Through-process simulation of texture and properties during the thermomechanical processing of aluminium sheets

Computer-based alloy and process development requires the integration of models for simulating the evolution of microstructure, microchemistry and crystallographic texture into process models of the thermomechanical production of Al sheet. In this paper, a softening model simulating the progress of recovery and recrystallization and the following texture changes is linked to deformation and microchemistry models. The possibility of such coupled simulations is illustrated by way of the thermomechanical processing of Al-Mn-Mg AA 3104 can stock. In particular, the impact of inter-stand recrystallization between the tandem hot rolling passes as well as recrystallization during coil cooling ("self-annealing") on the resulting hot strip and final gauge textures are explored. Finally, the predicted textures are input into a polycrystal-plasticity model to simulate anisotropic properties (earing behaviour) of the sheets. Thus, it is possible to link the materials properties at final gauge to the decisive steps of deformation and recrystallization along the thermomechanical process chain. (c) 2007 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.