Abstract
Hot rolled and annealed AISI 1050 steel cylindrical coupons were flow formed at different levels of deformation (66% and 90% wall thickness reduction). TEM studies revealed development of ultra fine (sub) grain cell structure due to severe plastic deformation. The transverse subgrain size changed from 10m (beginning) to 300nm (66% deformation) to 40nm (90% deformation). EBSD study revealed decreased recrystallization fraction at 90% deformation compared with 66% deformation due to orientation pinning from preferred orientation along {002} planes. No evidence of dislocation pinning or cracking was observed on any samples.
The aim of the present work is to study the deformation behaviour and microstructural evolution during conventional flow forming process. The study also sheds light on the strengthening behaviour and structural changes during severe straining.