Effects of lattice misorientations on strain heterogeneities in FCC polycrystals

It is well documented that the highly heterogeneous deformation behaviour and lattice rotation typically observed within grains in a polycrystal are attributed to microstructural features such as grain structure, topology, size, etc. In this work, the effects of low- and high-angle grain boundaries on the mechanical behaviour of FCC polycrystals are investigated using a micro-mechanical model based on crystal plasticity theory. The constitutive framework relies on dislocation mechanics concepts to describe the plastic deformation behaviour of FCC metallic crystals and is validated by comparing the measured and predicted local and macroscopic deformation behaviour in a thin Al-0.5% Mg polycrystal tensile specimen containing a relatively small number of surface grains. Comparisons at the microscopic (e.g. local slip distribution) and macroscopic (e.g. average stress-strain response) levels elucidate the role of low-angle grain boundaries, which are found to have a profound effect on both the local and average deformation behaviour of FCC polycrystals with a small number of grains. However, this effect diminishes when the number of grains increases and becomes negligible in bulk polycrystals. In light of the widely accepted view that high-angle grain boundaries strongly influence the mechanical behaviour of very fine-grained metals, this work has shown that low-angle grain boundaries can also play an equally important role in the deformation behaviour of polycrystals with a relatively small number of grains.     

Micro-experimental study of large plastic deformation for high-purity polycrystalline aluminum

This paper aims at revealing various micro- deformation characteristics, such as crystalline slip and grain boundary slide, which are recorded under scanning electronic microscope for high-purity aluminum tensile specimen at room temperature. These experimental data provide us direct evidence for shear localization near the grain boundary network via multi- directional grain boundary slide. The nonuniform deformation induced in the grain interiors would have decisive effect on the plastic flow and failure of polycrystalline materials. Sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Fok Ying- Tung Education Foundation.     

X-ray microdiffraction and strain gradient crystal plasticity studies of geometrically necessary dislocations near a Ni bicrystal grain boundary

We compare experimental measurements of inhomogeneous plastic deformation in a Ni bicrystal with crystal plasticity simulations. Polychromatic X-ray microdiffraction, orientation imaging microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, were used to characterize the geometrically necessary dislocation distribution of the bicrystal after uniaxial tensile deformation. Changes in the local crystallographic orientations within the sample reflect its plastic response during the tensile test. Elastic strain in both grains increases near the grain boundary. Finite element simulations were used to understand the influence of initial grain orientation and structural inhomogeneities on the geometrically necessary dislocations arrangement and distribution and to understand the underlying materials physics.     

Investigation of three-dimensional aspects of grain-scale plastic surface deformation of an aluminum oligocrystal

This is a study of plastic strain localization, surface roughening and of the origin of these phenomena in polycrystals. An oligocrystal aluminum sample with a single quasi-2D layer of coarse grains is plastically deformed under uniaxial tensile loading. During deformation, the history of strain localization, surface roughening, microstructure and in-grain fragmentation is carefully recorded. Using a crystal plasticity finite element model, corresponding high-resolution simulations are conducted. A series of comparisons identifying aspects of good and of less good match between model predictions and experiments is presented. The study suggests that the grain topology and microtexture have a significant influence on the origin of strain heterogeneity. Moreover, it suggests that the final surface roughening profiles are related both to the macro strain localization and to the intra-grain interaction. Finally slip lines observed on the surface of the samples are used to probe the activation of slip systems in detail. The study concludes with an assessment of the limitations of the crystal plasticity model.     

On the evolution of lattice deformation in austenitic stainless steels—The role of work hardening at finite strains

In this work, a three dimensional crystal plasticity-based finite element model is presented to examine the micromechanical behaviour of austenitic stainless steels. The model accounts for realistic polycrystal micromorphology, the kinematics of crystallographic slip, lattice rotation, slip interaction (latent hardening) and geometric distortion at finite deformation. We utilise the model to predict the microscopic lattice strain evolution of austenitic stainless steels during uniaxial tension at ambient temperature with validation through in situ neutron diffraction measurements. Overall, the predicted lattice strains are in very good agreement with those measured in both longitudinal and transverse directions (parallel and perpendicular to the tensile loading axis, respectively). The information provided by the model suggests that the observed nonlinear response in the transverse {200} grain family is associated with a competitive bimodal evolution of strain during inelastic deformation. The results associated with latent hardening effects at the microscale also indicate that in situ neutron diffraction measurements in conjunction with macroscopic uniaxial tensile data may be used to calibrate crystal plasticity models for the prediction of the inelastic material deformation response.     

Geometrically necessary dislocations in viscoplastic single crystals and bicrystals undergoing small deformations

In this study we develop a gradient theory of small-deformation single-crystal plasticity that accounts for geometrically necessary dislocations (GNDs). The resulting framework is used to discuss grain boundaries. The grains are allowed to slip along the interface, but growth phenomenona and phase transitions are neglected. The bulk theory is based on the introduction of a microforce balance for each slip system and includes a defect energy depending on a suitable measure of GNDs. The microforce balances are shown to be equivalent to nonlocal yield conditions for the individual slip systems, yield conditions that feature backstresses resulting from energy stored in dislocations. When applied to a grain boundary the theory leads to concomitant yield conditions: relative slip of the grains is activated when the shear stress reaches a suitable threshold; plastic slip in bulk at the grain boundary is activated only when the local density of GNDs reaches an assigned threshold. Consequently, in the initial stages of plastic deformation the grain boundary acts as a barrier to plastic slip, while in later stages the interface acts as a source or sink for dislocations. We obtain an exact solution for a simple problem in plane strain involving a semi-infinite compressed specimen that abuts a rigid material. We view this problem as an approximation to a situation involving a grain boundary between a grain with slip systems aligned for easy flow and a grain whose slip system alignment severely inhibits flow. The solution exhibits large slip gradients within a thin layer at the grain boundary.     

Yield stress strengthening in ultrafine-grained metals: A two-dimensional simulation of dislocation dynamics

The effect of grain size on the tensile plastic deformation of ultrafine-grained copper polycrystals is investigated using a two-dimensional simulation of dislocation dynamics. Emphasis is put on the elementary mechanisms governing the yield stress in multislip conditions. Whatever the grain size, the yield stress is found to follow a Hall-Petch law. However, the elementary mechanism controlling slip transmission through the grain boundaries at yield is observed to change with the grain size. For the larger grain sizes, the stress concentrations due to dislocations piled-up at grain boundaries are responsible for the activation of plastic activity in the poorly stressed grains. For the smaller grain sizes, the pile-ups contain less dislocations and are less numerous, but the strain incompatibilities between grains become significant. They induce high internal stresses and favor multislip conditions in all grains. Based on these results, simple interpretations are proposed for the strengthening of the yield stress in ultrafine grained metals.     

双相不锈钢循环微变形行为的原位试验研究

对双相不锈钢开展拉伸和应力循环控制下的原位试验研究,选择特征区域对其局部微变形行为的产生、分布和演化进行了研究和讨论．结果表明：双相不锈钢在较低的载荷作用下内部出现明显的应变梯度,随着拉伸载荷或循环周次的增长,其局部微应变不断增加,最大应变在奥氏体相、小晶粒、狭窄晶粒和不平整的晶界区不断汇集,同一时刻的局部最大微应变远大于宏观应变;循环载荷作用下双相不锈钢在微观尺度产生了局部微棘轮变形效应,微棘轮应变随着循环周次的增加不断累积,其增长速度逐渐降低并趋于饱和;随着循环周次的增加,最大微棘轮变形区逐渐扩展、联通形成大塑性变形带,晶粒走向呈45°方向时,变形带贯穿两相向垂直加载方向发展,而晶粒呈树根状走向时,由于受到两相交互和铁素体的阻碍作用,微棘轮变形带主要集中在奥氏体中沿着奥氏体晶粒走向发展．     

Relating inhomogeneous deformation to local texture in zirconium through grain-scale digital image correlation strain mapping experiments

The effect of local texture on inhomogeneous plastic deformation is studied in zirconium subjected to uniaxial compression. Cross-rolled commercially pure Zr 702 plate that had a strong basal (0 0 0 1) texture through the plate thickness, and a non-basal texture in cross-section, was obtained. At a compressive strain rate of 1 s^?1, samples loaded either in the through-thickness or in-plane directions exhibited significant differences in yield strength, hardening response and failure mechanisms. These macroscopic differences are related to microstructural features by combining information from electron backscattered diffraction with real time in situ imaging and subsequent full-field strain measurements obtained using digital image correlation. Experimental results indicate that the through-thickness loaded zirconium samples, which show a strong basal-texture in the loading direction, do not deform homogeneously – implying the lack of a representative volume element. The detailed surface deformation fields provided by digital image correlation allow for a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the relationship between grain orientation and patterns of deformation bands that form as the precursors to development of an adiabatic shear band in the through-thickness loaded sample. For the in-plane loaded samples, inhomogeneities still exist at the microscale, but the collective behavior of several grains leads to a homogeneous response at the macroscale. It is observed that local texture for hcp polycrystals, which are significantly slip restricted, can directly affect both local and global response, even at low to moderate plastic strains.     

扭转塑性变形对6063铝合金拉伸力学性能的影响机理研究

扭转是一种常用的冷作硬化方法。本文通过实心圆轴扭转实验和预扭试件的单向拉伸实验,研究了扭转塑性变形程度对6063铝合金拉伸力学性能的影响。通过理论研究和硬度分析探究了造成这一影响的内在机理。结果表明,试件扭转后其内部形成的以屈服强度为特征参数的梯度结构,是造成预扭试件力学性能得到改善的根本原因。并且,扭转不同的角度,材料内部产生的梯度结构也是不同的。而不同的梯度结构对试件力学性能的影响则表现为后继拉伸屈服强度随预扭角度的增大而增大。为了预测预扭试件的后继拉伸力学行为,验证前述结论的正确性,建立了由内到外屈服强度逐渐变化的有限元模型。此模型代表了预扭转变形试件,对其施加位移载荷,模拟后继单向拉伸加载过程。模拟所得材料力学性能随扭转角的变化趋势与实验结果基本吻合,从而验证了扭转冷作硬化后,圆轴试件内部产生了以屈服强度为特征参数的梯度结构这一结论。同时,也提供了一种有效的预测材料扭转后拉伸力学性能的数值模拟方法。     

Alloying effects on dislocation substructure evolution of aluminum alloys

The constitutive response of aluminum alloys is controlled by the evolution of dislocation substructure including mobile and forest dislocation density, cell size distribution and morphology, and misorientation angle between neighboring cells. The present study focuses upon the small strain regime and compares the measured microstructural evolution of 3003, 5005, and 6022 aluminum alloys during deformation. Room temperature tensile deformation experiments were performed on industrially manufactured specimens of each alloy and the evolving microstructure was compared with the mechanical response. The dislocation structure evolution was characterized using transmission electron microscopy and orientation imaging of deformed specimens. It was observed that structural evolution is a function of lattice orientation and the character of neighboring grains. In general, the dislocation cell size and misorientation angle between dislocation cells evolves systematically with deformation at relatively small strain levels.     

A model for rolling deformation with grain subdivision. Part II: The subsequent stage

Part I of the present work dealt with the initial stage of plastic deformation with grain subdivision into two band families. It covered the situation with different average strains in the individual grains (the non-Taylor case) and the situation with identical average strains in the individual grains (the Taylor case). For the latter situation part I included solutions with 5 plus 3 and with 4 plus 4 active slip systems in the two band families, respectively. In part II we deal with the subsequent stage of plastic deformation (finite strains) for the Taylor case with four active slip systems in each band family. In the subsequent stage the cooperation between the two band families leads to an energetic advantage for grain subdivision, and it leads to a simulated texture with decreased sharpness in accordance with experimental observations. Finally, the physics behind grain subdivision are discussed on the basis of the results in Parts I and II and various general considerations.     

Micromechanical deformation analysis of beta alloy titanium in elastic and elastic/plastic tension

An experimental analysis was conducted to document micromechanical behavior of a large grain beta alloy titanium in elastic and elastic/plastic tension. The deformation associated with individual grains was measured by microscopic moiré interferometry. After subtracting uniform strains, the multiplied fringe patterns revealed strong anomalies. The anomalous deformation was documented even at the early stage of loading. Slip along grain boundaries was not observed, but strong shear strains developed within the grains near grain boundaries. Paper was presented at the 1994 SEM spring conference on Experimental Mechanics held in Baltimore, MD, on June 6–8.     

A perturbation analysis of the unstable plastic flow pattern evolution in an aluminum alloy

In the tensile loading of sheet metals made from some polycrystalline aluminum alloys, a single deformation band appears inclined to the elongation axis in the early stage of deformation, and symmetric double bands are observed in the later stage. This evolution of spatial characteristics of such an unstable plastic flow pattern in a polycrystalline aluminum alloy has been analyzed by a perturbation method. A small number of slip modes are taken to describe the tensile strain. A rate-dependent constitutive equation is used for each slip mode to account for the interaction between dislocations and solute atoms in dynamic strain aging. Unconstrained and constrained models are used to impose appropriate loading conditions at the early and later deformation stages, respectively. Both plane-strain and plane-stress cases are considered. It is found out that the change of boundary conditions and material inhomogeneity during the course of plastic deformation are closely related to the evolution of spatial characteristics of shear band (the Portevin–Le Chatelier band) patterns observed in experiments.     

镁合金晶体塑性本构模型与非均匀孪生变形分析

微结构演化对镁合金材料力学性能有着显著的影响,为了揭示镁合金宏观塑性各向异性特性与非均匀孪生变形的关系,开展了不同路径下的单轴加载试验以及采用含滑移、孪生机制的晶体塑性本构模型对试验条件下的镁合金变形行为进行数值模拟研究。文中本构模型描述了滑移与孪生变形机制以及晶格转动的机制,同时研究采用三维微结构代表性有限元模型,其包含晶粒尺寸、晶向和晶界倾角等微结构参数。研究结果表明,轧制镁合金具有强烈的宏观塑性各向异性行为,并对这种镁合金塑性各向异性行为的模拟结果以及多晶织构的模拟演化结果与试验测量进行对比,结果都基本吻合。对孪生非均匀变形模拟分析表明,镁合金宏观塑性各向异性行为与滑移、孪生变形机制的不同启动组合紧密相关,同时多晶体内应力的非均匀分布受到孪生变形的严重影响。而不同晶粒尺寸的晶粒所发生的孪生变形有比较大的差异,造成孪晶变体在晶粒内的分布极不均匀。本研究可为通过微结构的合理配置来设计和控制材料的力学性能提供理论依据.     

Coupled effects of grain size distributions and crystallographic textures on the plastic behaviour of IF steels

Micro-macro scale transition theories were developed to model the inelastic behaviour of polycrystals starting from the local behaviour of the grains. The anisotropy of the plastic behaviour of polycrystalline metals was essentially explained by taking into account the crystallographic textures. Issues like plastic heterogeneities due to grain size dispersion, involving the Hall-Petch mechanism at the grain scale, were often not taken into account, and, only the role of a mean grain size was investigated in the literature. Here, both sources of plastic heterogeneities are studied using: (i) experimental data from EBSD measurements and tensile tests, and, (ii) a self-consistent model devoted to elastic-viscoplastic heterogeneous materials. The results of the model are applied to two different industrial IF steels with similar global orientation distributions functions but different mean grain sizes and grain size distributions. The coupled role of grain size distributions and crystallographic textures on the overall tensile behaviour, local stresses and strains, stored energy and overall plastic anisotropy (Lankford coefficients) is deeply analyzed by considering different other possible correlations between crystallographic orientations and grain sizes from the measured data.     

Grain Boundary Sliding and Slip Transmission in High Purity Aluminum

Despite its significance in polycrystalline materials, there have been few experimental investigations of the activity of grain boundary sliding (GBS) and the relationship between GBS and slip transmission at grain boundaries. The present work addresses this knowledge gap by the characterization of full-field strain and microstructural information in an experimental system of high-purity (99.99%) columnar aluminum subjected to uniaxial tension at 190 °C. High-resolution, full-gage strain fields were characterized on an unloaded specimen by distortion-corrected and stitched scanning electron microscope-enabled digital image correlation (SEM-DIC). Alignment between the lower-resolution electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and higher-resolution strain fields was significantly improved by clustering of strain data within an EBSD-defined boundary mantle. Grain boundary sliding was investigated at select boundaries, and it was determined that GBS magnitude profiles can have large gradients along a single boundary and vary significantly between boundaries. Using a geometric compatibility factor (m′) to quantify favorability of slip transmission, the two grain boundaries that exhibited the largest average GBS magnitude experienced contiguous slip on moderately well aligned slip systems, although the exact nature of this slip activity, whether transmission or nucleation, remains under investigation.

     

Experimental study of a metal-matrix composite

A metal-matrix specimen was investigated using moiré interferometry with 2400 ℓ/mm (60,960 ℓ/in.). The specimen was a 6-ply [0/±45] _s boron-aluminum tensile coupon with a central slot. The unequal deformations in fibers and matrix were evident. Special attention was given to a plastic slip zone in the matrix. Normal and shear strains were calculated in the slip zone; the shear-strain concentration factor rose dramatically with the onset of plastic slip and continued to rise gradually with load to 95 percent of the failure load. The precipitous change from maximum tensile strain in one fiber to zero tensile strain in the neighboring fiber was accommodated by the very high shear strain in the matrix in the slip zone. Experimental considerations are discussed: shear strains are independent of rigid-body rotations; simplified strain calculations are justified; averaging across the narrow slip region and the influence of finite thickness of the specimen grating contribute to underestimation of peak strains. Paper was presented at the 1986 SEM Spring Conference on Experimental Mechanics held in New Orleans, LA on June 8–13.     

Sub-Grain Scale Digital Image Correlation by Electron Microscopy for Polycrystalline Materials during Elastic and Plastic Deformation

Damage during loading of polycrystalline metallic alloys is localized at or below the scale of individual grains. Quantitative assessment of the heterogeneous strain fields at the grain scale is necessary to understand the relationship between microstructure and elastic and plastic deformation. In the present study, digital image correlation (DIC) is used to measure the strains at the sub-grain level in a polycrystalline nickel-base superalloy where plasticity is localized into physical slip bands. Parameters to minimize noise given a set speckle pattern (introduced by chemical etching) when performing DIC in a scanning electron microscope (SEM) were adapted for measurements in both plastic and elastic regimes. A methodology for the optimization of the SEM and DIC parameters necessary for the minimization of the variability in strain measurements at high spatial resolutions is presented. The implications for detecting the early stages of damage development are discussed.