Multiscale Modelling of Mechanical Anisotropy of Metals

Abstract

The mechanical anisotropy of a rolled metal sheet depends both on its tex ture and dislocation boundary characteristics (boundary plane, misorientation angle and boundary spacing), thereby linking dislocation interactions at the nanometre scale to bulk properties through phenomena involving individual grains of dimensions of the order of 100 micrometres. The focus of the modelling is on the boundary plane. Atomistic and dislocation dynamics simulations have not yet been able to produce sufficiently realistic dislocation structures to provide the planes needed. Instead the boundary planes can be predicted at the grain scale based on the slip systems operating during rolling, which generate the dislocations available for inclusion in the boundaries. The predicted boundary planes are verified by transmission electron microscopy and the predicted anisotropy by mechanical testing.