Effect of phase interactions on crystal stress evolution over crystal orientation space under elastoplastic deformation of two-phase polycrystalline solids

It has been known for decades that crystal stress directions move toward the vertices of the single crystal yield surface (SCYS) during plastic flow of polycrystalline solids to satisfy the deformation compatibility among crystals. The alignment of crystal stress with a SCYS vertex is affected not only by plastic anisotropy, but also by other factors such as elastic anisotropy, loading direction, and grain interactions. Among the factors contributing to the degree of alignment, the effect of phase interactions on the crystal stress evolution during plastic flow has not been extensively investigated. In this research, the effect of phase interactions on the crystal stress direction evolution is investigated using simulations of an elastoplastically deforming two-phase (Cu/Fe) polycrystalline solid calibrated to a neutron diffraction experiment. By mapping the simulated crystal stresses over the crystal orientation space, crystal-orientation-dependent nonuniform partitioning of the crystal stress between phases can be observed. An analysis of the distribution of angles between the SCYS vertex and the crystal stress based on the simulation of the two-phase material shows that the crystal stress evolution pattern during plastic flow is strongly affected by phase interactions. These interactions result in low alignment and greater dispersion angles between the crystal stresses and SCYS vertices, particularly in the strong phase.