Local Stress Increase Due to Mechanically Induced Phase Transformation Predicted by a Crystal FE Analysis

The mechanically induced phase transformation (MIPT), from austenitic phase to martensitic phase, has been regarded to affect the mechanical behavior of materials, including fracture properties of steels such as the ductility, the toughness, etc. The understanding of the MIPT effect, of the so-called retained austenite, on the mechanical behavior under general loading condition is still challenging topics to be solved. In the present paper the MIPT effect of retained austenite to the martensitic phase stress and strain distribution is numerically examined by a Finite Element Analysis based on the crystal plasticity theory incorporating the MIPT.