Analysis of deformation induced martensite in AISI 316L stainless steel

Abstract Metastable austenite stainless steel AISI 316L is sensitive to cold deformation, where transformation from austenite to martensite occurred. The bending deformation as the formation process leads to tensile and compression troughout the thickness of the billet. Tensile testing of the specimen causes differences in the true stress-strain along the contraction neck prior to fracture as well. The aim of the paper is to find correlation between microhardness as brief inspection parameters and extension of martensitic transformation. The total equivalent plastic strain extend diagram obtained by numerical simulation of bending was compared with tensile true stress-strain diagram. Results show very good correlation between hardness, true strain and martesite content. Therefore, one can conclude that by hardness measurement, it is possible to measure the level of equivalent plastic strain until ultimate tensile stress as a linear correlation between hardness, true strain and martesite content.