Load partitioning behavior in a metastable austenitic stainless steel subjected to pre-deformation below and above Md temperature: Experimental and modeling studies

A physics-based model coupling the evolution of dislocation density in the austenite and strain-induced martensite phases with composite flow strength and kinetics of martensite transformation was developed to describe ambient temperature uniaxial tensile deformation behavior of mill annealed and pre-deformed 304 SS. The applicability of the model was evaluated by fitting the experimental stress-strain data and validated with the experimentally estimated dislocation density in the austenite phase of the steel. The modeling results revealed that the initial microstructure of the steel significantly influences the dislocation accumulation and annihilation rates as well as the load partitioning between austenite and martensite phases. Despite a lower initial dislocation density than the pre-deformed conditions, the mill annealed condition revealed a higher capacity (approximately two orders of magnitude) for dislocation accumulation in the austenite phase. The initial volume fraction of strain-induced martensite phase and the initial dislocation density of pre-deformed 304 SS are governed by the degree of pre-deformation and pre-deformation temperature, either below or above M-d temperature (where M-d is defined as the temperature above which plastic deformation does not result in austenite to martensite trans-formation). It is observed that storage, as well as annihilation rates in the austenite phase, are higher for the steel having a higher initial volume fraction of martensite and dislocation density. Though the pre-deformation altered the evolution of martensite volume fraction, the steel exhibited a minor variation in dislocation accumulation capability in the martensite phase for different conditions.

Automated summary

This study investigates the ambient temperature uniaxial tensile deformation behavior of 304 stainless steel using a physics-based model. The results show that the initial microstructure of the steel plays a significant role in the accumulation and annihilation rates of dislocations as well as the load distribution between the austenite and martensite phases.