Strain rate effects on mechanical properties, microstructural evolution, and deformation mechanisms of high manganese steels

• Comprehensively analyzed strain rate dependence of the mechanical properties of HMS, encompassing strength, hardening, and ductility. • Elucidated the underlying mechanisms of strain rate effects in HMS, including thermal activation, lattice friction, adiabatic heating, viscous phonon resistance, and DSA. • Highlighted the complexity and debate surrounding strain rate-dependent behavior in HMS, driven by the interplay between softening and hardening mechanisms. • Proposed future research directions and performance optimization strategies for designing HMS to withstand a range of strain rate conditions. High manganese steels (HMS), known for their exceptional strength-ductility balance, are increasingly utilized in dynamic loading applications. This review examines the effects of strain rate on their mechanical properties and microstructural evolution, focusing on strain rate hardening, adiabatic heating softening, and dynamic strain aging (DSA). The influence of strain rate on yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, strain hardening, and ductility is discussed, highlighting both positive and negative sensitivities across different alloy compositions and strain rate regimes. The strain rate response of various deformation mechanisms, including deformation twinning, dislocation slip, and phase transformation, is examined alongside their influence on microstructural evolution, alloy design, and industrial applications. The intricate role of DSA is also analyzed, emphasizing its contribution to strain rate sensitivity. To optimize HMS for dynamic environments, future research should focus on advanced modeling and processing techniques, in-situ characterization methods, and a deeper understanding of thermally activated processes and stacking fault energy-controlled mechanisms. This review provides insights into strain rate effects, guiding alloy design, and technological advancements of the new HMS.