Modeling the Grain Size Effect using Gradient Hardening and Damage in Crystal (Visco) Plasticity
Other conference contribution, 2006
Among the important properties that affect the macroscopic behavior of a polycrystalline material (metal)
are the size and morphology of the grains, the volume fraction of different phases, and the subgrain material
modeling. In this contribution we put emphasis on the modeling and numerical simulation of the grain
size dependence on the macroscopic response (in terms of onset of yielding, hardening/softening characteristics,
etc.). To this end, we formulate a subgrain material model that comprises crystal (visco)plasticity,
crystal damage and gradient hardening. The crystal damage is assumed to be driven by inelastic slip in
each slip system. Furthermore, the gradient hardening gives a contribution from each slip system which
is added to the well established local hardening.
In particular, we investigate the effect of different inter-grain conditions on the gradient hardening
variable. These conditions model the misfit of crystal orientations in two neighbor grains and allow plastic
slip to be transferred to different degree. Clearly, micro-clamped and micro-free conditions are two
well-known extreme cases.
The grain interaction in a Representative Volume Element is resolved using finite elements. In order
to solve the arising coupled field equations (for the displacements and the gradient hardening in the
slip systems) a so-called dual mixed FE algorithm is adopted. Dirichlet boundary conditions on the
RVE (corresponding to a given macro-scale deformation gradient) are adopted, and various prolongation
conditions inside the RVE are investigated: The classical Taylor assumption, Generalized Taylor assumption
(to grain boundaries only) and a fully unconstrained local displacement field. All computations are
restricted to 2D.
Crystal plasticity
Computational Plasticity
Gradient plasticity.