Effect of strain rate on the microstructure evolution and tensile behavior of medium manganese steel

Abstract

• The TRIP effect is predominant at lower strain rates. • An increase in the strain rate facilitates mechanical stability of austenite. • Excellent tensile properties are resulted at lower strain rates. In the present study, the effect of strain rate on the microstructure evolution and tensile behavior of intercritically annealed medium manganese steel is investigated. Tensile tests were performed on the annealed samples at strain rates of 1.33×10 -4 , 0.665×10 -3 and 1.33×10 -3 s -1 . The amount of austenite to martensite transformation and dislocation density decrease with the increase in strain rates. The sample at the strain rate of 1.33×10 -4 s -1 exhibits superior tensile properties due to the synergistic influences of the transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) effect and high dislocation density.