Influence of uniaxial, biaxial and plane strain pre-straining on the dynamic tensile properties of high strength sheet steels

The influence of pre-straining and microstructure on the dynamic properties of car body high strength steels has been investigated at room temperature. The mechanical properties of a dual phase steel DP600, a TRIP steel TRIP700 and an austenitic steel AISI 301LN2B (1.4318) have been determined performing high speed servohydraulic and split-Hopkinson bar tensile tests in the strain rate range from 0.005s -1 up to 950s -1 . The pre-straining modes and levels, respectively 10% uniaxial, 10% plane strain and 5% biaxial pre-straining, have been chosen in this investigation according to industrial use. 10% plane strain pre-straining brings the highest increase of yield and tensile strength values. 5% biaxial and 10% uniaxial pre-straining have similar effect on strength properties. The austenitic steel presents a pronounced minimum for tensile strength values at around 1/s. A combination of adiabatic heating and exothermic γ → α' transformation produces some significant softening effects in the austenitic steel grade.