Coupled simulations of texture evolution during deformation and recrystallization of fcc and bcc metals

Thermo-mechanical processing to produce optimum grain structure and texture is essential for the successful utilization of commercial aluminum alloys and steels as sheet products. Several modeling techniques have been developed in the past with a reasonably good predictive capability for bulk deformation textures. However, prediction of texture evolution during recrystallization remains very challenging because of uncertainties involved in predicting the mechanisms that lead to nuclei formation and crystallographic orientations of the nuclei, and the uncertainties involved in predicting the grain boundary properties that determine the growth kinetics of the nuclei. We present some of our recent work in modeling the recrystallization textures following cold deformation in polycrystalline bcc metals and hot-deformation in fcc metals. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.