Multiaxial cyclic deformation and non-proportional hardening employing discriminating load paths

Some novel discriminating multiaxial cyclic strain paths with incremental and random sequences were used to investigate cyclic deformation behavior of materials with low and high sensitivity to non-proportional loadings. Tubular specimens made of 1050 QT steel with no non-proportional hardening and 304L stainless steel with significant non-proportional hardening were used. 1050 QT steel was found to exhibit very similar behavior under various multiaxial loading paths, whereas significant effects of loading sequence were observed for 304L stainless steel. In-phase cycles with a random sequence of axial-torsion cycles on an equivalent strain circle were found to cause cyclic hardening levels similar to 90 degrees out-of-phase loading of 304L stainless steel. In contrast, straining with a small increment of axial-torsion on an equivalent strain circle results in higher stress than for in-phase loading of 304L stainless steel, but the level of hardening is lower than for 90 degrees out-of-phase loading. Tanaka's non-proportionality parameter coupled with a Armstrong-Fredrick incremental plasticity model, and Kanazawa et al.'s empirical formulation as a representative of such empirical models were used to predict the stabilized stress response of the two materials under variable amplitude axial-torsion strain paths. Consistent results between experimental observations and predictions were obtained by employing the Tanaka's non-proportionality parameter. In contrast, the empirical model resulted in significant over-prediction of stresses for 304L stainless steel. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.