Comparison of experimentally determined texture development in Zircaloy-2 with predictions from a rate-dependent polycrystalline model

Highlights: → In this study we model the evolution of texture in a zirconium alloy. → Texture evolution is essentially due to plastic slip and twinning. → The results of the model are compared with experimental pole figures. → The agreement between the calculated and measured pole figures is generally good. - Abstract: At room temperature, the behavior of Zircaloy-2 is controlled by plastic slip and twinning. To assist in interpretation of experimental texture measurements and to understand how texture is influenced by the different deformation mechanisms operating (prismatic, basal and pyramidal slip and tensile twinning), a rate-dependent polycrystalline model is used to simulate the development of texture in Zircaloy-2 under uniaxial tension and compression. The results of the model are then compared with an experimental dataset (texture coefficients and post-deformation pole figures) and with the results of a rate-independent polycrystalline model. The agreement between the calculated and measured pole figures and texture coefficients is generally good though some aspects of the texture evolution are not correctly reproduced because of the difficulties in both models of performing a proper selection of the active twinning systems.