Constitutive Description of Tensile Flow Behavior of Cold Flow-Formed AFNOR 15CDV6 Steel at Different Deformation Levels

Abstract

The influences of cold deformation on the room temperature tensile stress-strain behavior of a flow-formed AFNOR 15CDV6 steel have been evaluated in the deformation range of 74-86% at a nominal strain rate of 6.67 × 10−4 s−1. Constitutive description of the tensile plastic flow has been illustrated through a comparative description of widely used empirical relationships proposed by Hollomon, Ludwigson, Pickering and Voce. Both the Voce and Pickering relations adequately describe the tensile flow behavior of all the specimens. Although the standard Ludwigson relation does not fit the experimental data satisfactorily, the fitting ability improves dramatically when a modified relation with the negative deviation compensating parameter has been employed. Physical interpretation of the fitting parameters based on observed microstructural features of the materials is further attempted. The variations in Ludwigson (n 2) and Voce (K v) parameters match well with the trend in the development of delamination cracks due to internal stress fields. Such behavior is directly linked to the uniform elongation of the materials. The tensile work hardening behavior has been elucidated by the differential and modified Crussard-Jaoul methods. Such analyses in corroboration with microstructural characterization indicate the development of internal stress field during highly constrained material flow in a banded structure. The consequence of this phenomenon is manifested in the formation of severe delamination cracks that significantly affect the uniform elongation of the specimens. Furthermore, the Estrin-Mecking analysis of microstructural attributes to the work hardening behavior points out the dynamic recovery controlled deformation mechanism in 86% deformed specimen.