Predicting Plastic Flow Behaviour, Failure Mechanisms and Severe Deformation Localisation of Dual-Phase Steel using RVE Simulation

Abstract

In this work, the von Mises stress and plastic strain distribution of Ferrite-Martensite–Dual-Phase (FMDP) steels are predicted at various stages of deformation. The failure modes and volume fraction effect are identified based on Representative Volume Element (RVE). FMDP steel consists of a typical ferrite-matrix phase, in which martensite-islands are dispersed. Recently FMDP steels are increasingly used to the various car parts in demand. 2D-RVEs are also utilised to predict the orientations effect of the martensite phase in the FMDP steels. Based on the position of the element, the boundary conditions (BC) are given in the RVE of FMDP steel microstructures. The failure modes are examined in the form of severe plastic strain localisation. While the distribution of islands in the microstructure varies, as a result, the deformation inhomogeneity increases with a rise of martensite fraction. The results of numerical computation and the trend of experimental failure shown in the literature are compared. This is signifying that the overall macro-behaviour of FMDP steel, as a consequence of stress-strain partitioning and influence of martensite-island volume fractions (MVFs), can be predicted by the finite element (FE) based 2D-RVE modelling.