Computational analysis of compressive strain hardening exponents of bimetal with pearlitic steel and low carbon steel

The compressive strain hardening behaviour of a novel bimetal with pearlitic steel and low carbon steel was investigated by computational analysis based on the isothermal compression tests in a wide range of deformation temperature and strain rate. The Hollomon's equation was employed to calculate the strain hardening exponent (SHE) with the assistance of mathematical manipulation. The result shows that the logarithmic relationship between the flow stress and plastic strain of the bimetal is highly non-linear, which results in the variation of the SHE of the bimetal. This variation reflects the dynamic competition between the strain hardening and softening mechanism by the varying value of the SHE in the range of 0.4 to-0.4. Furthermore, the influences of deformation temperature and strain rate on the SHE are significant. With decreasing temperature and increasing strain rate, the strain hardening of the bimetal was enhanced, while the dynamic recrystallisation was activated under the opposite conditions with the evidence of negative SHE value.