Modeling of continuous dynamic recrystallization in commercial-purity aluminum

A constitutive model for polycrystalline metals is established within a micromechanical framework. The inelastic deformation is defined by the formation and annihilation of dislocations together with grain refinement due to continuous dynamic recrystallization. The recrystallization studied here occurs due to plastic deformation without the aid of elevated temperatures. The grain refinement also influences the evolution of the dislocation density since the recrystallization introduces a dynamic recovery as well as additional grain and subgrain boundaries, hindering the movement of dislocations through the material microstructure. In addition, motivated by experimental evidence, the rate dependence of the material is allowed to depend on the grain size. Introducing a varying grain size into the evolution of the dislocation density and in the rate dependence of the plastic deformation are believed to be important and novel features of the present model. The proposed constitutive model is implemented in a numerical scheme allowing calibration against experimental results, which is shown using commercial-purity aluminum as example material. The model is also employed in macroscale simulations of grain refinement in this material during extensive inelastic deformation. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.