title: Load partitioning between the bcc-iron matrix and NiAl-type precipitates in a ferritic alloy on multiple length scales.
abstract: An understanding of load sharing among constituent phases aids in designing mechanical properties of multiphase materials. Here we investigate load partitioning between the body-centered-cubic iron matrix and NiAl-type precipitates in a ferritic alloy during uniaxial tensile tests at 364 and 506 °C on multiple length scales by in situ neutron diffraction and crystal plasticity finite element modeling. Our findings show that the macroscopic load-transfer efficiency is not as high as that predicted by the Eshelby model; moreover, it depends on the matrix strain-hardening behavior. We explain the grain-level anisotropic load-partitioning behavior by considering the plastic anisotropy of the matrix and elastic anisotropy of precipitates. We further demonstrate that the partitioned load on NiAl-type precipitates relaxes at 506 °C, most likely through thermally-activated dislocation rearrangement on the microscopic scale. The study contributes to further understanding of load-partitioning characteristics in multiphase materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Zhiqian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Gian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Materials Science and Technology Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Sisneros
authors.affiliation: Materials Science and Technology Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA.
authors.forename: Bjørn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Clausen
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Yanfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Peter K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Liaw