Pertinence of the grains aggregate type on the self-consistent model responses

The effect of the aggregate of grains type (i.e., the number and the orientation of grains) on the non-linear strain-stress behavior of FCC polycrystals is of particular interest in the present work. In this context, a well established self-consistent model, proposed by the author and co-workers [J. Appl. Mech. 69 (2002) 3091 is used. This model is tested under different complex cyclic loading paths with strain and stress-controlled conditions describing especially the multiaxial ratcheting behavior of stainless steel 316L which represents also another main goal of this work. In order to study the aggregate effect on the overall and local responses of polycrystals, several initially random crystal distributions are tested under these loading situations. It is recognized that the model shows a noticeable sensitivity to the aggregate type principally under stress-controlled cyclic loading paths. Accordingly, it can be considered that the aggregate of grains represents a model parameter needing identification. Moreover, the connection between the aggregate constitution and the form of the loading paths play also an important role on the predicted responses of polycrystals. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.