Volume Fraction Of Martensite Research Articles

Exploring the influence of ultrasonic peening treatment at ambient and cryogenic conditions on the surface characteristics and fatigue life of austenitic stainless steel 304L

This study investigates the impact of Ultrasonic Peening Treatment (UPT) at room temperature (Troom) and cryogenic temperature (Tcryo) on phase transformation, surface morphology, and fatigue life of stainless steel 304L samples. Finite element simulations were developed to analyze the effects of different material models and the pin's vertical velocity on residual stress, martensite volume fraction (ξ), and surface deformation. The numerical results of residual stress and ξ were consistent with experimental measurements obtained via X-ray diffraction. Significant compressive residual stress and martensite volume fraction were induced in the subsurface of the specimens following UPT at both temperatures. Various UPT process parameters, including static load, the pin's horizontal velocity, the number of treatments, and lubrication conditions, were experimentally explored for their effects on surface morphology and hardness. Indentation hardness revealed values of 621 HV for samples treated at Tcryo and 489 HV for those treated at Troom, compared to 286 HV for untreated specimens. Furthermore, UPT reduced surface roughness by approximately 88 % for a mechanically polished surface and over 93 % for a rough surface. Investigating conditions leading to potential damage and defects during the process was also undertaken. Fractography of the fracture surfaces and fatigue analysis revealed that the fatigue life of UPT-treated samples at Troom and Tcryo increased by 63 % and 45 %, respectively, compared to untreated specimens.

Influence of phase transformation coefficient on thermomechanical modeling of laser powder bed fusion for maraging 300 steel

Manufacturing maraging steel components using laser-based powder bed fusion (LPBF) presents an attractive proposition for industries due to the material's combination of mechanical properties such as hardness, wear resistance, toughness and the capability to produce parts with complex geometries and high precision. Despite these advantages, the LPBF process induces defects such as distortion and residual stress associated with the complex thermal cycles, compromising final part quality. Numerical simulations have been developed to predict these defects. However, LPBF simulations remain challenging due to the complexity of the process and the substantial computational resources required. For maraging steel, for example, the occurrence of phase transformation promotes compressive stress that interferes in results and makes simulations inaccurate. This research aims to simulate a geometry with a circular inner channel and investigate distortion, volume fraction of martensite and equivalent stress results. Modeling was performed by varying phase transformation rate parameters to assess the impact of transformations on simulation outcomes. Results showed minimal impact of these parameters on distortions and equivalent stress. Equivalent stress results were compared with literature findings, while distortion results were validated against experimental data to validate the accuracy of the model.

Correlation between individual phase constitutive properties and plastic heterogeneities in advanced-high strength dual-phase steels

The present study comprehensively investigates the individual phase constitutive properties and plastic heterogeneities in advanced high-strength steels (AHSS), particularly DP590 and DP780 dual-phase (DP) steels. A machine learning-based model is implemented to identify the ferrite and martensite phases in the microstructures of DP590 and DP780. Then, the constitutive properties of ferrite and martensite phases are successfully obtained through a hybrid approach of in-situ neutron diffraction coupled with the crystal plasticity finite element method (CPFEM). The distinct microstructures between DP590 and DP780 result in different macroscopic and microscopic properties among the two materials. Owing to different martensite volume fractions (Vm) in DP590 (Vm = 8.3 %) and DP780 (Vm = 35.4 %), a noticeable dependency of plastic heterogeneities during deformation on martensite fraction and its spatial distribution is revealed. Compared to DP590, the deformed microstructure of DP780 exhibits a more heterogeneous distribution of stress and strain fields, along with significant formation of plastic strain localization leading to a remarkable increase in strain partitioning index. It shows that a lower fraction of martensite with its discrete distribution decreases martensite ability to hinder the ferrite deformation, thus strain localization is primarily concentrated within the ferrite phase as the predominant failure mode in DP590. In contrast, a higher martensite fraction in DP780 causes more pronounced strain localization which occurs in the ferrite and at the ferrite/martensite interface. In addition, interconnect distribution between martensite islands enhances the inhibition of martensite to ferrite deformation, thereby high strain gradient at their interface leads to prevalence of ferrite/martensite interface decohesion in DP780.

Using Poisson’s ratio and acoustic anisotropy parameter to assess damage and accumulated plastic strain during fatigue loading of austenitic steel

The work investigated the effect of fatigue failure on the elastic characteristics of metastable austenitic steel AISI 321: Poisson’s ratio and acoustic anisotropy parameter. The elastic characteristics were calculated using ultrasonic measurements of the propagation time of longitudinal and shear elastic waves. The volume fraction of strain-induced martensite was determined by the eddy current method. Theoretical studies have shown that the main factors influencing Poisson’s ratio are the accumulation of microdamages and changes in phase composition. The change in the acoustic anisotropy parameter is associated with the influence of cyclic deformation on the crystallographic texture of the material matrix and the formation of oriented crystals of strain-induced martensite. Based on the analysis of experimental results, expressions were obtained for calculating damage and relative accumulated plastic deformation based on acoustic measurement data, which are widely used in engineering practice to determine the fatigue life of structural materials.

Mechanical Properties and Martensitic Transformation Behavior of 316LN Stainless Steel Under Cryogenic Deformation

Digital image correlation (DIC) technology can capture strain anomalies and predict crack initiation providing early warning of material failure. Herein, DIC technique is used to calculate the full‐field strain by analyzing the grayscale patterns of speckle images during the tensile process. This allowed for an analysis of the microstructure evolution of the 316LN austenitic stainless steel (SS) at cryogenic temperatures. Deformation behavior of the 316LN SS at cryogenic temperatures is further analyzed using electron backscatter diffraction technology and transmission electron microscopy. Based on the strain field obtained by the DIC technique, a comprehensive analysis of the martensite volume fraction at different strains can be conducted. The results show that the strain localization under cryogenic deformation is related to martensitic transformation, while the random distribution of slip bands aligns with local strain peak values. Notably, fracture under cryogenic deformation occurs in regions where the strain field reaches its peak, rather than at locations with the maximum strain value.

The modified Swift constitutive model of 304L stainless steel at the cryogenic temperature based on the Olson–Cohen model

The nonlinear behavior of austenitic stainless steel (ASS) is significantly affected by the temperature and strain during plastic deformation. However, the conventional constitutive model is often inadequate to accurately describe its mechanical properties, particularly at cryogenic temperatures. Therefore, the development of a constitutive model for ASS at cryogenic temperatures is of paramount importance in order to fully understanding the performance of liquefied natural gas (LNG) membrane tank structures under such conditions. In this study, we have derived a modified constitutive model using 304L stainless steel that incorporates a phase transition model through theoretical derivations. First, the stress and strain data for 304L stainless steel within the range of 108–293 K have obtained from quasi-static tensile experiments. Subsequently, the XRD test results are utilized to calculate the volume fraction of martensite across various temperatures and strains. Next, a modified constitutive model is proposed by combining the Olson–Cohen phase transition model and the Swift constitutive model. Finally, the accuracy of the modified Swift constitutive model is verified through experimental data. The results demonstrate that the modified Swift constitutive model is precise for characterizing the properties of 304L stainless steel across a wide range of temperatures. Furthermore, multiple case studies have proven the feasibility of using the modified Swift constitutive model to predict the properties of various austenitic materials. By incorporating the Olson-Cohen phase transition model, the modified Swift constitutive model showcases its wide applicability and potential in designing and assessing the safety of ASS structures.

Influence of heat input on bead geometry, microstructure and hardness characteristics of dissimilar 410 martensitic stainless steel weld deposits on 304L substrate

ABSTRACT Examining the impact of heat-input (QHI) on the characteristics of dissimilar welds of 410 and 304L is essential for improving the structural integrity, longevity, and functionality of bimetallic welds and components produced through additive manufacturing. The study delved into key variables influencing deposited bead and fusion zone (FZ) characteristics. An increase in QHI from 170J/mm to 530J/mm caused an exponential bead width (W) rise, expanding the weld bead width from 5mm to 13mm. Despite this, both bead height and penetration depth rose, resulting in a reduction of aspect ratios at higher QHI values. Aspect ratios remained low within the range of 300-480J/mm. Furthermore, the research demonstrated that an increased QHI value caused a reduction in the Cr-Ni equivalent ratio from 1.91 to 1.77, promoting the γ-phase in the FZ. The γ-phase further transformed into α’-martensite upon cooling. The lowest QHI increased the γ-phase metastability, fostering the formation of α’ and γ-FeNi in the FZs, gradually elevating the deposition hardness up to 13.9 % compared to the highest QHI. Various linear and non-linear models were developed to anticipate the correlations for predicting crucial parameters such as Ms temperature, Mεs temperature, SFE, α’-martensite volume fraction, γ-FeNi volume fraction, and hardness.

Effect of repeated-tempering induced martensite on the microstructural evolution in 17–7 PH stainless steel

Single long-time tempering and triple tempering processes have been applied to 17–7 PH stainless steel (chemical composition: Fe-0.09C-16.4Cr-7.7Ni-0.9Al, wt%) to investigate the effects of the stability of austenite on subsequent martensitic transformation and aging hardening. The as-received steel was composed of 0.55 austenite and 0.45 martensite (volume fraction). Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the volume fraction of martensite (up to 0.98) in triple-tempered specimens ((0.5 h @ 760 °C) × 3) was about 0.15 higher than that (0.83) in single-tempered ones ((1.5 h @ 760 °C) × 1). The results clearly indicate the effectiveness of the triple-tempering process in progressively improving martensitic transformation. Direct observation of the austenite/martensite interface has provided evidence that the preceding martensitic transformation induces accommodation strain into the adjacent austenite, which brings about the mechanical stabilization of austenite but will facilitate the succeeding martensitic transformation after three consecutive tempering operations. The relevant microstructural evolution has been explored and discussed. Furthermore, subsequent aging at 565 °C led to precipitation hardening associated with the formation of NiAl nanoparticles. The triple-tempered specimen yielded the higher peak hardness value (424 HV) in 20 min, significantly faster than the single-tempered specimen, which took 90 min to reach the lower one (357 HV). The corresponding number density of NiAl nano-precipitates and dislocation densities of martensite at various aging times have been examined by transmission electron microscopy to elucidate the benefits of the triple tempering process for precipitation strengthening.

Simultaneously promoting strength and ductility by regulating TRIP effect in TiZrCuBeO bulk metallic glass composite

In this study, a novel series of Ti-based bulk metallic glass composites has been developed, exhibiting high specific strength and significant ductility (fracture strain exceeding 11 %). The TRIP effect of these composites was promoted by oxygen microalloying, ensuring uniform deformation under tensile loading. The outstanding mechanical properties could be attributed to the well-controlled metastability of the β phase, as well as the increased volume fraction and variants of martensite, effectively coordinating the micro-strain. It demonstrates that well-designed composition could significantly enhance the TRIP effect and ductility of bulk metallic glass composites, and prevent premature failure while preserving strength.

A Microstructural Study of Cu-10Al-7Ag Shape Memory Alloy in As-Cast and Quenched Conditions

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) represent an exceptional class of smart materials as they are able to recover their shape after mechanical deformation, making them suitable for use in actuators, sensors and smart devices. These unique properties are due to the thermoelastic martensitic transformation that can occur during both thermal and mechanical deformation. Cu-based SMAs, especially those incorporating Al and Ag, are attracting much attention due to their facile production and cost-effectiveness. Among them, Cu-Al-Ag SMAs stand out due to their notably high temperature range for martensitic transformation. In this study, a Cu-based SMA with a new ternary composition of Cu-10Al-7Ag wt.% was prepared by arc melting and the samples cut from this casting alloy were quenched in water. Subsequently, the phase composition and the development of the microstructure were investigated. In addition, the morphology of the martensite was studied using advanced techniques such as electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The analyzes confirmed the presence of martensitic structures in both samples; mainly 18R (β1′) martensite was present but a small volume fraction of (γ1′) martensite also was noticed in the as-quenched sample. The observation of fine, twinned martensite plates in the SMA alloy with symmetrically occurring basal plane traces between the twin variants underlines the inherent correlation between microstructural symmetry and the properties of the material and provides valuable insights into its behavior. The hardness of the quenched sample was found to be lower than the as-cast counterpart, which can be linked to the solutioning of Ag particles during the heat treatment.

Phase-field damage simulation of subloop loading in TiNi SMA

In practical applications, TiNi shape memory alloys (SMAs) exhibit behavior that can pose a challenge with current constitutive models and their implementations in finite element method (FEM) software. TiNi SMA devices typically operate in the forward or reverse martensitic transformation regime, which is known as subloop loading. During such cyclic loading–unloading, the hysteresis stress–strain loop changes because of material damage, which can be considered the fatigue of TiNi SMAs. During both the loading and unloading processes, the stress plateau decreases. At the same time, the accumulated (residual) martensitic transformation strain increases. In this study, the experimental investigation results and observations of the aforementioned phenomena are presented. Next, the phase-field damage model is employed, along with a modified Lagoudas constitutive model, to simulate the change in stress–strain hysteresis. Furthermore, a fatigue function is used to simulate the accumulation of martensitic transformation strain. The experimental stress–strain response is compared with the simulation results, and good quantitative and qualitative agreement is obtained. The damage and martensitic volume fraction with respect to strain are discussed for full-loop and subloop loading. The observations and conclusions, as well as open questions, are presented. Possible directions for future research are provided.

Medium-carbon dual-phase steels with spheroidized ferrite matrix

This study presents processing and properties of dual-phase (DP) steels, which contain islands of martensite among ferrite grains effectively reinforced by abundant carbide particles. To this end, a medium-carbon, low-alloyed steel plate with an initial ferrite-pearlite microstructure underwent cold rolling for 80% thickness reduction. Specimens obtained from the cold rolled strip were then heated in a neutralized salt bath at various temperatures ranging from 600 to 730 °C for 10 ks, followed by water quenching. The resulting microstructures and mechanical properties were analyzed. Preceding the formation of austenite during intercritical annealing, recrystallization led to the formation of a spheroidized ferrite microstructure with a high number of carbide particles dispersed mainly within the recrystallized ferrite grains. Initially, austenite grains formed on the carbides located at the boundaries between ferrite grains, followed by the formation of austenite on the carbides still present within the ferrite grains. Quenching from 715 °C resulted in a DP microstructure with intergranular martensite while increasing the annealing temperature to 725 °C led to the creation of intragranular martensite additionally. The study also focused on the distribution of alloying elements in the DP microstructure, revealing an enrichment of carbides with Mn, Cr, and Mo. Furthermore, an enrichment of martensite islands with manganese atoms was identified, but no comparable enrichment with carbon atoms was observed. The specimens annealed at 715–725 °C, which consisted of a martensite volume fraction ranging from 0.15 to 0.45, exhibited a superior balance of strength and ductility, as well as an outstanding work hardening exponent.

Effect of caliber rolling temperature on the deformation behavior and mechanical properties of dual-phase medium Mn steel

Dual-phase medium manganese steel (MMS) was caliber rolled at 800, 900 and 1000 °C, respectively, in order to clarify the deformation behavior and mechanical properties of warm deformed MMS. Herein, the microstructure evolution, tensile behavior and fracture characteristics exhibit obvious dependence on the caliber rolling temperature. The warm rolled steel contains martensite and austenite phases with heterogeneous grains including coarse fiber grains (CFG) and ultrafine equiaxed grains (UFG), which shows different microstructural stability. With the increase of rolling temperature, dynamic recrystallization (DRX) is more obvious, corresponding with the increasing percent of UFG, as well as the decreasing percent of CFG and martensite volume fraction. Meanwhile, high deformation temperature also leads to high austenite stability and the decreasing Transformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP) effect. The strength, strain hardening behavior and total elongation are gradually increased with the decrease of rolling temperature, which is attributed to severe strain partitioning and unique laminated structure in the caliber rolled MMS with low rolling temperature. Moreover, the warm rolled MMS reveals obvious ductile-ductile transition behavior in the temperature range from 25 °C to −60 °C. In addition, the low caliber rolling temperature also results into high impact energy, which is attributed to the high volume fraction of CFG.

Research and simulation on the thermal mechanical properties of functionally graded shape memory alloy composite beam considering tension-compression asymmetry

Considering the tension-compression asymmetry of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA), the tension and compression constitutive equations of the Functionally Graded Shape Memory Alloy (FG-SMA) beam are established based on the simplified constitutive relation of SMA. The influences of the power exponent, temperature, tension-compression asymmetry coefficient, and strain (along the length direction of the beam) on the martensite volume fraction and stress of the beam are analyzed, and the correctness of the theory is verified by comparing the results of theory with finite element analysis. The research shows that when the height of the beam is constant, the power exponent, temperature, tension-compression asymmetry coefficient are proportional (inversely proportional) to the stress (martensite volume fraction) of the cross-section, and the strain is proportional to both the stress and martensite volume fraction of the cross-section. When the other conditions are fixed, compared with compression, the martensite volume fraction (stress) under tension is larger (slightly less) at the same layer cross-section position.

Thermomechanical response and elastocaloric effect of shape memory alloy wires

Refrigeration technologies based on the elastocaloric effect of shape memory alloys (SMAs) have attracted much interest in recent years. To seek for schemes that can improve the temperature span and efficiency of elastocaloric devices, this work explores more practical loading conditions (between adiabatic and isothermal) of SMAs. To account for the smoothness of the martensite phase transformation of SMAs, a general polynomial form of hardening-like function is adopted in the phenomenological multi-physics coupling framework. The modeling framework is further calibrated by measurements of the thermomechanical responses of pre-trained Ni–Ti wires. Due to the hardening-like function, the martensitic volume fraction cannot be explicitly expressed. Accordingly, a new numerical scheme is also presented in this work. Moreover, an empirical function of the maximum transformation strain is proposed based on the experimental observation, which improves the capability of the model to capture experimental data. This work aims to provide a paradigm from material characterization to theoretical modeling and numerical simulation, and then to elastocaloric cooling performance analysis of SMAs.

Optimizing crack initiation energy in austenitic steel via controlled martensitic transformation

Although the seemingly negative effect of deformation-induced martensite (DIM) volume fraction on the impact toughness of austenitic steels has been well documented, it relies mostly on analyzing crack propagation without explicitly considering the crack initiation process which, however, plays a crucial role in these ductile alloys. The dependence of crack initiation energy (Ei) on martensitic transformation mechanisms is still ambiguous, inhibiting the precise design of damage-tolerant and ductile alloys. Here, we explore the temperature-dependent crack initiation energy of a SUS321 stainless steel at various temperatures (25, –50, and –196 °C). Contrary to the crack propagation energy (Ep), the Ei has a weak correlation with the volume fraction of α′-martensite but a strong correlation with the martensitic transformation rate. Also contrary to the traditional viewpoint of Ep considering ε-martensite as a detrimental phase, a high volume fraction of ε-martensite turns out to be beneficial to the increase of Ei, thereby enhancing impact toughness. As such, an optimal value (15 mJ/m2) for the stacking fault energy (SFE), which dictates the γ→ε→α′ transformation sequence, is given as a new design guideline for enhancing the Ei and consequently the impact toughness of ductile steels. The generality of this guideline is further validated in multiple austenitic steels with different compositions and grain sizes.

Experimental and numerical investigation of the yield point phenomenon and strain partitioning behavior in a dual-phase steel with lamellar structure

Severe rolling techniques show potential for enhancing the strength and ductility of metallic materials, but the resulting microstructural anisotropy affects the mechanical behavior. The study investigated the anisotropic yield point phenomenon (YPP) and strain partitioning behavior in a dual-phase steel with ultrafine lamellar structure, fabricated through severe cold- and warm-rolling procedures. Experimental results show that tensile specimens aligned parallel to the rolling direction exhibit YPP and higher ductility, while those oriented normal to the rolling direction show continuous yielding behavior and decreased ductility. Using Digital Image Correlation techniques, we studied the evolution of the strain distribution on the surface of the gauge segment, revealing that the strain within the Lüders band was almost constant during the Lüders band propagation. Strain-induced martensitic transformation (SIMT) was observed within the Lüders band and the volume fraction of martensite keeps almost constant during the Lüders band propagation. Numerically, we integrated the mechanisms of SIMT and YPP into a dislocation density-based J2 plasticity constitutive framework. Simulated tensile tests indicate a smaller Lüders strain resulted from the initial higher strain hardening rate. Additionally, SIMT suppresses local instability and therefore promotes the stable propagation of Lüders bands. Simulations verify that the lamellar orientation and SIMT significantly affect the strain hardening rate and void growth. Our findings provided a new perspective on the intrinsic mechanism of the anisotropic YPP and ductility in lamellar dual-phase steels.

Martensitic transformation in rolled 301 stainless steel induced by cryogenic treatment

The martensitic transformation in rolled 301 stainless steel induced by cryogenic temperature was investigated in the present work. The methods of magnetization, thermoelectric potential combined with microscopes were adopted for revealing the microstructure evolution from the global and local scale. Hardness and tensile tests were performed at room temperature to evaluate the variation of properties. The results showed that deep cryogenic treatment improved the tensile strength of 301 steel rolled with the reduction of 10%, 20% and 30% by 93.7 MPa, 71 MPa and 125.5 MPa, and the yield strength by 131 MPa, 65.2 MPa and 208.9 MPa, respectively. The improvement in tensile strength caused by deep cryogenic treatment are equivalent to that induced by the higher rolling reduction rate, which could achieve higher strength-plasticity balance of 301 ASS at relatively low deformation. Deep cryogenic treatment promoted the formation of martensitic in the rolled microstructure, which was considered to be the main reason for the strengthening. The volume fraction of martensite in 301 ASS rolled with the reduction rate of 20% and 30% was increased by 44.5% and 28.2% after cryogenic treatment, respectively. The martensitic transformation caused by deep cryogenic treatment corresponded to the principle of conventional strain-induced martensitic transformation, which nucleated in the intersections of shear bands and formed from the transition ε-martensite. Under cryogenic temperature, the decrease of stacking fault energy (SFE) and increase of lattice internal stress reduced the critical stress of shear bands formation, as a result of increasing the amount of shear bands and nucleation sites for martensitic transformation.

Investigating the role of the austenitizing temperature and cooling rate on the martensitic transformation kinetics in a SAE 9254 spring steel

The effect of austenitizing temperature (ranging from 850 to 1050 °C) and cooling rates on the phase transformations were investigated, particularly when a two cooling steps protocol was adopted. It was possible to observe that the heat treatment parameters play a major role on the martensitic transformation kinetics a possible occurrence of bainitic transformation. The results indicate that a microstructure composed by small austenite grains and the formation of bainite prior the athermal martensitic transformation significantly contribute to increase the martensitic transformation rate. The Koistinen-Marburger model was employed to analyze the non-isothermal kinetics, revealing an increase in the KM and k parameters due to an increase in austenite grain size and the presence of bainite in the microstructure. The results herein demonstrate that the optimization of the heat treatment parameters is crucial to the proper control of the phases that will be present in the microstructure of the alloy, as well as the volume fraction of martensite. Thus, the accurate control of the heat treatment process is a promising approach to enhance the properties of SAE 9254 spring steel, which finds extensive use in the automotive industry.

Berkovich indentation and the Oliver-Pharr method for shape memory alloys

Advances in instrumentation and interpretation of nanoindentation data with the Oliver-Pharr (O-P) method have fueled the reliable assessment of hardness and elastic modulus. However, shape memory alloys (SMAs) undergo a reversible phase transformation that complicates and challenges the conventional practice. This paper examines through finite element simulations the variation in nanoindentation response with SMA constitutive properties and the deformation regimes underneath a Berkovich indenter. Unique features of phase transformations – including tension-compression asymmetry, limited magnitude of transformation strain compared to plastic strain, and pressure-dependent transformation stress – inject fundamentally different patterns of elastic and inelastic deformation, compared to conventional elastic-plastic indentation. This can generate errors of up to 16% and 40% in hardness and modulus, respectively, when a conventional O-P approach for elastic-plastic materials is used. These errors are decreased if (1) contact stiffness is measured over a reduced (2% or less) portion of the initial unloading response and (2) new material-dependent expressions are used for geometric and correction factors in the O-P nanoindentation analysis. Approximate analytic expressions are obtained for the effective elastic modulus and martensite volume fraction in the inhomogeneous medium created by indentation. This new method is applied to Ni50.5Ti49.5 (at%) wire and for other SMAs, general guidance for selection of geometric and correction factors is provided.