Optimized reconstruction of the crystallographic orientation density function based on a reduced set of orientations

Mechanical Behavior of Austenitic Steel under Multi-Axial Cyclic Loading

Low-nickel austenitic steel is subjected to high-pressure torsion fatigue (HPTF) loading, where a constant axial compression is overlaid with a cyclic torsion. The focus of this work lies on investigating whether isotropic J2 plasticity or crystal plasticity can describe the mechanical behavior during HPTF loading, particularly focusing on the axial creep deformation seen in the experiment. The results indicate that a J2 plasticity model with an associated flow rule fails to describe the axial creep behavior. In contrast, a micromechanical model based on an empirical crystal plasticity law with kinematic hardening described by the Ohno-Wang rule can match the HPTF experiments quite accurately. Hence, our results confirm the versatility of crystal plasticity in combination with microstructural models to describe the mechanical behavior of materials under reversing multiaxial loading situations.

Micromechanical Modeling of AlSi10Mg Processed by Laser-Based Additive Manufacturing: From as-Built to Heat-Treated Microstructures

The unique microstructure of the alloy AlSi10Mg produced by the laser-based powder bed fusion of metals (PBF-LB/M) provides high-strength and high-strain-hardening capabilities of the material. The microstructure and mechanical properties of 3D-printed, i.e., additively manufactured, AlSi10Mg are significantly altered by post-building heat-treatment processes applied in order to tailor the final properties of the parts. Using an accurate computational model to predict and improve the mechanical performance of 3D-printed samples considering their microstructural features can accelerate their employment in envisaged applications. The present study aims to investigate the correlation between microstructural features and the mechanical behavior of as-built, direct-aged, and T6 heat-treated samples of PBF-LB/M AlSi10Mg under tensile loading using experiment and microstructure-sensitive modeling approaches. Nanoindentation tests are used to calibrate the parameters of the constitutive models for the Al and Si-rich phases. The experimental investigations revealed that heat treatment significantly changes the sub-grain morphology of the Si-rich phase, and this can have a considerable effect on the mechanical behavior of the components. The effect of the modeling of the Si-rich phase in the representative volume elements on the prediction of mechanical behavior is investigated using the J2 plasticity model. The combination of the crystal plasticity model for Al and the J2 plasticity model for the Si-rich phase is used to predict the tensile properties of the as-built and heat-treated states. The predicted results are in good agreement with the experimental results. This approach can be used to understand the microstructure-property relationship of PBF-LB/M AlSi10Mg and eventually tailor heat treatment for PBF-LB/M AlSi10Mg based on the requirement of the application.

On Sampling Discrete Orientations from XRD for Texture Representation in Aggregates with Varying Grain Size

The amount of orientation difference of crystallites, i.e., the texture in a metallic polycrystal governs, plastic anisotropy, electrical and magnetic properties of the material. For simulating the microstructure and texture evolution during forming processes, representative volume elements (RVEs) often generated based on experimental measurements are commonly used. While the grain size and morphology of polycrystals are often determined via light-optical microscopy, their texture is conventionally analyzed through diffraction experiments. Data from these different experiments must be correlated such that a representative set of sampled orientations is assigned to the grains in the RVE. Here, the concept Texture Sampling through Orientation Optimization (TSOO) is introduced, where based on the intensity the required number of orientations is first assigned to the grains of the RVE directly. Then the Bunge–Euler angles of all orientations are optimized in turn with respect to the experimental measurements. As orientations are assigned to grains of variable size during optimization, the compatibility between inhomogeneity in the microstructure and texture is inherently addressed. This method was tested for different microstructures of non-oriented electrical steels and showed good accuracy for homogenous and inhomogeneous grain size distributions.