Finite element method simulations for two-phase material plastic strains

The texture study of two-phase materials requires a previous knowledge of the distribution of strains among both phases. The way they rotate around one another is of special interest. The texture is a phenomenon that manifests itself at medium and high deformations. Therefore the study cannot usually be performed experimentally, particularly when we are dealing with high volume fraction contents. Sharing of strains is also very important in many technological applications such as forming. This paper presents a study, by the finite element technique, of those quantities as a function of volume fraction, geometry, distribution, strain hardening and yield stress ratio between the two phases. Both phases are assumed to be elasto-plastic and isotropic materials. It is shown that strains and internal rotations are highly influenced by the topology of the phase distribution, yield stress ratio and volume fraction. For high yield stress ratio the hardening seems to be of less importance. It is shown that the strain is highly inhomogeneous and that averages of appropriate quantities can give a macroscopic insight on strain and rotation sharing. Among the many strain definitions the equivalent von Mises deformation will be particularly addressed for its importance in hardening, damage and texture. The local variations are not less important, but the focus will be on the calculation of average quantities able to guide to macroscopic constitutive equation development.