Mesoscopic Analysis of Deformation Heterogeneity and Recrystallization Microstructures of a Dual-Phase Steel Using a Coupled Simulation Approach

Microstructure-based numerical modeling of the deformation heterogeneity and ferrite recrystallization in a cold-rolled dual-phase (DP) steel has been performed by using the crystal plasticity finite element method (CPFEM) coupled with a mesoscale cellular automaton (CA) model. The microstructural response of subsequent primary recrystallization with the deformation heterogeneity in two-phase microstructures is studied. The simulations demonstrate that the deformation of multi-phase structures leads to highly strained shear bands formed in the soft ferrite matrix, which produces grain clusters in subsequent primary recrystallization. The early impingement of recrystallization fronts among the clustered grains causes mode conversions in the recrystallization kinetics. Reliable predictions regarding the grain size, microstructure morphology and kinetics can be made by comparison with the experimental results. The influence of initial strains on the recrystallization is also obtained by the simulation approach.