Forming response of retained austenite in a C‐Si‐Mn high strength TRIP sheet steel

TRIP sheet steels typically consist of ferrite, bainite, retained austenite, and martensite. The retained austenite is of particular importance because its deformation‐induced transformation to martensite contributes to excellent combinations of strength and ductility. While information is available regarding austenite response in uniaxial tension, less information is available for TRIP steels with respect to the forming response of retained austenite in complex strain states. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to study the austenite transformation behaviour in different strain paths by determining the amount of retained austenite before and after forming. Forming experiments were performed on a high strength 0.19C‐1.63Si‐1.59Mn TRIP sheet steel 1.2 mm in thickness in two different strain conditions, uniaxial tension (ε₁ = ‐2ε₂) and balanced biaxial stretching (ε₁ = ε₂). Specimens were formed to strains ranging from zero to approximately 0.2 effective (von Mises) strain. Specimens were tested both longitudinally and transverse to the rolling direction in uniaxial tension, and subtle mechanical property differences were found. The volume fraction of austenite, determined with X‐ray diffraction subsequent to forming, was found to decrease with increasing strain for both forming modes. Some modification in the crystallographic texture of the ferrite was observed with increasing strain, in specimens tested in the balanced biaxial stretch condition. This trend was not evident in the uniaxial tensile test results. Slight differences were found in the transformation behaviour of the austenite when formed in different strain conditions. More austenite transformed in specimens tested parallel to the rolling direction than transverse to the rolling direction in uniaxial tension. The amount of austenite transformed during biaxial stretching was determined to be greater than the amount transformed in uniaxial tension for specimens tested transverse to the rolling direction at an equivalent von Mises strain. The amount of austenite that transformed in biaxial tension, however, was comparable to the amount of austenite that transformed in specimens tested longitudinal to the rolling direction in uniaxial tension.