Modelling the plastic anisotropy of metals

Summary This work is an overview of available constitutive laws used in finite element codes to model elastoplastic metal anisotropy behaviour at a macroscopic level. It focuses on models with strong links with the phenomena occurring at microscopic level. Starting from macroscopic well-known models such as Hill or Barlat's laws, the limits of these macroscopic phenomenological yield loci are defined, which helps to understand the current trends to develop micro-macro laws. The characteristics of micro-macro laws, where physical behaviour at the level of grains and crystals are taken into account to provide an average macroscopic answer are described. Some basic knowledge about crystal plasticity models is given for non-specialists, so every one can understand the microscopic models used to reach macroscopic values. The assumptions defining the transition between the microscopic and macroscopic scales are summarized: full constraint or relaxed Taylor's model, self-consistent approach, homogenisation technique. Then, the two generic families of micromacro models are presented: macroscopic laws without yield locus where computations on discrete set of crystals provide the macroscopic material behaviour and macroscopic laws with macroscopic yield locus defined by microscopic computations. The models proposed by Anand, Dawson, Miehe, Geers, Kalidindi or Nakamachi belong to the first family when proposals by Montheillet, Lequeu, Darrieulat, Arminjon, Van Houtte, Habraken enter the second family. The characteristics of all these models are presented and commented. This paper enhances interests of each model and suggests possible future developments.