TUNING A SELF-CONSISTENT VISCOPLASTIC MODEL BY FINITE-ELEMENT RESULTS .1. MODELING

The self consistent model of Molinari et al. [Acta metall. 35, 2983 (1987)] is modified with the help of the finite element results of Gilormini and Germain [Int. J. Solids Struct. 23, 413 (1987)]. The modification implies the introduction of a new scalar parameter in the interaction law of the self consistent model. In this first part, the model is established and the new parameter is tuned so that the self consistent predictions and the results of the finite element predictions for a spherical inclusion in an infinite matrix nearly coincide. A simple relation between the new parameter and the value of the strain rate sensitivity has been found.