Papers by Author: Laurent Delannay

Abstract: Duplex stainless steels (DSS) are alloys made of ferrite and austenite, with a proportion of each phase around 50%. Their main advantage in comparison with other austenitic and ferritic stainless steels is the attractive combination of high strength and corrosion resistance together with good formability and weldability. Unfortunately, DSS often present a poor hot workability. This phenomenon can stem from different factors associated to the balance of the phases, the nature of the interface, the distribution, size and shape of the second phase, and possibly also from difference in rheology between ferrite and austenite. In order to determine the specific influence of phase morphology on the hot-workability of DSS, two austenite morphologies (E: Equiaxed and W: Widmanstätten) with very similar phase ratio have been generated using appropriate heat treatments. It was checked that the latter treatments generate stable microstructures so that subsequent hot mechanical tests are performed on the microstructures of interest. One microstructure consists of a ferritic matrix with austenitic equiaxed islands while the other microstructure is composed of a ferritic matrix with Widmanstätten austenite. The latter morphology corresponds to the morphology observed in as-cast slabs.

Abstract: A CPFE model was used for an assessment of the assumptions used by the ALAMEL model concerning grain interactions. A finite element mesh was constructed for a multicrystal consisting of four grains. There were 17496 integration points per grain. The main goal was to capture the complex nature of the plastic fields in the vicinity of the grain boundaries. The distribution of strain rates, both along and perpendicular to the grain boundaries, confirms that the basic assumptions of the ALAMEL model are qualitatively correct, except at triple junctions. Splitting of one of the grains was occasionally observed, which has also been observed experimentally.

Abstract: This paper presents a means of reducing the computational cost of finite element (FE) simulations coupled to polycrystal plasticity theory. One typically assumes that a polycrystal with a large number of grains underlies every integration point of the FE mesh. Instead, it is suggested here using reduced samplings of grains which differ from one integration point to another. On average, every set of 5 to 25 finite elements contains a variety of lattice orientations that is representative of the macroscopic texture. The model is applied to deep-drawing of a cylindrical cup made of steel. In a first set of simulations, grains are assigned orientations representative of a cold rolling texture and the “earing” profile is compared to experiment. In a second set of simulations, lattice orientations are random and an isotropic deep-drawing result is expected. It is demonstrated that using a minimum of 20 grains per integration point allows properly predicting the final shape of the cup and the texture development.

Abstract: This work investigates the micro-mechanics of a multiphase steel sheet during a uniaxial tensile test. Based on crystal plasticity theory, one assesses how the distribution of strain and stress is influenced by the presence of a soft b.c.c. phase and a strong f.c.c. phase. The two phases have been characterized by neutron diffraction. Initial textures are used as input in crystal plasticity simulations. Lattice strains measured in the tensile direction serve to fit hardening parameters. Three modeling hypotheses are tested: the Taylor model assumes uniform strain, the ALAMEL model considers the interaction of pairs of adjacent grains, and a finite element mesh is used to distribute strain and stress over the complete aggregate. The accuracy of each modeling is evaluated based on experimental measurements of the macroscopic stress, the heterogeneity of plastic strain, and the texture development in the two phases.

Abstract: The paper focuses on the multi-level character of existing or currently developed models for polycrystal deformation. A general multilevel frame is presented, which can be applied to models for the simulation of plastic anisotropy to be implemented in FE codes for the simulation of metal forming processes, or to models for the simulation of deformation textures. A short overview is presented of two-level models ranging from the full-constraints Taylor model to the crystalplasticity finite element models, including the description of a few recent and efficient models (GIA and ALAMEL). Validation efforts based on experimental cold rolling textures obtained for steel and aluminium alloys are discussed. Finally a recent three-level model which also takes the microscopic level (dislocation substructure) is discussed.