Induced martensitic transformation during tensile test in nanostructured bainitic steels

Retained austenite in nanostructured bainite is able to undergo mechanically induced martensitic transformation. However, the link between transformation and deformation mechanisms involved makes difficult the understanding of the process. In this work, a model has been developed to assess the effect of the external stress itself on the martensite phase transformation. In addition, after a detailed initial microstructural characterization, the martensite fraction evolution during tensile deformation has been obtained by means of X-ray diffraction analyses after interrupted tensile tests in several nanostructured bainitic steels. Experimental results have been compared to the outputs of the model, as a reference. They suggests that stress partitioning between phases upon tensile deformation is promoted by isothermal transformation at lower temperatures.