Finite element simulations of cold deformation at the mesoscale

The deformation of polycrystalline aggregates is modeled using the finite e lement method. Explicit discretization at the single crystal level is emplo yed to study the inhomogeneous deformations of individual crystals. Plastic deformation by crystallographic slip is treated using a constitutive model based on crystal plasticity. The formulation is used to predict the non-un iform nature of strain hardening and texture evolution in the crystals subj ected to plane strain compression. The capability of the simulations to cap ture the inhomogeneous deformation of individual grains during plastic defo rmation of polycrystals is demonstrated. The hardness and orientation Value s of elements from the same grain evolve to different final values due to l ocal inhomogeneities and interactions with neighbors. The simulations provi de a means to obtain quantitative information on the inhomogeneous distribu tions of stored energy and orientations among the different crystals compri sing the microstructure. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All ri ghts reserved.