Deformation Heterogeneity and Texture Evolution of NiTiFe Shape Memory Alloy Under Uniaxial Compression Based on Crystal Plasticity Finite Element Method

Crystal plastic finite element method (CPFEM) is used to simulate microstructural evolution, texture evolution and macroscopic stress-strain response of polycrystalline NiTiFe shape memory alloy (SMA) with B2 austenite phase during compression deformation. A novel two-dimensional polycrystalline finite element model based on electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) experiment data is developed to represent virtual grain structures of polycrystalline NiTiFe SMA. In the present study, CPFEM plays a significant role in predicting texture evolution and macroscopic stress-strain response of NiTiFe SMA during compression deformation. The simulated results are in good agreement with the experimental ones. It can be concluded that intragranular and intergranular strain heterogeneities are of great importance in guaranteeing plastic deformation compatibility of NiTiFe SMA. CPFEM is able to capture the evolution of grain boundaries with various misorientation angles for NiTiFe SMA subjected to the various compression deformation degrees. During uniaxial compression of NiTiFe SMA, the microstructure evolves into high-energy substructure and consequently the well-defined subgrains are formed. Furthermore, the grain boundaries and the subgrain boundaries are approximately aligned with the direction in which metal flows.