Nonlinear kinematic hardening rule parameters — relationship to substructure evolution in polycrystalline nickel

General cyclic plasticity results and detailed analyses of experimental data from constant plastic strain amplitude, completely reversed, tension–compression tests on polycrystalline nickel with two grain sizes are reported. These analyses focus on kinematic hardening behavior and are based on Armstrong–Frederick-type kinematic hardening rules and Masing-type assumptions. Juxtaposition of these analyses with observations of specimen surface relief and substructure evolution using TEM provides a context for discussion of mechanisms and modeling of nonlinear kinematic hardening and its relationship to heterogeneous microstructure in metals.