Modeling the evolution of texture and grain shape in Mg alloy AZ31 using the crystal plasticity finite element method

The development of a strong basal texture upon processing has proven to be a major impediment in commercial applications of wrought magnesium alloys. The basal texture hampers further processing of the material, leading to high internal stresses and strain localization in the material. Within the framework of the crystal plasticity finite element method, a microstructural constitutive model for twinning has been developed to study the deformation characteristics of magnesium alloy AZ31. The concept of representative volume elements is used to identify internal stresses and strain localization in the material. Texture evolution and grain shape change are additional areas of interest in this work. The simulation results are compared with those from experiments to ascertain the trend of texture evolution.