Experimental study of the phase transformation plasticity of 16MND5 low carbon steel induced by proportional and nonproportional biaxial loading paths

This article deals with the multiphasic, anisothermal behavior of 16MND5 steel (used in French nuclear reactor vessels) under complex loading. We are focusing more specifically on transformation plasticity induced by proportional or nonproportional biaxial loading. The first part briefly reviews the experimental setup we have been using. The second part concerns the study of transformation-induced plasticity under constant stress in the cases of bainitic, martensitic and austenitic transformations. These tests enabled us to identify Leblondʹs transformation plasticity model. The final part presents tests on the transformation plasticity induced by nonproportional biaxial loading and their comparison with the previously identified model.