Grain orientation stability and residual elastic energy induced by intergranular elastic interaction in rolled Al sheet

Abstract

Plastic behaviors of grains in polycrystalline metals are induced by external loading and affected by intergranular elastic interactions during deformation. A proposed reaction stress (RS) model including the effects of external and intergranular interaction stresses can simulate the behaviours, whereas the necessary equilibria of intergranular stress and strain are reached reasonably. Rolling texture development in roughly elastic isotropic Al as an example is simulated based on the RS model, whereas main texture components can be predicted accurately. The level of intergranular interactions may fluctuate depending on many factors and become stabile as texture forms at higher deformation degree, whereas all grains encounter similar deformation environment. Cube orientation indicates certain stability under the effect of RSs. A portion of elastic strain energy remains around the grains beside normal stored energy after deformation. The energy is orientation dependent and could not be predicted accurately by currently predominant crystallographic deformation theories and models based on Taylor strain principles. The elastic strain energy might affect the recrystallization process.