Numerical and experimental investigation of strain-path effects on localized deformation in steel alloys

A numerical approach to simulate texture evolution in BCC sheet materials subjected to complex forming strain paths is demonstrated. Drawing-quality (DQ) steel sheet is deformed experimentally through the application of a two-stage, orthogonal strain path. Bulk texture measurements before and after the test capture the crystallographic orientations. Both the undeformed bulk texture and the strain path are used as input for a finite element (FE)/grain model, which defines a unit cell that characterizes micro-structural material behavior. The simulated texture evolution after deformation is then compared with experimental data, and found to be in good agreement.