., the experimental nanoindenting results and the theoretical finite element analyses, were combined in order to extract the local stress–strain curves of each phase. The local stress–strain curves were in good agreement with the values presented in the literature. In particular, the global plastic stress–strain behavior of the TRIP steel was predicted using the multiple phase unit cell finite element analysis, and this demonstrated the validity of the obtained properties of each local phase. The method of extracting the local stress–strain curves from the nanoindenting curves and predicting the global stress–strain behavior assists in clarifying the smart design of multi-phase steels.     

The deformation behavior of a vanadium-strengthened dual phase steel

A study has been made of the mechanical properties of dual phase (martensite plus ferrite) structures produced when a V containing HSLA steel is cooled in a controlled manner from either the austenite or austenite plus ferrite phase fields. Such a heat treatment results in the pearlite regions and carbide particles of the standard V steel being replaced by martensite; this leads to a decrease in the yield stress and an increase in ductility while the tensile strength is essentially unchanged. The fatigue of dual phase steels is slightly superior in the high strain life (ductility controlled) region and slightly inferior in the low strain life (yield dominated) region when compared to standard V steel. The replacement of the pearlite and cementite particles which can nucleate cracks, by more ductile martensite islands results in improved Charpy impact properties. The strength and the ductility of the dual phase materials is shown to be in agreement with a theory of composites with two ductile phases. This theory then allows one to understand the relative importance of various microstructural features in controlling strength and ductility. In this way it is found that the key to the superior elongation (at a constant tensile strength) is largely due to the high strength (fine grained), highly ductile ferrite matrix.     

含铌冷轧DP780钢的连退工艺对组织及性能的影响

 通过成分工艺优化,在传统冷轧铁素体和马氏体双相钢DP780的显微组织上引入了一定体积分数的残余奥氏体,研究了冷轧退火工艺参数对双相钢DP780的显微组织和力学性能的影响。通过调整连续退火工艺来控制显微组织中一次铁素体、二次铁素体、马氏体、残余奥氏体的比例、尺寸、形貌、分布,同时获得了连退工艺参数-显微组织-力学性能的本质关系。结果表明,通过在传统冷轧铁素体和马氏体双相钢的组织上引入了体积分数为5%～7%的残余奥氏体,不仅可以获得[ReL/Rm≤0.5]的超低屈强比型冷轧DP780,也改善了成型性能。     

Numerical Cooling Strategy Design for Hot Rolled Dual Phase Steel

In this article, a Mo‐Mn dual phase steel and its process parameters in hot rolling are discussed. The process window was derived by combining the experimental work in a hot deformation dilatometer and numerical calculation of the process parameters using rate law models for ferrite and martensite transformation. The ferrite formation model is based on the Leblond and Devaux approach while martensite formation is based on the Koistinen‐Marburger (K‐M) formula. The carbon enrichment during ferrite formation is taken into account for the following martensite formation. After completing the parameter identification for the rate law model, the evolution of phases in this steel can be addressed. Particularly, the simulations allow the prediction of preferable degree of retained strain and holding temperature on the run out table (ROT) for the required ferrite fraction.     

A new relationship between the flow stress and the microstructural parameters for dual phase steel

A theoretical model for predicting the flow stress of dual phase steel has been proposed based on the Ashby work hardening theory and the dislocation pile-up model. An expression for the relation between the flow stress and the microstructural parameters has been derived. This model takes into account both effects of ferrite grains size and martensite island size as well as the martensite volume fraction on the flow stress, which demonstrates that the flow stress dependence of ferrite grain size can be generally expressed in the form of the Hall-Petch relation. In terms of dislocation theory, the flow stress depends primarily on the geometrically necessary dislocation density nearby the ferrite/martensite boundaries and the statistically stored dislocation density in the ferrite matrix. Very good agreements have been obtained when the proposed relationship was applied to predict the experimental true stress-true strain curves of a 1020 dual phase steel and a spheroidized carbon steel.     

Forming Limit Curve (FLC) and Fracture Mechanism of Newly Developed Low‐Carbon Low‐Silicon TRIP Steel

The Forming‐Limited Diagram (FLD) of intercritically annealed 0.11C‐1.65Mn‐0.62Si TRIP‐assisted steel was investigated. The high FLD₀ value of this new low carbon TRIP steel was indicative of a superior formability. The micro‐structural changes during deformation and fracture were studied in detail. The polygonal ferrite phase was found to plastically deform first and deformed most at larger strains. Fracture was initiated by micro‐voids nucleated at ferrite grain boundaries, within ferrite grains or at the interface between ferrite and the harder phases. Cracks were formed after micro‐voids grew, coalesced, and expanded in one direction. When crack tips reached the bainite phase or the martensite/austenite constituent, the cracks propagated along the boundary of these phases. Cracks reaching retained austenite islands caused stress‐induced martensite transformation at the crack tip. The direction of motion of the cracks also changed in this case.