Effect of compressive load on texture evolution and anisotropic behavior of dual-phase steel under biaxial loading in complete 11-22 space

Advanced high strength steels (AHSS) are typically loaded in a multiaxial stress state during forming process and service. However, the deformation mechanism under multiaxial loading is not clarified, which limits the optimization of sheet metal forming. In particular, due to instability, biaxial compression loading of single thin plate has not been reported, which results in unclear evolution of the yield surfaces in the second, third and fourth quadrants of sigma 11-sigma 22 space and corresponding deformation mechanisms. Therefore, the deformation mechanism of AHSS thin plates under biaxial loading was systematically investigated in the complete sigma 11-sigma 22 space using a specially designed cruciform specimen and buckling prevention fixture in the current work. The mechanical properties of dual-phase (DP780) steel under different loading paths were studied by uniaxial tension, uniaxial compression, and biaxial loading tests. There is an obvious yield strength difference between the first quadrant and the third quadrant in the sigma 11-sigma 22 space. In the second and fourth quadrants of sigma 11-sigma 22 space, the compression part makes a greater effect on the yield behavior of the material than the tension part. More specifically, dislocation slip is activated earlier at the boundary under compression loading, resulting in earlier yielding of the material. Based on the analysis of the Taylor factor, the activation of slip systems of DP780 steel before and after deformation is clarified. In addition, a detailed analysis of the microstructure and texture evolution in DP780 steel after deformation is conducted, and a correlation between texture evolution and loading paths is established. It is found that the compression part under biaxial loading results in more grains with low Taylor factor and promotes the transformation of the initial texture to copper or rotated copper texture in DP780 steel.