A calibration procedure for the assessment of work hardening part I: Effects of the microstructure and load type

This paper presents a methodology to define and quantify the level of work hardening locally in a material. The methodology is proposed after a thorough experimental study based on three complementary experimental techniques for microstructural characterizations: microhardness, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) applied on Inconel 718 samples. In our analysis, several loading histories including single tension, single compression, high strain rates and low cycle fatigue have been investigated. The effects of the microstructure have been further investigated by modifying the size of the grains and the size of the strengthening precipitates. Experimental tests have also been simulated to choose a model variable able to represent work hardening. A reciprocal link between work hardening and experimental characterizations has then been established. Correlation curves have been proposed that enable to quantify the level of work hardening from the knowledge of the experimental data. Accuracy and complementarity of the three experimental approaches are discussed as well as the impact of the microstructure of the material on the measured quantities. [Display omitted] •The measurements performed are sensitive to the microstructure.•Correlate the level of equivalent plastic deformation with EBSD measurements.•Correlate the level of equivalent plastic deformation with XRD measurements.•Sensitivity to the microstructure is dependent on the characterization technique.•The characterization methods are complementary to determine work hardening.