Microstructure-based anisotropic fracture behavior of progressively cold drawn pearlitic steels and the subsequent crack path deflection: A Picassian Approach

Abstract

This paper deals with the directional toughness and anisotropic fracture behavior of progressively cold drawn pearlitic steel wires on the basis of their microstructural evolution during manufacturing by multi-step cold drawing that produces slenderizing and orientation of the pearlitic colonies, together with densification and orientation of the Fe/Fe3C lamellae, reviewing previous research by the author and showing: (i) the key impact of the colonies and lamellae alignment and orientation, producing anisotropic fracture behavior with its related crack path deflection; (ii) the deviation of the crack from its initial path in mode I (anisotropic crack path) is an increasing function of the cold drawing level; (iii) the progressively drawn steels exhibit anisotropy of fracture resistance or strength anisotropy, i.e., a sort of directional toughness can be defined as a function of the degree of cold drawing; (iv) in cold drawn pearlitic steels, the deflected crack is a polygonal line associated with the multi-perspective cubist painting by Picasso, this paper representing thus a Picassian approach to anisotropic fracture in cold drawn pearlitic steels.