Relating stress/strain heterogeneity to lath martensite strength by experiments and dislocation density-based crystal plasticity

To enhance the fundamental understanding for micromechanical lath martensite deformation, the microstructure as well as macro- and microscopic tensile properties of as -quenched 15-5 PH stainless steel are systematically analysed depending on the austenitisation temperature. Based on electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and backscattered electron (BSE) analysis, it is noted that the martensite morphology alters from a less defined to a more clearly defined parallel arrangement of the block and lath structure with increasing temperature. For an indepth quantification of the hierarchical boundary strengthening contributions in relation to local stress/strain heterogeneity, separate high-fidelity virtual microstructures are realised for the different scales (prior austenite grains, packets and blocks). This is consistent with the materials transformation process. The virtual microstructures are simulated employing the crystal plasticity finite element method (CPFEM) adapted for handling high dislocation density and encompassing all relevant strengthening mechanisms by boundaries, dislocations and solute atoms. While accurately capturing the measured size -dependent stress-strain behaviour, the simulations reveal in line with the experiments (Hall-Petch) that blocks are the most effective dislocation motion barrier, causing increased strain hardening and stress/strain heterogeneity. Furthermore, since strain localisation is predicted strongest in the distinct block structure, the experimentally observed early plastic material yielding is thought to be favoured here.