Implementation of the crystal plasticity finite element method

Abstract

Computational materials science is one of the fastest growing areas in modern materials research, and controlling the microstructure of a polycrystal is crucial to de signing advanced materials. The extreme environments often used in industrial forming operations are not suitable for modern microscopy techniques though, encouraging the use of simulations to investigate the mechanisms involved. Different physics-based models such as crystal plasticity theories have shown the ability to predict the mechanical response of materials during plastic deformation. Since classical constitutive laws are strongly simplified, they are neither able to ac curately predict crystallographic texture and its evolution, (the main source of the anisotropy in crystals) nor account for grain size effects. More modern crystal plastic ity finite element methods address some of these issues using strain gradient theories and constitutive relations based on dislocation densities. The key factor that makes the finite element method preferred for crystal plastic ity is the ability to handle the complicated internal and external boundary conditions that are characteristic of plastic deformation. The current work is focused on simula tions of crystal plasticity on the single crystal scale and below using the finite element method.