Crystal plasticity study of the effect of the initial orientation on the indentation surface profile patterns and micro-textures of aluminum single crystal

A crystal plasticity finite element method (CPFEM) model has been developed to investigate the effect of the initial orientation on the surface profile patterns of aluminum single crystal during nano-indentation. The CPFEM model of nano-indentation has been validated by comparison with experimental observations. The load-displacement curve from the simulation with the same initial orientation from the report have been analyzed and the calculated values of Young's modulus agrees with that from the report also. Fourfold, twofold, and threefold piling-up patterns were captured on the (001), (011), and (111) initial oriented surfaces after indentation. The slip traces were analyzed to provide detailed explanations of the anisotropy of the piling-up patterns and the pole figures were calculated after being unloading. It is found the direction of rotation of the pole figures is opposite each other when a different cutting plane is chosen. A crystal plasticity finite element method model has been developed to investigate the effect of the initial orientation on the surface profile patterns of aluminum single crystal during nano-indentation. This 3D model has been validated by comparison with experimental observations. The slip traces are analyzed to provide detailed explanations of the anisotropy of the piling-up patterns.