Dislocation-based model for the prediction of the behavior of b.c.c. materials – Grain size and strain path effects

Sheet metal forming processes involve multi-axial strain paths. For the numerical simulation of such processes, an appropriate constitutive model that properly describes material behavior at large strain is required. For accurate and time-effective simulations, it is crucial to use plasticity models based on physics, as material macroscopic behavior is closely related to the evolution of the associated microstructures. Accordingly, a large strain work-hardening phenomenological model that incorporates the intragranular microstructure evolution through a dislocation density approach is proposed. The model is defined by a yield criterion and hardening laws that are all grain-size dependent. The classical Hill criterion in which grain-size dependency was introduced is proposed. Hardening laws are given by a combination of kinematic and isotropic contributions that respectively take into account the evolution with strain of cell blocks formed by geometrically necessary boundaries (GNBs) and individual dislocation cells delineated by incidental dislocation boundaries within cell blocks (IDBs). On the one hand, IDBs evolution contribution is described by a modified Rauch et al. isotropic model, which is able to describe work-hardening stagnation and work-softening. On the other hand, GNBs evolution contribution is described by a grain-size dependent tensorial back-stress expression proposed by to describe the plastic anisotropy and Bauschinger effect. Moreover, the proposed model aims to accurately predict steel behavior through an innovative approach by only changing few “simply measurable” microstructure data (e.g. chemical composition, grain size, etc.). The predictive capabilities of the model are assessed for interstitial free (IF) and dual phase (DP) steels with grain sizes varying respectively in the 8–40 μm and 1–10 μm value range. Different loading paths are analyzed, namely the uniaxial tensile test, reversal simple shear and orthogonal tests.