Micromechanics of plastic deformation and phase transformation in a three-phase TRIP-assisted advanced high strength steel: Experiments and modeling

The micromechanics of plastic deformation and phase transformation in a three-phase advanced high strength steel are analyzed both experimentally and by microstructure-based simulations. The steel examined is a three-phase (ferrite, martensite and retained austenite) quenched and partitioned sheet steel with a tensile strength of ~980 MPa. The macroscopic flow behavior and the volume fraction of martensite resulting from the austenite–martensite transformation during deformation were measured. In addition, micropillar compression specimens were extracted from the individual ferrite grains and the martensite particles, and using a flat-punch nanoindenter, stress–strain curves were obtained. Finite element simulations idealize the microstructure as a composite that contains ferrite, martensite and retained austenite. All three phases are discretely modeled using appropriate crystal plasticity based constitutive relations. Material parameters for ferrite and martensite are determined by fitting numerical predictions to the micropillar data. The constitutive relation for retained austenite takes into account contributions to the strain rate from the austenite–martensite transformation, as well as slip in both the untransformed austenite and product martensite. Parameters for the retained austenite are then determined by fitting the predicted flow stress and transformed austenite volume fraction in a 3D microstructure to experimental measurements. Simulations are used to probe the role of the retained austenite in controlling the strain hardening behavior as well as internal stress and strain distributions in the microstructure.     

Strain gradient plasticity analysis of transformation induced plasticity in multiphase steels

“To what extent do plastic strain gradients affect the strengthening resulting from the transformation of small metastable inclusions into hard inclusions within a plastically deforming matrix?” is the central question addressed here. Though general in the approach, the focus is on the behavior of TRIP-assisted multiphase steels. A two-dimensional embedded cell model of a simplified microstructure composed of a single metastable austenitic inclusion surrounded by a soft ferritic matrix is considered. The cell is inserted in a large homogenized medium. The transformation of a fraction of the austenite into a hard martensite plate is simulated, accounting for a transformation strain, and leading to complex elastic and plastic accommodation. The size of a transforming plate in real multiphase steels is typically between 0.1 and 2 μm, a range of size in which plastic strain gradient effects are expected to play a major role. The single parameter version of the Fleck–Hutchinson strain gradient plasticity theory is used to describe the plasticity in the austenite, ferrite and martensite phases. The higher order boundary conditions imposed on the plastic flow have a large impact on the predicted strengthening. Using realistic values of the intrinsic length parameter setting the scale at which the gradients effects have an influence leads to a noticeable increase of the strengthening on top of the increase due to the transformation of a volume fraction of the retained austenite. The geometrical parameters such as the volume fraction of retained austenite and of the transforming zone also bring significant strengthening. Strain gradient effects also significantly affect the stress state inside the martensite plate during and after transformation with a potential impact on the damage resistance of these steels.     

SMA复合材料在热载条件下的残余应力分析

本文基于三相复合圆柱模型发展了增量型的分析方法,讨论在ＳＭＡ复合材料中由于ＳＭＡ材料相变以及各相材料热特性随温度变化引起的残余应力。研究基体与过渡恸介面和纤维与过渡界面间的残余应力,同时讨论由于基体相的变化对残余应力的影响。特别研究了涂层和复合材料基体间界面处的残余应力受纤维体积比、涂层厚度、纤维最大相变应以及基体中纤维取向等影响,而且讨论了计及应力对相就运动方程的影响时对ＳＭＡ复合材料相变温度和     

Predicting failure modes and ductility of dual phase steels using plastic strain localization

Ductile failure of metals is often treated as the result of void nucleation, growth and coalescence. Various criteria have been proposed to capture this failure mechanism for various materials. In this study, ductile failure of dual phase steels is predicted in the form of plastic strain localization resulting from the incompatible deformation between the harder martensite phase and the softer ferrite matrix. Microstructure-level inhomogeneity serves as the initial imperfection triggering the instability in the form of plastic strain localization during the deformation process. Failure modes and ultimate ductility of two dual phase steels are analyzed using finite element analyses based on the actual steel microstructures. The plastic work hardening properties for the constituent phases are determined by the in-situ synchrotron-based high-energy X-ray diffraction technique. Under different loading conditions, different failure modes and ultimate ductility are predicted in the form of plastic strain localization. It is found that the local failure mode and ultimate ductility of dual phase steels are closely related to the stress state in the material. Under plane stress condition with free lateral boundary, one dominant shear band develops and leads to final failure of the material. However, if the lateral boundary is constrained, splitting failure perpendicular to the loading direction is predicted with much reduced ductility. On the other hand, under plane strain loading condition, commonly observed necking phenomenon is predicted which leads to the final failure of the material. These predictions are in reasonably good agreement with experimental observations.     

应力和组分占比对马氏体-铁素体双相钢中磁巴克豪森噪声的影响

磁巴克豪森噪声(MBN)技术在马氏体-铁素体双相钢的微观结构及应力无损评价与表征中具有巨大潜力.为探究拉应力和铁素体占比对磁巴克豪森噪声的影响规律及权重,在0?200MPa范围内实验测得了具有不同铁素体占比的双相钢MBN信号.重点分析了MBN蝶形曲线双峰峰值(分别代表马氏体和铁素体)在应力和铁素体占比两因素耦合条件下的...     

Modelling of laminated microstructures in stress-induced martensitic transformations

This paper is concerned with micromechanical modelling of stress-induced martensitic transformations in crystalline solids, with the focus on distinct elastic anisotropy of the phases and the associated redistribution of internal stresses. Micro-macro transition in stresses and strains is analysed for a laminated microstructure of austenite and martensite phases. Propagation of a phase transformation front is governed by a time-independent thermodynamic criterion. Plasticity-like macroscopic constitutive rate equations are derived in which the transformed volume fraction is incrementally related to the overall strain or stress. As an application, numerical simulations are performed for cubic β₁ (austenite) to orthorhombic γ₁′ (martensite) phase transformation in a single crystal of Cu-Al-Ni shape memory alloy. The pseudoelasticity effect in tension and compression is investigated along with the corresponding evolution of internal stresses and microstructure.     

A thermodynamical constitutive model for shape memory materials. Part II. The SMA composite material

The phenomenological SMA equations developed in Part I are used in this second paper to derive the free energy and dissipation of a SMA composite material. The derivation consists of solving a boundary value problem formulated over a mesoscale representative volume element, followed by an averaging procedure to obtain the macroscopic composite constitutive equations. Explicit equations are derived for the transformation tensors that relate the composite transformation strain rate to the phase transformation rate in the fiber and matrix. Some key findings for the two-way SME in a SMA fiber/elastomer matrix composite are that processing-induced residual stresses alter the composite austenite start and martensite start temperatures, as well as the amount of composite strain recovered during a complete cycle of temperature and fiber martensite volume fraction. Relative to the two-way SME response of stiff-matrix composites, it was found that compliant-matrix composites: (1) complete the phase transformation over a narrower temperature range; (2) exhibit greater transformation strain during the reverse transformation; and (3) undergo an incomplete strain cycle during a complete cycle of temperature and fiber martensite volume fraction. Due to the interaction of the fiber and matrix during transformation, macroscopic proportional stressing of the composite results in non-proportional fiber stressing, which in turn causes a small amount of martensitic reorientation to occur simultaneously with the transformation.     

Investigation of Strain Heterogeneities Between Grains in Ferritic and Ferritic-Martensitic Steels

This work uses microlithography, digital image correlation and tensile test in order to investigate the reasons behind the heterogeneous strain distribution at the grain scale. Scanning Electron Microscope images are taken to examine the relationship between microstructure features and strain heterogeneity. The study is carried out on single phase ferritic steel and two dual phase steels with ferrite and different hard particle martensite contents. Useful image correlation is obtained in grains with diameters of 2–3 μm for the martensite and ranging from 10 to 20 μm for the ferrite. To prevent a decrease of image correlation success, some technical aspects as the microgrid step and bar width are extensively tackled with for intermediate deformations (>10 %). The different levels of longitudinal intragranular strains observed inside the ferrite grains are not correlated with their orientation, shape, size or the presence (and content) of hard phase in the material.     

Analysis of an infinite shape memory alloy plate with a circular hole subjected to biaxial tension

This paper presents an exact solution for the stresses in an infinite shape memory alloy plate with a circular hole subjected to biaxial tensile stresses applied at infinity. The solution obtained by assumption of plane stress is based on the two-dimensional version of the Tanaka constitutive law for shape memory materials. The plate is in the austenitic phase, prior to the application of external stresses. However, as a result of tensile loading, stress-induced martensite forms, beginning from the boundary of the hole and extending into the interior, as the load continues to increase. Therefore, in a general case, the plate consists of three annular regions: the inner region of pure martensite, the intermediate region where martensite and austenite coexist, and the outer region of pure austenite. The boundaries between these annular regions can be found as functions of the external stress. Two methods of solution are presented. The first is a closed-form approach based on a replacement of the actual distribution of the martensitic fraction by a piece-wise constant function of the radial coordinate. The second method results in an exact solution obtained by assuming that the ratio between the radial and circumferential stresses in the region where austenite and martensite coexist is governed by the same relationship as that in the encompassing regions of pure austenite and pure martensite.     

气泡在液体中运动过程的数值模拟

本文用数值方法预测气泡在液体中的百定常运动。运用位标函数进行界面的隐含跟踪并且与有限体积法相结合构成一种可行的计算方法。本文方法允许在界面处存在很大的物性差，而且较容易将表面张力引入控制方程。我们对气液两相流中单个气泡的运动进行了计算，得到了与实验结果符合很好的数值结果。     

含弧形裂纹复合陶瓷强度的尺度效应

认为含弧形裂纹复合陶瓷由随机方向的三相胞元与有效介质构成,用细观力学的方法研究了复合陶瓷的损伤失效和强度。首先确定三相胞元的外载应变,再依据复合陶瓷在损伤过程中的细观应力场和广义热力学力,计算出三相胞元内基体和颗粒的损伤等效应力,当基体和颗粒的损伤等效应力分别等于两者的极限应力时,得到基体和颗粒的破坏应力。然后,根据混合型应力强度因子计算弧形裂纹扩展时的能量释放率,进而得到界面的破坏应力。最后综合考虑基体、颗粒和和界面损伤影响,获得含弧形裂纹复合陶瓷的宏观强度及其尺度效应。     

Anisotropy of martensitic transformations in modeling of shape memory alloy polycrystals

Based on the knowledge of the anisotropy associated with the martensitic transformations obtained from tension/compression experiments with oriented CuAlNi single crystals, a simple constant stress averaging approach is employed to model the SMA polycrystal deformation behaviors. Only elastic and inelastic strains due to the martensitic transformation, variant reorientations in the martensite phase and martensite to martensite transformations in thermomechanical loads are considered. The model starts from theoretical calculation of the stress-temperature transformation conditions and their orientation dependence from basic crystallographic and material attributes of the martensitic transformations. Results of the simulations of the NiTi, NiAl, and Cu-based SMA polycrystals in stress–strain tests are shown. It follows that SMA polycrystals, even with randomly oriented grains, typically exhibit tension/compression asymmetry of the shape of the pseudoelastic σ−ε curves in transformation strain, transformation stress, hysteresis widths, character of the pseudoelastic flow and in the slope of temperature dependence of the transformation stresses. It is concluded that some macroscopic features of the SMA polycrystal behaviors originate directly from the crystallography of the undergoing MT's. The model shows clearly the crystallographic origin of these phenomena by providing a link from the crystallographic and material attributes of martensitic transformations towards the macroscopic σ−ε−T behaviors of SMA polycrystals.     

A two-level micromechanical theory for a shape-memory alloy reinforced composite

A two-level micromechanical theory is developed to study the influence of the shape and volume concentration of shape-memory alloy (SMA) inclusions on the overall stress–strain behavior of a SMA-reinforced composite. The first level exists on the smaller SMA level, in which, under the action of stress, parent austenite may transform into martensite. The second level is on the larger scale consisting of the metastable SMA inclusions and an inactive polymer matrix. The evolution of martensite microstructure is evaluated from the irreversible thermodynamics, in conjunction with the micromechanics and physics of martensitic transformation. By taking martensite to exist in the form of thin plates on the micro scale and assuming SMA inclusions to be homogeneously aligned spheroids on the macro scale, the overall stress–strain behaviors of a NiTi-reinforced composite are calculated for various SMA shapes and concentrations. The results indicate that, under a tensile axial loading, martensitic transformation is easier to take place when SMA inclusions exist in the form of long fibers, but most difficult to occur when they are in the form of flat discs. In general the levels of the applied stress at which martensite transformation commences, finishes, and austenitic transformation starts, and finishes, are found to decrease with increasing aspect ratio of the SMA inclusions while the damping capacity increases with it; these properties point to the advantage of using fibrous composites for actuators or sensors under a tensile loading.     

Stress-induced crystal preferred orientation in the poromechanics of in-pore crystallization

A non-hydrostatic stress field affects the orientation of crystals growing in the pore network of an elastic porous medium. The hypothesis of a hydrostatic state of stress within the crystal has been implicitly made in the recent extension of poromechanics to in-pore crystalization (Coussy, 2006). This underlying hypothesis is revisited on a small-scale conceptual model based on Eshelby's problem and shows that chemo-mechanical equilibrium requires that the crystal adapts its shape and orientation to the far-field stress, therefore resulting at equilibrium in a hydrostatic state of stress within the crystal. The optimum crystal shape as a function of the far-field stress is consistently investigated, highlighting limiting cases. The small scale model allows to understand the macroscopic effects associated with deviatoric stresses in the poromechanics of in-pore crystallization. Moreover, it provides the building block for an up-scaling of the macroscopic tangent poroelastic properties, which depend on both the current crystal saturation and the state of stress. A dilute micromechanical scheme illustrates the variation of the macroscopic Biot's coefficient tensor as a function of deviatoric stresses. A simple configuration akin to a potential laboratory experiment finally illustrates the strong induced anisotropy of the crystallization induced macroscopic strain when deviatoric stresses are applied to the material prior to crystallization.     

Reduction of dimensions in random,elastic soil medium

The paper deals with an application of the plane strain analysis in a stochastic three-dimensional soil medium. In a framework of random elasticity theory, the geostatical state of stresses and the problem of a unit force acting in a statistically homogeneous half-space are considered. Only the modulus of elasticity is considered to be random and is modelled as a three-dimensional (3-D) homogeneous random field. As the result of imposed constrains due to the plane strain assumption the additional body and surface forces are induced. In order to determine them, additional equations must be introduced. The equations in a form of constrain relations are proposed in this paper. These equations are also valid for a case of uniformly distributed external loading.First, the two-dimensional (2-D) problem and its reduction to the uni-axial strain state, for the gravity forces and uniform, unlimited surface loading is considered. Then, it is generalised into a 2-D schematization of the 3-D state. Next, the problem of a unit force acting in a statistically homogeneous half-space is considered. For a 3-D state of stress and strain the resulting stresses are compared with those for a 2-D state. These stresses for the multidimensional state of strain and stress are presented as a sum of two components. The first one reflects plane strain state stresses and is given in a form of a 3-D random field. This term allows for incorporating a spatial, 3-D soil variability into a two-dimensional analysis. The second component can be treated as a correction term and it represents the longitudinal influence of a 3-D analysis.Some numerical results are presented in this paper. The proposed method can be regarded as a framework for further research aiming at application to a variety of geotechnical problems, for which the plane strain state is assumed.     

Homogenization of a pressurized tube made of elastoplastic materials with discontinuous properties

In this paper we present the homogenization of a periodic multilayered pressurized tube made of very dissimilar elastoplastic materials. We focus on some aspects of technological importance, such as the effective properties, the behavior of the homogenized displacements and stresses, the discontinuities of hoop and longitudinal stresses, the homogenization-induced anisotropy. We conclude that the problem needs to be reformulated in order to be stable by homogenization and we define the effective elastic and incremental stress corrector matrices for the incremental stress–total strain matrix law. Finally, we present the numerical simulation for both the non-homogeneous and the homogenized material and two numerical examples confirming the theoretical results.     

Micromechanical modeling of the effect of particle size difference in dual phase steels

Dual phase (DP) steels having a microstructure consisting of martensite islands, referred to as particles, dispersed in a ferrite matrix have received a great deal of attention due to their useful combination of high strength, high work hardening rate and ductility, all of which are favorable properties for forming processes. The martensite particles display two distinct deformation mechanisms, depending on their size. Small particles are reported in the literature to undergo no measurable plastic deformation and thus can be described as rigid particles dispersed in a matrix of ferrite. On the other hand, large particles reportedly experience a small degree of plastic deformation, which has a significant influence on the mechanism of deformation of such materials. Although most micromechanical models assume a uniform particle size, a distribution of sizes in DP-steels is a more realistic assumption. In this work, a micromechanical model is developed to capture the effect of particle size differences on the mechanical behavior of DP-steels. It is shown that the difference becomes most significant when the ratio of the small to large particle size is approximately 1/2. At low volume fractions of martensite, the effect of a distribution of particle sizes is negligible, but at intermediate and high volume fractions of martensite the interaction due to the size difference becomes quite important. The model displays the intrinsic ability of capturing the steep rise in the strain-hardening rate observed in DP-steels. The model also successfully predicts the mechanisms involved in the deformation process in the DP-steels in agreement with experimental observations reported in the literature.     

试样形状对轴承钢绝热剪切带微观组织的影响

绝热剪切带(ASB)的微观组织受试样几何形状的影响。对圆柱、帽形和剪切压缩型三种不同形状的试样进行分离式霍普金森压杆高速冲击试验,研究试样形状对轴承钢绝热剪切带的形成和微观组织的影响。结果表明,在应变率为1 800～3 100 s^-1的范围内,材料对应变率的敏感性很低。圆柱试样呈现明显的应变硬化,而帽形试样和剪切压缩型试样(SCS)在不同应变率下分别出现应变硬化和无应变硬化的特征,但流变应力并未因应变硬化而提高。试样形状对ASB的微观形貌和组织有很大影响。圆柱试样上产生了窄且细长的ASB,只发生了应变诱发的晶粒细化,属于形变ASB;帽形试样和SCS则形成大片状的ASB,由等轴晶组成,且发生了体心立方体(BCC)马氏体转变为面心立方体(FCC)奥氏体的相变,属于相变ASB。尤其是SCS中ASB的等轴晶,有非常清晰的晶界,是典型的动态再结晶晶粒。温升计算结果显示,圆柱试样ASB的温升远低于奥氏体相变温度,而帽形试样和SCS的温升高于马氏体的熔点,导致局部熔融。     

单轴拉伸过程中双相不锈钢局部微观变形行为的细观力学有限元分析

针对双相不锈钢中奥氏体相和铁素体相分别展开了纳米压痕实验,并通过有限元反演得到两相各自的拉伸应力-应变关系,利用Voronoi Tessellation法生成代表性的微结构体积单元,对双相不锈钢的单轴拉伸行为进行了有限元仿真和模拟,研究了双相不锈钢在拉伸过程中的局部应力、应变分布和演化规律．结果表明,利用Voronoi Tessellation法建立单元模型,结合本文通过纳米压痕实验获取的两相力学性能参数,可以很好地模拟双相不锈钢的整体单拉行为,奥氏体比铁素体软,拉伸载荷下双相不锈钢的应变集中在奥氏体中,应力集中在铁素体中;局部应力应变的分布特征与两相分布特征和晶粒形状有关,最大应变值主要集中在奥氏体晶粒狭长且尖锐的区域,而最大应力则主要发生在铁素体晶粒狭长和尖锐的区域;对于奥氏体和铁素体晶粒占比相当的双相不锈钢,其虽然可以具有较为综合的宏观力学性能,但是其微观应力集中的区域和应力最大值相对较大．研究成果为进一步揭示双相不锈钢局部失效机理奠定了基础．