Metric-based correlation of the martensite distribution to degree of strain inhomogeneity in plasticity of dual phase steels

Abstract A useful set of metrics are introduced to quantify and track the degree of inhomogeneity in alloys in relation to plastic strain evolution. Implementation of the proposed variables is exemplified by employing a physics-based plasticity simulation of a dual-phase (DP) steel structure. Cases representing scattered and clustered martensite phases in a ferrite matrix are analyzed following the application of strain to reveal the differences in the values of the proposed parameters in a simulation grid that mimics a polycrystalline DP steel. It is shown that the localization of strain in the DP steel for a given martensite phase distribution can effectively be tracked and quantified via the proposed metrics, providing a predictive tool to characterize and assess evolution of spatial strains as a function of phase dispersion.