[SY-F10] Analysis of gradient microstructures using crystal plasticity
Gradients in microstructural features such as grain size, initial dislocation density and crystallographic texture occur in many engineering applications such as shot peened regions and heat affected zone of welds. While such microstructures may be desirable to improve mechanical properties, modelling of such microstructures require integration of appropriate length scales into the constitutive model. Crystal plasticity finite element method (CPFEM) offers an appropriate route to integrate the crystallographic and grain shape/size effects into the same descriptor for deformation; thus it allows for the probing of the deformation behaviour of complex gradient microstructures. In this work, we implement a CPFEM model that accounts for the effect of the grain boundaries and thus bringing in a length scale effect. The model is used to perform mesoscale simulations of realistic microstructures. Emphasis is on the role of the distribution of grain size, shape and crystallographic texture on the deformation behaviour. Corroboration with the fracture behaviour of such microstructures are also made.