A new critical point on the stress-strain curve: Delineation of dynamic recrystallization from grain growth

Abstract

A new critical point termed ‘stabilisation stress’ (σstab) is identified in high temperature stress-strain curves. σstab represents the beginning of a stage in the hot working process where grain growth becomes the dominant microstructural phenomenon. This point is detected using an irreversible thermodynamics approach. Predicted correlations between σstab and grain growth are experimentally validated for structural steels, enabling the delineation of dynamic recrystallization from grain growth based on stress-strain curves.