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In this paper, finite element analyses were conducted to investigate the stress and strain states resulting from varying the deformation of stainless steel 316L under biaxial loading. To that end, a biaxial specimen geometry was designed in collaboration with the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to achieve large and uniform strain values in the central pocket region. Special care was taken to ensure that the specimen design could be readily manufactured with available resources. Simultaneously, the specimen design criteria required an acceptable strain uniformity in a sufficiently large pocket section to allow for accurate deformation and austenite to martensite phase fraction measurements. This demonstrates the concept of altering the final material properties through stress superposition. Numerical results show that nearly linear curves were observed in the strain path plots. The minimum uniform deformation area for the 4:1 case had a radius of ∼1 mm, which is sufficient for experimental analyses, e.g., digital imaging correlation and electron beam backscatter diffraction. As an application for such heterogeneous materials, patient specific trauma fixation hardware, which are surgically implanted to set broken bones during healing, require high strength in areas where screws are located, i.e., martensite phase, yet low weight elsewhere.

 

Abstract In this paper, results for SS316 L microtube experiments under combined inflation and axial loading for single and multiloading segment deformation paths are presented along with a plasticity model to predict the associated stress and strain paths. The microtube inflation/tension machine, utilized for these experiments, creates biaxial stress states by applying axial tension or compression and internal pressure simultaneously. Two types of loading paths are considered in this paper, proportional (where a single loading path with a given axial:hoop stress ratio is followed) and corner (where an initial pure loading segment, i.e., axial or hoop, is followed by a secondary loading segment in the transverse direction, i.e., either hoop or axial, respectively). The experiments are designed to produce the same final strain state under different deformation paths, resulting in different final stress states. This difference in stress state can affect the material properties of the final part, which can be varied for the intended application, e.g., biomedical hardware, while maintaining the desired geometry. The experiments are replicated in a reasonable way by a material model that combines the Hill 1948 anisotropic yield function and the Hockett–Sherby hardening law. Discussion of the grain size effects during microforming impacting the ability to achieve consistent deformation path results is included. 

Manufacturers invested in a diverse array of industries, ranging from automotive to biomedical, are seeking methods to improve material processing in an effort to decrease costs and increase efficiency. Many parts produced by these suppliers require forming operations during their fabrication. Forming processes are innately complex and involve a multitude of parameters affecting the final part in several ways. Examples of these parameters include temperature, strain rate, deformation path, and friction. These parameters influence the final part geometry, strength, surface finish, etc. Previous studies have shown that varying the deformation path during forming can lead to increased formability. However, a fundamental understanding of how to control these paths to optimize the process has yet to be determined. Adding to the complexity, as the forming process is scaled down for micromanufacturing, additional parameters, such as grain size and microstructure transformations, must be considered. In this paper, an analytical model is proposed to calculate strain-paths with one or two loading segments and their associated stress-paths. The model is created for investigations of stainless steel 316L using a microtube inflation/tension testing machine. This machine allows for the implementation of two segment strain-paths through biaxial loading consisting of applied force and internal pressure. The model can be adjusted, based on the desired forming process or available equipment, to output the appropriate parameters for implementation, such as force, displacement, and pressure.