A dual-time-scale finite element model for simulating cyclic deformation of polycrystalline alloys

A dual-time-scale finite element model is developed in this paper for simulating cyclic deformation in polycrystalline alloys. The material is characterized by crystal plasticity constitutive relations. The finite element formulation of the initial boundary-value problems with cyclic loading involves decoupling the governing equations into two sets of problems corresponding to two different time-scales. One is a long-time-scale (low-frequency) problem characterizing a cycle-averaged solution, while the other is a short-time-scale (high-frequency) problem for a remaining oscillatory portion. Cyclic averaging together with asymptotic expansion of the variables in the time domain forms the basis of the multitime-scaling. The crystal plasticity equations at the two scales are used to study cyclic deformation of a titanium alloy Ti-6Al. This model is intended to study the fatigue response of a material by simulating a large number of cycles to initiation.