Integrated Microstructure Based Modelling of Process-Chain for Cold Rolled Dual Phase Steels

The properties of dual phase (DP) steels are governed by the underlying microstructure, the evolution of which is determined by the processing route. In order to design a dual phase steel with tailored properties, it is therefore important to model and design each of the process involved at the microstructure level in an integrated fashion. In this work, an integrated approach is used to predict the final microstructure and mechanical properties of dual phase steels through microstructure based modelling of cold rolling, intercritical annealing and quenching processes. Starting with a representative volume element (RVE) of initial ferrite-pearlite microstructure, cold-reduction during rolling is simulated in a FEM based micromechanics approach under appropriate boundary conditions. The deformed microstructure with plastic strain energy distribution after cold-reduction serves as input for modelling static recrystallization and ferrite/pearlite to austenite transformation during intercritical annealing using a phase-field approach. A micromechanics based quenching simulation is then used to model austenite to martensite transformation, related volume expansion and evolution of transformational stress/strain fields. The resultant microstructure with its complete state is used to evaluate the flow behavior under uniaxial loading conditions in a FEM based micromechanics approach under periodic boundary conditions. Property variation for different initial microstructure, composition and processing conditions are studied and discussed.