Papers by Author: Francis Wagner

Abstract: We examine the relationship between local gradients in orientation, which are quantified with the Kernel Average Misorientation, and the grain boundary network in an interstitial-free steel sheet, before and after 12% tensile strain. A portion of the unstrained microstructure is used as input to a full-field spectral viscoplastic code that simulates the same deformation. The orientation gradients are concentrated near grain boundaries in both experiments and simulation. Mapping out stress gradients in the simulation suggests that the development of orientation gradients is strongly correlated with such gradients.

Abstract: From an EBSD map made on a polycrystal one can define a set of grains using a criterion of misorientation between the adjacent pixels. Once such a list of grains is obtained, various quantities can be associated to each grain such as its size, (mean) orientation, GOS (Grain Orientation Spread) etc... The GOS associated to one grain is the mean value of the misorientations between all the pixels of the grain and the mean orientation of the grain. This value is quite sensitive to the state of the material (degree of plastic deformation, degree of recrystallization for example). Therefore it can help in interpreting the evolution of a microstructure during thermomechanical treatments. It is the purpose of this presentation to provide GOS values for an IF steel after several degrees of plastic deformation as well as after several annealing treatments which lead to partially or totally recrystallized states. The sources of influence on GOS values (as grain detection limit or grain size) are analyzed. The link between the values and the state of the material will be discussed at a global stage for a given population of grains.

Abstract: This paper deals with the study of plastic heterogeneity. It aims to study the role of both grain size and orientation distributions in the development of such heterogeneity. The considered material is an IF steel. EBSD maps have been made on the same areas before and after several degrees of extension. Parameters such as GOS (Grain Orientation Spread) or GOS/D (D the diameter of the grain) or GND (Geometrically Necessary Dislocation) densities have been determined for the whole set of grains as well as for subpopulations (smallest grains, largest grains for example). It appears that the character of neighboring grains plays a more important role than any of these parameters alone.

Abstract: An IF steel sample was cold rolled to a reduction of 80% and subsequently submitted to annealing treatment at 650°C, 710°C and 770°C for various durations, respectively. The grain size and evolution of partial texture of small, medium and large grains were investigated during grain growth. It was found that the growth rate and partial texture characteristic were absolutely distinct at different annealing temperature, both were temperature dependent. At same annealing temperature, partial texture for various annealing time was similar, but its intensity increases with an increment of duration. And the relation between partial texture of different grains assembly and its mean grain size can be expressed by an empirical formula from experiment data.

Abstract: A 2D cellular automaton model developed for the simulation of grain growth in hexagonal metals is presented here. It allows the direct use of experimental measurement as input data. Texture evolution of a titanium alloy and a zirconium alloy are simulated on the basis of simple hypothesis and compared with experimental evolution as well as the results from a 3D Monte Carlo model. Results from both models are discussed with regards to their characteristics.

Abstract: Grain boundary character in samples of Zr701 annealed at two different temperatures has been investigated in terms of lattice misorientation. The main difference between the two samples was the extent of grain growth post-recrystallization. The textures were typical for the material. Differences between the texture-based misorientation distribution function (T-MDF) and the microstructure-based MDF (M-MDF) revealed significant preferences for certain grain boundary types, notably those with <11-20> rotation axes.

Abstract: Zirconium alloys are widely used for different applications in nuclear industry. Precise knowledge of their texture is of great relevance since this hcp metal exhibits a strong crystal anisotropy. Despite that, the mechanisms of texture change during its deformation and subsequent annealing are still not precisely known. Thus, there is a need for a better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of recrystallisation. Earlier works on Zr702 [1-3] suggested that the kinetics and local mechanisms of recrystallisation after cold-rolling was controlled by the heterogeneity of the deformed microstructure and that, at the end of recrystallisation (corresponding to the disappearance of the deformed matrix), the position of the major texture components remained almost unaffected. The aim of the present work is to confirm whether these statements can be generalized for various deformation conditions or not.

Abstract: The mechanisms governing the very first stage of static recrystallization in two hexagonal alloys (commercially pure titanium and low alloyed zirconium) are investigated in this paper. Initially fully recrystallized and equiaxed materials were cold-rolled to 80% thickness reduction and subsequently recrystallized at 500°C for short times. High resolution EBSD maps were acquired in a FEG-SEM before and after annealing in order to see where and how the new grains appear. Nonoriented nucleation mechanisms are involved in both materials, and there is a strong correlation between the local deformation substructures and the recrystallization kinetics. Recrystallization is extremely fast in the areas where the deformation cells are small and highly misoriented, i.e. in the areas which underwent severe grain fragmentation. Twinning plays an important role for that purpose in the studied titanium sheet.

Abstract: This paper focus on the use of orientation stereology to understand polycrystalline materials behavior. First some cautions or limits by using this approach are considered. Examples related to phase transformation, plastic deformation or crack propagation are then presented.

Abstract: The microstructure and crystallographic texture in zirconium (Zr702) sheets, initially deformed by 80% cold rolling, are investigated at different stages of the primary recrystallization. Inhomogeneities were observed in the deformed microstructure at different scales down to the submicrometer range. The influence of these inhomogeneities on the local recrystallization mechanisms is discussed. The measurement of the orientation of the new grains shows that the nucleation is definitely not oriented. Since the global texture change is very slight, recrystallization by subgrain growth is probably one of the most important mechanism during the recrystallization process in zirconium.