Dynamic recrystallization behavior and finite element analysis of a low-alloy high-strength steel

The axial single-pass high temperature compression test of a hot-rolled extra-large heavy H-beam steel continuous casting billet (Q420 steel) under different deformation conditions through the Gleeble-1500D thermomechanical simulator was carried out. The modified Johnson–Cook model and the Arrhenius model based on strain-compensated of Q420 steel were established. The latter can more accurately reflect the flow behavior of Q420 steel. For the simulation of thermal compression, dynamic recrystallization (DRX) correlation models were developed and imported into DEFORM-3D software. According to simulation results, high temperatures and low strain rates are conducive to DRX. Due to the uneven distribution of equivalent strain and temperature in different parts of the same section, DRX volume fraction and grain size are unevenly distributed. At the center, the DRX volume fraction is the largest and the grain size is the smallest. The upper and lower edges are vice versa, and the left and right edges are centered. Optical microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction characterization methods were used to study the hot compression microstructure under different deformation conditions. As the deformation amount increases, complete DRX is gradually reached. The original austenite grain gradually becomes smaller. Local average misorientation decreases with the progression of DRX but increases with the amount of deformation after completion of DRX. As the temperature increases and the rate decreases, low angle grain boundaries and medium angle grain boundaries gradually decrease, and high angle grain boundaries gradually increase, indicating that dislocation decreases gradually, DRX grains increase gradually, and martensitic multilayer structure is obvious. As austenite grain size increases, the length of martensite lath increases, and the number of martensite blocks decreases.