Non destructive analysis of grain sub-structuration in single grains of an Aluminium polycrystal deformed in uniaxial tension.

Overview & Synopsis

This work aims to improve the understanding of grain sub-structuration mechanisms and dynamics during deformation of polycrystals. For this purpose, in situ synchrotron experiments and EBSD acquisitions were coupled to study the response of single grains of an Al-0.1%wt.Mn polycrystal during tensile deformation. The specimen deformed in situ at the synchrotron was analyzed by 3DXRD. A new method provided a grain-by-grain analysis of the intragranular misorientation axes and their orientation distribution, through the investigation of the azimuthal broadening of diffraction spots. The 3DXRD results were cross-checked by classical EBSD analysis. Three acquisitions were carried out over the same region of interest at the undeformed state and after the application of 1% and 5% strain. Thanks to the available spatial resolution, the EBSD results allow for a better comprehension of the creation and dynamics of intragranular orientation gradients, and are in good agreement with pre-existing theoretical models. In addition, the characterization of grain sub-structuration and intragranular strain was performed through a novel X-Ray scanning technique, the K-map. The strain was found to be very heterogeneous with high compressive and tensile values in the grain interior and near two grain boundaries, respectively. Dislocations were found to be at the origin of deformation.