Minh-Son Pham

Constitutive Modeling based on Evolutionary Multi-junctions of Dislocations

A latent hardening model based on binary junction-induced hardening can effectively describe the anisotropy measured in multiaxial tests. However, this approach still has some descriptive and predictive limitations. Recent findings show that binary junctions generated by interactions of pairs of dislocations can only induce short-term hardening effect due to the unzipping process of binary junctions. By contrast, multi-junctions, which are formed via multiple interactions of dislocations, can exert a strong and enduring influence on the hardening of polycrystals. In this study, we extend the modeling of dislocation junctions from the binary to multi-junctions, and implement this evolution into a self-consistent visco-plastic model. An application of this model for predicting the yield surface and texture evolution of AA5754 during uniaxial and plane strain loadings is given as a demonstration of the capabilities of the evolutionary binary-multi junction approach.

The Strain Path Dependence of Plastic Deformation Response of AA5754: Experiment and Modeling

This work presents modeling of experiments on a balanced biaxial (BB) pre-strained AA5754 alloy, subsequently reloaded uniaxially along the rolling direction and transverse direction. The material exhibits a complex plastic deformation response during the change in strain path due to 1) crystallographic texture, 2) aging (interactions between dislocations and Mg atoms) and 3) recovery (annihilation and re-arrangement of dislocations). With a BB prestrain of about 5 %, the aging process is dominant, and the yield strength for uniaxially deformed samples is observed to be higher than the flow stress during BB straining. The strain hardening rate after changing path is, however, lower than that for pre-straining. Higher degrees of pre-straining make the dynamic recovery more active. The dynamic recovery at higher strain levels compensates for the aging effect, and results in: 1) a reduction of the yield strength, and 2) an increase in the hardening rate of re-strained specimens along other directions. The yi...

Forming Limit Diagram Predictions Using a Self-Consistent Crystal Plasticity Model: A Parametric Study

A numerical model to predict forming limit diagrams (FLD) for polycrystalline metal sheets is presented. In it, the Marciniak-Kuczynski (MK) approach is incorporated into the framework of the viscoplastic self-consistent (VPSC) crystal plasticity model. The current model, dubbed the VPSC-FLD, can run simulations along individual loading paths in parallel, which can make use of a CPU-cluster to enhance the computational speed. The main objective of the current work is to provide a detailed sensitivity report based on the VPSC-FLD. First of all, the influence of the initial inhomogeneity, f , as defined in the MK approach, is illustrated. Secondly, FLDs resulting from various sizes of the statistical population for the crystallographic texture are examined. Lastly, the computation time spent for various sizes of the statistical population is given.

Epitaxial growth in 316L steel and CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloy made by powder-bed laser melting

This study presents our fundamental study to understand the crystal formation in rapid cooling of cubic crystalline alloys (namely, 316L steel and NiCoCrFeMn) and how crystal microstructure evolves during the repeated deposition of material in powder-bed laser melting. The rapid cooling results in extremely fine rod-like cells. Cells in a fresh meltpool epitaxially grow from existing grains in the substrate (or existing cells in previously solidified meltpools). It is found that the orientation of existing crystals and the thermal gradient are two governing variables for the evolution of cells in meltpools.

Microstructure Analysis and Creep Behaviour Modelling of Powder Metallurgy Superalloy

Microstructure analysis of Ni-based superalloy FGH96 under different ageing treatments were carried out in order to understand the microstructure-creep strength relationships of the alloy. It was found that the volume fraction of tertiary γ′ and the mean γ-channel width was significantly varied with different ageing treatments, leading to the changes in creep behavior. The dislocation/γ′ shearing mechanisms were also changed with ageing treatment. The volume fractions of both secondary and tertiary γ′ and the mean γ-channel width were quantitatively analyzed by electron microscopy. The quantified microstructures were used for a crystal plasticity-based constitutive model. It was observed that the crystal plasticity model can accurately simulate experimentally observed creep behavior of aged samples showing significant secondary creep stage.

Roles of microstructures on deformation response of 316 stainless steel made by 3D printing

One of the main challenges in additive manufacturing (AM) of metals is to manufacture high quality materials and ensure the performance of AM materials in service duties. This challenge can only be solved when the relationships between build process parameters, microstructure and deformation behaviour are understood. This present study is part of holistic efforts at Imperial College to reveal such relationships. In this study, we present our study of porosity condition, grain morphology, texture and metastable phases in AM stainless steel 316. To provide samples for mechanical and microstructural study, cylindrical samples of stainless steel 316 were printed by powder-bed laser melting with a bi-directional hatch pattern. Scanning electron microscopy and electron backscattered diffraction were used to investigate fine microstructures (such as grain morphology, texture and crystal phases) after 3D printing and deformation. Subsequently, a detailed 3D structure of columnar grains in as-printed 316 steel is ...