Use of microstructural statistics in predicting polycrystalline material properties

Experimental measurements of lattice orientation correlation in an oxygen-f ree electronic (OFE) copper plate have been employed in several statistical continuum mechanical theories to construct improved bounds and estimates o f the plate's macroscopic elastic response. One- and two-point microstructu ral statistics of lattice orientation were obtained through the automated a nalysis of spatially resolved electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) patte rns. Generalized Hashin-Shtrikman (GHS) bounds incorporating two-point stat istical data were found to be 75 pet narrower than the Voigt-Reuss bounds, A perturbation expansion technique yielded two sets of bounds of comparable quality. An experimental acoustic measurement of the bulk elastic response of the plate was found to lie between the calculated bounds. In addition, a perturbation estimate was obtained which exceeds the measured response, b ut still falls within all of the calculated bounds. The influence of crysta llographic texture was investigated for a variety of simulated textured cop per polycrystals and was found to cause significant differences in the macr oscopic elastic properties.