Evading the strength–ductility trade-off dilemma in steel through gradient hierarchical nanotwins

Yujie Wei (), Yongqiang Li, Lianchun Zhu, Yao Liu, Xianqi Lei, Gang Wang, Yanxin Wu, Zhenli Mi, Jiabin Liu, Hongtao Wang and Huajian Gao ()
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Yujie Wei: LNM, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yongqiang Li: LNM, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Lianchun Zhu: LNM, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yao Liu: LNM, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xianqi Lei: LNM, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Gang Wang: Laboratory for Microstructures, Shanghai University
Yanxin Wu: National Engineering Research Center for Advanced Rolling Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing
Zhenli Mi: National Engineering Research Center for Advanced Rolling Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing
Jiabin Liu: Institute of Applied Mechanics, Zhejiang University
Hongtao Wang: Institute of Applied Mechanics, Zhejiang University
Huajian Gao: School of Engineering, Brown University

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The strength–ductility trade-off has been a long-standing dilemma in materials science. This has limited the potential of many structural materials, steels in particular. Here we report a way of enhancing the strength of twinning-induced plasticity steel at no ductility trade-off. After applying torsion to cylindrical twinning-induced plasticity steel samples to generate a gradient nanotwinned structure along the radial direction, we find that the yielding strength of the material can be doubled at no reduction in ductility. It is shown that this evasion of strength–ductility trade-off is due to the formation of a gradient hierarchical nanotwinned structure during pre-torsion and subsequent tensile deformation. A series of finite element simulations based on crystal plasticity are performed to understand why the gradient twin structure can cause strengthening and ductility retention, and how sequential torsion and tension lead to the observed hierarchical nanotwinned structure through activation of different twinning systems.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4580

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