Modelling Transformation Induced Plasticity – an Application to Heavy Steel Plates

The time‐dependent inhomogeneous temperature distribution during the cooling of steel plates gives rise to thermal strains which, in turn, generate plastification and thus residual stresses. Moreover, transformation from the parent austenite phase into a product phase typically entails not only metallurgical strains but also accounts for transformation induced plasticity (TRIP), which again generates transformation related residual stresses. It is the goal of this paper to build a unified model that takes into account all relevant contributions to the total strain rate, i.e., elastic, plastic, thermal, metallurgical and TRIP strain contributions. The material parameters relevant for TRIP are determined by means of dilatometric tests as well as by purely numerical means. For the evolution of the product phase a kinetic relationship will be presented that allows differentiating between different local cooling rates. It is set up with an Avrami‐like approach, specially designed for complex cooling histories. The material model is implemented into the commercial finite element package ABAQUS, which allows to simulate the evolution of the residual stresses in heavy steel plates after complete cool‐down to room temperature.     

Analysis of the Strain‐Induced Martensitic Transformation of Retained Austenite in Cold Rolled Micro‐Alloyed TRIP Steel

The stability of retained austenite and the kinetics of the strain‐induced martensitic transformation in micro‐alloyed TRIP‐aided steel were obtained from interrupted tensile tests and saturation magnetization measurements. Tensile tests with single specimens and at variable temperature were carried out to determine the influence of the micro‐alloying on the M_s^σ temperature of the retained austenite. Although model calculations show that the addition of the micro‐alloying elements influences a number of stabilizing factors, the results indicate that the stability of retained austenite in the micro‐alloyed TRIP‐aided steels is not significantly influenced by the micro‐alloying. The kinetics of the strain‐induced martensitic transformation was also not significantly influenced by addition of the micro‐alloying elements. The addition of micro‐alloying elements slows down the autocatalytic propagation of the strain‐induced martensite due to the increase of the yield strength of retained austenite. The lower uniform elongation of micro‐alloyed TRIP‐aided steel is very likely due to the presence of numerous precipitates in the microstructure and the pronounced ferrite grain size refinement.     

Minimizing the Distortion of Steel Profiles by Controlled Cooling

A complex thermomechanical model is introduced for the simulation of the transient fields of temperature and stresses during the quenching of steel products. The material behaviour is an extension of the classical J₂‐plasticity theory with the extension of temperature and phase fraction dependent yield criteria. The coupling effects, i.e., dissipation of mechanical energy, transformation induced plasticity (TRIP), and phase transformation enthalpy, are considered. The model is used for the determination of the optimal cooling or quenching for reducing the distortion in the long steel profiles. The simulation results are presented in order to investigate the effects of material properties, boundary conditions, profile size and geometry. In the simulations, L‐, T‐ and U‐profiles made of steel C45 and steel C80 are considered. It is demonstrated that with a higher cooling rate in the mass lumped regions of the profiles, the distortion can be reduced.     

Theory,experiments and numerical modelling of phase transformations with emphasis on TRIP

This paper presents an overview of the co‐operative efforts aiming at the correct characterisation of the thermo‐mechanical behaviour of materials during the process of a phase change. In the first section the physical conditions for the onset of transformation processes, either diffusive or massive or displacive, expressed in terms of the chemical driving forces in a multi‐component system are derived on a very general basis. Introducing appropriate expressions for the chemical as well as the mechanical dissipation based on jump conditions of quantities such as the deformation rate and the diffusive fluxes at the moving interface allows to formulate proper transformation criteria. No fluxes will occur in the case of displacive, i.e. martensitic transformation which is responsible for the TRIP phenomenon. The mechanism governing the selection of a particular martensitic variant of the product phase out of a discrete number of possible variants is described in the paper. The underlying ideas and tools supplied by continuum mechanics eventually leading to a transformation condition for martensitic transformation are summarised in the appendix. The second section of the paper shows some aspects of a comprehensive experimental program investigating the thermo‐mechanical behaviour of a maraging steel with very advantageous properties in the transformation regime. It allows to filter out the TRIP strain evolution during transformation from the total strain measured by means of a multiaxial tension torsion dilatometer equipment. The focus is put on finding a material law that is valid also for non‐proportional loading paths. Unlike the predictions of traditional constitutive relationships the TRIP strain rate exhibits a significant drop if the external load is removed during the progress of transformation suggesting the existence of a transformation related backstress. Finally a method is demonstrated how to validate the experimental findings by means of a numerical algorithm. Based on the physical principles explained in the first part of the paper a subroutine can be devised and implemented into a commercial finite element code that allows to simulate the behaviour of the material represented by a unit cell. The simulations yield realistic results for the transformation kinetics, the load‐displacement curves as well as the material response for non‐proportional loading paths.     

Properties and application of TRIP‐steel in sheet metal forming

A further development of dual‐phase‐steels are represented by TRIP (transformation induced plasticity) ‐steels. TRIP‐steels contain austenite, which is metastable at room temperature. It transforms to martensite during straining (TRIP effect). This process improves the strength‐ductility balance of these steels. Two types of TRIP‐steels, low alloyed (L‐TRIP) and high alloyed (H‐TRIP), can be applied in sheet forming processes and exhibit different forming characteristics. Basing on results of uniaxial tensile tests and the evaluation of Young's modulus the forming limits in deep drawing processes and the component properties of deep drawn parts are discussed. The Young's modulus decreases significantly with increasing pre‐strain, especially demonstrated for the L‐TRIP material TRIP700. Forming limit curves determined at different forming temperatures indicate its influence on the forming limits. Martensite transformation is suppressed at a temperature of approximately T = 200 °C and therefore the major strain ?₁ decreases significantly. For the investigated stainless steel AISI304 (H‐TRIP) different lubricant types in comparison to chlorinated paraffins have been tested. Lubricants consisting of sulphur additives led to good forming conditions in forming processes, even better than lubricants based on chlorinated paraffins. The evaluation of component properties, compared between L‐TRIP and H‐TRIP, was done based on the analysis of springback and dent resistance. The L‐TRIP material TRIP700 shows higher springback angles than AISI304 resulting from higher yield strength and decreased Young's modulus, resulting from the forming process. The dent resistance of TRIP‐steel was exemplarily demonstrated for AISI304. Uniaxial pre‐strained sheet specimen were analysed to show the dent resistance depending on dent depth. During elastic denting pre‐strain has no influence on dent resistance. Further increasing dent depth lead to increased dent forces for pre‐strained specimens.     

Dynamic Tensile Behaviour of TRIP and DP Steels at Different Temperatures

The stress‐strain response of TRIP 700 and DP 600 steels was studied at a wide range of strain rates and temperatures using a special high/low temperature tensile Hopkinson Split Bar (THSB) device. The mechanical properties of the studied steels, especially of the TRIP steel, were found to be strongly affected by both temperature and strain rate. The beneficial TRIP effect in the studied steel reached its maximum at temperatures between 75‐150 °C. The transformation behaviour of the retained austenite in the TRIP steel was studied by XRD, revealing that the phase transformation rate increases with decreasing temperature and decreases with increasing strain rate. A phenomenological numerical model was also presented to describe the behaviour of the TRIP and DP steels at different temperatures and strain rates.     

Iso‐Work‐Rate Weighted‐Taylor Homogenization Scheme for Multiphase Steels Assisted by Transformation‐induced Plasticity Effect

A simple homogenization scheme for multiphase microstructure (composite) is developed. This scheme is based on the classical Taylor (iso‐strain‐rate) averaging scheme. Scalar multipliers are introduced as weighting parameters in order to relax the condition of uniform strain distribution used in the classical Taylor scheme. In the present work, the scalar weighting parameters are determined by satisfying the iso‐work‐rate condition, i.e., work is equally distributed in all constituent phases. In combination with micromechanical models developed for transformation‐induced plasticity (TRIP) effect, the iso‐work‐rate weighted‐Taylor scheme is applied for simulating the effective mechanical behaviour of multiphase TRIP‐assisted steel. The predictions of the iso‐work‐rate weighted‐Taylor scheme are compared with the result of the corresponding simulation with the direct finite‐element method (FEM).     

Macromodelling of Transformation Induced Plasticity combined with Viscoplasticity for Low‐Alloy Steels

Metal forming processes are important technologies for production of engineering metal components. In order to optimize the resulting material properties, it becomes necessary to simulate the entire forming process by taking into account physical effects such as phase transformations. In this work we concentrate on the phase change from austenite to martensite and present a macroscopic material model, which combines the effects of viscoplasticity with the effect of transformation induced plasticity (TRIP). An extensive experimental data basis for a low‐alloy steel is used for parameter identification, thus taking into account the effects of uniaxial compressive and tensile stress on the kinetics of phase transformation at different temperatures. In a finite element simulation the austenite to martensite phase transformation within a shaft subjected to thermal loading is investigated.     

Deformation Mechanisms and Martensitic Phase Transformation in TRIP‐Steel/Zirconia Honeycombs

The mechanical and structural response of powder metallurgical square‐celled honeycomb structures to quasi‐static and dynamic impact loads are described. By constructing the cellular lattice with a novel metal matrix composite material based on a metastable high‐alloyed austenitic TRIP‐steel particle‐reinforced by magnesia partially stabilized zirconia (Mg‐PSZ), high specific yield and ultimate collapse strengths as well as a high ductility and an enhanced specific energy absorption were gained. In order to prove the temperature sensitivity of the honeycomb structures, a selected low‐reinforced composite condition was investigated in a pre‐series of quasi‐static compression tests at temperatures in the range between ?190 and 150°C. The present study shows that the deformation mechanisms of the TRIP‐matrix composite honeycomb structures can be classified with respect to strain rate and deformation temperature, including the failure characteristics and the strain‐induced α′‐martensite transformation in the austenitic steel matrices ensuring the TRIP effect. The evolution of the α′‐martensite phase content in the central crush zone of the TRIP steel and TRIP‐Matrix Composite honeycombs is demonstrated based on the results of magnetic balance measurements.     

Finite Element Modelling of TRIP Steels

A constitutive model that describes the mechanical behaviour of steels exhibiting “Transformation Induced Plasticity” (TRIP) during martensitic transformation is presented. Multiphase TRIP steels are considered as composite materials with a ferritic matrix containing bainite and retained austenite, which gradually transforms into martensite. The effective properties and overall behaviour of TRIP steels are determined by using homogenization techniques for non‐linear composites. The developed constitutive model considers the different hardening behaviour of the individual phases and estimates the apportionment of plastic strain and stress between the individual phases of the composite. A methodology for the numerical integration of the resulting elastoplastic constitutive equations in the context of the finite element method is developed and the constitutive model is implemented in a general‐purpose finite element program. The prediction of the model in uniaxial tension agrees well with the experimental data. The problem of necking of a bar in uniaxial tension is studied in detail.     

Study on the Strain Hardening Behaviors of TWIP/TRIP Steels

Due to the complex coupling of twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP), transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP), and dislocation glide in TWIP/TRIP steels, it is difficult as well as essential to build a comprehensive strain hardening model to describe the interactions between different deformation mechanisms (i.e., deformation twinning, martensitic transformation, and dislocation glide) and the resulted strain hardening behaviors. To address this issue, a micromechanical model is established in this paper to predict the deformation process of TWIP/TRIP steels considering both TWIP and TRIP effects. In the proposed model, the generation of deformation twinning and martensitic transformation is controlled by the stacking fault energy (SFE) of the material. In the thermodynamic calculation of SFE, deformation temperature, chemical compositions, microstrain, and temperature rise during deformation are taken into account. Varied by experimental results, the developed model can predict the stress–strain response and strain hardening behaviors of TWIP/TRIP steels precisely. In addition, the improved strength and enhanced strain hardening in Fe-Mn-C TWIP/TRIP steels due to the increased carbon content is also analyzed, which consists with literature.     

Modelling of Transformations in TRIP Steels

Industrial processing of low‐alloy Transformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP) steels involves various stages of heat‐treating, such as Intercritical Annealing (IA) and Bainitic Isothermal Treatment (BIT), in order to produce a dispersion of retained austenite (γ_R) particles and bainite (α_B) in a ferritic matrix (α). Retained austenite then transforms to martensite (α′) during forming processes undergone by the steel. In the present work an effort was made to model these stages of processing, i.e. IA, BIT and the γ_R→α′ strain‐induced transformation. Simulation of heat‐treatment stages was implemented using computational kinetics methods. Investigation of the strain‐induced gM_R→α′ transformation kinetics was performed by means of a simple analytical model. Simulation of IA and comparison with available experimental data showed that the amount of austenite (γ) forming during IA reaches the values predicted by thermodynamic equilibrium only at high annealing temperatures (>825°C). It was also observed that kinetic and thermodynamic predictions set a lower and an upper limit, respectively, within which the actual amount of austenite experimentally observed is contained. Results from the simulation of the BIT indicated considerable carbon enrichment, and thus stabilization of γ_R, in agreement with recent experimental observations. As regards the strain‐induced gM_R→α′ transformation, the analytical model employed in the present work was fitted to available experimental results, showing reasonably good adaptation to the kinetic behaviour of the microstructure during plastic deformation.     

Development of high strength low alloy TRIP‐aided steels with annealed martensite matrix

Formable high‐strength low‐alloy TRIP‐aided sheet steels with annealed martensite matrix or TRIP‐aided annealed martensitic steel were developed for automotive applications. The steels possessed a large amount of plate‐like retained austenite along annealed martensite lath boundary, the stability of which against the strain‐induced transformation was higher than that of the conventional TRIP‐aided dual‐phase steel with polygonal ferrite matrix. In a tensile strength range between 600 and 1000 MPa, the TRIP‐aided annealed martensitic steels exhibited superior large elongation and reduction of area. In addition, the steels possessed the same excellent stretch‐flangeability and bendability as TRIP‐aided bainitic steel with bainitic ferrite matrix. These properties were discussed by matrix structure, a strength ratio of second phase to matrix, retained austenite stability, internal stress in matrix and so on.     

Mechanical Behavior of Deformation‐Induced α′‐Martensite and Flow Curve Modeling of a Cast CrMnNi TRIP‐Steel

For the modeling of the mechanical behavior of a two phase alloy with the rule of mixture (RM), the flow stress of both phases is needed. In order to obtain these information for the α′‐martensite in high alloyed TRIP‐steels, compression tests at cryogenic temperatures were performed to create a fully deformation‐induced martensitic microstructure. This martensitic material condition was subsequently tested under compressive loading at ?60, 20, and 100°C and at strain rates of 10^?3, 10⁰, and 10³ s^?1 to determine the mechanical properties. The α′‐martensite possesses high strength and surprisingly good ductility up to 60% of compressive strain. Using the flow stress behavior of the α′‐martensite and that of the stable austenitic steel AISI 316L, the flow stress behavior of the high alloyed CrMnNi TRIP‐steel is modeled successfully using a special RM proposed by Narutani et al.     

Study of the Combined TWIP/TRIP Effect in a High Mn Steel During Cold Rolling

A combined TWIP/TRIP effect has been observed in a high Mn cold rolled steel. The change in the magnetic property of the material with strain due to the austenite‐to‐martensite transformation has been measured and it shows increasing ferromagnetic behavior with strain. The texture development with strain has been analyzed via the Schmid factor for slip and twin systems in the material. The phase transformation has been related to changes occurring in the {110} <001> and {112} <111> texture components as well as to the profiles of XRD peaks at different strain levels.     

Stress‐Temperature‐Transformation and Deformation‐Temperature‐Transformation Diagrams for an Austenitic CrMnNi as‐cast Steel

Stress‐Temperature‐Transformation (STT) and Deformation‐Temperature‐Transformation (DTT) diagrams are well‐suited to characterize the TRIP (transformation‐induced plasticity) and TWIP (twinning‐induced plasticity) effect in steels. The triggering stresses for the deformation‐induced microstructure transformation processes, the characteristic temperatures, the yield stress and the strength of the steel are plotted in the STT diagram as functions of temperature. The elongation values of the austenite, the strain‐induced twins and martensite formations are shown in the DTT diagram. The microstructure evolution of a novel austenitic Cr‐Mn‐Ni (16%Cr, 6% Mn, 6% Ni) as‐cast steel during deformation was investigated at various temperatures using static tensile tests, optical microscopy and the magnetic scale for the detection of ferromagnetic phase fraction. At the temperatures above 250 °C the steel only deforms by glide deformation of the austenite. Strain‐induced twinning replaces the glide deformation at temperatures below 250 °C with increasing strain. Below 100 °C, the strain‐induced martensite formation becomes more pronounced. The kinetics of the α'‐martensite formation is described according to stress and deformation temperatures. The STT and DTT diagrams, enhanced with the kinetics of the martensite formation, are presented in this paper.     

Response Characteristics and Adiabatic Heating during High Strain Rate for TRIP Steel and DP Steel

By using a static and high-speed material testing machine,tensile deformation behaviors of two kinds of SiMn TRIP(transformation induced plasticity)steels and DP(dual phase)steel were studied in a large range of strain rates(0.001-2 000s-1).Temperature variation during adiabatic heating and the amount of retained austenite at fracture were measured by an infrared thermometer and an X-ray stress analyser,respectively.The microstructure of steels was observed by optical microscopy(OM)and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)before and after tensile test.It was found from the experimental results that the tensile strength of these steels increased,and the fracture elongation firstly decreased and subsequently increased,as the strain rate increased in the range of 0.1-2 000s-1.The temperature raised during adiabatic heating of TRIP steel was in the range of 100-300℃,while that of the DP steel was in the range of 100-220 ℃.The temperature rise of these steels increased with increasing the strain rate,as well as the amount of the transformed retained austenite in TRIP steels.It was confirmed that austenite to martensite transformation is not suppressed by adiabatic heating.     

Reinforcing Mechanism of Mg‐PSZ Particles in Highly‐Alloyed TRIP Steel

Dense TRIP‐matrix composites containing 5 vol.% Mg‐PSZ as reinforcing phase were produced by employing the spark plasma sintering technique. A continuous and seamless interface between the ceramic particles and the steel matrix was achieved. Compression tests revealed better mechanical properties of the 5 vol.% Mg‐PSZ‐TRIP steel composites in comparison with both, pure and Al₂O₃ reinforced TRIP steel. The underlying deformation mechanism within the austenitic matrix entailed a pronounced martensite formation. An additional phase transformation was observed within the ZrO₂ particles. The enhanced mechanical properties of the 5 vol.% Mg‐PSZ composite are dedicated to the transformation strengthening of the ceramic particles. Finally a model of the reinforcing mechanism is proposed.     

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.     

Influence of Strain‐Induced Retained Austenite Transformation on the Dynamic Tensile Behaviour of TRIP‐aided Steels

Tensile tests for two commercial TRIP‐aided steels with the compositions of 0.091%C‐1.456%Si‐1.061%Mn and 0.134%C‐1.525%Si‐1.226%Mn in the strain rate range of 10^?4‐10³ s^?1 were performed. Results for a pneumatic indirect bar‐bar tensile impact tester displayed sensitivity of tensile properties to strain‐rate within the testing range. XRD analysis for the relationship between the strain‐hardening exponent and the strain‐induced transformation of retained austenite suggested significant influence of the transformation of retained austenite on their work‐hardening behaviour.