Determination of the maximum strain–hardening exponent

The method for the rapid and accurate determination of the maximum strain–hardening exponent was developed by investigating the change trend of the strain–hardening exponent of the steels with different microstructures. The quantitative relationship between the maximum strain–hardening exponent and the yield strength ratio was also determined by using the available yield and tensile strengths of the materials. The three methods of determining the maximum strain–hardening exponent were evaluated.